Best Family‑Friendly Adventures In The Kangaroo Valley (Weekend Guide)

A weekend getaway to Kangaroo Valley was one of the first trips we took after moving to Sydney. Then it became a tradition, and we’ve returned every year since.

As the road winds between cliffs and dairy pastures, with mist still curling over the hills, I sometimes imagine I’m driving through the English countryside. Then I see the kangaroo‑and‑wombat warning signs, and the side roads that lead to sandstone canyons and temperate rainforests.

Kangaroo Valley — this tucked‑away pocket of NSW’s South Coast — hides some of the best weekend adventures for families who don’t mind a bit of mud or the occasional wombat nosing around the tent. Just two hours from Sydney, it feels both wild and gentle: waterfalls close enough for toddlers to admire, cafés civilised enough for parents to revive, and riverside beaches fresh enough to wake everyone up again.

This is my family guide to the Kangaroo Valley, with our favorite activities.

The best things to do with kids in the Kangaroo Valley

Paddle the Kangaroo River by kayak or canoe

If there’s only one thing you do here, make it paddling down the Kangaroo River. Our preferred canoe launch is the Bendeela Recreation Area, which doubles as the most entertaining wombat campground. The river here is slow and steady, perfect for beginners (like us), even if the little one who’s supposed to be helping mostly hinders with his shiny new paddle.

Where to launch?

Bendeela is both a campground and a day‑use area, so no worries if you don’t have a booking. Simply drive in and you’ll find several launch sites along the river.

Which way to paddle

Which direction to paddle? Whichever you fancy. The scenery stays beautiful either way, and you can paddle quite a long distance in both directions. Head west toward Tigersnake Campground or Tallowa Dam Campsite if you’d like to turn your getaway into a multi‑day paddling trip.

Hire or join a guided tour

If you don’t have your own gear, hire it from Kangaroo Valley Kayaks. They offer different one-way paddle options, and they will drop you off or pick you up. You can also join a guided kayak tour with the Kangaroo Valley Adventure Company.

What to bring?

In any case, pack a picnic into a dry bag, bring your sense of play, and keep your eyes open for the occasional water dragon sunbathing like he owns the place (which, technically, he does).

Good to bring: a waterproof phone pouch, reef‑safe sunscreen, and an emergency chocolate bar for the motivational phase halfway through.

Discover magical waterfalls nearby

The valley might be green and calm, but its edges are framed by wild escarpments. Yes, it means waterfalls! And mighty ones.

I don’t think you can see all of them in just one weekend — if that’s the case, pick one. Fitzroy Falls is the top choice for non-hikers, and Minnamurra Falls is the best for a combined rainforest + waterfall experience.

Fitzroy Falls Lookout & West Rim Track, Morton National Park

the view from Jersey Lookout

Plunging 81 meters over the escarpment into Yarrunga Valley, Fitzroy Falls is among the most dramatic ones in Australia. The viewing platform is a short walk from the parking lot, and it’s even pram-friendly for the first section.

But from this first lookout you’re looking down on Fitzroy Falls, which is impressive (particularly if it flows well after a rainy period), but it’s not the traditional postcard view.

Continue on the West Rim walking track (3.5 km return), which leads you to a series of lookouts on the canyon rim: Jersey Lookout, Richardson Lookout, Twin Falls Lookout, Paines Lookout, Starkeys Lookout and Renown lookout.

The catch? Jersey Lookout offers the best frontal view of Fitzroy Falls. Richardson Lookout has a distant view, and the rest of them won’t have Fitzroy Falls views, rather views of smaller cascades, the canyon and Yarrunga Valley. That’s not to stay, it’s not worthwhile walking the full West Rim track, but if your child completely loses it (tears‑and‑sand‑in‑the‑hair edition) at Jersey Lookout, you’ll at least know that you’ve seen the highlight.

Belmore Falls, Morton National Park

Another stunner, only 20 minutes’ drive from Fitzroy Falls. From the car park, an easy 1 km return walk hugs the escarpment and takes you past four lookouts, each framing the twin‑tiered falls and the valley below a bit differently.

The track is short and rewarding, making it one of the easiest waterfall stops for families. The car park has BBQs and shaded tables, perfect for restoring family morale with snacks. (I mean, healthy snacks.)

Carrington Falls, Budderoo National Park

Carrington Falls, another dramatic plunge waterfall, this one on the Kangaroo River. It’s one of those spots that make kids whisper “whoa” and adults quietly agree.

The best way to see it is by following the Carrington Falls Lookout Track, an easy 600‑metre loop starting from the picnic area (at the end of Thomas Place Road). The trail skirts the cliff edge and links several lookouts. The main Falls View Lookout offers the classic full‑frontal view.

Despite the short distance, there are steps to climb, photo breaks demanded, and my son loves spotting the rainbow in the spray and forgets to nag me to stop taking that many pictures (though I should stop, there’s always too many).

Minnamurra Falls, Budderoo National Park

A lovely elevated walkway leads through subtropical rainforest towards Minnamurra Falls, with birds chirping and beams of sunlight filtering through.

The walk starts at the Minnamurra Rainforest Centre, and actually, you’ll have two options that link together:

• Lyrebird Loop Walk (1.6 km): This is a paved or boardwalk circuit that winds along the river through dense rainforest. Suspension bridges swing softly above the creek, and signs along the route reveal fascinating rainforest trivia.
• Falls Walk (2.6 km): Branching off the Lyrebird Loop, this section climbs steadily through thick forest to two viewing platforms, the second one with a close, frontal view of Minnamurra Falls. It’s noticeably steeper but beautifully maintained.

