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South West WA school holidays: what to do with the kids

The summer break is the long one, six weeks of it, and a South West WA summer can do all four seasons in a week. Water play and shade for the hot days, somewhere indoors for the wet ones, and plenty that costs nothing in between.

🎄 Everything on for Christmas around South West WA: 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.

🛝 Mangrove Cove All Abilities Nature Play, Bunbury
Bunbury · Open all day · Free
FreeToiletsBBQPicnic areaWater playSwings☕ 1.5km to coffee
🛝 Sea Play on the Bay, Busselton Foreshore Adventure Playground
Busselton · Open all day · Free
FreeToiletsShadeCoffee nearbyWater play☕ 90m to coffee
🛝 Apple Fun Park, Donnybrook
Donnybrook · Open all day, lit at night · Free
FreeShadeCoffee nearbyPicnic areaWater playSwings☕ 70m 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.

🛝 Binningup Foreshore Pirate Ship Playground
Binningup · Open all day · Free
FreeToiletsShadeBBQ
🛝 Sea Play on the Bay, Busselton Foreshore Adventure Playground
Busselton · Open all day · Free
FreeToiletsShadeCoffee nearbyWater play☕ 90m to coffee
🛝 Apple Fun Park, Donnybrook
Donnybrook · Open all day, lit at night · Free
FreeShadeCoffee nearbyPicnic areaWater playSwings☕ 70m to coffee
🛝 Centennial Park, Dunsborough Foreshore Playground
Dunsborough · Open all day · Free
FreeToiletsShadeParkingBBQ☕ 90m to coffee
🛝 Yallingup Foreshore Nature Playground
Yallingup · Open all day · Free
FreeToiletsShadeCoffee nearbyBBQPicnic area

Big days out

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

🎡 Dolphin Discovery Centre, Bunbury
Bunbury · Daily 9am to 3pm (cafe 8am to 3pm), closed at Christmas · Adults $25, kids 3 to 17 $15, under 3 free, family (2+2) $68. Dolphin Interaction Zone free, seasonal
Coffee nearby☕ 670m to coffee
🎡 Busselton Jetty
Busselton · Daily, see Busselton Jetty website for train and Underwater Observatory times · Paid jetty, train and observatory tickets, see Busselton Jetty website
ToiletsCoffee nearby☕ 70m to coffee
🎡 Lake Cave guided tour, Forest Grove
Forest Grove · Daily 9am to 5pm, last entry 4pm, guided tours, bookings essential · Adults $26, kids 4 to 16 $13, under 4 free
🎡 Mammoth Cave, Forest Grove
Forest Grove · Daily 9am to 5pm, last entry 4pm, closed Christmas Day · Adults $26, kids 4 to 16 $13, under 4 free
🎡 Forest Adventures treetop ropes, Ludlow
Ludlow · Thu to Mon 9am to 5:30pm (last entry 3pm), 7 days in school and public holidays · Kids 7 to 16 $49, adults $59, spectators free
🎡 Capes Raptor Centre (formerly Eagles Heritage), Margaret River
Margaret River · Wed to Mon 10am to 4pm (last entry 3:15pm), 7 days in school and public holidays. Flight displays 11am and 2pm · Adults $26, kids 4 to 16 $13, under 4 free
🎡 Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse
Naturaliste · Daily 9am to 5pm, last entry 4:30pm, closed Christmas Day · Tower tour: adults $18, kids 4 to 16 $10, under 4 free. Grounds and museum only: adults $6, kids $3
Toilets☕ 220m to coffee
🎡 Bunbury Wildlife Park
South Bunbury · Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm, last entry 3:15pm · Adults $20, kids 2 to 16 $12.50, family $52, each ticket includes a feed bag
☕ 1.1km to coffee
🎡 Ngilgi Cave and Ancient Lands, Yallingup
Yallingup · Daily 9am to 5pm, last entry 4pm, closed Christmas Day · Cave and Ancient Lands: adults $32, kids 4 to 16 $16, under 4 free. Above ground only: adults $16, kids $8
Nature play
🎡 Yallingup Maze
Yallingup · Daily 9:30am to 5pm. Closed 24 to 26 Dec, 1 Jan, 26 Jan and usually the first two weeks of February · Maze: kids 5 to 15 $18.50, adults $22.50, under 4 free. Mini golf and combo tickets extra
Coffee nearbyPicnic areaNature play

More ways to choose

💸 Free things to do🔥 Playgrounds with a BBQ🎡 Everything on this week

Common questions

When are the South West WA 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 South West WA 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 South West WA when it is raining?
Indoor play centres, the free museums and galleries, the library, and the indoor pools. On a warm wet day a splash pad still works: they are already wet.