Fun Things to do With Kids in Perth for Free

Details: Written by: Vicki Sly; Category: Places of Interest; Published: 14 September 2010; Last Updated: 22 November 2010

Entertaining kids in the holidays or while travelling can be expensive - but it doesn’t always have to be that way. Some things in life are free!

Sure children love the movies, shopping and treats like the Royal Show and Adventure World, but for a walk on the cheaper side of life, here are some options you may want to consider the next time you are looking for some kid-friendly activities in Perth that won’t break the bank.

The great outdoors and Perth’s parks and playgrounds are a good place to start when the weather is fine. Kings Park is located on the western edge of the city centre and has over a thousand acres of parkland to explore with some real gems for active kids.

The Lotterywest Family Area is located just off Kings Park Road and includes the Ivy Watson Playground, Stickybeaks Café and a surrounding picnic and BBQ area. The playground has a range of fantastic play equipment for 1-5 year olds, all covered from the sun by huge shade sails. The café is within the fenced area and overlooks the playground so it’s a win-win for parents and kids. The area just outside the fenced playground has larger pieces of play equipment, including a giant climbing frame for the bigger kids who are brave at heart and up for a challenge.

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Synergy Playground is also located within the boundaries of Kings Park and is the first environmental playground of its type in Australia. It is aimed at the 6-year plus age group and features large-scale replicas of dinosaurs. It also boasts elevated walkways, a tiered island fort, fireman’s pole and an opportunity for children to lose themselves in the past as they follow dinosaur footprints and dig for fossils.

Speaking of fossils, if your kids love all things ancient, try a visit to the Western Australian Museum. There are approximately 1,500,000 specimens in the fossil collection, so there is plenty to see. The museum is located in the heart of Perth’s cultural district in Northbridge and is open daily between 9.30am and 5.00pm. Some of the favourite long-term exhibitions include those featuring dinosaur casts and preserved skeletons of elephants, camels, horses and deer. There is also a great hands-on Discovery Centre where those who love to touch are encouraged to do so.

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Located in the same cultural area as the museum is the State Library of Western Australia (WA). The library is a great place to find things to do for free – movies, exhibitions, Internet usage and of course, books and magazines to read. All of Perth’s public libraries offer a host of free kid’s activities so make sure to check the local library in the area you are living or staying for storytime. This is usually followed up with art and craft activities where the children get to make cool crafts to take home. Most libraries run extra sessions during school holiday periods and all you need to bring is your imagination.

If you are looking to wear the kids out, why not try some skating, cycling, or scootering around Perry Lakes Reserve? It is located 7 km west of the Perth city centre in the suburb of Floreat and covers an area of 80 hectares. The streets are closed on the weekends so it’s a safe place for kids to hit the road. The reserve also has two playgrounds and outdoor gym equipment so there’s plenty of opportunity to burn off some energy.

What to do when the weather turns bad or it’s just too hot out there? This may sound like a strange suggestion to some but…head to the shops! Perth’s large shopping centres have an amazing array of free activities for kids ranging from live music and performances through to fashion parades, dress-up contests, art and craft activities and hands-on baking and decorating. They can be found dotted around Perth’s suburbs so best to check a map for the closest one to you.

If you have a great suggestion for something to do with kids that won’t cost the earth, then we would love to hear from you.

Please add your suggestions below.