Mark the occasion at one of the excellent family-friendly breweries where youngsters, adults and friends can all enjoy a relaxing afternoon.
Treating Dad to a meal out has never been easier in the region, with a plethora of places that cater for blokes as well as kids. Lizzy Pepper explored the region’s top breweries to help you narrow down the decision.
She discovered a fantastic hit-list of family-friendly breweries where youngsters, adults and friends can all enjoy a relaxing afternoon.
Here’s the day planned. Hit Meelup for a morning swim, then Eagle Bay for family lunch with a breathtaking view of rolling hills, roaming livestock and the sea. It’s grand and beautiful, but you’re welcome with salty hair and sandy toes.
Kids love running around on the sun-soaked lawn where there’s loads of space, after eating pizza and Simmo’s ice-cream. There’s an undercover sandpit with timber jetty and a boat, leaving the rest to the kids’ imagination.
A citrus IPA jam packed with grapefruit, lemon and lime zest from their orchard is the latest in their Brewer’s Series seasonal range.
In other cool news, they kicked plastic straws and are proudly part of The Last Straw movement alongside other local venues such as Goanna Café, The Beer Farm and Colonial Brewing Co – see www.laststraw.com.au
It’s a Mecca for parents with little kids, thanks to the gargantuan fully-fenced playground. Grab a sun-drenched table with a playground view, order some pizza, pints and Oreo-topped milkshakes and everyone is happy. The grommets will love the bonus kids pack that comes with their meal. There’s live music every Saturday during the warmer months.
Dad’s look out for their seasonal beer releases; a Double IPA and Peach Gose said to replicate the spirit of spring. A new production brewery is set to open in Vasse in November, and they plan to offer brewery tours.
Thrill seekers; Scenic Helicopters operate here once a week when the weather is good.
“We built this as a place where we’d want to hang out” says Iliya Hastings, co-owner of Brewhouse. Set on the river bank in Margaret River, on the edge of the forest, it’s easy to unwind here.
The playground is simple yet perfect – a wooden boat and lookout encourages kids to use their imagination. Kids stand to win a meal and ice cream in the weekly colouring in competition, and the whole family can enjoy live music on Sundays.
The food is excellent – we’ve a special fondness for the ‘Han Solo’ menu but the pizzas and kids meals are great too.
Brewhouse recently hosted the Cabin Fever Backyard Brewing Tournament, and the winning brew, a raspberry wheat beer, will appear alongside their seasonal range.
The Beer Farm is where Dad gets to be a kid again. There’s a shed on a working cattle farm that’s had the perfect makeover. There are pinball machines, Pacman and couches to laze on. Outdoors there’s footy and giant Jenga.
You might have seen Instagram videos of the giant waterslide? It’s due to reopen in December so Dad’s will have to hold their horses on this one for Father’s Day (but make a note for summer). Little tip for parents – the slide stops before you reach the dam (cue collective sigh of relief).
Food and beer-wise, the menu is constantly evolving, and being a cattle farm, there’s always beautiful Black Angus available.
The Native Series is a collaboration beer made with Fervor and chef Paul Iskov. Iskov takes the brewers foraging, and amongst the five beers created thus far are a Quandong Sandalwood Sour and a Native Australian IPA.
Not just a brewery, the team has been busy creating some incredible gin, wine and food, and have just rebranded the venue to better represent everything they’re doing. The venue is now known as called Caves Road Collective.
The resident canine mascots Billie and new pup Larry do a superb job entertaining families. Children can oscillate between the playground and the island for all the make-believe games they can play there. The building itself is superb; crafted in stone and wood, and perfectly positioned to capture the afternoon sunshine.
Dad’s will be excited to check out the new Pale IPA and IPA cans, and the big bottles of Framboise and Albino Pinot IPA.
Cricket on the lawn with a belly full of scrumptious fish and chips and Beer of the Year Hefeweizen – what could be better for a Father’s Day out? Cowaramup Brewing Co picked up top honours at the South West Craft Beer Festival, and it’s not the only thing they’re doing well here.
Big kids burn off energy cartwheeling and playing footy on the lawn – there’s a selection of games provided, while younger tots hang out on the playground. The lawn is licensed, so you can keep a close eye on your sprogs.
Post–Father’s Day, a seasonal beer is planned for late October, following the brewer’s sabbatical to England.
They’re also hosting a Gourmet Escape Fringe Event – a six course Beer Degustation Dinner – on Friday 16 November.
There’s lots for Dad to love here – from the excellent beers and award-winning cans to the great expanse of lawn and games available for the young and young at heart.
The L-shaped venue is a sun-trap, wrapped around a lawn and overlooking a generous playground and fenced dam. A very relaxing place to enjoy your tasting paddle and lunch.
There’s footy goals and totem tennis, plus a newly installed golf platform where you can try your luck hitting golf balls at targets floating on the dam.
The Wittier returns in spring, plus a new project beer and live music every Saturday.
Right in the centre of Dunsborough town serving up chilli beef burgers and one of the best guest tap lists around, Occys is popular with visitors and locals alike (insiders knowledge – they do a roaring trade before school pickup).
The courtyard overlooks Dunsborough Lions Park and a new-ish silver dome fountain, which kids love to climb and get saturated by. Kids can cool down, and adults can have a laugh due to the timed sprays.
Occys is open at night, so a dinner or a lunch outing can be booked for Dad.
