Perth is Australia’s sunniest capital city, offering an incredible blend of Indian Ocean beaches, expansive bushland, and a relaxed urban atmosphere that feels tailor-made for families. When planning an Australian vacation, the west coast often gets overshadowed by Sydney and Melbourne, but parents who make the trek are rewarded with wide-open spaces, world-class playgrounds, and wildlife encounters that feel completely organic. If you are building out your itinerary and searching for the best things to do in Perth with kids, you will quickly find that this city balances high-energy adventures with laid-back nature play perfectly. Whether your crew wants to snap a selfie with a smiling quokka, splash in calm turquoise bays, or climb the iconic arches of a city bridge, Perth delivers an unforgettable family holiday. For a broader overview of the city’s neighborhoods, transport, and general logistics, check out our comprehensive City Guide: Perth.

Top Outdoor and Nature Things to Do in Perth with Kids

Perth’s climate is practically begging families to spend their days outside. The city is designed around outdoor living, meaning you will find exceptional facilities, free splash pads, and shaded picnic areas almost everywhere you go.

Explore Car-Free Rottnest Island

A trip to Western Australia is simply incomplete without a day spent on Rottnest Island. Located just a 30-minute ferry ride from Fremantle (or 90 minutes from the Perth CBD), this car-free island paradise is famous for its friendly, free-roaming quokkas and crystal-clear turquoise bays. Because there are no cars, the entire island feels like a massive, safe playground. As soon as you step off the ferry, head straight to Pedal & Flipper (Rottnest Island), the island's essential hub for bike rentals. They offer everything from standard adult mountain bikes to toddler trailers, kids' bikes with training wheels, and electric bikes (highly recommended for parents pulling heavy trailers up the island's rolling hills).

Spend your morning cycling to The Basin, a shallow, sheltered beach that is absolute perfection for toddlers and young swimmers. Pack plenty of water and snacks, as food options are concentrated near the main settlement. Ferry tickets run around $70-$100 AUD ($45-$65 USD) per adult and $35-$50 AUD ($23-$33 USD) for children, depending on your departure point.

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Play All Day at Optus Stadium Park

You do not need tickets to a sporting event to enjoy the incredible precinct surrounding Perth’s major stadium. Optus Stadium Park and Chevron Parkland is a world-class nature play area featuring six distinct, themed playgrounds that trace the banks of the Swan River. The playgrounds are inspired by the six Noongar seasons, offering kids a chance to climb massive wooden structures, balance on rope bridges, and dig in expansive sandpits.

During the warmer months, the free splash pad is a lifesaver. It is fully accessible, surrounded by grassy slopes perfect for rolling out a picnic blanket, and offers excellent views of the city skyline. The entire parkland is highly stroller-friendly, with wide, paved paths connecting the various play zones. Best of all, access to the parklands is completely free, making it a budget-friendly way to burn off morning energy before grabbing lunch at the nearby Camfield, a massive family-friendly pub right next to the stadium.

Kings Park and Botanical Garden

Kings Park is one of the largest inner-city parks in the world—even bigger than Central Park in New York. While the entire park offers stunning views and botanical walks, parents of younger children should make a beeline for the Ivey Watson Playground (Kings Park). This massive, fully fenced-in play paradise is designed specifically for children under five. It features imaginative play structures, a pirate ship, gentle slides, and plenty of shade sails to protect sensitive skin from the fierce Western Australian sun.

Because it is fully enclosed, parents can grab a coffee from the adjacent Koorak Cafe and actually sit down for a moment while the kids run wild. If you have older kids, you can venture out to the Rio Tinto Naturescape within Kings Park, which encourages kids to build forts, wade in shallow creeks, and climb rocks. Kings Park is completely free to enter, open 24/7, and offers ample free parking, though it can get busy on weekend mornings.

High-Adrenaline Things to Do in Perth with Kids

If you are traveling with older kids, tweens, or teens who have aged out of standard playgrounds, Perth has a fantastic array of thrilling activities that will keep them engaged and off their phones.

Climb the Matagarup Bridge

For a high-octane adventure right in the city center, book a session at the Matagarup Bridge Zip+Climb. This experience takes families up 314 steep steps along the iconic white arches of the Matagarup Bridge, which stretches across the Swan River. It is a physical challenge, but the panoramic views of the city and the stadium from the open-air viewing platform at the top are spectacular.

