If you’re travelling down to the South West, your trip wouldn’t be complete without a stop off to Bunbury, known to the locals as the city of 3 waters. Surrounded on 3 sides by the three bodies of water, the Indian Ocean, Koombana Bay, and the Leschenault Inlet, the second biggest city in Western Australia has built for itself a reputation of being a family friendly oasis.
Here are our 7 favourite family friendly activities to do in Bunbury:
Pop into the Bunbury Wildlife Park for an interactive day with the animals! The walk-in aviary boasts a variety of friendly birds that will fly onto your wrist to feed on seeds off the palm of your hands. The relaxing walkways are graced by tall shady trees that lead you around the park where you can see cheeky cockatoos, shy quokkas and even a lazy wombat. Buy some seed at reception so you can feed the kangaroos in their enclosure, be sure to stay close to the kids as the kangaroos, while friendly, certainly aren’t shy!
Finish off the day by getting an ice cream and letting the kids run wild at the Big Swamp Playground that’s right next to the Bunbury Wildlife Park. The playground boasts different play layouts that are designed for a wide age range, sit and spend the rest of the afternoon under the trees while watching the kids play.
Bunbury Wildlife Park
One of our favourite activities, the Sykes Foreshore Splash Park is a god-send for those hot summer days. Sitting right on the banks of the Leschenault Inlet, the ship-wreck-themed splash park bosts over 40 water features, for the kids to entertain themselves with all day. Watch as they gather to be splashed under the giant tipping bucket and run from splash zone to splash zone. with a giant tipping bucket and many spray zones. Lounge under the many shade sails around the park or cook up a feast on the BBQ facilities nearby.
Head on to the Dolphin Discovery Centre to learn more about their conservation efforts! The interpretive centre will capture the children’s imagination with the myriad of tanks and aquariums (find the giant lobster in the centre cylindrical aquarium!), let them touch some sea creatures in the sensory tank or learn what the different whales sound like. In the summer, hop on a Dolphin Eco Cruise where you can get up close to the dolphins on a 90 minute foray into Koombana Bay and the local waterways. The team will introduce you to the Bottlenose Dolphins as they interact in their natural environment, watch as they frolick and play during the cruise.
Dolphin Discovery Centre, Bunbury
For the adrenaline junkie families, the Koolambidi Woola Youth Precinct is where you want to be. Here you can find skate parks, basketball courts, gold courses, parkour areas and even a massive beach climbing net! The bigger kids (and grown-ups) can spend the day testing out the jumps and bowls in the skate park while the little ones can giggle away while running away on the giant hamster wheel, or test their skills out on the mini golf courses.
A trip to the coastal town of Bunbury wouldn’t be complete without a fun day at the beach! Depending on which beach you visit, you can be greeted by great surf or a gentle lapping on the banks. Koombana Bay is a great family beach if you’re looking for the kids to run freely into the water. With gentle waves and a huge foreshore playground complete with flying fox, it’s a fantastic way to spend an afternoon. If you’re lucky, you may even spot a cheeky pod of dolphins swim by!
Another great option to check out is Bunbury’s Jetty Baths, a quiet beach with shallow still waters and a newly redeveloped foreshore. Build sandcastles on the beach, take a dip, or snorkel in the tranquil bay. The whole family can relax the day away with a picnic on the manicured grounds before heading back to their accommodation. If you’re staying with us at Bunbury Apartment Motels, the fun doesn’t have to end there. Jump into our pool to finish the day off, we even have a little fountain pool for the little ones!
Bunbury Beach
Take the children on a hike through the Maidens Reserve, walk through the sand dunes and marvel at the sparkling ocean views on display. A fairly easy trail, meander along the limestone walkways and spot native orchids during wildflower season (late September to late November). The newly upgraded trail boasts a 670m assisted wheelchair accessible pathway which takes you to the 45m high lower lookout, or if you want to go higher, the upper lookout is 67m in height and up 153 steps, offering you panoramic views across the Indian Ocean. The trail is open year-round and is also a dog-friendly trail, just make sure to keep your curious pup on a leash!
If you’ve never been to the Bunbury Farmer’s Market, put this at the top of your list for next trip down south! Arguably the best fresh food store in Australia (or so we like to think) this market supports over 150 local growers, putting a dazzling array of fresh food and delicious ready to eat meals. A trip to the farmer’s market almost always guarantees a full shopping bag of local delights from. You’ll understand when you get there.
