Perth is blessed with countless hours of sunshine, diverse wildlife, and stunning natural wonders. There are plenty of cheap and free activities to try this school holidays in Perth! Read on for ideas to get your kids off their phones this term break.
To help you plan ahead, here are the dates for the 2022 and 2021 school holidays in Perth:
Term 3 holidays - 25 September 2021 to 10 October 2021
Term 4 holidays - 17 December 2021 to 30 January 2022
Term 1 holidays - 9 April 2022 - 25 April 2022
Term 2 holidays - 2 July 2022 - 17 July 2022
Term 3 holidays - 24 September 2022 - 9 October 2022
Term 4 holidays - 16 December 2022 - 31 January 2023
Check out our selection of fun school holiday activities in Perth:
- Explore Pinnacle Desert and sandboard down Lancelin Sand Dunes
- Get an up-close encounter with different animals at the Ultimate Aussie Wildlife tour
- Spot constellations as you stargaze at Pinnacle Desert
- Discover the best of Perth and Fremantle on tour with a river cruise
- Have an unforgettable whale watching experience
- Make a splash as you cruise around on a high-powered jet boat
- Feel the adrenaline rush of skydiving at iFLY
- Take in vibrant coloured corals and fish at the Aquarium of Western Australia
- Meet dolphins, pelicans, and more on a Mandurah cruise
- Take a swing at mini golf in Australia's largest outdoor Mini Golf complex
- Hike at Araluen Botanic Park
- Uncover one of Perth’s hidden gems with a stroll through the Gwelup Secret Garden
- Test your limits with a fun wall climbing experience
- Express your creative side at Mundaring Arts Centre
- Give adorable animals a snuggle at Swan Valley Cuddly Animal Farm
- Learn about natural wonders at WA Museum Boola Bardip
- Swim or snorkel at Rottnest Island
- Feel the thrill of skating at Youth Esplanade Reserve
- Cycle around Kings Park
- Pack a picnic at Sir James Mitchell Park
Premium Activities
1. Explore Pinnacle Desert and sandboard down Lancelin Sand Dunes
Trade the busy city life for an action-packed day in the desert. Begin the trip with a stroll around Sorrento Quay Hillarys Boat Harbour before sandboarding your way down Lancelin Sand Dunes. After exploring Nambung National Park, you'll end the day at Pinnacle Desert, where you'll view the sunset and the rock formations. How's that for a fun school holiday in Perth?
2. Get an up-close encounter with different animals at the Ultimate Aussie Wildlife tour
The Ultimate Wildlife tour is an animal lover's dream come true. For a day, you'll get a chance to feed roos, take selfies with koalas, and see wombats. And those are just some of the land animals you'll encounter. There's also the smallest (not to mention cutest) penguins in the world at the aptly-named Penguin Island and fish, corals, and crabs you'll spot while riding a glass-bottom boat.
3. Spot constellations as you stargaze at Pinnacle Desert
Escape the bustling city life for a day in nature's wonders. Observe kangaroos and koalas in their natural habitat at Yanchep National Park before heading to Pinnacle Desert, where you can watch the sunset and stargaze. Don't forget to bring your camera to try your hand at astrophotography.
4. Discover the best of Perth and Fremantle on tour with a river cruise
Discover the best WA has to offer as you explore Perth's picture-perfect sights and Fremantle's most Instagrammable spots. It can also serve as a learning experience for the kids since you'll get an in-depth look at the history of the two cities. Cap off the trip with a picturesque tram ride and a relaxing cruise along Swan River.
Top Activities Below $100
5. Have an unforgettable whale watching experience
Australia doesn't just have some of the most fascinating land animals, but it also boasts diverse aquatic creatures. Come face-to-face with bottlenose dolphins, humpback whales, and (if you're lucky) great blue whales. Children will learn about biodiversity and how to help conservation efforts during the cruise. Because school holidays in Perth are not just entertaining, they're educational, too!
6. Make a splash as you cruise around on a high-powered jet boat
What do you get when you put together a heart-pumping experience with unbelievable ocean views? An exhilarating jet boat trip through the crystal clear waters of Dunn Bay. Kids and teens will love the rush of the jetboat's high-speed spins and sightings of dolphins.
