Family-Friendly Adventures near us
- kellielovick
- Jan 6
- 3 min read
If you’re the kind of family who loves fresh air, muddy boots, ice cream after a long day out, and letting the kids run a little wild, the High Country is your kind of place. Out here, things are simple good views, good company, and endless space to explore. And whether you’re staying at Seeforth Station or The Hideout, you’re perfectly placed to get out and enjoy the best of it.
Here are some of our favourite family-friendly activities around the region:
Right in the middle of Mansfield town, you’ll find the mini golf course, perfect for a morning or afternoon when you want something fun that doesn’t require a big plan. Let the kids challenge the parents to a mini-golf match and celebrate with an icecream or delicious donut.
15 minutes from Mansfield or 20 min from the Hideout. New owners and management Nicky and Tony have given the garden space a beautiful refresh and re-opened 20 December 2025. Enjoy adventures across the gardens, think fairies, gnomes, and relax with a tasty treat.
An easy wander through the beautiful riverside town of Jamieson, following colourful paw prints that lead you through town and along the river. Great for younger kids and a gentle way to explore a picture-perfect township.
Mansfield's and Mt Buller’s clear streams and inlets ensure a magical fishing experience for the whole family. The Howqua, a Victorian Heritage River, is a fly-fishing icon. For a different perspective, you can drop a line off the back of a tinnie while you enjoy the view from Lake Eildon, or take in the wild High Country at the edge of Mt Samaria and fish the waters at Lake Nillahcootie.
On a warm day, there’s nothing better than a swim in the lake. Pack towels, snacks, and let the kids splash around. Simple, free, and always a hit. If you’ve got a boat, kayaks or inflatables, bring them! You can have a refershing lunch or beer at the Goughs Bay boat Club.
If the weather turns or the kids have way too much energy (it happens), the trampoline park up at Buller is an easy fix. They can bounce themselves silly while you relax.
Mountain Bike Trails on Mt Buller – Northside Express Chairlift Open in Summer
For older kids or families who love a bit of adventure, Buller’s MTB trails are some of the best in the state. Some of the lifts run through the warmer months, and the trails range from beginner-friendly to more challenging. You can make a whole day of it.
Located just outside Mansfield, Mansfield Zoo spans 30 acres and is home to over 220 animals, including deer, kangaroos, crocodiles and even African lions. Visitors can hand-feed some of the animals, a hit with kids and families.
This 134km rail trail runs right through Mansfield and is perfect for an easy ride, a walk, or a family-friendly cycle. It’s the kind of day out where you don’t need much planning, just hop on and go. Popular stretches include riding over the Bonnie Doon Bridge with lunch at the Bonnie Doon Hotel, a coffee stop at Wild Mint Acres in Maindample, spotting artworks along the way, or finishing at the Mansfield Station Precinct and rolling straight into town. We also recommend popping into the Visitor Information Centre for a chat, the local staff know the area inside out.
Markets
Mansfield has several markets from the Farmers market held on the 2nd & 4th Saturday of the month from February to December, and the Outdoor Providore market held 3rd Saturday of each month, to the quarterly Bush market with the next one scheduled for the Australia Day weekend on 24 Jan 2026. Ashowcasing the high country.
Simple Fun, Close to Home: Hideout & Seeforth
Sometimes the best family days are the ones where you hardly leave home base.
At Seeforth Station, you’ve got bush tracks, horse yards, and kms to explore right on your doorstep. Kids can climb, roam, and burn energy the old-fashioned way, outside.
At The Hideout, the river is the star. Skimming stones, paddling, fishing, or just sitting in a camp chair watching the kids splash for hours... it’s slow living at its best.
Firepit, open lawns, shady trees, wildlife at dawn, simple, real, no luxuries needed.
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