You could easily lose an entire day here, but there’s everything to gain from it. There’s plenty to do, enough...
Zip-line your way into a great day out. Picture Hein Kaiser
You could easily lose an entire day here, but there’s everything to gain from it. There’s plenty to do, enough space to breathe, and the pricing won’t leave you clutching your wallet in despair.
The Big Red Barn in Irene is where screen time goes to die, because the only reason you’ll reach for your phone is to capture a moment worth remembering. Better yet, this isn’t one of those places you tick off a list and forget about. Chances are, before you’ve even left, you’ll already be planning your next visit.
It’s designed around family time, with a handful of bespoke eateries scattered around the property, an art studio, the main Red Barn restaurant and pub, and a superb little spot called Create.
It’s a ceramic studio where you can paint everything from plates and decorative bunnies to vases, milk jugs and beer mugs. Hell, almost anything that’s earthenware, paintable and fun.
A large selection of paints, stencils, sponge tools and brushes are available to help you express yourself. And that’s where your first couple of hours at the Big Red Barn should start.
Not only is ceramic painting a great family activity, but it also leaves you with a practical keepsake that gets glazed, fired and earns a permanent place in your home.
Fun ceramic painting and yum food
While you’re Picasso-ing, order something from the menu. There’s a good selection of reasonably priced meals. Mind you, these days, what is reasonable? But anyway, the food, service and overall experience are excellent.
The milkshakes are delicious and, instead of ordering individual meals, consider sharing a platter. The jalapeño cheese balls are fantastic, and the giant potato wedges make for a perfect snack.
The cakes, meanwhile, arrive as giant slices. The moist carrot cake and chocolate caramel cake were both excellent for sharing.
For kids, the Acrobranch outdoor adventure park at the Big Red Barn is just as much fun. Once they’ve covered their hands, clothes and probably portions of their faces in paint at Create, get them outside and let them burn off some energy.
There’s a zipline that runs about 15 metres above the ground. It’s not particularly fast, but safety comes first throughout the experience, making it suitable for children from around seven or eight years old.
There’s also the Acrobranch obstacle course winding through the trees, along with a smaller yellow course designed for younger children.
The instructors make a real difference. Sebastian, the instructor who took my eight-year-old under his wing for the adventure, was eagle-eyed at all times, kind and exceptionally professional throughout. It’s something parents notice immediately.
Hesitation is replaced with encouragement, and it’s clear the staff are well trained, genuinely enjoy what they do, and understand the difference between helping a nervous child build confidence and managing a full-tilt little Rambo.
For the hesitant and little Rambo’s
From the deck of the main Big Red Barn restaurant, parents have a panoramic view of the pirate-themed playground, the children’s bicycle course, outdoor trampolines and plenty of open space for an after-lunch stroll beneath the trees.
There’s also a small go-kart track. The vehicles aren’t particularly fast either, which once again makes the activity accessible to younger children while remaining well supervised.
There’s nothing flashy or Sandton-like about the Big Red Barn. And that’s part of its charm. You don’t need to dress up for anything except having fun and making the most of a space designed for families to spend time together outdoors.
It’s the kind of place where you can build your own adventure or, for that matter, just grab a takeaway from the restaurant, find a spot on the lawn and spend an afternoon reading together.
One more thing, before you leave. Ludwig’s Roses, by the way, has a mini nursery on the property too.
So before you leave, add a little romance to your garden at home with reasonably priced rose bushes in just about every colour and variety imaginable.
