Perthies head to the Swan Valley, Freo or the coast on a weekend for a family day out, but just quietly I think the Perth Hills are now the up and coming place to go! There’s the fab Core Cider House, many wonderful wineries along the Bickley Valley Wine Trail, Kalamunda with its many gift shops, Farmers Market and cafes (like the fab Chatford and Co and Mason and Bird) and the pretty Mundaring Weir. There’s heaps to do.
One place that is a destination in itself is family friendly Masonmill. Locals will know it as “The Rose Farm”, but it has undergone a dramatic facelift. It is now a modern café which also has a fantastic outdoor playground, gift shop, stunning gardens and a new mini golf course. Since we visited there’s also been an addition of an Irish Village themed beer garden. 
In the café you’ll find casual home cooked style food. We usually enjoy a coffee and cake whenever we pop by. On this occasion we sat on the outside terrace, overlooking the gardens and surrounding bushland. It was lovely, though there were a few flies about.
My parents and I enjoyed a pot of tea, with a beautiful fresh rose, what a lovely touch!
Little Chef was treated to a milkshake and giant cookie before our game of mini golf.
Outside, there’s a lovely playground which is fully fenced and includes an outdoor eating area under a large pergola. The playground features a beautiful cubby house. It is a nature based play area, with lots of stepping stones and wobbly logs to balance on, as well as a slide and a grassed area too. Little Chef loves it.
Beyond the play area there are tranquil gardens and a pretty koi pond.
Fish food is available to buy at the café.
Spring and summer are beautiful times of year to visit Masonmill, which has stunning rose gardens to explore. What many people don’t know about is the hidden French Gardens, found up some steps behind the restaurant. They are absolutely spectacular and the kids will love a wander around the pathways and find beautifully manicured hidden nooks.
There’s a new mini golf course at Masonmill too. We do love a game of putt putt! The golf clubs are collected from the new gift shop (which has some really pretty things for sale).
The course is rustic, built with local materials, like logs and huge coffee rocks used as obstacles. The logs are perfect for sitting on, if you’re waiting your turn to putt.
The mini golf is challenging, but not difficult, we didn’t often go over the seven stroke limit on a hole. There are a few tight angles, tunnels, “bunkers” and slopes – just to make things tricky! We enjoyed it and Little Chef was happy not to come last – that was his Nanna haha! In summer, the floodlit mini golf course is open on Friday and Saturday nights too.
With so much to do, Masonmill is a great little spot in the pretty Perth Hills for a family afternoon out.