What should we do during our 2 week family holiday to Perth in January?

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Daisygirl

I think Margaret River is a great place to visit, but you may need to book soon as it is very popular during the Dec/Jan school holidays. Other nearby places such as Busselton, Dunsborough, Augusta are great too. Lots of beautiful beaches, great wineries and cafes, and fun for the whole family. Check out links below.

For the city itself, I would recommend a day trip to Rottnest Island - again, fantastic fun for the kids and family with the best beaches, and they have island tours, etc. You can also meet the quokkas, which are incredibly cute.

It's going to be hot, so visit one or two of Perth's beautiful beaches, or spend some time at a pool - such as Bayswater Waves which is amazing fun.

A ferry ride from Perth to Fremantle would be fun and the ferry company will point out the sights and tell you the history on the way. You could get off in Fremantle and look around at the Fremantle Prison, the markets, and other historic sights and have lunch in the cafe district - then, catch the Ferry back to Perth.

A visit to Kings Park is a must! In January, they often have outdoor plays, movies & theatre in Kings Park, so check out their website and see if there's anything on that your family could enjoy together. The kids will love the playgrounds and it's a fantastic picnic spot.

A day in the Swan Valley is fun, with fantastic wineries, chocolate factory, and nearby is The Maze for a good day out.

Nearby country towns worth a visit are York, Gingin, Mandurah, Northam and Bunbury.

The kids would enjoy AQWA (a marine park) and also the Perth Zoo, Adventure World, Scitech and the Planatarium, and check out the various extra activities on in the school holidays in www.kidsinperth.com for extra ideas in the "diary".

Hope you have a great holiday! I'm spending a couple of weeks in Busselton - can't wait!

jarrod

1.Weather permitting we have the best beaches IN THE WORLD

2.Adventure world isnt a bad day out for the kids its quite expensive to get in though

3.the zoo is excellent

4. AQWA in hillaries boat harbour is very good. As the name suggests its a huge indoor marine life centre where if its the same as it was many years ago you can go through a tunnel with the fish around you

5. Gokarting is a fun but slightly expensive way to spend some time

6. Fremantle is full of history and there are a few museums and interesting things to do

7.Perth if you get really desperate is good for a wander plenty of shops, and street entertainment. Friday is late night shopping everything closes at 9pm. on every other week day everything closes around 5:30pm or 6:pm. Sundays everything in perth opens at 12pm and closes at 6pm

8. Cohunu Koala Park isnt too bad and not too expensive to get in (not sure about if they have moved or not yet though)

hope i have helped :)

