Looking for some ways to beat the heat in summer?
From family beach days to air-conditioned comfort, evening sundowners to watersports galore, there's so many ways to beat the heat and have a fab time making the most of midsummer fun.
Head to the beach
Perth is internationally admired for its gorgeously pristine white-sand beaches, and with our seemingly endless 197km of perfect coastline, from the Northern Beaches to Mandurah, we're rather spoiled for choice on where to enjoy this perfect beach weather!
Along Perth's Sunset Coast top picks include the family-friendly Hillarys Marina Beach and Sorrento Beach (both perfect for beachside fish and chips), Mettam's Pool at Trigg (one of the best snorkelling beaches in Perth) and the beachside dining hot spots of Scarborough Beach and City Beach. You can't miss the iconic views at Cottesloe or the pristine sands of Bathers Beach in Fremantle (Perth's only licensed beach with deck chairs and umbrellas on the beach). If you you've got your fur child with you, check out the dog-friendly southern beaches at O'Connor Reserve and Woodman Point.
In Rockingham, you can jump on a ferry or hire a kayak or paddle board and discover the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park, the home of Penguin Island and Seal Island. And, further south in Mandurah, Dolphin Quay has a man-made, sheltered beach as well as a great playground and expansive grassed area and Preston Beach is a popular holiday spot with beachfront accommodation and café. And that's just a taster: check out our guides to Perth's Best Beaches and Perth Underwater Trails for even more ideas.
Splash madness
Perth has some seriously awesome waterparks that are perfect for a hot day! Have a barrel of fun at the fantastic floating obstacle course Island Aqua Park Hillarys, perfect for kids aged 6 years and over, or head to Perth favourite Adventure World, with water attractions including The Lagoon, Tidal Wave and more.
A firm summer favourite is Perth's Outback Splash, home to some of WA's best and most thrilling waterslides as well as an amazing water playground. The water attractions are open September to April and their year-round family fun includes mini golf, mazes, sensory play activities, a children’s playground and Australian animal experiences. Plus this summer is even more refreshing with the opening of their new cool pop-up Summer Bar, in partnership with Gage Roads, offering chilled vibes, good beer and great times for the entire summer season.
Indoor escapes
There's plenty of exciting places to explore in air-conditioned comfort this summer!
For some arts, culture and fun education check out the latest exhibit at WA Museum Boola Bardip, introduce your young scientist to science at Scitech, get your creative muse on at the Art Gallery of WA, and learn about the fascinating maritime history of Australia and the world at the WA Maritime Museum in Fremantle. Rev heads won't want to miss the amazing collection of vintage and modern cars at the Motor Museum of WA.
For a bit of exercise and fun, Cockburn Ice Arena is a safe bet being Perth's largest ice skating rink. You can have a skate, watch an ice hockey game, or enjoy some nosh at Cabin 401 Bar & Grill (Perth's only rinkside restaurant). You can take lessons in ice skating for children and adults alike, try out an ice byke session to experience drift trikes on ice, and even have a go at ice hockey with the Stick and Puck sessions.
There's also plenty indoor adventure to be had at Adrenaline Vault, WA's largest indoor climbing facility where you can try your hand at touldering, top rope and lead climbing (no previous climbing experience being necessary) and there are children's courses available too; at Latitude Air boasting a sky-high obstacle course, 100 interconnected trampolines, state-of-the-art rock climbing zone and a ninja warrior course; at the state-of-the-art PowerPlay Perth - WA's first an only two-level indoor eco go kart experience; and at Glowing Rooms 3D Mini Golf where you can play in air-conditioned comfort under ultraviolet light surrounded by intense colours and a mind-blowing 800-square metres of hand-painted artworks.
You will also find a number of indoor virtual reality experiences in Perth. Fulfil your wildest imaginations with amazing virtual reality experiences like touring the Apollo 11 space shuttle to going on an underwater adventure at VR-Arrival or Optimus Gaming. Try an immersive gaming experience at Ready Team One, the only VR experience incorporating full body and finger tracking technology in Australia and Zero Latency Perth. If you're into old school gaming, check out the retro arcade at Zero Latency or visit The Nostalgia Box, a video game console museum where you can play a range of classic games like Space Invaders, Super Mario Bros and Sonic the Hedgehog.
Sundowners
Enjoy live music from local musos as the sun sets, and enjoy a nibble and a tipple as you relax and rejuvenate.
Upper Reach Winery in the Swan Valley is host a series of Summer Twilight Concerts in February and March where you can listen to music from local artists while watching the sun set over the vines. At Joondalup Resort's Summer Sessions enjoy free jazz duos or reggae vibes every Sunday night on the verandah. Or head into the city and join Prince Lane Bar on the rooftop for their awesome Sunday Sundowners, where you'll find Perth's only bottomless drinks with charcuterie, served with a stunning city backdrop!
For a sundowner that's a little bit different, what about a sunset tapas cruise? Mandurah Cruises is offer just that every Saturday until end April. Catch a famously resplendent WA sunset as you cruise the waterways of Mandurah, including a stopover at Catch 22 Tapas and Cocktail Lounge for all-you-can-eat-taps. A perfect way to spend a summer evening!
Water sports
There's plenty of fun to be had in and on the water!
The new waterbikes offered by Mandurah Cruises are a great way to experience the iconic Mandurah waterways; you can also go kayaking with Capricorn Seakayaking, Wildlife & Eco Kayak Tours or Water Wanderers; jet ski with Jet Ski Tours or Stag Watersports Jet Ski Hire; and try out SUP (stand-up paddle boarding) with Funcats Watersports or Stand Up Paddle WA.
Is surfing more your speed? Get out on the waves with Perth Go Surf, located on the famous Scarborough sands, as well as a couple of Fremantle beaches on the south side. Suitable for all ages, they offer private and group lessons as well as after-school programs, and even birthday party packages.
Lastly, kiteboarding and kitesurfing at West Oz or Kitebud is the perfect water adventure! Both offer classes for absolute beginners onwards; West Oz is based in Safety Bay at the Shoalwater Foreshore, while Kitebud is based at Pinnaroo Point (just north of Sorrento Beach).
We hope we've inspired you to beat the heat, and not let the heat beat you! Perth in summertime is truly a special place, and no matter whether you’re feeling like museum-hopping or kitesurfing, you'll find many places to make memories.
