My parenting experience is littered with instances of having to help one child or another get down from somewhere they clearly shouldn't have climbed up. Imagine my delight in finding a venue where climbing is not just allowed for young kids, but 100% encouraged!
Next Level Monkey Business is a new high ropes adventure in our beloved South West region and is suitable for kids as young as four. Plus, it's literally next door to another WA icon - Clancy's Fish Pub Dunsborough. It's climbing in the fresh air, followed by fresh fish and beer. Really, what more could you want?
This was our second visit to Next Level Monkey Business and this time, I was designated 'fun parent' and got to climb instead of my husband. Sessions are two hours in length and by 9:30am, my 7 and 5 year old girls and I were harnessed up with helmets on, waiver documents signed and ready to go.
Guests will be taken through the all-important safety briefing for using the course and the harness before either being let loose on the ropes or having a go at the training course. The equipment is pretty simple to use and you just need to remember to hook your harness to the course before you start and then attach your little 'monkey' if you want to have a go on the zipline.
There are various levels to climb, ranging from those suitable for young children and beginners to more seasoned climbers, or inexperienced climbers with the will to give it a go.
My five-year-old, along with all kids aged 6 and under, require an adult to supervise, so we started on the beginner course that is best suited for young children. My 7-year-old daughter has the confidence to go and do her own thing but decided to give herself a little refresher on the beginner course, before scooting off to the advanced courses.
Along each course, you will find a variety of rope activities to navigate. On the beginner, courses are bridges of varying stability, monkey face steps, a log tunnel, a rock climbing wall, wooden monkeys to climb through (my poor knees) and a zip line along every route.
The higher you go, the more inventive the course becomes. For older kids of 130cm and above and adults, the middle-level course provides challenges such as suspended log steps and bridges, rope bridges and so many more.
For kids ages 138cm and over and adults, the highest course is the most menacing and a real treat for thrill seekers. Once my younger daughter had had enough climbing, I was free to scramble up the ladder to the top of the course before carefully navigating a rope suspension bridge, crazy high zip lines and my personal favourite, a skateboard to get you from A to B.
The ropes are also feature a dedicated rock climbing wall, zip lines of various heights and a cubby house for children who aren't climbing.
Up on the viewing deck, visitors can enjoy a coffee or snack while they watch, while young children have a dedicated play area filled with plenty of monkey motifs.
After our two-hour climbing session was up, we had all worked up quite the appetite, so headed over to Clancy's Fish Pub next door for a spot of fish and chips and a lovely cold beverage.
Entry cost to Next Level Monkey Business is $42 per climber for children aged 4 to 8 years and an accompanying adult (ratio of one adult to two children) and $52 for climbers aged 9-12 years. Children aged 13 and over and adults are charged at $62 (except if accompanying a child ages 4-8 years.)
If you are visiting Dunsborough with the family, as a couple or as a group, this is a must-do challenge that will take you back to your childhood days spent carefree climbing and monkeying around.
