Perth School Holidays Activities

School holidays in Perth work best when each day gets one big outing: a Rottnest Island crossing, a Mandurah cruise, an aquarium visit or a paddle on the Canning River. The activities below run from a 45-minute pirate cruise to a 10-hour desert stargazing trip, with the logistics for each.

Rottnest Island day trips for families

Rottnest Express ferries leave Barrack Street Jetty in Perth at 8.45am and B Shed on Victoria Quay in Fremantle at 9.30am, with the return from the island at 5pm on the Perth sailing. Times can change, so confirm your sailing with the operator after you book. A round trip ferry from Perth suits families who want to plan the island day themselves, with beaches, bays, walking trails and quokkas to look for.

Fremantle day tours include the island admission fee and bike hire with a helmet and lock. The bicycle hire day tour gives you a 6-hour window to ride between the island's two lighthouses and stop at a bay for a swim, and you might spot the New Zealand fur seal colony. The bike and snorkel hire day trip adds snorkelling gear for the reefs, and it's a popular choice for families.

If you'd rather be driven around, the guided bus tour from Perth is a 90-minute commentary tour in an air-conditioned coach that stops at the Wadjemup Lighthouse and the West End, and it includes complimentary hotel pickup from selected Perth CBD hotels. The adventure boat day tour from Fremantle adds a 90-minute eco cruise around the island on the Eco Express.

Boat trips from Mandurah

The Mandurah Pirate Cruise is a 45-minute cruise along the town's canals with a crew dressed as pirates. Kids can steer the pirate wheel, ring the bell, fire the water cannons and scan for enemy pirates through the telescopes, and you can bring food and drinks or buy them aboard. Cruises leave hourly from 10am to 3pm, from the jetty opposite 9 Mandurah Terrace.

For wildlife instead of pirates, the 75-minute dolphin and canal cruise leaves at 10am, 11.30am, 1.30pm and 3pm from the Mandurah Cruises Jetty in front of the Performing Arts Centre. Bottlenose dolphins live in the waters off Mandurah, and kids can play at the Steering Centre on board.

AQWA and a stadium rooftop walk

AQWA, the Aquarium of Western Australia in Hillarys is a popular choice for school holiday days. A conveyor belt carries you through an underwater tunnel under sharks and stingrays, and the Discovery Pool lets kids touch a starfish. Storytime, a toddler playground and colouring-in are free. AQWA is busiest during school holiday periods and families tend to arrive in the morning, so the afternoon is quieter.

For older kids, the HALO rooftop tour at Optus Stadium is a 90-minute, 360 degree walk around the top of the stadium, reached by staircase to Level 5, with a lift available on request. It includes a branded cap and a printed group photo, and it runs in all weather conditions.

A paddle on the Canning River

The half-day Canning River kayak tour is a 3-hour guided paddle in stable double kayaks, with life jackets and a safety briefing included. Tours run from 9am to 12pm or from 1pm to 4pm, and they meet at Kent Street Weir, near the Canning River Cafe. The route is gentle enough for beginners and passes paperbark trees and waterbirds.

A full-day trip to the Pinnacles

The Pinnacles Desert stargazing and dinner trip is a 10-hour day that leaves Perth at around 12.30pm. It stops at a sculpture park in the Swan Valley, a boutique winery and the Margaret River Chocolate Factory, then goes sandboarding at the Lancelin dunes before a sunset at the Pinnacles and a picnic dinner with telescopes for stargazing. Hotel pickup is available from select accommodation.

Planning your school holiday days

Mix the long days with short ones. A Rottnest day or the Pinnacles trip fills a whole day, while the pirate cruise, the Canning River paddle and the rooftop walk each fit into a morning or an afternoon. If the weather turns, Perth rainy day activities lists options with a roof or tours that run in the rain.

The wider range of things to do in Perth is on the region page, and the school holiday activities across Australia page covers trips further afield.

Frequently asked questions

When are the school holidays in Perth?

Western Australian school term dates are set each year by the Department of Education, which publishes them on its website. Check there for the current dates before you plan your holiday days.

What can kids do in Perth during the school holidays?

Kids can spend a day on Rottnest Island riding bikes and snorkelling, take a pirate cruise in Mandurah, visit AQWA in Hillarys or paddle a kayak on the Canning River. Each of these is on this page with departure times and meeting points.

Which Perth school holiday activities suit toddlers?

AQWA has a free toddler playground and Storytime, with a ticket type for infants aged 0 to 2. The Mandurah Pirate Cruise also has an infant ticket for ages 0 to 2, and kids can play at the Steering Centre on the Mandurah dolphin and canal cruise.

What is the minimum age for the Canning River kayak tour?

The minimum age for the Perth Canning River kayak tour is 4. The Rottnest Island bike and snorkel hire day trip from Fremantle also lists a minimum age of 4.

Is the Mandurah Pirate Cruise suitable for young children?

Yes, it's a family cruise, and children must be accompanied by an adult. It's a 45-minute trip, you can bring food and drinks or buy them aboard, and wheelchair access isn't available at the moment.

How do I get to Rottnest Island for a day trip from Perth?

Rottnest Express ferries leave Barrack Street Jetty in Perth at 8.45am and return from the island at 5pm. A Fremantle sailing leaves B Shed on Victoria Quay at 9.30am. Ferry times can change, so confirm with the operator after booking.

What can we do in Perth on a wet school holiday day?

AQWA and a guided Optus Stadium tour suit a wet day, and the Optus Stadium rooftop tours run in all weather conditions. Very high winds or electrical storms can postpone the rooftop tours.

Give each day one big outing, check the departure times above and book your Perth school holiday activities here.