What to do in Perth with kids? Located in southwestern Australia, Perth is the starting point for many families with kids to explore Australia’s west coast. Perth is one of the few major cities on this west coast and is a great place to spend a few days with the family. In this blog, we list the best children’s activities in Perth.
Best travel time Perth with kids
The best travel time to visit Perth with kids is during the months of October through April. These are the months when there is the least rainfall and the temperature is lovely. The temperature is usually above 20 degrees during these months, and in January through March it can even exceed 30 degrees.
In the winter months there is a lot more rain and temperatures are between 15 and 20 degrees. So it is generally not super cold in winter in Perth, but for swimming, it is too cold.
Transportation to and in Perth
You can get around the city of Perth just fine using public transportation. Public transportation (Transperth) in Perth consists of several trains, buses and boats. To use public transportation in Perth, you need the SmartRider card, which can be purchased at various places (airport, stores and information points). In some parts of the city, public transportation is free, but you must still have the SmartRider card to check in and out.
Of course, you can also explore the city of Perth perfectly well on foot and by bicycle. If you want to explore the Perth area and the west coast of Australia, though, it can be easy to get around in a car or a camper van. Personally, we always rent a car through Sunny Cars. Sunny Cars always offers the all inclusive principle, where everything is included in the price. We always really like that system. For more information on renting a car in Australia through Sunny Cars, take a look here.
Children’s activities Perth
#1 Perth Zoo
You can take kids to the zoo in Adelaide. The Perth Zoo is located in the middle of the city, making it easy to reach. The zoo is near the water, so you can take the ferry from the city and then it’s a short walk to the zoo entrance. The zoo has many of the great African animals such as the elephant, zebra, giraffe, hippo, lion and different types of monkeys.
Of course, here you can also see the various Australian animals such as the koala and the kangaroo. The zoo is not super big, but it is very green. You can book several tours on the website, where you go with an attendant to specific animals and get a very close look at them. You do pay an additional fee for this.
You can visit several catering establishments at the zoo to get something to eat and drink with kids. You can easily spend half a day entertaining the family here. For more information on opening hours, entrance fees and different animals, check out Perth Zoo ‘s website.
#2 Kings Park
Kings Park is a very nice city park to visit and this park is located in the middle of the city. A free city bus runs from downtown to this park. It is a city park that is hugely popular among families with kids because of the various playgrounds you have in this city park, among other things. From this city park you also have a very nice view of the city of Perth. Especially from the glass bridge, where you walk among the tops of the trees.
A botanical garden is also located in this city park. You can visit this botanical garden for free and in the botanical garden there is also a fine restaurant, where you can go for a snack and a drink. Because you have plenty of grassy areas in the park, the park is also a nice option for family picnics.
In the summer months, kids can also play with water in the park here. So you have Naturescape which is kind of a pool of water where kids can play in the water. Be sure to bring dry clothes or swimwear for the kids during the summer months. Because there are a number of playgrounds in the park, you can have a great time here for an entire morning or afternoon at this park in Perth with kids.
#3 Rottnest Island
You have several islands in the Perth area that you can visit with kids. For example, you have Rottnest Island which lies off the coast of Perth and here you can spot animals, including the cute quokkka. Because there are hardly any cars on the island, the best way to explore the island is by bicycle.
The quokka can be found everywhere here. Especially near restaurants (food) you usually see the critters. Fun to do with kids the game of who spots the critter first. The critters are very tame and definitely used to people. That’s why you see many tourists taking selfies with these critters. Besides the quokka, it is possible to encounter all kinds of reptiles. including various snakes and you can also spot seals in the sea just like that.
Rottnest Island has several beaches and you can also do some great hiking. You also have several spots around the island where you can snorkel in the summer. You can do this with an organized tour, where everything is arranged for you. You will then be picked up by a van from your hotel and taken to the ferry, where you will also be given a bicycle in advance.
You can then use those throughout the day to explore the island. For more information on an organized tour to this island check here.
Another island you can visit near downtown Perth is Heirisson Island. In this park there are several kangaroos that you can spot. When it is warm the critters are hidden among the trees, but this island is a way to encounter these critters so in the wild.
#4 Beaches of Perth
You can also enjoy a day at the beach in Perth with kids. You have several beaches around Perth that are worth visiting. Because it can be quite hot in Perth during the summer months, cooling off on the beach can therefore be a good option.
One of these popular beaches is Cottlesloe Beach. which has beautiful white sand and where you have several nice eateries near the beach. By train you can get here from downtown Perth in 20 minutes. In the summer months, the beach can be very crowded. Other beaches to visit in Perth with kids are Trigg Beach, City Beach and Floreat Beach.
#5 Fremantle Adventure World
A fun day trip from Perth with kids is to the town of Fremantle. Fremantle is about 25 minutes by car from downtown Perth. You can also travel to this coastal town by train (Fremantle Line). The center of Fremantle is fun to visit and has enough quaint stores, old houses and cozy restaurants to keep you entertained.
