Perth is one of the best cities in Australia for a family trip — wide beaches, world-class wildlife, interactive museums, and outdoor spaces that stay enjoyable well into the evening. The challenge is not finding things to do, it is knowing which ones suit your kids right now and how to build a day that does not fall apart by lunch.
We have grouped everything by age, because a 3-year-old and a 13-year-old need a completely different kind of day. We have also flagged which activities need a car, because some of Perth’s best family experiences sit outside the CBD.
Key Summary: Our Quick Guide for Things to Do With Kids in Perth
| Activity | Best for | Needs a car? | Book ahead? |
| Elizabeth Quay water play | Toddlers | No | No |
| Caversham Wildlife Park | Ages 2–10 | Yes | Recommended |
| Kings Park playgrounds | All ages | No | No |
| Scitech & Planetarium | Ages 4–12 | No | No |
| Perth Zoo | Ages 3–12 | No | Recommended |
| WA Museum Boola Bardip | Ages 6+ | No | No |
| AQWA Aquarium | Ages 4–12 | Yes | No |
| Adventure World | Ages 6–16 | Yes | Recommended |
| Rottnest Island | Ages 5+ | Ferry | Yes — book early |
| Optus Stadium (AFL) | Ages 8+ | No | Yes |
| Penguin Island | Ages 4+ | Yes | Check access first |
| Yanchep National Park | All ages | Yes | No |
Attractions and Activities in Perth for Toddlers and Under 5s
Elizabeth Quay
Elizabeth Quay is the most reliable free stop in Perth for young kids. The BHP water play park is flat, safe, and accessible — most kids under five will happily splash for as long as you allow. Pack a full change of clothes regardless of the weather. The carousel nearby is a hit with the two-to-five age group, and there are grassed areas for lunch.
- Allow: 1.5 to 2.5 hours
- Getting there: short walk or bus from the CBD
Kings Park
Kings Park has four playgrounds, but the Ivey Watson Playground is the right call for toddlers — smaller, contained, and less overwhelming than the others. Free parking for up to three hours makes it easy to combine with the Swan River lookout before heading back into the city.
- Allow: 1.5 to 2 hours
- Getting there: free CAT bus or free parking
Caversham Wildlife Park
Caversham Wildlife Park (car required) is one of the best places in Perth for young children to get genuinely close to Australian animals. Hand-feeding kangaroos, meeting koalas, and spotting wombats across 200-plus species — it is the kind of morning kids remember. Located 20 kilometres northeast of the city in Whiteman Park, you will need your own wheels to get there comfortably.
- Allow: 2 to 3 hours | Getting there: own car; free parking on-site
Our tip: Go early. The animals are most active in the morning and the car park fills quickly on school holiday days.
Attractions and Activities in Perth for Ages 4 to 8
Scitech and the Perth Planetarium
Scitech and the Perth Planetarium is our top indoor pick for this age group. The hands-on exhibits are solid, but the real point of difference is the shows — the Planetarium, live science demonstrations, and puppet shows are all included in the ticket price and run throughout the day. The full-dome Planetarium session on the current night sky is genuinely impressive for kids and adults alike.
- Allow: 2.5 to 4 hours | Getting there: free CAT bus from the CBD
Our tip: Check the show schedule before you arrive and lock in the Planetarium as your first session. It fills up.
Perth Zoo
Perth Zoo is one of the more underrated zoos in Australia — 17 hectares, strong Australian wildlife, and a quokka exhibit for families who cannot make it to Rottnest Island. Our favourite trick: take the public ferry from Elizabeth Quay to South Perth instead of driving. It costs almost nothing and the kids treat the boat ride as part of the adventure.
- Allow: 4 to 6 hours | Getting there: ferry from Elizabeth Quay (recommended) or by car
Kings Park: Rio Tinto Naturescape
Kings Park: Rio Tinto Naturescape is, simply, the best urban playground in WA. Kids dig, build dams, climb, and get muddy in a semi-wild setting right in the middle of the city. It is unlike any other city playground in Australia — give it more time than you think.
- Allow: 2 to 3 hours | Getting there: free CAT bus or free parking | Pack: change of clothes and water
Attractions and Activities in Perth for Kids Ages 9 to 12
Rottnest Island
Rottnest Island is the best single-day experience in Perth, full stop. No cars on the island means bikes are the main way around, and kids in this age group handle the hills comfortably. The quokkas are the famous drawcard, the beaches are some of the clearest water in the state, and snorkelling at The Basin is easy for confident swimmers. Daily visitor numbers are capped, so ferry booking is not optional — it is essential.
- Allow: a full day; take the earliest ferry and the latest return | Ferry from: Fremantle (~30 min), Hillarys (~45 min), or Perth Barrack St Jetty (~90 min) | Bike hire: book in advance
Our tip: Book the ferry as soon as your dates are confirmed. During school holidays, popular departure times sell out well in advance.
