15 Amazing Things to Do With the Kids Along The South West Edge

The South West Edge is one of the most varied and beautiful road trips in Australia and that means there’s something for everyone – including the little ones! Here are some of our favourite things to do along The Edge with children.

Rottnest Island

West Australia’s island paradise, Rottnest Island is a haven for the whole family. With 63 secluded beaches and 20 bays to explore, you can always find a quiet spot to enjoy with the kids. Swim, snorkel, build sandcastles and then hop on your bikes to find the happiest animal on earth, the Quokka! The island is free from private cars, so you can relax knowing your family is safe walking and cycling around the island. What’s more, if you sign up to the Rottnest Express Quokka Club, kids under 12 travel for free to Rotto!

Fremantle

Fremantle is known for its laid-back vibe, wide open spaces and a huge array of activities for the whole family. Kids of all ages will love the Esplanade Park with its playground, huge grassy areas and the skate park. Treat them to a ride on the giant Fremantle Ferris Wheel or grab fish and chips for lunch followed by gelato at the Fishing Boat Harbour. During the Spring school holidays there’s heaps going on for kids!

Gnomesville, Ferguson Valley

What could be more fun than discovering an entire community of gnomes deep in the forest? Gnomesville in the beautiful Ferguson Valley is the magical home of over 3000 Gnomes who have migrated from all over Australia and overseas! Your kids will love this quirky and magical experience as they wander through villages and glades full of playful, naughty and sentimental Gnomes climbing logs, hanging out in trees, playing cricket, even flying planes!

Dolphin Discovery Centre, Bunbury

When it comes to wildlife interactions, everyone from age 1 to 100 will love meeting the wild dolphins at the Bunbury Dolphin Discovery Centre. The Dolphin Discovery Centre has recently undergone a $12 million upgrade, including a brand new interpretative centre showcasing a huge array of fish and coral aquariums, plus a 360-degree Digital Dolphinarium. You can view the wild dolphins from the bay or join an immersive experience like feeding the dolphins or hopping in the water at Koombana Bay to swim with these incredible creatures.

Busselton

Busselton is a gorgeous place to explore with little ones. The calm, protected waters of the bay are perfect for younger children to paddle and splash around and the newly refurbished foreshore is packed with a skate park, playground and heaps of picnic spots. Busselton is probably best known for its 1.8-kilometre-long, wooden-piled jetty which has survived a cyclone, storm and fire to retain its status as the longest timber-piled jetty in the southern hemisphere. Children will love a ride on the Busselton Jetty train, which takes you out to the Underwater Observatory at the end. This is the perfect place for those who don’t want to don their mask and flippers to see the colourful corals and abundant fish life that thrives under the sea.

Dunsborough

Dunsborough is a popular holiday spot for families thanks to its quiet sandy coves, surrounding national parks, great shopping precinct and plethora of wineries and breweries. If you want to get active with the kids, try Next Level Monkey Business, a rope activity course in the trees for children aged 4 and up. Tackle the various obstacle courses, whiz along the ziplines and test your bravery with the giant mega zip! Afterwards, head up to Clancy’s Fish Pub for lunch. The kid’s menu is always a hit with hungry tummies, and they have lots of open space for them to run around whilst you enjoy a locally brewed craft beer. There are lots of child friendly breweries in this part of the South West, so you can enjoy sampling some locally made craft beer or world-class wine whilst the kids are entertained.

If you’re hitting the road for a school holiday trip or for a long weekend, The Edge is the perfect mix of adventure, natural beauty and incredible attractions to keep the whole family happy.

Margaret River

This world-famous wine region may be known best as an adult’s playground with its incredible range of wineries and restaurants, but there’s plenty of family friendly stuff to do too. Get the blood pumping and climb one of the two lighthouses in Margaret River. Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse is the tallest Lighthouse in mainland Australia and is located at the tip of a spectacular peninsula where the Southern and Indian Oceans meet. Take a tour and enjoy the fantastic new interpretive centre. You can also take a tour at the historic Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse, relax and soak up the views after whilst the kids enjoy the playground or take a stroll along the path to look out for whales in the Winter and Spring months. If you’d prefer to go down rather than up, there are also four caves in Margaret River which you can explore; Jewel, Lake, Mammoth and Ngligi. From self-guided audio tours, to indigenous tours and secret crawl tunnels; there is one to suit every group and age of visitor.