The full Minnamurra Rainforest Walk combines both routes (about 4.2 km total). It’s  a perfect half‑day adventure, and one of the most family‑friendly waterfall walks in NSW, with enough benches, shade, bridges, and “wow moments” to keep younger hikers motivated.

You could stroll the Lyrebird Loop with a pram up to the suspension bridge, and I saw people who tried to push the pram all the way to the waterfall. A great workout for those determined enough. I’d have chosen a child carrier. (I did previously, and thankfully, mine walks on his own now.)

Access is from 9 am to 5 pm daily, the path is closed outside of operating hours.

Swim & picnic at Riverside Park Beach (Hampden Bridge)

Spanning the Kangaroo River like something out of a storybook, Hampden Bridge feels more like a castle gate than a piece of road engineering. Built in 1898 and named after Lord Hampden, it’s Australia’s last surviving wooden‑towered suspension bridge.

After driving through the bridge, park at Riverside Park. Take the path down to Riverside Park Beach, a tiny sandy beach under the graceful arches of Hampden Bridge. The water here is shallow and calm, especially good for a quick swim or water ball games.

What to bring? A sand‑free mat, a cooler bag, maybe a hammock (for optimistic parents only).

Go wombat spotting at twilight (and camp at Bendeela Recreation Area)

Bendeela Recreation Area is our favorite campground in the Kangaroo Valley: it’s free (booking is required, and there’s a 6 AUD registration fee), easily accessible, and it features wild wombats at night!

We pitched our tent, and a quick toilet break after nightfall was enough to almost fall over a peacefully grazing wombat. Get a torch and walk around, and you’d find more, all of them large, round, and impressively indifferent to your excitement. Leave them alone so that it stays this way.

What to bring? Headlamps for hands‑free spotting, folding chairs for patient parents, and maybe a hot chocolate kit for victory celebrations later.

If your kids are old enough (10+ years), here’s another cool nocturnal wildlife experience: at Scribbly Farm, after a warm Aussie welcome (a glass of sparkling wine or soft drink) and some fire crackling, you take a guided twilight walk through the farm’s 30‑acre “Untouched Paddock”, where echidnas, wombats, and kangaroos emerge from the dusk. You’ll spot wildlife invisible to the naked eye with a thermal night‑vision monocular. It’s half bushwalk, half secret mission. Learn more and book the tour here!

Stop for a treat at The General Café

Adventures demand pastry. The General Café doesn’t only have superb coffee, but also serves organic sour dough bread and a changing menu of local, fresh, sustainable food. Tomato and fresh cheese, anyone?

Have a picnic with views at Cambewarra Mountain Lookout

Before you head home, wind your way up the Cambewarra Range to its mountain lookout (right by the road, no hiking required). There’s a small café perched by the viewing platform, and a panoramic stretch over the Shoalhaven Valley that feels painted just for the drive back.

We unpack our leftover sandwiches here, and wave an emotional goodbye to the ridgelines before descending.

Stay somewhere magical

Because Kangaroo Valley delivers magic, you just need to pick the exact kind. Let me show you some options:

Traditional Australian country homestead: Wombatalla. Welcoming, quietly curious, and perfectly at home in nature. Set on seven rolling acres just five minutes from Kangaroo Valley village, this peaceful country house pairs 4‑star comfort with birdsong mornings and golden‑hour sunsets. Guests can wander around, play a casual game of cricket on the lawn, or simply sit on the veranda watching wombats and kangaroos graze across the paddock. Wombatalla is available as both B&B accommodation on a per room basis, or you can reserve the whole house on a self contained, self catering basis. It’s the kind of stay that slows your heartbeat and makes you remember what silence sounds like. Check rates and book here!

Spacious countryside cottage: Alcheringa Cottage. It’s the kind of stay that feels instantly like home, only it’s quieter, greener, and full of valley light. The spacious two‑bedroom cottage has all that you’d need for comfort: a kitchen built for family meals, a fireplace for cool evenings, and a balcony made for stretching out to take in those spectacular valley views! You’ll have the impression of being alone amidst all of the green, yet the small town of Kangaroo Valley is only 5 minutes’ drive away. Check rates and book here!

Countryside timber cabin: Kangaroo Valley Timber Cabin. Built from timber, filled with light, and its furnishings inspired by Nordic cabins, this comfy holiday home has everything you need for a peaceful stay: a full kitchen and coffee machine, a balcony to enjoy the views, an outdoor swimming pool for sunny days, barbecue facilities for lazy evenings. It sleeps six people: 1 queen bed, 2 bunk beds in the bedroom, and another 2 bunk beds in the living room. Check rates and book here!

Book early on holiday weekends — the valley fills fast with fellow wanderers chasing serenity.

Tips for planning the perfect Kangaroo Valley weekend

When to visit? Year‑round; the temperature rarely misbehaves. Spring and early autumn are most comfortable for hikes and paddles. Summer gets hot.

What to bring? Wide-brim hats, swimmer gear, mozzie bands, and patience for winding scenic roads. A thermos of proper coffee or spiced tea, your favorite picnic blanket that forgives crumbs, and maybe a novel or journal you’ve been too busy to open. For the kids don’t forget the headlamps for nocturnal wildlife fun, enough snacks and an extra set of everything.

Festivals & local fare to keep in mind: 

• February: annual Kangaroo Valley Show
• October: annual Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival
• Year‑round: local honey, olives, handmade soaps, and produce shops that’ll ruin supermarkets for you.

Why families love the Kangaroo Valley

It’s untouched yet utterly welcoming, with the Kangaroo River being perfect for beginner paddlers and offering riverside beaches for the hottest days. Not to mention your nighttime companions, the wombats and kangaroos.

To us each return trip feels like rereading a favorite story, except there’s always something new beyond the next bend. So pack light on clothes and heavy on snacks, and come see it for yourself.