Find your family’s next adventure near Joburg
Hand-picked hikes, swims, 4x4 trails, farms and rainy-day fun — real experiences, not the usual mall day. Honestly rated, within reach of home.
On this weekend
Family-friendly events running now and in the next few weeks.
Wild Waters season opens
Boksburg · Wave pool & slides — strong for both kidsWeekends & school holidays, 09:00–17:00
Sunset Music Series (picnic concert)
Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden · Picnic on the lawns; bring a basket & blanketsSelected Sundays, Oct–Mar · 1–5pm
Cradle Berry Farm — strawberry picking
Muldersdrift · Pick-your-own; season is on nowSep–Dec, selected weekends (call first)
Irene Village Market
Big Red Barn, Olifantsfontein · Pony & camel rides, 300+ craft & food stalls1st & last Saturday · 09:00–14:00
Browse by mood
Tell us the vibe — we’ll match the place. Experiences, not franchises.
Favourite places to start
The spots our family keeps going back to.
Hennops Hiking Trail
Eagle Cove / Hamerkop Kloof
Modderfontein Nature Reserve
Bass Lake
Guides
The reads that pull families in from Google.
Swim & splash10 rock pools & swim spots near Joburg you can actually swim in
Spring-fed lakes and Magaliesberg rock pools where the water's clean enough to get in.
AdrenalineFamily adventure activities near Joburg that get the kids off their screens
Ziplines, caves, rafting, climbing and quad trails — real experiences within reach of home.
4×4 & off-road4x4 trails near Joburg for a family day out
Beginner-friendly to technical off-road trails, several with braai, swimming or game to make a day of it.
Eat & playFamily eateries near Joburg that aren't the usual franchise
Farm tables, cheese estates and restaurants where the kids get an experience — not a plastic playground.Family days out near Joburg — quick answers
What are the best family outings near Johannesburg?
The best family outings near Joburg mix the outdoors with something for every age — spring-fed swimming at Bass Lake, Magaliesberg rock pools and hikes, 4x4 trails, working farms, and the Cradle of Humankind. For rainy days there’s Sci-Bono, indoor climbing and the reopened planetarium. Browse all 240 on the Explore page.
Where can I take the kids near Joburg this weekend?
Check the What’s On page for family-friendly events running this weekend — markets with play lawns, outdoor movie nights, stargazing, strawberry picking and seasonal festivals, all within about 90 minutes of the city.
Are there free things to do with kids in Gauteng?
Yes — nature reserves, bird sanctuaries, koppies and botanical gardens like Klipriviersberg, The Wilds and Marievale are free to enter, with trails, hides and picnic space. See the free family days guide.
Where can families swim safely near Joburg?
Stick to spring-fed Bass Lake and the Magaliesberg rock pools and resort pools. Avoid the Vaal, Hartbeespoort Dam, Emmarentia and the Hennops river due to pollution. The rock pools guide lists the safe spots.
The weekend, sorted — in your inbox every Thursday
One short email: what’s on, what’s new, and one spot worth the drive. Launching soon — the What’s On page is live in the meantime.