Perth is such a beautiful sunny place that you'd be forgiven if our cooler, wetter winter takes you by surprise!
While Perth often enjoys sunny, dry winter days, there are also times when it's a little too chilly and damp for the great outdoors - which can be a challenge when you have kids bursting with energy. You can’t spend too much time curling up with a glass of Shiraz and wood burner, wonderful as that sounds. So put away the bathers and beach towels, bring out the boots and fleeces, and choose from these fun winter activities for kids!
For Inquisitive Minds
Kids love to discover things they didn't know that they didn't know! And if they can do this while having heaps of fun with experiments and real experiences, so much the better. Scitech, The Perth Mint and AQWA are popular family attractions offering some the best indoor events for children in Perth.
Scitech is a discovery centre guaranteed to keep the whole family busy through a rainy morning. The interactive exhibits and displays are designed to engage the curiosity of young minds by answering fascinating questions and letting kids get hands-on with science. The Scitech Planetarium is a 180 degree domed theatre with surround sound and lasers to transport you into the night sky. The Science Theatre is a must for exciting demonstrations that youngsters will love. For younger children, the Puppet Theatre is a great way to learn about science and technology through simple story-telling.
Right in the heart of the Sunset Coast, is Australia's largest walk-through aquarium - AQWA. The whole family will love meeting the weird and wonderful creatures that teem in the waters of WA’s 12,000km coastline, from intricate sea dragons to sleepy crustaceans, colourful fish to magnificent sharks. AQWA also hosts a Marine Scientist for a Day experience during the School Holidays, perfect for those budding scientists.
Experience WA’s unique golden history with a tour of The Perth Mint A hidden gem or precious metal if you will. The Perth Mint is an awesome way to understand and experience Western Australia’s unique, golden history. As a fully operational, fully integrated precious metals enterprise, supplying premium gold, silver and platinum to the world around us, The Perth Mint is the perfect destination to explore our rich history. Alongside its day-to-day operations, visitors are invited to visit the original premises to enjoy a fascinating tour, diving into The Perth Mint’s world class Gold Exhibition and tour offerings. The Perth Mint Gold Tour is authentic and engaging that includes a live gold pour, viewing of the Guinness World Record One Tonne Gold Coin, the chance to touch an incredible 400 ounce gold bar, views of the extraordinary gold and silver specimens and nuggets discovered right here in Western Australia, and a kid-friendly quiz called The Perth Mint Challenge, with participants receiving a medal upon completion.
Burn Some Energy
Perth has indoor activities for children and teenagers that will wear out even the most unstoppable. Here are four attractions guaranteed to get youngsters letting off steam.
Get your skates on and visit one of Perth's three large ice skating rinks for suitably icy winter activities for kids. The largest is Cockburn Ice Arena in Bibra Lake Reserve, which claims the state's only full Olympic sized rink. Frostbite Café overlooks Rink 1 and serves fresh hot and cold food, drinks, confectionery, cakes and slices, sandwiches and wraps (made daily).
Glowing Rooms 3D Mini Golf & VR Escape Rooms offers an immersive and unforgettable entertainment experience. Step into a world of vibrant colors and optical illusions as you and the kids navigate through their spectacular 3D mini-golf course. The glowing walls and floors come alive with mesmerizing artwork that transports you to another dimension. With each swing of the putter, you'll find yourself immersed in a fantastical environment, making it a perfect outing for families.
Escape This Perth and Escape This Northbridge are both a haven for puzzle enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike. Nestled in the heart of the city, these escape room experiences offers a thrilling and immersive journey into the world of mystery and intrigue, think pirate quests, wizards and more! As you enter the doors of Escape This, you're immediately transported to a realm where your wit, teamwork, and problem-solving skills will be put to the ultimate test, as the minutes tick away, you'll feel the adrenaline rush as you unravel the mysteries, connect the dots, and work together with your team to find your way out.
Armadale Reptile Centre is the perfect outing for reptile enthusiasts and nature lovers. From colorful snakes to scaly lizards, children are captivated by the unique characteristics and behaviors of these incredible creatures. Knowledgeable staff engage the the kids in interactive presentations, where they learn about the reptiles' habitats, diets, and importance in the ecosystem. The highlight of the visit is of course the opportunity to get a chance to touch and hold some of the reptiles under the guidance of the experts.
Fun Ways to Snack
All parents know how important it is to keep kids fuelled. Rather than simply grabbing some fast food, make snacking fun with some of these imaginative foodie things to do with kids indoors.
If you're treating the kids to something deliciously sweet, follow the Swan Valley Sweet Temptations Trail in the Swan Valley. Enjoy French macarons, scrumptious nougat, gourmet nuts, delicious cakes, handmade chocolate and pure honey sourced straight from the hive.
Pasta in the Valley offers an exciting and hands-on culinary experience for kids with their cooking classes called Mini Chef. Designed to inspire and empower young chefs, these classes provide a fun and educational environment where children can learn the art of pasta making. Under the guidance of skilled instructors, kids get to roll up their sleeves, don aprons, and dive into the world of cooking. From mixing ingredients to kneading dough and shaping pasta, they develop essential culinary skills while unleashing their creativity.
Arts and Culture for Kids
The Fremantle Arts Centre, offers art courses for little kids (5-8), older kids (9-12) and teens across a diverse range of art forms, including pottery, drawing, animation, painting and shirt printing - there's something to suit all ages and interests. Classes are small, hands-on and taught by friendly and experienced artists.
Need more inspiration? We have compiled a list of events and activities that can be enjoyed in Perth, WA this season, visit our What's On page.
