Perth school holidays bring plenty of options for families across Western Australia, from day trips to Rottnest Island and hands-on science at Scitech to waterparks, wildlife encounters, and free activities that keep the budget under control. This guide covers the best paid and free school holiday activities in Perth across different ages and interests, plus the 2025/2026 school holiday dates for Western Australia.

Planning a family trip to Perth or beyond? Book your flights from eastern Australia or internationally:

Rottnest Island is the definitive Perth school holiday day trip. A 25-minute ferry from Fremantle or Barrack Street Jetty delivers you to a car-free island known for quokkas — the small marsupials found almost nowhere else in the world — as well as excellent snorkelling, cycling, and swimming beaches. Ferry tickets start from approximately AU$70 return for children and AU$129 for adults. Bike hire is widely available on the island and recommended for exploring the beaches and bays at a comfortable pace.

At 20 Labouchere Road, South Perth, Perth Zoo is home to over 1,200 animals and offers keeper talks and behind-the-scenes tours during school holiday periods. Tickets are AU$19.50 for children and AU$39 for adults. The zoo is accessible by ferry from Barrack Street Jetty for a more memorable arrival than the road approach.

At Lord Street, Whiteman Park, Caversham Wildlife Park is Perth's best hands-on wildlife experience with kangaroo feeding, koala encounters, wombats, Tasmanian devils, and bird shows. Tickets are AU$17 for children and AU$36 for adults. The park is particularly well-suited to younger children who benefit from the interactive format and the controlled, safe wildlife contact.

At Hillarys Boat Harbour, AQWA is home to Australia's largest underwater tunnel and features touch pools, shark displays, and Western Australian marine life exhibits. Tickets are AU$19 for children and AU$35 for adults. The Hillarys Boat Harbour location is itself a pleasant destination with cafes and a playground accessible before or after the aquarium.

Find the best hotels in Perth for a family-friendly school holiday stay:

At 351 Progress Drive, Bibra Lake, Adventure World is Perth's largest theme and water park with rollercoasters, water slides, and a wave pool. Tickets are AU$64 for children and AU$74 for adults. Peak school holiday periods get busy — arrive early and check online for multi-day and combo deals that represent better value than gate prices.

At 1635 Neaves Road, Bullsbrook, Outback Splash combines mazes, water slides, and kangaroo encounters in a bushland setting north of Perth. Tickets from AU$43 for children and AU$51 for adults. The kangaroo interaction is a genuine highlight that sets it apart from standard waterparks.

At City West Centre, West Perth, Scitech delivers interactive science exhibits, live science shows, and planetarium experiences. Tickets are AU$17 for children and AU$26 for adults. The planetarium shows are particularly popular and should be booked in advance during school holidays as sessions sell out.

At Victoria Quay, Fremantle, the Maritime Museum features submarine tours and hands-on workshops specifically designed for school holiday programs. General admission is AU$10 for children and AU$15 for adults. The Oberon-class submarine on display is genuinely impressive for older children and teenagers.

Several excellent free activities are available during Perth school holidays. Kings Park and Botanic Garden at Fraser Avenue offers nature-based playgrounds, Discovery Dell for younger children, and excellent river and city views at no cost. Lake Leschenaultia in Chidlow provides free swimming in a natural freshwater lake with kayaking and mountain bike trails available at modest rental rates. The City of Perth Summer Markets and WA Museum Boola Bardip offer free entry with additional paid workshops available. Cottesloe Beach remains the classic free Perth family outing — one of Australia's most beautiful city beaches with calm conditions suited to families.

Key school holiday periods in Western Australia for planning purposes:

Discover Perth day tours, Rottnest ferry tickets, and family experiences through Traveloka's activities page:

A car rental gives your family the flexibility to reach Whiteman Park, Bullsbrook, and the outer Perth activity sites comfortably. Arrange an airport transfer from Perth Airport through the Traveloka app. Check Traveloka promotions for family-friendly hotel deals in Perth and flights from eastern Australia. Traveloka is Southeast Asia's #1 all-in-one travel app — #1 in cumulative downloads 2014–2025 among travel booking apps (Source: SensorTower), with over 140 million app downloads across Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, and Australia. Book flights and hotels with Best Deals Every Day, 24/7 live agent support, and access to 2M+ hotels worldwide — all in one app. Download the Traveloka app on Google Play and the App Store.