Kids need to be at least 8 years old, 1.2 meters (about 47 inches) tall, and weigh a minimum of 30kg (66 lbs) to participate. The guides are fantastic at encouraging nervous climbers, making it a brilliant confidence-building activity. Expect to pay around $100-$150 AUD ($65-$100 USD) per person.

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Take Flight Over the Swan River

If you want to splurge on a true bucket-list experience, Swan River Seaplanes offers an incredible aerial adventure. Taking off directly from the water of the Swan River, these scenic flights provide stunning, low-level views of the Perth skyline, the coastline, and even Rottnest Island from above. The sensation of taking off and landing on water is thrilling for kids and adults alike. While it is on the pricier side (starting around $200 AUD / $130 USD per person for short scenic flights), it requires minimal walking and offers maximum impact, making it a great option if you are traveling with multi-generational family members who might struggle with long hikes.

Indoor Skydiving and Theme Parks

For adrenaline junkies who want to experience the sensation of freefall without jumping out of an actual airplane, iFLY Perth is a massive hit. Kids as young as three can participate, floating on a cushion of air in a vertical wind tunnel alongside a highly trained instructor. It is fully indoors, making it a perfect activity for a rainy winter day or a scorching summer afternoon when you need robust air conditioning.

If you are visiting between late September and April, Adventure World is Perth’s premier hybrid theme-and-water-park. It offers a rare mix of world-class thrill rides (like the massive Abyss roller coaster) alongside expansive wave pools, lazy rivers, and water slides. To escape the city entirely, families can drive about an hour south to Dwellingup Adventures, the ultimate outdoor hub for swapping screen time for forest trails, mountain biking, and gentle river rapids.

Educational and Indoor Things to Do in Perth with Kids

While Perth is famous for its outdoors, the city also boasts some world-class educational facilities that are highly interactive and designed with young learners in mind.

Explore the WA Maritime Museum and a Real Submarine

Located on the edge of the working harbor in Fremantle, the WA Maritime Museum is a brilliant waterfront facility that highlights Western Australia's deep connection to the ocean. The museum houses iconic vessels, including the Australia II yacht that won the America's Cup, and offers plenty of hands-on exhibits for kids to touch and explore. The building itself is spacious, fully stroller accessible, and air-conditioned.

However, the absolute highlight for families with kids aged five and older is the WA Maritime Museum - HMAS Ovens. This is a thrilling, guided tour of a real Cold War-era Oberon-class submarine docked just outside the museum. Kids get to climb through circular bulkhead hatches, peer through periscopes, and see exactly how 63 sailors lived in incredibly cramped quarters for months at a time. Note that this tour requires climbing steep ladders and navigating tight spaces, so it is not suitable for toddlers, strollers, or anyone with severe claustrophobia. Museum entry is around $20 AUD ($13 USD) for adults, and children under 15 are often free, though the submarine tour requires an additional paid ticket.

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Where to Eat in Perth with Kids

Dining out with kids in Perth is generally a stress-free experience. The local dining culture is relaxed, and most venues are more than accommodating to families.

Fremantle Markets

For a sensory feast and a lunch where everyone gets exactly what they want, head to the Fremantle Markets. Operating Friday through Sunday, this historic, bustling indoor market features over 150 stalls. You will find everything from fresh local produce and quirky souvenirs to an incredible global food hall. Kids can munch on giant hot donuts, fresh crepes, or Japanese takoyaki while parents grab artisanal coffee or a hearty bratwurst. The atmosphere is loud, colorful, and often features live buskers outside, which keeps children thoroughly entertained while you eat.

Kailis Fish Market Café

You cannot visit Western Australia without having fish and chips on the water. Kailis Fish Market Café Fremantle is a legendary institution located right on the Fishing Boat Harbour. Families can order fresh-off-the-boat seafood, massive piles of hot chips, and calamari, then sit at casual wooden tables right on the wharf. Kids love watching the fishing boats come and go, and keeping an eye on the bold local seagulls trying to steal a stray chip adds an element of chaotic fun to the meal. It is noisy, casual, and completely unpretentious.

Siena's of Leederville

When you want a sit-down meal but have energetic youngsters in tow, Siena's of Leederville is the holy grail for Perth parents. This legendary Italian institution offers hearty, family-style pizzas and pastas, but the real draw is the dedicated indoor, sound-proofed playroom. You can request a table with a clear view of the glass-walled playroom, allowing you to enjoy a glass of wine and a warm meal while the kids climb and slide to their hearts' content. It is extremely popular with locals, so booking ahead for an early dinner is highly recommended.