Going down south would be fantastic (Margaret River, Busselton, Dunsborough - winery region, beaches, forests, etc), but it is a few hours' drive, and given that you only have two weeks it may not be the best use of your time.
Rottnest Island (they have a website) is great for the family (half hour ferry ride from Perth or Fremantle, parking available at both ports). I think you may struggle to get accommodation as January is peak season and they operate on a lottery system because of the demand. Accommodation is in the form of houses and units around the edge of the island, all within walking distance of the beaches, if not right on the beach. There are houses and units of varying capacities, as well as bungalows, the Lodge (which has various types of accommodation). You can also stay at the old Army Barracks, which is dorm style, bunks etc. (Nicer than it sounds though, and includes kitchens etc.). However, it is absolutely worth going for the day. No cars, you can hire bikes not far from the ferry terminal. (Although everything is pretty much walking distance.) You can hire canoes and giant water tricycles on the main beach, where you arrive. Rottnest Pub, cafes overlooking beautiful beaches. Rottnest Bakery - famous! A couple of nice restaurants. The General Store and a few other shops to brouse in. A gallery and museum. The Basin - the most beautiful beach you will ever see! - brilliant for snorkelling (lots of colourful marine life), very safe and sheltered, no big waves, natural reef forms a sort of swimming pool - great for kids. You cannot go to the island without going to The Basin!!! It is a short bike ride from where you arrive, ilke everything else. Also the island was used as a barracks and lookout during WW2, so there is a bit of history / educational stuff. There is a train that goes right round the island. Mini golf, salt lakes, the famous Quokkas (small, friendly animals that hop around like tiny kangaroos all over the island).
Also, the Sawn Valley would be a great choice for you. Another day trip option. 30ish minutes drive from Perth city. It's our other significant winery region, but is very family friendly. Lots of places have playgrounds. The Feral Brewery has a brilliant layout for having lunch / a drink on the verandah, overlooking a large outdoor kids play area, which is fenced off from the road. Plenty of places like this out there, and most of them have available maps and printed guides for the region. Even places like Houghtons (more upmarket) still have extensive and very beautiful gardens and grassed areas, and they don't object to the occasional game of cricket after your lunch / picnic / tastings. There is also a cheese company and a chocolate company out there, both very generous with free samples :) Also out in the Valley is a place called Whiteman Park, which is perfect for the kids, especially with all the stuff they run in the summer holidays. There's a train ride, farm animals, face painting, sausage sizzles, etc. I think they have a website, but you should be able to find them on a general Swan Valley website.
Kings Park is practically right in the city, and a great place to take the kids. Very pretty, various cafes / restaurants / kiosks, a few different (and quite impressive) playgrounds. Overlooks the city and the river. Also is the site of an important war memorial. Perfect place for a picnic, lots of free parking but go early in the day if going in January - beat the crowds. Lots of natural bushland and native flora. Beautiful wildflower displays. They often run things for the kids during the holidays too.
Take the kids to Cottesloe Beach - very safe, lifesavers patrol heavily, cafes / pubs / shops / fish and chips right along the beach.
Fremantle - 20 minutes drive from Perth. Port city, lots of shops, Fremantle markets, cafe / restaurant strip with pretty much any kind of food available, lots of buskers, very lively area. The Esplanade is a park in "Freo" with a playground, and is adjacent to another area with restaurants / icecream / fish and chips, right on the water. Also in Fremantle is a specialty theatre called Spare Parts. They run some amazing fully staged theatrical puppet shows for kids, which you would also enjoy.
So, Rottnest, the Swan Valley, Kings Park, Cottesloe Beach, and Fremantle are my top picks for you. Have a great time!

jambutty

did you ask this question before only its very familiar?

anyway my suggestions for FAMILY trips out some free some not
would be

FREE:
Kings Park great views cool kids area excellent plants and flowers

Hillarys beach good kids beach great shops & cafes

Fremantle great markets cafes live street theatre

Perth City we have a lovely city walking distance is the
art gallery of wa and
museum both are free entry

Places a short drive away but worth a visit are
York pretty little country town
Mandurah great seaside town
Margaret river wine region surfing camping

Places that charge entry fee but worth a visit

Perth zoo big and fun for kids

Scitech fun for kids & adults interactive

AQWA near Hilarys beach underwater experience of the ocean.

There are lots of great beaches too for a days fishing swimming playing and so on.

also check out the following sites
http://www.totaltravel.com.au/travel/wa/pertharea
http://www.experienceperth.com/en/default.htm

Rosie_0801

You can drive right up to Exmouth and back in that time. It's rather cool to do that, actually. The scenery gets shorter and shorter. Then you come back and it gets taller and taller. Sounds weird but it's kind of cool.

sashaank p

the gold factory dont miss it

dtedad-50

This question is asked many times. All the above is the best of Perth.

hairychopper

Visit Bluehills Farmstay, in Harvey, a 2 hour drive south of Perth. Harvey is a beef, milk and orange juice producing town, and a pretty little place. The farmstay is in beautiful cottages on 600 acres of rolling hills overlooking the lake at Harvey Dam. They have a variety of animals to feed and pet for the kids. Check out http://bluehillsfarmstay.com.au/chalets.html website

jennifer h

Great Zoo in Perth Go to Fremantle to the maritime museum and spend the day wandering around the wharf area. Fish and chips on the wharf are good and plenty to see They have the markets on there fri sat and sunday. A walk around Kings Park. Great views and a trip along Perths coast from Fremantle to Hilarys . Fabulous Sun sets. Scarborough and Cottesloe beaches are great. How about a trip to Rottnest Island . thats a super day out and some nice snorkling spots and then there's the Perth mint I haven;t been but hear it is very interesting. I'm sure you will find lots of brochures as soon as you arrive. Good luck It will be great but could be rather hot

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