Perth offers everything from sunny outdoor adventures to air-conditioned indoor escapes. Meet kangaroos, explore underwater tunnels, or play video games. There's something for everyone during the school holidays in and around Perth. Here are 15 of our favourite activities to do during the school holidays for a range of ages, interests, and budgets.
| Attraction | Location | Type | Age Range | Price | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scitech | West Perth | Indoor / Science & Discovery | 4–14 | $–$$ | Interactive exhibits, planetarium, science demos |
| Perth Zoo | South Perth | Outdoor / Wildlife | All ages | $$ | Animal encounters, playground, keeper talks |
| WA Museum Boola Bardip | Perth Cultural Centre, Northbridge | Indoor / Educational | All ages | Free (special exhibits ticketed) | Dinosaurs, Indigenous culture, interactive galleries |
| Elizabeth Quay & BHP Water Park | Perth CBD | Outdoor / Play & Leisure | All ages | Free | Water play area, carousel, riverside walk |
| Caversham Wildlife Park | Whiteman Park, Swan Valley | Outdoor / Wildlife | All ages | $$ | Kangaroo feeding, koalas, farm shows |
| Adventure World | Bibra Lake | Outdoor / Theme Park | All ages | $$$ | Water slides, rides, dragon coaster |
| Fremantle Markets | Fremantle | Indoor / Market & Food | All ages | Free entry | Local produce, artisan stalls, street performers |
| WA Maritime Museum | Fremantle | Indoor / Maritime History | All ages | $–$$ | Ship exhibits, submarine tour, ocean history |
| Kings Park & Botanic Garden | Perth CBD | Outdoor / Nature & Play | All ages | Free | Naturescape, walking trails, wildflowers |
| Rottnest Island Day Trip | Off Perth Coast | Outdoor / Adventure | All ages | $$–$$$ | Quokkas, beaches, cycling, snorkelling |
| AQWA (Aquarium of Western Australia) | Hillarys Boat Harbour | Indoor / Marine Life | All ages | $$ | Underwater tunnel, touch pool, sharks |
| Yanchep National Park | Yanchep | Outdoor / Nature & Wildlife | All ages | Entry fee | Caves, koalas, Aboriginal culture |
| Mandurah Dolphin Cruise | Mandurah | Outdoor / Boat Tour | All ages | $$ | Dolphin spotting, canals, family cruise |
| Whiteman Park | Swan Valley | Outdoor / Parkland & Attractions | All ages | Free (some paid) | Playgrounds, vintage tram, museums |
| The Nostalgia Box (Video Game Museum) | Northbridge | Indoor / Interactive Museum | 6+ | $ | Retro consoles, gaming history, hands-on play |
Scitech
Scitech is Perth's interactive science hub with hands-on activities. You'll find museums like these across major Australian cities, and they make for great school holiday activities in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth. Children are free to touch, build, test, and discover. There are themed zones filled with robots, magnets, and motion experiments. The Planetarium has 180-degree projections of stars and galaxies. This is a great activity that can easily fill half a day.
Perth Zoo
Perth Zoo is just across the river in South Perth. Here, you can see elephants, lions, and orangutans. There's also a vast playground where kids can burn off their excess energy. There are also keeper talks and feeding times where children can get a closer look at their favourite animals.
WA Museum Boola Bardip
WA Museum Bardip is in the Perth Cultural Centre and a great option for a rainy day. Here, you can discover the stories of Western Australia through fossils, flight simulators, and ancient artefacts. This modern and bright space is full of interactive displays that kids and adults will find engaging. Younger visitors can hunt for dinosaurs while the older ones can see stunning exhibits on Aboriginal culture.
Elizabeth Quay & BHP Water Park
Elizabeth Quay is one of the most family-friendly spaces in Perth. The BHP Water Park is an excellent summer cooldown. Parents can relax nearby with coffee or ice cream while their kids dart through fountains. There's also a playground and the Elizabeth Quay Carousel. It's all free, making it an excellent choice for the school holidays.
Caversham Wildlife Park
Caversham Wildlife Park is located inside Whiteman Park. This is a place for meeting Australia's favourite animals up close. Kids can hand-feed kangaroos, cuddle koalas, and watch farm shows. This is an interactive and hands-on experience. Parents will love the shady picnic spots and cafés, too.
Adventure World
Adventure World is home to water slides, rollercoasters, and splash zones. This is a full-day destination for families where little ones will love the Dragon Express and Kingdom. This is only open from September to April, though, so the holiday periods can be busy. It's recommended you book ahead.
Fremantle Markets
The heritage halls of Fremantle Markets are awash with colour, creativity, and the smell of street food. Parents can explore artisan goods while kids will be more interested in buskers or handcrafted toys. Free to enter, this is an excellent option for a relaxed morning outing or to pick up supplies before heading out elsewhere for the rest of your day.
WA Maritime Museum
The WA Maritime Museum can be found on Fremantle's waterfront. Explore Western Australia's ocean history, find shipwreck relics, pearl-diving stories, and the iconic submarine Ovens. Clamber through the decks and learn about how sailors lived at sea. A great mix of adventure and history, this is a great school holiday activity for kids interested in ships.
Kings Park & Botanic Garden
Perth's green heart, Kings Park, offers unbeatable city views and a nice spot for families to roam. At the Rio Tinto Naturescape, kids can climb logs, dam creeks, and build cubbies. Everything here, from the playgrounds to the picnic lawns, is free, so you can easily spend the entire day here. During the school holidays, there are workshops and outdoor performances. If you're looking for something good to do during the school holidays in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, or Adelaide, look to your local botanic garden!
Rottnest Island Day Trip
Rottnest Island is just a short ferry ride from Perth. This place is home to the famous quokkas and is a paradise for families who love beaches and bikes. Explore the bays, hire cycles, and snorkel in crystal-clear water. Car-free roads, safe paths, and an easygoing island vibe. This is a great school holiday activity.
The Aquarium of Western Australia (AQWA)
AQWA is at Hillarys Boat Harbour. Here, you can walk through glass tunnels surrounded by sharks, rays, and giant fish. Kids can also meet playful sea turtles and starfish at the touch pool. With easy parking and air-conditioned comfort, this is an excellent option for hotter days.
Yanchep National Park
Yanchep National Park is just a short drive north of the city. Here, you can walk among koalas, spot kangaroos, or venture into the Crystal Cave for a guided tour. There are plenty of picnic areas, playgrounds, and open spaces, too. If you're looking for something fun to do in Adelaide, check out the Morialta Conservation Park, where you can also see koalas.
Mandurah Dolphin Cruise
See dolphins up close. Here, boats glide through canals and estuaries with wild dolphins swimming alongside, often leaping in the wake. Cruises run daily, and it's an easy half-day outing from Perth. Obviously, don't forget sunscreen, hats, and cameras.
Whiteman Park
Whiteman Park offers a whole day of fun. Picnic in the shade, ride the vintage tram, visit the Motor Museum, or head into Caversham Wildlife Park next door. There are plenty of playgrounds, and entry to the park is free. Safe, well-maintained, and complete with affordable attractions for all ages, Whiteman Park is highly recommended during the school holidays. Local parks are great options for school holidays in Brisbane, too, which is home to a good number of them.
The Nostalgia Box (Video Game Museum)
The Nostalgia Box in Northbridge is a video game museum. Featuring more than a hundred consoles, all playable, from the 1970s to today, it's hands-on fun for the whole family. This is particularly great on rainy days.
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