SUMMER FOR FAMILIES
Seven mountain adventure worlds at the Wilder Kaiser.
The Wilder Kaiser region has the highest concentration of mountain adventure worlds in Austria — seven of them close together, each with its own character. The range runs from Austria’s longest barefoot trail at the Hexenwasser, through Ellmi’s enchanted forest, to the castle wall of the KaiserWelt on the Brandstadl. All of them are built so that children are busy for a whole day while their parents enjoy the view.
And the first of those seven is waiting right outside our door: the Astberg Pony Alm in Going at 1,300 m — with 25 ponies, a petting zoo and a gentle chairlift to take you up. Places further afield, such as the Alpinolino in Westendorf or the RiesenWelt in Brixen, are under 30 minutes by car; the classics such as the Hexenwasser or Ellmi’s Zauberwelt only 10 to 15.
7 ADVENTURE WORLDS
Hexenwasser, Ellmi’s Zauberwelt, Astberg – Pony Alm, KaiserWelt, Hohe Salve, RiesenWelt, Alpinolino
ASTBERG PONY ALM FROM THE FARM
1,300 m, 25 ponies and a petting zoo, right in Going
1,829 M HOHE SALVE
A viewpoint peak with the Salvenkirchlein — Austria’s highest pilgrimage church
30 MIN. BY CAR AT MOST
All seven worlds within an easy drive of the Gafalhof
FAMILY DAYS OUT FROM THE GAFALHOF
Seven mountain adventure worlds for families at the Wilder Kaiser.
From our farm you can reach all seven mountain adventure worlds in the region — the densest collection of its kind in Austria. Current opening times and summer attractions are on wilderkaiser.info.
Our tip for the first day: start at the Astberg Pony Alm right here, with no drive at all, then head off rested the next morning to the Hexenwasser in Söll or to Ellmi’s Zauberwelt in Ellmau. That way you combine what is close by with the big attractions.
Three of the big ones
Barefoot trail and witchcraft in Söll.
Enchanted forest at 1,555 m in Ellmau.
Castle wall and tree houses on the Brandstadl.
Family days out from Going
Frequently asked questions
Seven, spread across the top stations of the SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser–Brixental — according to the tourist board, the highest concentration of mountain adventure worlds in Austria. From the Gafalhof all of them are reachable in about 30 minutes by car at most: Astberg Pony Alm (in Going itself), Ellmi’s Zauberwelt (Ellmau), Hexenwasser (Söll), KaiserWelt (Scheffau), Hohe Salve (Söll/Hopfgarten), RiesenWelt (Brixen) and Alpinolino (Westendorf).
The Astberg Pony Alm right here in Going — 25 ponies, a petting zoo and a gentle chairlift ride up to 1,300 m. The Hexenwasser in Söll, with its barefoot trail and water play stations, is also a relaxed start for the smallest. From about three or four, Ellmi’s Zauberwelt on the Hartkaiser becomes the exciting one, with its play park (swings, trampoline, climbing carousel, maze).
The Hexenwasser has Austria’s longest barefoot trail, with 60 hands-on stations — water, stone, forest and meadow underfoot. Then there is the 400-year-old Simonalm, where you can churn butter and bake bread, the Blaue Wunder as an indoor experience (perfect in the rain) and the Hexerei with its old craft rooms. Reached by the ten-seater Hexenwasser gondola — suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs.
For most of the adventure worlds you need a cable-car ticket for the ascent, priced through the SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser–Brixental. Admission to the worlds themselves is usually included in that ticket. One exception: the Astberg Pony Alm has its own pony-riding rates (children with a valid cable-car ticket € 7, without the ascent € 25, as at summer 2026). Current rates and details: wilderkaiser.info.
The Hexenwasser in Söll has two indoor options that work in the rain: the Blaue Wunder and the Simonalm. In a thunderstorm some of the cable cars stop running — then the KaiserBad in Ellmau (an adventure pool about 10 min. by car) is a good alternative. See our page on Lakes & swimming for details.
A change of clothes for the children (the Hexenwasser means wet children, whatever the weather), sturdy shoes, sun protection and hats (UV is stronger at 1,500 m than down in the valley), a water bottle and a small snack. Every top station has somewhere to eat, but queues are longer in high season. At the Astberg Pony Alm, helmets are provided for the pony rides.