Age-by-Age Guide to Perth

Toddlers (Ages 2-3): Managing the heat and sun is your biggest priority with this age group. Stick to morning activities. The Ellenbrook Water Playground (Coolamon Park) is a premier free splash pad northeast of Perth featuring interactive ground jets and tipping buckets that are gentle enough for toddlers. The fully fenced Ivey Watson Playground in Kings Park is also a must-do to prevent the stress of a wandering toddler in a massive park.

Preschoolers (Ages 4-5): This age group will love the freedom of Optus Stadium Park and its multiple themed playgrounds. They are also the perfect age to appreciate a ferry ride to Rottnest Island. Rent a bike trailer so they can ride in shaded comfort when their little legs get tired, and let them splash in the incredibly shallow, calm waters at The Basin.

School-Age (Ages 6-10): School-aged kids have the stamina for deeper exploration. The HMAS Ovens submarine tour at the Maritime Museum will blow their minds, and they are the prime demographic for the massive water slides and wave pools at Adventure World during the summer months.

Tweens and Teens (Ages 11-14): To avoid the dreaded teen eye-roll, lean into Perth's adventure offerings. The Matagarup Bridge Zip+Climb provides genuine thrills and great photo opportunities for their social media. Indoor skydiving at iFLY Perth is another high-impact activity that feels distinctly grown-up and exciting.

What to Skip in Perth with Kids

Not every famous attraction is a hit for families. Based on local parent feedback, here is what you can safely cross off your itinerary to save time and money.

• The Bell Tower: While it looks striking on the Perth skyline, the entry fee is steep for an experience that is essentially a quick elevator ride. Young kids will be bored looking at stationary bells, and you can hear them ringing perfectly well for free while walking around Elizabeth Quay outside.
• The Perth Mint: The 10-minute live gold pour is undeniably cool, but it is tied to a mandatory guided tour that involves a lot of standing still and listening to historical facts. Toddlers and young kids will quickly lose patience, making the high admission price hard to justify for families.
• Trigg Beach (Main): Trigg is Perth's premier surfing destination. Unfortunately, that means heavy swells, powerful shore breaks, and strong rips. It is highly dangerous for young children and inexperienced swimmers. Stick to the calm, sheltered waters of Hillarys Boat Harbour or Cottesloe Beach instead.
• London Court: The 1937 Tudor-style architecture is beautiful for a quick photo, but it is essentially just an 80-meter-long shopping alley filled with high-end boutiques and souvenir shops. Strollers get jammed in the narrow walkway, and there is nothing interactive for children to do here.

Pro Tips from Parents for Visiting Perth

• Ride the Free CAT Buses: Utilize the free Central Area Transit (CAT) buses to navigate the CBD and Northbridge. The Blue and Red lines are particularly useful for families, offering a free, air-conditioned way to rest tired legs while moving between major sights.
• Beware the Swooping Magpies: During spring (August to October), be mindful of nesting magpies in open parks. These highly protective birds will swoop at people walking or cycling near their trees. If you see temporary council signs warning of swooping birds, take a different path. Broad-brimmed hats and sunglasses are your best defense.
• Beat the Fremantle Doctor: In summer, always visit the beach before 11:00 AM. By early afternoon, a strong sea breeze known locally as the 'Fremantle Doctor' arrives. While it cools the city down beautifully, it turns sandy beaches into a miniature sandstorm that will sting little legs and ruin a picnic.
• Take the Ferry to Elizabeth Quay: Instead of paying for expensive CBD parking and dealing with city traffic, park your car in South Perth (near the zoo) and take the Transperth Ferry across the river to Elizabeth Quay. It costs the same as a standard bus ticket, offers incredible views of the city skyline, and feels like a specialized boat tour for the kids.
• Watch Playground Temperatures: In peak summer, skip outdoor playgrounds between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Even with massive shade sails, the dark plastic slides and metal climbing frames can become hot enough to burn a child's skin.

Perth is a city that invites families to slow down, breathe in the salty sea air, and enjoy the simple pleasures of outdoor play. By mixing iconic wildlife encounters with expansive parks and a few high-energy adventures, you can craft an itinerary that keeps everyone in the family smiling. With a bit of strategic planning around the sun and the sea breeze, you will discover that the things to do in Perth with kids are as boundless as the Western Australian sky.