Hamelin Bay, Augusta

For a unique and memorable marine experience, take the family to Hamelin Bay. Paddle into the clear, shallow water and you can get up close to stingrays which often hang out in this bay hoping to get fish scraps from the fisherman. If you’re lucky, these huge rays will get super close, often swimming over the feet of wading visitors!

Pemberton

Pemberton is a great place to get back to nature and be wowed by the incredible, giant trees in the beautiful forest. Older (and braver) kids can scale the famous Gloucester Tree and Bicentennial Tree, using the giant pegs that have been hammered into the tree’s trunks to get to the viewing platform at the top. If your kids are younger or don’t like heights, check out the brilliant Jim Fox adventure trail. Bring their favourite stuffed toys and enjoy a good-old-fashioned teddy bear’s picnic in the woods.

Beedelup Falls, Pemberton

If you’re travelling along The Edge in Winter or Spring, you’ll be treated to some full and flowing rivers, lakes and waterfalls! Beedelup Falls is accessible from the carpark, so it’s easy to do with young children! Head across the wobbly bridge and you’ll see the amazing Beedelup Falls gushing below where water flows over steep granite rocks. If you fancy a walk, you can also take a stroll to see the beautiful Lake Beedelup – a great spot to enjoy a picnic or skim stones across the water. As you travel around this area, be sure to try some local fresh produce like chestnuts, hazelnuts, avocados, pears, cherries, nectarines and Bravo apples straight from the farm gate.

Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk, Walpole

Explore Western Australia’s world-famous forest of gigantic tingle trees and take a bird’s eye view of the towering forest from the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk, a spectacular lightweight bridge through the forest canopy. The bridge gently ascends into the treetops 40 metres above the forest floor and is wheelchair and buggy accessible. There’s also a forest walk along the boardwalks below where you can explore the “Ancient Empire Walk” – a grove of impressive veteran tingle trees, some over 400 years old.

Albany

Albany is jam-packed with family-friendly things to do. Spend a lazy day at Middleton Beach, building sandcastles or swimming in the clear, calm water. This beach has picnic and BBQ facilities as well as a playground – so you can really make a day of it. The Gap and Natural Bridge are always popular with kids as they can gaze at the incredible views and watch the waves crash into the cliffs from the viewing platforms. If you’re travelling with older children, the National Anzac Centre is an incredibly moving and interesting day out for the whole family.

Yummylicious Candy Shack, Ravensthorpe

The Yummylicious Candy Shack is an absolute dream come true for children! Let their Willy Wonka fantasies come true as they peruse the huge collection of candy, chocolate, milkshakes, American Style hot dogs and ice-creams! This lolly shop is also home to the world’s largest lollipop, so you can’t miss it when driving along the road!

Esperance

If you want to spend the day on the whitest beach in Australia, splashing in the clearest water and relaxing alongside sunbaking kangaroos; Lucky Bay is where you need to head. This famous beach in Cape Le Grand National Park is about 45 minutes’ drive from Esperance and is ideal for children. You can camp at Lucky Bay, or just head out there for the day. Grab a coffee from the Lucky Bean Café right on the sand, and cook up a storm for lunch on the BBQ facilities. If you want to stay closer to town, Twilight Beach is a favourite with children thanks to its calm sheltered water. The newly revamped foreshore is also great for a scoot or bike ride and there’s a great playground for kids too.

Wave Rock, Hyden

As you head back to Perth through the Wheatbelt, there are lots of great places to enjoy with the family. Wave Rock is always a hit with children as they explore the giant rock formation and try to get a photo of them “surfing” this iconic wave. There’s also a wildlife park which is home to koalas and rare white kangaroos. Nearby Mulkas Cave has interpretive signage about the significance of the site to local custodians, and you can clamber inside to see the ancient aboriginal artwork. If you fancy taking a slight de-tour through the Wheatbelt, add Kulin to your itinerary and you can experience the Tin Horse Highway. Stretching over 15 km of road, your children will love spotting 70 or 80 statues and installations from their windows.