Things to do with kids in Margaret River & Australia's South West

The heritage-listed jetty stretches 1.841km into Geographe Bay, and a solar-powered train runs out and back in about 45 minutes. Observatory tours ride the train, then descend 8m below the sea to look out at corals, sponges and fish. Prams can't go on the train, so bring a baby carrier, and book ahead.

A 600m walkway climbs 40m into the canopy of red tingle trees, and it takes prams and wheelchairs. Back on the ground, the free Ancient Empire loop winds between 400-year-old tingles, with steps on about 150m of it. A family ticket for two adults and two kids was $52.50 in October 2026, and under-6s go free.

Granite boulders shelter this bay in William Bay National Park near Denmark, and entry is free. The eastern end near the access steps is calmest for swimming, while currents can run towards the western end. Snorkel around the rocks for fish and starfish, then follow the short headland trail to Elephant Rocks.

Guided tours climb to the top of the tallest lighthouse on mainland Australia, where the Southern and Indian Oceans meet near Augusta. An original lightkeepers' cottage holds the Interpretive Centre, which shows how keepers' families lived out here. It opens 8.45am to 5pm daily, with last entry at 4.30pm.

A bushland path near Yallingup leads past displays on how the caves formed, then down into the cave itself. Kids wander among stalactites and coloured shawls at their own speed, with guides stationed along the way. Allow about 90 minutes, and save time for the nature play area at the end.

Stingrays often forage in the shallows here during summer. They are wild and carry a venomous barb, so Parks WA asks visitors to look without touching or feeding them. A 20-minute return walk of steps and boardwalk climbs to a headland with signs about the bay's wildlife and timber-port past.

Wild dolphins sometimes swim into a free interaction zone on the beach outside Bunbury's dolphin centre. Volunteers keep everyone knee- to waist-deep, and nobody may touch or feed the dolphins. Visits are most common on warmer-month mornings between 8am and noon, but they are never guaranteed.

A raised path crosses bare granite to a platform 40m above the surging Southern Ocean near Albany. Its grated floor lets kids see the water through their feet, while the Natural Bridge lookout has a solid deck. Park entry fees apply, and new toilets were still being built in October 2026.

Kids can explore the Cheynes IV whale chaser, stand under a sperm whale skeleton and finish at the whale-themed playground. The same ticket covers a wildlife park with wombats, possums and white kangaroos. A family ticket for two adults and up to three children was $85 in October 2026, and the drive from Albany takes about 30 minutes.

Each visitor takes on the identity of a real serviceman or woman from the First World War. Their story runs from enlisting through the troop convoys to the fighting, and at the end you learn what became of them. The centre opens 9am to 5pm daily, and entry isn't timed, so there is no need to book.