The thrill of a lifetime: Margaret River adventure

Heart-pounding, hand shaking thrills for the whole family: an unforgettable Margaret River adventure awaits. Everyone will be talking about this holiday for a long time to come – guaranteed!

Family-friendly adventures

You can be as relaxed or adventurous as you like with your kids on a holiday in the South West. For those who like a bit of action, you can’t go past Forest Adventures South West in Busselton and Next Level Monkey Biz in Dunsborough.

Next Level Monkey Biz

We love Forest Adventures for, firstly, the gorgeous setting in the Ludlow Tuart Forest. Secondly, there are more than 70 activities here, including flying foxes, unicycling through trees, Tarzan ropes, BMX on a wire, and even a 13-metre base jump. Courses are based on difficulty, age, and height; however, you must be aged at least seven years and over 110cm tall. Bookings are essential.

Next Level Monkey Biz, next to Clancy’s on Caves Road, has more for younger family members, aged four years and over. There’s a raft of challenges such as ziplining, swinging ropes, and a 100ft outdoor bouldering wall. Bookings are recommended for school holidays.

Many of the land, air, and sea adventures below will also suit children.

Land adventures

Margaret River Adventure Co offer fat biking through the region’s most extraordinary karri forest, Boranup. The 2.5hour adventure is suitable for those 140cm tall and above, and you’ll take in towering forests, have potential wild animal encounters with kangaroos and emus, see coastal dunes and the Contos beach cliffs.

Fat biking in Boranup Forest with Margaret River Adventure Co

Eco Adventures Margaret River also explores Boranup Forest, but uses electric quad bikes. You can choose to ride a bike on your own or as a passenger with a friend/family member. This spectacular 18km, 90min ride is for those aged over four years.

Lastly on the bike theme, is Margaret River Mountain Bike Tours who offer rides for beginners through to experts, and also those who would prefer to explore the landscape via electric bike. They have at least half a dozen tours including a half-day family-friendly forest session. We also like the ‘Ride to Wine’ (this is the Margaret River region, after all), and the absolutely outstanding 4.5hour ‘Sunset and Forest Night Ride’. Mountain bikers who want to ride independently, read more here.

Jesters Flat sunset ride

See the world while riding a horse. Whether you’re a small child, a first timer, an experienced equestrian or somewhere in between, you have a few options. The Humble Horse in peaceful Cowaramup is fantastic for young and novice riders, with pony rides, bush trails, twilight rides and lessons available. Jester’s Flat in Rosa Brook is one of the most well-known providers in the region, offering one hour to four-day (yes, you read correctly) tours, catering for ages six and up. The two-hour ‘Bushman’s Ride’ through farmland, the Rapids Conservation Park and into State Forest is a good choice, as is the ‘Twilight Ride’.

Margaret River’s magical limestone caves

Last but not least, we have ideas for those who want to shut the world out and explore underground. The region’s ancient limestone caves are pretty special for everyone, but for those who want that little bit more of a thrill, keep reading. Embark on a heart-stopping quest abseiling and caving with Outdoor Discoveries, who will take you to caves Brides, Giants, Golgotha, Nannup and Calgardup. How ‘heart in the mouth’ are we talking? Imagine an almost 60m abseil down a solution pipe (in the dark) to the cave entrance. And picture crawling through what’s known as the ‘Rebirthing Canal’. You’ll need a moderate to high level of fitness for these tours.

Air adventures

At Busselton’s Tiger Moth Adventure Flights [images included] you’ll board an ex-RAAF A17-130 De Havilland Tiger Moth aeroplane. Summon your inner Amelia Earhart with a low-level joy ride over the coast, a 30min acrobat adventure, or even an open cockpit flight.

Tiger Moth Adventure Flights

Still up in the air, but taking the tempo down just a tad, there is the opportunity to see the South West with Scenic Helicopters. If you’ve got young ones on board or you just want something brief, look into the 10 or 15min flight. There are also longer flights plus tours over the cape, those that drop into wineries, and one for the lovers that features a secluded beach trip, gourmet picnic hamper and bubbles.

We’re going to include this in air adventures because, why not? Margaret River Climbing Co  has jaw-dropping abseiling and rock climbing excursions in the Wilyabrup area. You might also like to mix your tour with caving. This style of adventure is for teenagers and up.

Water adventures

The South West is an ocean mecca, surrounded by shipwrecks, surf breaks, dramatic cliffs, and glorious beaches, so it makes sense that water babies are drawn here like moths to a flame.

For something that will have everyone screeching for more, Jet Adventures thrill rides in Busselton and Dunsborough are fantastic to get the blood pumping. Jump aboard the specially made vessel, ‘the Exhilarator’, to experience white-knuckle 270° spins, power brake stops, donuts and fishtails, and sometimes topping 90km speeds.

Coasteering near Injidup Spa with Margaret River Adventure Co

We already mentioned Margaret River Adventure Co earlier but they have a few other water-based activities we really must cover. Firstly, coasteering. In fact, this is the only coasteering you can do in Australia – jumping, swimming, and traversing rocks, reefs and frothing water. We also like this group for their snorkelling adventures and the opportunity to see stingrays up close.

Surf enthusiasts will love Crystal Wallace’s Yallingup Surf School. They provide a wide range of classes for, well, pretty much everyone. There are private family lessons, stand-up paddle boarding, women’s ‘Surfari Tours’, and instruction for the littlies aged under ten.

Josh Palmateer’s Surf Academy in Margaret River is another popular option, with two-hour group, private and individual lessons. Josh also offers equipment hire of canoes, kayaks, surfboards, body boards, and stand-up paddle boards. Big wave surfers, read more here, while those seeking family-friendly swells, take a read over here.

If you want to explore what’s under the water’s surface rather than be on top of it, take a look at Cape Dive in Dunsborough who will take you on an unforgettable scuba diving adventure of the HMAS Swan, the local reefs, or Busselton Jetty.

If you’re a true courageous spirit, look into The South West Rocks Dive Centre who will take you on expeditions to Fish Rock and the surrounding underwater caves and sites (including the spectacular secret spot, The Aquarium) to see sharks and other marine animals. Discover other great snorkelling spots.

The Aquarium

An ocean adventure doesn’t have to mean absolute heart racing thrills. You can bring it down a notch and still have an unforgettable time. Adventure Works WA in Dunsborough offer an ‘Adventure Paddle Kayak Tour’ in Geographe Bay with the opportunity to snorkel or swim alongside colourful water-dwelling creatures, as well as a ‘Champagne and Sunset Kayak Tour’ that culminates with a glass of bubbly on our incredible South West beaches.

There truly is something for everyone, from young children to adults of all ages. And you can be as bold as you like, from beginner surfing lessons and gentle kayaking, through to scuba diving shipwrecks and abseiling excitement.

Browse our portfolio of luxury homes today and get your Margaret River adventure holiday booked in.

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