In addition, it is fun to take a tour of the Fremantle Markets. This is an indoor market with dozens of stalls selling all kinds of stuff. For kids, visiting the prison in Fremantle can be exciting. Fremantle Prison offers tours, taking you through the cell blocks of yesteryear.
If you enjoy visiting museums, you can also visit the Shipwrecks Museum in Fremantle with kids. There is also a large Ferris wheel in the center, where you can get a great view of Fremantle Harbor. Yet for kids, Fremantle will appeal mainly because of the amusement park located in this place: Fremantle Adventure World.
Fremantle Adventure World is a combination amusement park and water park. You have attractions here for both young and older kids, but keep in mind that many attractions have a minimum length restriction. So check the website carefully beforehand to see exactly where kids are allowed in and where they are not. The water park also has several spectacular slides. The entrance fee to this amusement park is quite pricey, though. For more information on this amusement park, check out the Fremantle Adventure World website .
Other children’s activities Perth
In addition to the children’s activities in Perth described above, you do have a number of activities you can do in Perth with the family. We list them briefly below.
#6 Whale cruise: if you visit Perth in the months between May and November, you can also take a boat to look for whales. This tour takes about 2 hours and you can choose to be picked up by bus. This tour also includes an admission ticket to the Perth Aquarium. For more information on this Whale Cruise, take a look here.
#7 Western Australian Aquarium: you can also go to a large aquarium in the Perth area. The Western Australian Aquarium is located just outside the city about a 20-minute drive away. You will find lots of different tropical fish, sharks, turtles, rays and jellyfish for you to view at this aquarium. One of the highlights of the aquarium is the underwater tunnel, where you can see the fish swimming above your head. For tickets to this aquarium, check here.
#8 John Forrest National Park: just outside the center of Perth a half hour away by car, you will find this national park. You can do several hikes with kids in this national park, and it is quite possible that you will encounter kangaroos along the way here. A suitable hike to do with kids is the National Park Falls Trail, which takes about an hour. The trail is 2.5 kilometers long and you will pass several waterfalls.
#9 Optus Stadium: you have a large stadium located in Perth where various sports and music events are held. You can visit this stadium, but a spectacular activity for kids 10 and older is to take a walk on the roof of the stadium. You will then be secured and go out in a small group with a guide. For more information on a tour of the stadium, take a lookhere and if you want to go up to the roof of the stadium with kids too, take a look here.
#10 Perth Gaming Museum: If you enjoy visiting a museum, the Perth Gaming Museum could be a nice option. You have all kinds of old game consoles here that you can play games on. Especially on a rainy day in Perth. this is a great option to have a few hours of fun with kids.
#11 Hop on Hop off Bus Perth: If you don’t have much time to visit the city of Perth with kids, you can also take a tour on the hop on hop off buses. These buses run a tour of a total of 2 hours through the city and stop at the city’s main attractions. You can buy a ticket here for 24 hours or 48 hours that you can use these buses.
#12 Armadale Reptile Centre: just outside the center of Perth about a half-hour drive from Perth is this reptile center. Kids can get up close and personal with different reptiles here. They have here at 2 different times that they offer a tour of the park. In addition to reptiles, they also have some other animals here for you to view such as kangaroos, donkeys and various birds.
#13 Caversham Wildlife Park: this park is also a half-hour drive away from Perth and you have here mainly many animals from Australia itself such as kangaroos, wombats and koalas. Here, too, you can get very close to the animals.
#14 Perth’s Outback Splash: this is a fun water park in the Perth area. You have several pools here with several slides as well. The water park has a section for slightly older kids and a section for younger kids. In addition, near the water park you also have a maze lying around. You can easily have a whole day here with kids.
Family-friendly restaurant Perth
You can eat well in Perth with kids at several restaurants. You have several family-friendly restaurants in Perth and we list some of them below.
Victoria Park Hotel: this restaurant is located right in the city center and has a very nice garden, where you can have a bite to eat with kids. This garden also has a playground for the kids.
Clancy’s Fishbar: this family-friendly restaurant is located on the beach in Perth and you can eat simple dishes here. For the kids, there is a playground next to the restaurant, where they can play. A great place to end the day with dinner by the sea.
Little Creatures Brewery: this family-friendly restaurant is located in Fremantle a half-hour drive from downtown Perth. You can have lunch here if you visit this fun destination with kids. They have simple dishes here such as pizza, burgers with fries and nachos. You can sit out here and young kids can play in the sandbox on the terrace.
Family-friendly hotel Perth
You can stay in Perth with kids just fine. You have plenty of nice family-friendly hotels in Perth where you can sleep with the family. We list some of these family-friendly hotels. These are hotels best rated by families with kids. Click on the blue link for more information.
Budget hotel: ibis Styles East Perth
Mid-range hotel: Novotel Perth Murray Street
Luxury hotel: Crown Metropol Perth
If the above options don’t include a suitable hotel, check out the full list of family-friendly accommodations in Perth.
