If you have young children, Perth is the perfect place to travel. Perth has that wonderful city feeling, while still being small enough to get around easily and see everything. Perth has a wonderful mix of urban excitement and pristine nature.

Getting Around – Rent a car (if possible)

While Perth has a fantastic bus network, we would still recommend hiring a car when traveling with a baby. You can rent a car straight from the airport, fitted with child seats and dropped off right before you fly out. We recommend booking these ahead of arriving in Perth so there is no need to wait around in the airport with your little one.

Catch the free bus around the city as an adventure with your bub, but you’ll be grateful for the afternoon car snooze, or having somewhere to dump your shopping while you’re out for the day.

Perth is a very pram friendly city, with plenty of space for a stroller almost anywhere you want to go. Plenty of parks, playground, gardens for the little one to just explore and get in touch with nature. You will be grateful for the pram after your little one exhausts themselves in the many parks and sleeps on the way back to your accommodation.

Baby Change Facilities

Perth is a very child friendly city, with all major department stores offering huge baby rooms and changing areas. Some even have small playgrounds for older children while younger bubs are being tended to. Change tables are common in most toilets.

Top 5 Recommendations for Adventures with Animals

Landsdale Farm is located a little outside the city centre, with all the farm animals roaming around freely. Lansdale farm has plenty of space for picnics on the beautiful grass areas. They boast an educational focus with a Sensory Garden for herbs and vegetables. There’s a cafe there with lots of high chairs too, and full washing-up and changing facilities.

Perth Zoo is right in the heart of the city offering a great location accessable by train, bus, ferry and car. It has everything you would expect from a top class zoo including international animals, picnic areas and displays and shows throughout the day. Check out their website before you attend to see session times and children’s activities programs.

Caversham Wildlife Park is located a little further from the centre of perth, but still defiantly worth the trip. It’s a must if you want to check out Australia’s native animals up close and personal. They have a number of daily shows and activities which include meeting wombats, kangaroos and koalas up close, as well are the Farm Show. 

Aquarium of Western Australia is also located a little out of the center of Perth, but wonderful for those rainy days with children. There are a huge collection of sea animals including a children’s touch pool and a tank of illuminated jellyfishes.

Penguin Island. Visiting Penguin Island is a day trip for the family and not really recommended for children under 2 or babies who still need their afternoon sleep. This tiny island is home to nearly 1200 Little penguins, the smallest species of the penguin family in the world. Rockingham Wild Encounters offer different attractions from their base in Rockingham, including swimming with dolphins, glass-bottom boats, cruises to sea lions, dolphin watching, penguins and, of course, a ferry to Penguin Island. We recommend you bring a picnic. 

Top 5 recommendations of Outdoors Activities with Kids

Perth Cultural Centre – While we certainly recommend a trip to the Perth Cultural Centre, is it in fact the nearby fantastic sensory playground based on nature and sound for young kids, that your little ones will love. This park features a number of ‘musical instruments’ to play with and it’s all free. There is plenty of space for children to bike ride and wear themselves out with scooters.

 Outback Splash is a growing Western Australian fun park. It is not just for the kids, but adults as well. There are kangaroo enclosures, koala viewing, mazes, playgrounds, jumping pillow, mini golf and a water playground. Spend some time wandering the grounds in the hot WA sunshine and then cool off with a water slide or two.

Adventure World – Perth is the home of Western Australia’s most popular theme park, now with a brand new roller coaster. Adventure World is recommended for children over 5 as many of the rides have height restrictions, but there are still little rides for littles kids and a water park to enjoy.

South Beach is a wonderful beach for young children, thanks to the relatively shallow and calm waters. As the sun sets in the west, this beach is wonderful for sunset dinners and an evening dip with the kids. There is also a great cafe right on the beach.

Cottesloe Beach is another great beach for young children. There is a large outdoor playground close by and lots of grass areas to relax and picnic on.

Top 5 Wet Weather Adventures with the Kids

Scitech – Scitech is full of young kid friendly activities and features loads of hands-on exhibits. Scitech runs an extensive school holiday and education program, so check their website before booking tickets so you don’t miss out. Wonderful for older children but there is also a sectioned-off area for young toddlers.

Fremantle Markets are full little shops and stalls. There is also a wonderful produce section for excellent fruit and vegetables

Triassic Fun Park– Just as the name suggests, this place is all about dinosaurs. It’s the perfect place to take young children when the weather is too hot or too cold. Children will be captivate for at least the morning, though it is better appreciated by children over 3.

Art Gallery WA. There are heaps of activities for the kids on offer at the Art Gallery WA. From guided tours, school holiday art camps and daily drawing tables. Check their website before you go to see what is happening with children that day.

DFES Education and Heritage Centre is a must for all your little fire fighters. Here there is wonderful blend of free play with fire safety education where children can practice getting down low and go go go. Climb inside a real fire truck, dress up as a fire fighter, climb on the small indoor rock climbing wall and hang onto the Firefighters pole. Check the website for opening hours. 

Further Reading –

Kids around Perth