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Perth school holidays: what to do with the kids

The summer break is the long one, six and a half weeks of it, and in Perth the real question is not what is on but where you can go when it is 38 degrees. Shade and water first, then somewhere indoors for the days nobody should be outside at all.

Holiday programs and events

Dated events running during the break. Always confirm with the organiser before you drive over.

🎭 Santa Claus: The Musical, Crown Theatre Perth
Burswood · 18 to 24 Dec (not 21 Dec), 11am, 2:30pm and 7pm (6pm Sun 20, no evening show 24 Dec) · Ticketed, see Ticketmaster for prices
☕ 120m to coffee
🎭 The Velveteen Rabbit puppet show, Spare Parts Puppet Theatre
Claremont · Thu 7 Jan to Sat 30 Jan 2027, 10am and 1pm daily, no Sundays. Relaxed show Mon 11 Jan 10am, Auslan show Wed 13 Jan 1pm · See booking page
☕ 230m to coffee
🎪 Australia Day Coogee Beach Festival, free family morning
Coogee · Tue 26 Jan 2027, 8am to midday · Free
Free☕ 1.2km to coffee
🕯️ A Very Freo Christmas: Christmas Village and Community Carols
Fremantle · Fri 18 Dec, 4pm to 7:30pm, carols from 5:30pm · Free (Santa photos bookable)
Free☕ 50m to coffee
🎪 A Very Freo Christmas: Family Movie Night, The Grinch
Fremantle · Sat 19 Dec, Christmas village 4pm to 8pm, The Grinch (2018) from 6:30pm · Free (Santa photos bookable)
Free☕ 50m to coffee
🎨 Junior Marine Scientist: Santa's Helper Edition at AQWA
Hillarys · Mon 21 Dec, 4:30pm to 7:30pm (drop-off program) · From $79 per child, includes AQWA entry and dinner
☕ 260m to coffee
🕯️ Carols in the Park with Samantha Jade, Mandurah
Mandurah · Sun 20 Dec, 6pm to 9pm · Free
Free☕ 130m to coffee
🎪 New Year's Eve in Mandurah: free 9pm fireworks on the foreshore
Mandurah · Thu 31 Dec, from 6pm. Fireworks at 9pm and midnight · Free
Free☕ 130m to coffee
🕯️ Christmas Nativity Concert under the stars, Forrest Place
Perth · Sun 20 and Mon 21 Dec, preshow 6:30pm, concert 7:30pm · Free
Free☕ 30m to coffee
🎪 New Year's Eve in the City, Perth: 8:30pm family fireworks
Perth · Thu 31 Dec, 5pm to midnight. Family fireworks over the Swan River at 8:30pm, midnight fireworks to follow · Free
Free☕ 40m to coffee
🎭 The Greatest Christmas Show, Riverside Theatre
Perth · Tue 22 Dec, from 3pm (110 minute show) · Ticketed, see Ticketek for prices
☕ 90m to coffee
🎪 Rockingham New Year's Eve on the foreshore, free with rides
Rockingham · Thu 31 Dec, 5pm to midnight, two fireworks displays · Free
Free☕ 80m to coffee
⭐ Summer Sundowners: Perth Zoo open late on January Saturdays
South Perth · Saturdays 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 Jan 2027, zoo open to 7:30pm, live music 5pm to 7:30pm · Zoo entry: adults $40, kids 4 to 15 $20, under 4s free, 2 adults + 2 kids $105.40
☕ 290m to coffee
🎪 Zoo Year's Eve family countdown at Perth Zoo
South Perth · Thu 31 Dec, 9am to 7:30pm. Family entertainment from 3:30pm, family countdown at 7:30pm · Zoo entry: adults $40, kids 4 to 15 $20, under 4s free, 2 adults + 2 kids $105.40
☕ 290m to coffee
🎭 Dinosaur World Live at the Regal Theatre, Subiaco
Subiaco · Thu 28 Jan to Sun 31 Jan 2027, session times on Ticketek · See Ticketek
☕ 10m to coffee
🎭 Dog Man the Musical at the Regal Theatre, Subiaco
Subiaco · Sun 3 Jan to Wed 6 Jan 2027, session times on Ticketek · See Ticketek
☕ 10m to coffee
🎭 Play School Live Concert at the Regal Theatre, Subiaco
Subiaco · Mon 4 and Tue 5 Jan 2027, session times on Ticketek · See Ticketek
☕ 10m to coffee
🎭 The Very Cranky Bear live on stage at the Regal Theatre
Subiaco · Sat 23 Jan to Mon 25 Jan 2027, session times on Ticketek · See Ticketek
☕ 10m to coffee

