ork Ice Cream Co and York Olive Oil Company is one of those spots that makes a day trip to the Avon Valley feel extra special. Set on Ashworth Road just off Great Southern Highway, around 8km west of the historic town of York and about 90km east of Perth, it’s an easy and very worthwhile detour for families looking to stretch their legs, let the kids burn off some energy and enjoy a treat.
As you drive in, the first thing that grabs the kids’ attention isn’t the ice cream – it’s the incredible adventure Playground. It has a wonderfully quirky, handmade feel, with mushroom houses to explore, a tall silo tower, a flying fox, wooden bridge and a funky monkey bar set. Our daughter was out of the car in seconds and straight onto the timber bridge and climbing structures.
The star of the show is the silo: children climb up via ladders through several levels to discover surprises inside, including a real piano on one level. Hearing music drifting out of a corrugated silo in the middle of the countryside is pretty magical, and there’s a lookout right at the top that kids adore.
The Playground offers plenty more to discover, with a tractor to clamber over, a cosy mushroom house, a tunnel with climbing holds on the outside and lots of opportunities for nature play amongst the trees and branches.
For more confident climbers, the monkey bar set, swing and climbing net provide a proper challenge, while younger children can potter around on the lower equipment and in the sand and shade.
When it’s time for a breather, there are chunky log stools and large tables nearby, perfect for sitting down together with an ice cream or snack while the kids keep playing within sight.
Inside the factory shop you’ll find much more than just ice cream. As a working olive oil producer, York Olive Oil Co presses olives on site using their Pieralisi press and has been contract‑processing olives for local growers since 2002. The shelves are lined with their own extra virgin olive oils, tapenades, and a beautiful range of jams and marmalades. You’ll also find gourmet foods from France and elsewhere, pickled olives, local honeys, olive‑oil based cosmetics and soaps, olive wood products and even small stainless steel tanks for serious olive oil fans. It feels very much like stepping into a rustic Mediterranean pantry, only in the WA Wheatbelt.
Of course, many families come first and foremost for the ice cream. The York Ice Cream Co range is made with all‑natural ingredients and has even picked up a Royal Show award. There’s a wide choice of flavours that will please both traditionalists and adventurous tasters – think chocolate, strawberry, mango and lemon sorbet alongside flavours such as liquorice, rum and raisin, passionfruit, nougat, pistachio, macadamia and salted caramel. On our visit we sampled chocolate, strawberry and macadamia; all three were a hit and didn’t last long. If you’d like to take some home, the shop sells insulated bags so you can pack extra tubs into the esky for later.
The setting adds another layer of charm. Around the factory shop, the farm’s olive trees and open countryside make a lovely backdrop, and during the right season the grounds are brightened by an impressive display of everlasting daisies. These colourful blooms are a bit of a local highlight and make the outdoor area even more photogenic – perfect for a few family snaps after your ice cream. For those who are curious about how olive oil is made, staff are friendly and happy to answer questions about olives, oil production and the many ways you can use quality olive oil in cooking.
Between the Playground, the farm shop and the delicious ice cream, York Ice Cream Co and York Olive Oil Company is an excellent family stop whether you’re spending the day in York or simply passing through the Avon Valley. Kids get a fantastic play, adults can browse and taste their way through local products, and everyone leaves with a smile – and probably a tub or two of ice cream for the road.
York Ice Cream Co and York Olive Oil Company
Address: 254 Ashworth Rd, Daliak (York) WA 6302
Opening hours: Saturday, Sunday & Public Holidays 10:00am – 5:00pm (other times by appointment)
Website: https://www.yorkoliveoil.com.au/
Find more dining options with playgrounds in Perth
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
Claire Tondut is currently a stay-at-home mother of one daughter and a puppy. When she is not chasing little Miss around she loves to spend time with hubby, friends and family.
