Forest Adventures South West

Forest Adventures South West is a brilliant, adrenaline-filled day out for families visiting the Busselton and Bunbury region. Set amongst the magnificent tuart trees of the Ludlow Tuart Forest, this treetop high ropes and flying fox park combines big thrills with a beautiful natural setting, making it a fantastic must-do experience in the South West.

The park offers 2.5-hour sessions, during which you can usually complete two to three courses, including the safety briefing. On arrival, you’ll check in, get fitted with a harness and helmet, and complete a thorough safety training session on a low practice course.

This is where everyone learns how to clip on and off the safety lines using the continuous belay system – it feels a bit daunting at first, but the instructors are patient and clear, and you don’t move on until you’re confident.

Once you’ve passed the practice area, it’s time to head into the trees. Forest Adventures offers six huge high ropes courses, with 77 different challenges strung between the tuarts. Courses range from about 3 metres up to 19 metres off the ground, so you can gently ease into it or head straight for the serious heights if you’re feeling brave.

Across the park there’s more than 500 metres of flying foxes, including one epic 150-metre zipline that lets you soar through the canopy. Expect wobbly bridges, swinging logs, tunnels, rope ladders, spider webs, unicycles, BMX bikes and even a snowboard-style element, plus the advanced sections with vertical climbs and “leap of faith” style challenges for serious thrill-seekers.

Families can choose which course to start on, and staff will help you pick something suited to your confidence and fitness. Most people begin on one of the easier courses to get used to the height and equipment before stepping things up.

Younger and more cautious climbers will enjoy the lower, family-friendly circuits, while older kids, teens and adults can push themselves on the Advanced and Adrenaline courses, which include rock climbing walls, tougher obstacles and higher ziplines.

During our visit, we found that even the more nervous members of the family settled in after the first few elements and were soon laughing and racing each other across the wires. If anyone freezes or gets stuck, there are qualified supervisors positioned around the course who are quick to come and help.

The experience is very much self-paced: you move along each course one obstacle at a time, with only a limited number of people allowed on each element to keep things flowing and safe. On busier days you may need to wait a little at some platforms, but this also gives you a chance to catch your breath and take in the views across the forest.

Because it’s such a physical activity, it’s best to come dressed for movement – closed-in shoes, comfortable clothes you don’t mind getting dusty, and plenty of sunscreen. You’ll be climbing, balancing and zipping for a good two hours or more, so bring water and expect to work up a sweat, even on cooler days.

Forest Adventures is suitable for children from age 7 and up, with supervision rules now clearly set out. For kids aged 7–8, there must be one climbing adult on the course for every two children. For ages 9–16, one adult is required for every six children, but they don’t have to climb if the kids are confident and capable.

It’s an excellent option for tweens and teens who might have outgrown Playgrounds but still love a physical challenge. Seniors who are reasonably fit and steady on their feet can also enjoy the courses, and there’s ground-level access throughout the site for prams and wheelchairs, allowing non-climbers to watch and take photos from below.

In addition to individual visitors, Forest Adventures also caters specifically for school excursions, corporate groups and parties. School programs are structured to build confidence, resilience and teamwork, and can be combined with activities like archery or team challenge elements. Corporate groups can book tailored sessions that focus on communication and problem-solving, using obstacles such as tyre crossings, rope mazes and spider webs as fun team-building tools. If you’re planning a birthday or special event, group discounts are available for parties of 10 or more, making it a memorable way to celebrate for both kids and adults.

The forest setting is lovely for spectators too, with shady spots under the tuarts where you can relax while family and friends tackle the courses overhead.

Overall, Forest Adventures South West remains one of the standout family attractions in the Busselton–Bunbury area. The combination of a stunning natural environment, high safety standards and a huge variety of obstacles means there’s something for almost every level of adventurer. Whether you’re planning a school holiday outing, adding a bit of adrenaline to your South West road trip, or organising a team-building day or birthday party, this is a fantastic way to spend a few hours outdoors together, challenging yourselves and cheering each other on high in the treetops.

Address: 12 Ludlow Park Road, Ludlow WA 6280
Opening hours: Thursday to Monday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (last entry 2:30 pm). Open 7 days during school and public holidays. Closed Christmas Day. Bookings essential for 2.5-hour self-paced sessions.
Official website: https://www.capesfoundation.org.au/visit-experiences/forest-adventures/

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