AQWA — The Aquarium of Western Australia
AQWA — The Aquarium of Western Australia (car required) sits at Hillarys Boat Harbour and is easy to pair with a beach day or marina lunch. The centrepiece is an underwater tunnel through the main shark tank — manta rays, sharks, and sea turtles visible at close range from a slow-moving conveyor belt. Smaller than the major east coast aquariums, but the quality is high.
- Allow: 2 to 3 hours | Getting there: car to Hillarys; ~25 minutes from the CBD
Adventure World
Adventure World (car required) is Perth’s only theme park, located in Bibra Lake about 25 minutes south of the city. It is not Gold Coast scale, but for a Perth family day it delivers: the Abyss roller coaster, Goliath, Kraken (the longest funnel water slide in the world), and a solid water park section. Younger kids in this age bracket will enjoy the Dragon Express coaster and most of the water attractions; older kids can handle the bigger rides. Open September to April.
- Allow: a full day | Getting there: own car; ~25 minutes from Perth CBD
Fremantle
Fremantle works well for kids who have started to engage with history. The WA Maritime Museum is free for children and has hands-on exhibits including a life-size submarine. The Shipwreck Museum, also free, houses the hull of the Dutch ship Batavia and is one of the more atmospheric museum spaces in WA. Beyond the museums, the Esplanade Park has a skate area and the Fremantle Ferris Wheel.
- Allow: half day for the museums; full day if you add the beach | Getting there: 30-minute train from Perth city
Our tip: Do the Shipwreck Museum first — it is quieter and sets the scene well for the Maritime Museum next door.
Attractions and Activities in Perth for Teens
Rottnest Island: the full loop
The same island, but this age group can typically ride the full 26-kilometre circuit with stops. The combination of real cycling distance, wild swimming bays, and quokkas tends to land well even with teenagers who were reluctant to leave the accommodation.
Optus Stadium
Optus Stadium — AFL game is one of those experiences that works regardless of whether anyone in your family follows football. Fireworks on every home team goal, a massive crowd, and pre-game activations outside the stadium. The Big Bash League cricket works as a summer alternative. Book through Ticketmaster and arrive 45 minutes early for the full pre-game atmosphere.
- AFL season: March to September | Getting there: walkable from Burswood station
Fremantle Prison
Fremantle Prison history and torchlight tours are a reliable hit with teens who find standard museums low-energy. The prison operated from 1855 to 1991 and the tours cover its full history well. Evening torchlight tours sell out — book at least a week ahead.
- Allow: 2 hours | Getting there: central Fremantle, walkable from the train station
Day Trips That Need a Car
Yanchep National Park
Yanchep National Park (~1 hour north) is one of the best ways to see koalas in WA without paying theme park prices. Resident kangaroos graze through the picnic areas, Crystal Cave tours run daily, and the Yanchep Lagoon beach — protected by a natural reef — is one of the calmest kid-friendly ocean swims near Perth.
- Allow: a full day
Our tip: Pack a picnic and arrive at opening. Koalas are most visible in the early morning.
Perth Hills waterfalls
Perth Hills waterfalls (30–45 minutes from the city) offer easy family bush walks with a proper payoff. Lesmurdie Falls is the most accessible — a short walk even for young kids. John Forest National Park adds a flat 5km return trail to the historic Swan View Tunnel. Always check Park Alerts before visiting Serpentine Falls as swimming can be restricted.
- Allow: 2 to 4 hours per location; pair two for a full day
Recommended Aries vehicle for day trips
- Family of 4 with gear: Kia Cerato Sedan or Mazda CX3 for comfortable boot space and easy driving
- Larger family or longer trips: Kia Sorento or Mitsubishi Outlander for 5–7 people
- Groups of 8+: Kia Carnival people mover
Best Free Activities
- Kings Park playgrounds (all four, including Rio Tinto Naturescape)
- Elizabeth Quay water play
- Hyde Park water playground
- Wellington Square Playground (Koolangka Koolangka Waabiny) — one of Perth’s largest, opened 2021
- WA Museum Boola Bardip — free for children
- WA Shipwreck Museum, Fremantle — free
- Cottesloe Beach
- Lake Monger — great for spotting Perth’s famous black swans
Practical Tips Before You Go
- Book Rottnest Island ferries early — the most common activity families miss due to sold-out departures
- Check Penguin Island access before planning the day around it; ferry access can be suspended
- Use the FamilyRider transit pass during WA school holidays — it covers 2 adults and 5 children all day for a single fare
- Check Park Alerts (DBCA website) before any national park visit
Getting Around Perth With Kids
Public transport handles the CBD well, but Caversham, AQWA, Adventure World, Penguin Island, Yanchep, and the Perth Hills are all significantly easier — and more enjoyable — with your own car.
At Aries Car Rental, we help families choose the right vehicle for their group size and itinerary. Pick up from our East Perth CBD or Kewdale airport locations, with contactless self-service available for early and late arrivals.