🎄 Everything on for Christmas around Perth: pageants, carols, Santa photos and lights.

Water play, for the hot days

Splash pads, pumps and creeks. Free, and the most reliable way to make a hot day work.

🛝 Baldivis Sports Complex adventure playground
Baldivis · Open all day · Free
FreeToiletsParkingBBQWater play☕ 1.4km to coffee
🛝 Bibra Lake Regional Playground
Bibra Lake · Daily 8:30am to 9pm · Free
FreeToiletsFencedBBQPicnic areaWater play☕ 530m to coffee
🛝 Kwinana Adventure Park
Calista · Daily in daylight. Splash pad 9am to 7pm in summer, 9am to 6pm in winter · Free
FreeToiletsFencedShadeParkingBBQ☕ 860m to coffee
🛝 Lake Leschenaultia playground and swimming lake
Chidlow · Gates open 8:30am weekdays, 8am weekends, close half an hour after sunset. Closed on Extreme and Catastrophic fire danger days · Free entry
FreeShadeCoffee nearbyBBQWater playNature play☕ 560m to coffee
🛝 Koolangka Koolangka Waabiny playground, Wellington Square
East Perth · Open all day · Free
FreeWater playBasketball courtBMX trackSkate parkSlides☕ 220m to coffee
🛝 Rainbow Waters water playground, Ellenbrook
Ellenbrook · Daily 9am to 7pm, late September to May · Free
FreeToiletsShadeBBQPicnic areaWater play☕ 90m to coffee
🛝 Robot Park, Hilbert
Hilbert · Open all day · Free
FreeToiletsShadeBBQPicnic areaWater play☕ 50m to coffee
🛝 Rio Tinto Naturescape, Kings Park
Kings Park · 9am to 4pm, closed Mondays and public holidays (days vary in school holidays; closes on very hot or fire danger days) · Free
FreeWater playClimbingNature play☕ 1.1km to coffee
🛝 Kingsway Dinosaur Park and water playground
Madeley · Water playground daily 8am to 7pm, October to April. Playground open all day · Free
FreeWater playNature play
🛝 BHP Water Park, Elizabeth Quay
Perth · 10am to 6pm; summer hours 9am to 9pm from 28 November to 2 February. Closed Tuesdays for maintenance · Free
FreeToiletsWater playClimbing☕ 250m to coffee
🛝 Hyde Park Water Playground
Perth · Water play November to late March, 8am to 8pm. Playground open all day · Free
FreeToiletsShadeBBQWater play☕ 40m to coffee
🛝 The Harbour Playground, Secret Harbour
Secret Harbour · Open all day · Free
FreeToiletsFencedShadeParkingBBQ☕ 1.0km to coffee
👶 West Leederville Playgroup
West Leederville · Thursdays 9:30 to 11:30am, school terms · $5 casual, $30 a term or $50 a semester, plus Playgroup WA $35 a year. Two weeks free trial
Water play☕ 270m to coffee
🛝 Mini Water Playground and Village playgrounds, Whiteman Park
Whiteman · Water playground daily 10am to 5pm, October school holidays to end of April school holidays · Free
FreeToiletsShadeCoffee nearbyWater playToddler area☕ 750m to coffee
🎡 Whiteman Park (trams, Revolutions museum and playgrounds)
Whiteman · Park daily 8:30am to 6pm. Trams run Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun and public holidays, daily in WA school holidays · Free park entry. Tram rides adults $6, children $3 (pay the conductor). Revolutions museum by donation
FreeToiletsParkingPicnic areaWater play☕ 750m to coffee

Playgrounds with real shade

An unshaded playground is unusable from mid morning in summer. These have shade sails or mature trees over the equipment.

