Things to do with kids in Perth

10 family-friendly places in Perth: zoos, aquariums, playgrounds and more.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

DoThe Suburbs
Adventure World
This fun park features five waterslides, various rides for the adventurous, and a special 'Kids Cove' for children. Picnicking is encouraged or you can buy food on site (no alcohol is permitted). Contains only 1 little kiddy coaster, so it is definitely not for the serious thrillseeker. Best of all, unlimited rides are included in Adventure World's entry fee. Over summer, Adventure World also hosts several "Adults Only Pool Parties," which are held on either a Friday or Saturday night. The park is closed to children, and becomes a fully licensed venue, serving alcohol as well as hosting bands after dark. The easiest mode of transport is the car. You can also arrive via a short bus ride (#520 from either Cockburn Central train/bus station or Fremantle train station - frequencies range from half-hourly weekdays, hourly Saturdays and two-hourly on Sundays and public holidays - zone 3 fare).
SeeFremantle
Fremantle Prison
The convicts that were transported to Australia from the UK built it in 1851 to house themselves. Following the end of convict transportation in 1868, Fremantle Prison served as Western Australia's main maximum security prison until its closure in 1991. Today it remains as a UNESCO World Heritage Site building as part of the Australian Convict Sites and is used for several purposes including as an art gallery, museum and conference center. Basic tours run throughout the day, and a 'Torchlight tour' runs on Wednesday and Friday nights, which explores the history of prison hauntings. For the adventurous, the tunnels tour will take you through the tunnel network underneath the prison.
Open every day of the year except Good Fri and Christmas day$18.50 (basic), $59 (tunnel tour), less for students and children
EatFremantle
Gino's
Gino's Cafe and Trattoria
One of the first cafes in Fremantle and the epicentre of the Cappuccino Strip, Gino's opened on 29 November 1983 when Gino Saccone (1937–2001) decided to turn his tailoring business on the corner of South Terrace and Market Street into a cafe. The coffee has been surpassed by other cafes in Fremantle, but the history cannot be. Offers a mean breakfast and a lunch and dinner menu. Hard-pressed to find a seat, if you do get one, you would be in for a treat with the selection of cakes and strong coffee on brew. Mostly al-fresco dining, it is the place to have a Sunday get together with friends and family. You order at the bar, and for coffees (not food) should stand and wait and carry it to your table yourself (no other cafes around here do it this way).
6:30AM–late
SeeThe Suburbs
Perth Zoo
Open since 1898 and has an excellent reputation with both tourists and locals alike. Free guided tours are provided at 11AM and 1:30PM daily. Thirty-six animal fact files, featuring some of Perth Zoo's most popular species, are available for you to download free before your visit. Buses 30, 31 and 34 provide a quick and easy means by which to get to the zoo. But if you feel like a short walk, take the Transperth ferry from Elizabeth Quay. Once at Mends St Jetty, head up the hill along Mends St to the first major road (Mill Point Rd), cross at the traffic lights, turn left and then quickly right through the park to reach the zoo entrance.
Children (4-15 yr) $12.50, adults $24.50
DoThe Coast
Swanbourne Beach
The only beach in Perth that permits nude bathing. At other beaches, topless females will not usually get a police fine but will get stared at. The atmosphere at Swanbourne Clothing Optional Beach (about 500 m north of Swanbourne Beach) is friendly and relaxing. It is more of a sunbathing beach than a swimming beach, with a steep sandy descent into water which gets deep quickly. There are no lifeguards or red-and-yellow flags at this beach, and so it is essential to keep a close eye on children near the water. The nude beach is frequented by a variety of sun-seekers of all ages; couples, families, and groups. The easiest way to get there is by car, however there is a train station about 1km away. Alternatively, you can catch the bus 102, which is heading to Cottesloe. The bus will go through some residential areas before reaching Cottesloe coast. As soon as you can see the ocean, get off the bus and Swanbourne beach is right cross the road. Heading north down the beach, you can reach the nude beach.
SeeThe Coast
The Aquarium of Western Australia
AQWA
AQWA features an underwater observatory that takes the shape of a tunnel. You can get up-close with sharks, stingrays and a huge variety of marine life without the slightest chance of getting wet or eaten. Interact with aquatic creatures in the touch pool, and stand amongst one of the largest living coral reef exhibits in the world.
10AM-5PM daily$28, child $16, child under 4 free
SeeThe Suburbs
Whiteman Park
A unique recreation and conservation reserve in the northern outskirts of Perth. Kids can pet the kangaroos and other wildlife and the grownups can enjoy the railway, railway museum, craft shops and loads more. Perth features an abundance of similar wildlife parks which are spread around the outskirts of the metropolitan area.
8:30AM-6PMFree
EatSwan Valley Not mapped
Edgecombe Brothers
Rustic family cafe restaurant and winemaker. Look out especially for their Muscat and Fortified Shiraz. They grow and sell a range of produce on premises.
Open from 10AM
DoThe Suburbs Not mapped
Swan River Boat Charters
The Magellan Boat Charters
A fun activity to enjoy with the family or group of friends, exploring the Swan River waterways. The water is crystal clean and the views are majestic. Popular activities include drinks at dusk for a night cruise to check out the city skyline, and day trips to Rottnest Island.
SeeFremantle
Army Museum of Western Australia
6 Burt St
Wed–Fri, Sun 10:30AM–3PM with last entry at 1PMAdults $10, seniors and children $7, and family (2+2) $20

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Perth (CC BY-SA 4.0).