Head Out West To The Family-Friendly City: Perth, Western Australia!

Family-friendly places to visit in Perth

Perth has benefited from the mining boom in Australia and has become a popular tourist destination for families with children of various ages. Even if you don’t have children, Perth offers a range of activities and destinations that are fun for both the young and old. Perth has an approximate population of 2.1 million people (2014). It is a cultural melting pot with people of all ethnic groups residing here. That said, Perth offers some of the best international cuisine and food here is a definite highlight, with areas of Perth dedicated to food alone. Perth has its summer from December to February and winter from June to August. In summer, the temperatures usually sit in the mid 30 degrees Celsius and in winter around 15 degrees Celsius. Places of interest are easily accessible by car or train and the majority have family-orientated facilities like change rooms and family admission packages.

Fremantle is a beautiful suburb located on the western side of Perth right next to the Indian Ocean. It is a popular hub for both locals and tourists alike. Don’t miss Cappuccino strip, which is a street full of delicious coffee and drink shops. You can have a chilli hot chocolate or even a mint cappuccino. Once you have explored the shops around Fremantle, you can check out the Esplanade, which has the Sky observation wheel. From the top of the wheel, you can see Perth city and the harbour that is lined with restaurants and breweries. You can also see the southern town of Mandurah. Just over from the area is the Fremantle boat harbour, this area has an excellent choice of food but offers more of a light meal menu.

Find food from around the globe along ‘Albany highway’

If you are stuck for food choices, there is a main road called ‘Albany highway’ in the suburban East Victoria that is dedicated to food from all areas of the globe. You can get there either by catching a train or bus from the main station in Perth or by car, which only takes around 10 minutes. The road stretches for around 3km through East Victoria and comprises restaurants from Nepal, Thailand, Italy, Turkey, Egypt and more. This area is a quiet retreat from the restaurants of the main city and is rarely very busy.

Kings Park is a unique park located within the city of Perth. Here you can take a relaxing stroll around different areas of the gardens or sip a coffee while you look over the city and the Swan River. There is also a children’s playground and water Fountain Park, a great area to explore on a typical summer day in Perth. This is a great area to let your kids burn off energy, climb trees and feed the ducks in the pond.

Enjoy a day trip at Hillary’s Boat Harbour

Approximately 25 minutes north of the city by car is Hillary’s Boat Harbour. This is worth allocating a full day’s trip, as there is plenty to see and do. You can stroll along the Sorrento Quay Boardwalk, which is a shopping and dining area that overlooks the Indian Ocean. The boardwalk offers many different food and it would be a good idea to sit and taste one of the many cold desserts on offer, with a range of flavours from strawberry to chocolate coffee swirl. You can sit on the sandy beach or along the pier to enjoy your meal or ice creams. Located in Hillary’s are two main attractions: Aquarium of Western Australia (AQWA) and The Great Escape. The Great Escape is an all-inclusive outdoor activity park. There is a climbing wall, waterslides, mini golf and novelty rides.

Sorrento Quay Boardwalk: A highlight of Hillary’s boat harbour

AQWA presents Australia’s largest walk-through underwater viewing tunnel. Here you can get a glimpse of the local marine life that live around Western Australia and beyond. Admission ticket costs $30AUD ($23USD) for an adult and $18AUD ($13USD) for a child. Alternatively, a family pass for 2 adults and 2 children can be purchased at $79AUD ($60USD). There is also a live petting area where children can feel the rough skin of small sharks and fiddler rays as well as many other sea creatures.

Explore the best parts of Perth

The best parts of Perth are the many sandy white beaches stretching the entire coastline. The most popular of these are Scarborough and Cottesloe beaches that get particularly busy in the summer time. It would be a good idea to get there before 9am when the crowds start to arrive.

If you would like to spend some time in the heart of Perth, there are many great sights to see. All are easily accessible by walking, car or buses that run regularly around the city. If you are travelling from outside the city, there is an excellent train system that connects the outer suburbs to the main train station in the main city area. Carillion city is a large shopping area that runs several blocks underneath and above the city streets. The Perth museum is also located within the heart of the city and is small enough to get through in a couple of hours. You can also wander from the city to the banks of the Swan River where you can hire a kayak, go on a ferry tour or simply enjoy the scenery. Another great attraction located in the city is the Perth Zoo. This is a good way to spend half a day with your family. Admission fee is reasonable at $27AUD ($20USD) for an adult and $13AUD ($10USD) for children, kids under 4 are free. A mini group pass for 2 adults and 2 children costs $70AUD ($53USD).

Another highlight to see in Perth, only a short drive from the city is the Swan Valley area. Just a 25-minute drive inland from Perth city, the Swan Valley is an area situated on West Swan Road where wineries, specialty and chocolate shops are located. Here you can see the process of making chocolate, wine and even honey, as well as get a chance to sample the end products. There are also guided tours available for visiting the Swan Valley area, which usually takes about half day.