🛝 Dyoondalup Point Walter Reserve playground
Bicton · Open all day · Free
FreeToiletsShadeParkingCoffee nearbyBBQ☕ 1.7km to coffee
🛝 Kwinana Adventure Park
Calista · Daily in daylight. Splash pad 9am to 7pm in summer, 9am to 6pm in winter · Free
FreeToiletsFencedShadeParkingBBQ☕ 860m to coffee
🛝 Lake Leschenaultia playground and swimming lake
Chidlow · Gates open 8:30am weekdays, 8am weekends, close half an hour after sunset. Closed on Extreme and Catastrophic fire danger days · Free entry
FreeShadeCoffee nearbyBBQWater playNature play☕ 560m to coffee
🛝 Neil McDougall Park playground, Como
Como · Open all day · Free
FreeToiletsShadeBBQ☕ 510m to coffee
🛝 Rainbow Waters water playground, Ellenbrook
Ellenbrook · Daily 9am to 7pm, late September to May · Free
FreeToiletsShadeBBQPicnic areaWater play☕ 90m to coffee
🛝 Perry Lakes Reserve playground
Floreat · Open all day · Free
FreeToiletsShadeParkingBBQPicnic area☕ 740m to coffee
🛝 Esplanade Park playground, Fremantle
Fremantle · Open all day · Free
FreeToiletsShadeFor older kids☕ 40m to coffee
🛝 Mary Carroll Park all abilities playground
Gosnells · Open all day · Free
FreeToiletsShadeParkingBBQPicnic area☕ 1.4km to coffee
🛝 Robot Park, Hilbert
Hilbert · Open all day · Free
FreeToiletsShadeBBQPicnic areaWater play☕ 50m to coffee
🛝 Sutherlands Park all abilities playground and pump track
Huntingdale · Open all day · Free
FreeToiletsShadeParkingBBQBMX track☕ 1.7km to coffee
🛝 Poolgarla Family Area, Kings Park (Ivey Watson Playground)
Kings Park · Open all day · Free
FreeShadeParkingCoffee nearbyBBQPicnic area☕ 80m to coffee
🛝 Rayment Park playgrounds, Lathlain
Lathlain · Open all day. Toilets 6am to 6pm · Free
FreeToiletsShadeBBQBasketball courtClimbing☕ 90m to coffee

Indoors, for when it is simply too hot

Air conditioning and somewhere to burn energy. Play centres are spread across the suburbs, and the free museums and libraries are the cheapest cool room in town.