7. Feel the adrenaline rush of skydiving at iFLY
You don't have to jump from a plane to experience skydiving. At iFly, children (and adults) can have fun while they're up in the air safely, thanks to complete safety gear and a state-of-the-art indoor facility. It's one sure-fire way to take your kids' school holidays in Perth to new heights.
Top Activities Below $50
8. Take in vibrant coloured corals and fish at the Aquarium of Western Australia
Feel like you're deep under the sea when you walk through an underwater tunnel and see turtles, giant sharks, and fishes swimming above. Kids will also learn to avoid sea creatures like globefish and stingrays at the Danger Zone Exhibit. There's not a moment wasted at Australia's largest single aquarium.
9. Meet dolphins, pelicans, and more on a Mandurah cruise
For a different kind of marine adventure, go on a cruise through Mandurah's waterways. The entire fam will see how crabs and lobsters are caught before visiting the largest population of local bottlenose dolphins. There are also plenty of games on-board, so there's never a dull moment!
10. Take a swing at mini golf in Australia's largest outdoor Mini Golf complex
Tee up at the biggest outdoor mini-golf complex in the country! The entire fam will get a kick out of funky obstacles and exciting challenges throughout the 36-hole courses. Then, you can take a relaxing stroll through the gardens after the game.
11. Hike at Araluen Botanic Park
Get rewarded with unbeatable views of stunning waterways and vibrant flowers when you hike Araluen Botanic Park. Keep your eyes peeled for WA native plants like jarrah and marri and native birds such as sacred kingfishers and tawny frogmouths. Don't forget to bring your hiking boots and sticks!
12. Test your limits with a fun wall climbing experience
For a different kind of school holiday activity in Perth, challenge the entire family to do a wall climbing course. Adrenaline Vault has different difficulty levels and obstacles, so everyone from age 6 and up can join in the fun.
13. Give adorable animals a snuggle at Swan Valley Cuddly Animal Farm
Head on over to Swan Valley Cuddly Animal Farm for an immersive experience with adorable animals. True to its name, your kids will get a chance to snuggle with farm animals and feed rabbits, lambs, piglets, kangas, and more!
Top Free Activities
14. Uncover one of Perth’s hidden gems with a stroll through the Gwelup Secret Garden
Gwelup Secret Garden doesn't just have a fascinating name. It's also one of Perth's most Instagrammable locations! Time your visit during sunset for golden hour shots and wait for your likes to pile up.
15. Express your creative side at Mundaring Arts Centre
Wondering what's in Perth this school holidays where kids can get their creative juices flowing? Mundaring Arts Centre hosts various exhibits and workshops, fit for all ages. Make sure to book ahead because slots fill out fast!
*Some workshops charge fees. Check out the Mundaring Arts Centre website for more details.
16. Learn about natural wonders at WA Museum Boola Bardip
WA Museum Boola Bardip has something for everyone. Children will enjoy learning about the state's animals and landscapes, while teens will love seeing epic tales about Ancient Greece come to life! Parents can sit back and relax as their kids learn something educational during the term break.
17. Swim or snorkel at Rottnest Island
No school holiday in Perth is complete without a swim to one of its beaches. Take the plunge at Rottnest Island and discover the best of its underwater treasures. Make the most out of the clear, blue waters of the island and bring your snorkelling gear to see corals and marine animals like the southern blue devil and moon wrasse underwater.
18. Feel the thrill of skating at Youth Esplanade Reserve
Parents, stand back and let the kids skate and slide at Esplanade Youth Plaza. There's plenty of space for everyone, so children of all ages can enjoy trying out tricks or sticking to the basics. Freo’s skate park is less than half an hour away from Perth, making it the ideal day trip.
19. Cycle around Kings Park
Kings Park doesn't just have plenty of bike trails. It also boasts loads of picturesque views. Children won't get sick of cycling through the park because of the diverse cycling tracks, from easy flat routes to more challenging uphill trails. Time your visit during sunrise or sunset to see the city in golden hues.
20. Pack a picnic at Sir James Mitchell Park
Make the most out of sublime sceneries from Sir James Mitchell Park and prep a picnic. Don't forget to bring enough food, so there's plenty for everyone to enjoy as they take in the views. There are loads of BBQs and gazebos in the area, but it doesn't hurt to get there a bit early to save a spot big enough for the entire fam.