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The Garden Route is a great destination for active families, with plenty of fun, exciting and unique attractions to explore.
George and Wilderness have a slew of incredible outdoor activities to keep youngsters busy. Whether you want to involve the whole family, or watch on as the kids create happy memories, we’ve got a plan for every clan. George Tourism have scouted the top activities in George and compiled our pick of feel good attractions to help busy families plan an action-packed and memory-filled holiday.
Featured Image: Acrobranch
1. Exhilarating tree-top adventures await families visiting Acrobranch Garden Route at Timberlake Organic Village. Venture into the forest canopy to slide, balance, jump, crawl or swing through four action-packed courses. The Acro-twigs course is designed with safety in mind for small children, aged 4 to 8 years. There are 17 obstacles on the route, which are monitored by a safety guide. Parents can walk alongside the course to keep a close watch on small children. Most of this course is placed within reaching distance of an accompanying adult and involves short zip-lines, stepping on suspended walkways and balancing on high wires with handholds. Older children will be challenged by the Monkey Moves and Swinging Tarzan courses. Ladders ascend over six metres into the pine forest canopy with suspended boardwalks, beams, tubes and cargo nets to scramble and climb. The High Flying course is open to thrill seekers from age 12 up. This exhilarating course boasts an impressive 48 obstacles, including a high-flying trapeze. It definitely tests strength, agility and determination. Stepping off the highest platform requires plenty of daring but is a super adventure for fit family groups.
Featured Image: Pause Coffee Roastery
Closed shoes are ideal and long hair needs to be tied out of the way of the cable trolleys. The guides provide safety harnesses and training. The out of season family rate is excellent value. A visit to Timberlake Organic Village is a real crowd pleaser for multi-generational family groups. Pause Coffee Roastery serves excellent coffee and delicious cake, there is a boutique wine merchant as well as a restaurant, duck pond, art gallery, gift shops and a leather studio.
Featured Image: Dolphin Paragliding
2. Superb aerial adventurers are offered by local paragliding operators Dolphin Paragliding and Wild2Fly Paragliding. Six-time National Hang Gliding Champion Johan Anderson from Wild2Fly Paragliding, says the ‘bird’s eye’ perspective offered during a tandem flight is a firm family favourite. Wild2Fy have specially made harnesses for children. Their team of professional pilots encourage family groups to fly together. There is no age restriction for paragliding, however, most flights require a weight of between 20 and 120kg. Dolphin Paragliding also offer exhilarating tandem paragliding tours of the Wilderness skies. Soar over the National Park, sparkling lakes and 18 kilometres of golden beach. Keep an eye out for dolphins, whales and even Great White Sharks in the surf below.
Featured Image: Elevate Trampoline Park & Go Cart Track
3. Children can bump and bounce at one of two indoor trampoline parks in George. Griffin Sport is open for recreational jumping, free running and rock climbing, check out their Facebook page for time slots. These fun indoor child-friendly activities are ideal for rainy days. Kid’s clubs are offered during school holidays. Birthday parties and team building events can also be hosted. Light meals, snacks and beverages are available from the health bar. Action for every age is available at the Elevate Action Centre, in George Industria. The centre offers 70 connected trampolines, totalling over 600 square metres of bouncing space. Families can participate in a game of dodgeball or face-off in a thrilling Go-Kart Race. See the website for session times, bookings and holiday special offers. Trampolining is restricted to children over 4 years and go-karting to those over 12 years or 1.2 metres tall. Toddlers can play on the adjacent jungle gym and tired folks can grab a coffee at the café. Budget for grip socks at R30 per pair.
Featured Image: WildX Adventures
4. Thrill seeking kids and teenagers will love the dust, vibrations and petrol fumes at Wild X Adventures between Wilderness and Sedgefield, on the N2. Their ‘Family Fun’ quad bike ride includes breakfast and coffee, kids under 12 ride for half price. The 12 kilometre track is perfectly suited to novice riders and is sandy and forgiving. Vegetation lines both sides of the trail and helmets with face protection are provided. Small children can ride pillion on their parents’ bikes and those that can steer, brake and accelerate, can ride independently. No age restrictions apply. Owners Marisa and Johnnie Borrett say they have catered to parents with a children as young as 11 months and as old as one 86 year old granny. The tours are fully guided and can be tailor-made to the abilities of the group. Meanwhile experienced bikers and adrenalin junkies can go full throttle and opt for the ‘Extreme Quad Ride’. This trip is technically demanding and requires a faster bike and more advanced safety equipment. Wild X Adventures also offer other fantastic kid and family-friendly options including segway tours, archery, nerf ball, paint ball and air soft games. Don’t forget a dust buff and a good pair of shades when you book.
Featured Image: Stock Image
5. Ground Zero Bike and Trail Park offers a safe mountain bike pump track for all ages, located on Arbour Road. The 300 metre MBT track is an ideal venue for young bikers to hone their skills. The trail park owners even have a couple of bikes and helmets available for holidaymakers, along with an out-of-hours donation box. The track leads onto a 1.6 km cross country course and is open all hours. A jungle gym, coffee shop and mini zip-line are on the property.