🎪 Axo's Playland
Balcatta · Daily 9am to 4pm · Child over 12 months $18 ($20 public holidays). Under 12 months and adults free. Socks compulsory
Coffee nearbyToddler area☕ 580m to coffee
🎪 Lollipop's Playland and Cafe Bayswater
Bayswater · Daily 9am to 5:30pm · Kids 12 months to 3 from $11.90, older kids from $13.90 (more on weekends). Babies under 12 months free
Coffee nearbyToddler area☕ 750m to coffee
🎪 Croc's Playcentre Cannington
Beckenham · See the centre's Pricing and Hours page · Entry per child, school-day and general rates on the centre's page
Coffee nearby☕ 360m to coffee
🎪 Flip Out Bibra Lake
Bibra Lake · Mon to Thu and Sun 9am to 6pm, Fri 9am to 7pm, Sat 9am to 8pm · Starting from $10 per hour per person, see the booking page
Toddler area☕ 240m to coffee
🎪 Croc's Playcentre Butler
Butler · See the centre's Pricing and Hours page · Entry per child, school-day and general rates on the centre's page
Coffee nearby☕ 1.1km to coffee
🎪 Lollipop's Playland and Cafe Butler
Butler · Daily 9am to 5:30pm · Under 3s from $9.90, 4 and over from $11.90 (more on weekends). Babies under 12 months free
Coffee nearbyToddler area☕ 1.0km to coffee
🎪 Croc's Playcentre Byford
Byford · See the centre's Pricing and Hours page · Entry per child, school-day and general rates on the centre's page
Coffee nearby☕ 30m to coffee
🎪 BOUNCE Cannington trampoline park
Cannington · Mon and Tue 9am to 7pm, Wed to Fri 9am to 9pm, Sat 8am to 9pm, Sun 9am to 6pm · miniBOUNCER (under 110cm) from $13.50 an hour weekdays, $18 weekends. Freestyle from $18 an hour
☕ 530m to coffee
🎪 BOUNCE Joondalup trampoline park
Edgewater · Mon and Tue 9am to 7pm, Wed to Fri 9am to 9pm, Sat 8am to 9pm, Sun 9am to 6pm · miniBOUNCER (under 110cm) from $13.50 an hour weekdays, $18 weekends. Freestyle from $18 an hour
☕ 110m to coffee
🎪 Lollipop's Playland and Cafe Ellenbrook
Ellenbrook · Daily 9am to 5pm · Kids 1 to 3 from $11.90, 4+ from $14.90 (more on weekends). Babies under 12 months and adults free
Coffee nearbyToddler area☕ 110m to coffee
🎪 Croc's Playcentre Jandakot
Jandakot · See the centre's Pricing and Hours page · Entry per child, school-day and general rates on the centre's page
Coffee nearby☕ 510m to coffee
🎪 Lollipop's Playland and Cafe Jandakot
Jandakot · Daily 9am to 5:30pm · Entry per child, see the centre's entry price page
Coffee nearbyToddler area☕ 510m to coffee

Big days out

When you need one proper outing to break the week up. Book ahead for the ticketed ones.

🎡 Adventure World
Bibra Lake · Season 27 Sep 2026 to 26 Apr 2027, 10am to 5pm (6pm in Jan). Nov: Fri to Mon. Dec and Jan: daily, closed Christmas Day · Day tickets per person, see the booking page for current prices
☕ 60m to coffee
🎡 Aviation Heritage Museum
Bull Creek · Daily 10am to 4pm, last entry 3pm · Adult $17.50, child (5 to 15) $9, under 5 free, family (2 adults, 2 kids) $40
ToiletsParkingChange table☕ 890m to coffee
🎡 WA Maritime Museum
Fremantle · Daily 9:30am to 5pm. Closed Good Friday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day · Adult $15, concession $10, kids 15 and under free. By donation on the second Tuesday of each month
Toilets☕ 180m to coffee
🎡 AQWA, the Aquarium of Western Australia
Hillarys · Daily 9am to 4pm (Mar to Nov), 9am to 5pm Dec and Jan. Closed Christmas Day · Adults $37, see the booking page for child and family prices
ToiletsParkingPram accessChange table☕ 260m to coffee
🎡 Kings Park and Botanic Garden
Kings Park · Open daily · Free
Free☕ 240m to coffee
🎡 Kanyana Wildlife discovery tours
Lesmurdie · Discovery tours Thursdays and Sundays 10am to 12pm, bookings essential · Adult $25, child (3 to 15) $15, family (2 adults, 2 kids) $70
🎡 Mandurah dolphin cruise
Mandurah · Daily departures 10am, 11:30am, 1:30pm and 3pm (more in peak periods). About 1 hour 15 minutes · Adults $44, children $24, under 3s free
☕ 30m to coffee
🎡 Art Gallery of WA (AGWA), family Gallery 09
Perth · Daily 10am to 5pm. Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day · Free (donation welcome)
Free☕ 40m to coffee
🎡 State Library of WA, The Story Place
Perth · Mon to Thu 9am to 8pm, Fri 9am to 5:30pm, Sat and Sun 10am to 5:30pm. Story Time Mondays and Rhyme Time Fridays 10:30am · Free
FreeToiletsPram accessChange table☕ 40m to coffee
🎡 WA Museum Boola Bardip
Perth · Daily 9:30am to 5pm. Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day · Adult $15, concession $10, kids 15 and under free
ToiletsChange table☕ 70m to coffee
🎡 Araluen Botanic Park
Roleystone · 9am to 4pm, last entry 3pm (hours may vary with the seasons) · Entry fee per person, varies by season (see the ticket page). Children's Activity Pack $5 at the gate
ShadeParkingBBQPicnic area
🎡 Rottnest Island day trip (ferry, quokkas, bikes)
Rottnest Island · Ferries daily; check the timetable for departures from Fremantle and Perth · Return ferry plus the Rottnest Island admission fee. Child fares for ages 4 to 12 and family fares, see the fares page
☕ 830m to coffee
🎡 Perth Zoo
South Perth · Daily 9am to 5pm, every day of the year · Adult $40, child (4 to 15) $20, under 4 free, Mini Group (2 adults, 2 kids) $105.40
ToiletsBBQClimbingSandpitChange table☕ 120m to coffee
🎡 Scitech
West Perth · Daily 9:30am to 4pm (from 9am in school holidays). Closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day · Child (4 to 17) $19, adult $28, toddlers 0 to 3 free
Parking☕ 30m to coffee
🎡 Caversham Wildlife Park
Whiteman · Daily 9am to 4:30pm, last entry 3:30pm. Closed Christmas Day · Adult $39, child (3 to 14) $18
ToiletsShadeParkingPram accessChange table☕ 1.1km to coffee
🎡 Whiteman Park (trams, Revolutions museum and playgrounds)
Whiteman · Park daily 8:30am to 6pm. Trams run Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun and public holidays, daily in WA school holidays · Free park entry. Tram rides adults $6, children $3 (pay the conductor). Revolutions museum by donation
FreeToiletsParkingPicnic areaWater play☕ 750m to coffee
🎡 Castledare Miniature Railway
Wilson · 1st Sunday of the month (Niana Station, Castledare Pl) and 3rd Sunday (Wilson Park Station, Kent St Weir Park), 10am to 2pm · Tickets online through TryBooking (see the railway's site)
☕ 770m to coffee
🎡 Armadale Reptile and Wildlife Centre
Wungong · Daily 10am to 4pm, closed Wednesdays (except school holidays). Reptile handling 11am and 2pm · Adult $22, child (3 to 15) $8, under 3 free, mini-group (2 adults, 2 kids) $55
Parking
🎡 Yanchep National Park (koalas, caves, kangaroos)
Yanchep · Open daily; McNess House visitor centre open daily. Crystal Cave by 60 minute guided tour · Park entry $17 per standard vehicle ($10 concession). Cave tours extra
ToiletsBBQPicnic area☕ 340m to coffee

More ways to choose

💸 Free things to do🧱 Fenced playgrounds🔥 Playgrounds with a BBQ🧸 Toddler friendly🎡 Everything on this week

Common questions

When are the Perth school holidays?
The summer school holidays run Fri 18 December to Sun 31 January 2027. The autumn school holidays run Sat 10 April to Sun 25 April 2027. The winter school holidays run Sat 3 July to Sun 18 July 2027. The spring school holidays run Sat 25 September to Sun 10 October 2027. These are Western Australia government school dates. Catholic and independent schools set their own, and government schools add their own pupil free days, so check with your school.
What is there to do in the Perth school holidays that is free?
A great deal. Every council playground is free, as are the water play areas, the library holiday programs and most of the community events on the what's on page.
What can you do with kids in Perth when it is too hot?
Water play in the morning, indoors in the afternoon. The free museums are air conditioned, and indoor play centres are spread across the suburbs. Unshaded playgrounds are best avoided between about 11am and 4pm in summer.