10 Things To Do Before Turning 10 in Perth

It’s the city that’s got the quokkas, the roller coasters and the museums. The only thing missing? Your little ones.

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Illustration by Mike Rossi @micro.grafik

1. See the world’s smallest penguins

You’ve done the quokkas, now see the penguins (and just about everything else) at Penguin Island, located off the coast of Rockingham, 45 minutes south of Perth and a five-minute ferry ride into the rugged Shoalwater Islands Marine Park. Home to endless white sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters and a healthy wildlife population, you can swim with wild dolphins, kayak with seals but you can’t miss a visit with the island rangers who present penguin feedings at 10.30am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm daily. The Penguin Island Ferry & Discovery Centre pass is $89 for two adults and two children. Add a visit to Pengo’s Cafe, on site, for cake or ice-cream for the perfect day out.

Catch the ferry to Penguin Island. (Image: Tourism WA)

See the world’s smallest penguins. (Image: Tourism WA)

2. Get hands-on at Scitech

For the child who asks endless questions about the universe and everything within it (particularly during times when they should be sleeping), we present Scitech, a centre filled with playful science, technology, engineering and mathematics experiences. Located in the heart of Perth’s CBD, kids (and kidults) can unleash their inner scientists by engaging in over one hundred exhibits, but also enjoy science performances, puppet shows, a CSIRO lab and Australasia’s largest planetarium. Admission ($52 for two adults and children or one adult and three children) gives access to all Science Centre exhibition spaces, the Planetarium, Science Theatre and Puppet Theatre. Got a little time up your sleeve? Creative gelato flavours await at Whisk Creamery, five minutes’ drive down the road.

Get hands-on at Scitech.

3. Take a quokka selfie

Getting up close and personal with Australia’s most personable marsupial is high on every traveller’s bucket list and the good news is, on Rottnest Island (a 30-minute ferry ride from Perth), you won’t have to try too hard to find them. The only mammal native to the island, there are more than 12,000 of the furry ones getting photo-ready at any one time. The best time to see a quokka is early morning or late evening but remember: there’s no need to approach one or give them food or water – they will come to you. Then all you need to do is crouch, grin and snap (without touching). The best place to compare your selfies? At Rottnest Bakery, where jam doughnuts rule supreme.

Take a quokka selfie. (Image: Tourism WA)

4. Ride the roller coasters at Adventure World

A day filled with all manner of heart-stopping roller coasters and water slides, plus smaller, gentler rides for the younger ones? You can hear the ‘yaaaaas’ echoing all the way down the entrance of Adventure World, a family fun park which serves up unlimited access to over 25 rides and attractions, including ABYSS, ‘Australia’s Best Roller Coaster’, and Kraken, the longest, tallest and steepest funnel slide on the planet. Top tip? Book a day cabana and purchase a Fast Pass (from $34.95) to skip the queues. A day ticket is priced from $165 for a family pass (two adults plus one child, or one adult plus two children). Open 10am to 5pm daily, the park is closed for the winter months.

Ride the roller coasters at Adventure World.

5. Eat the best fish and chips in the west

Just uttering the words ‘fish and chips’ is enough to get the little ones excited, but chowing down at Cicerello’s, one of the longest-standing eateries on Fremantle Harbour, is far from where the action stops. The tropical aquariums inside the restaurant and bathrooms will keep the family entertained while they wait for their dinner, or they can enjoy checking out the restaurant’s unofficial archive of shark-torn surfboards and kayaks. Parents, meanwhile, will enjoy Cicerello’s panoramic views and menu, which covers everything from creamy natural oysters to a rich fish curry. Happily, a large range of desserts – including gelato – are also on offer at Cicerello’s Kiosk.

Eat the best fish and chips in the west at Cicerello’s. (Image: Tourism WA)

6. See a movie at Galaxy Drive-In

Every parent likes to let rip with a ‘when I was your age’ story every now and then, and what better setting to launch into one than Galaxy Drive-In, the city’s last remaining drive-in. Located in Kingsley (around 20 kilometres from Perth’s city centre), this is the place to load up on old-school Chiko Rolls and Maltesers, play a pre-movie game of UNO and party like it’s 1985. Open Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, gates open at around 6pm (get in early or you’ll miss out) and movies begin shortly after. Priced at $11 per adult, and $5.50 for kids four to 12, Tuesday nights are cheapest at $22 for a carload of passengers.

See a movie at Galaxy Drive-In.

7. Foster an animal at Caversham Wildlife Park

Kids asking for a new pet? Why not promise them a koala or wallaby sibling instead by visiting Caversham Wildlife Park and fostering one? Before you commit to a new family member, you’ll need to get to know the park’s native Australian residents (everything from Tasmanian devils and wombats to possums), so take some time to hand-feed the roos, or check out Molly’s Farm for an interactive farm experience. The kids can watch sheep shearing, milk a cow or bottle-feed a lamb. Open daily 9.30am to 4pm, admission is $30 for adults and $14 for kids three to 14.

Foster an animal at Caversham Wildlife Park. (Image: Tourism WA)

8. Come face-to-face with giant sharks at AQWA

Are the kids obsessed with sharks, turtles and stingrays? Provide the ultimate ‘meet and greet’ by booking in a session at the Aquarium of Western Australia. Located in Hillarys Boat Harbour, just 20 minutes from Perth’s CBD, this iconic attraction boasts more than 40 exhibitions, enabling visitors to explore over 12,000 kilometres of Western Australian coastline from behind the safety of reinforced glass. A $79 family entry fee (two adults and two children or one adult and three children) includes the top sights from the icy waters of the Southern Ocean to the tropical wonderland of coral reefs in the Far North. Open seven days a week, from 9am to 3pm weekdays and 9am to 4pm on weekends.

Come face-to-face with giant sharks at AQWA.

9. Get wet at Outback Splash

Take some of WA’s fastest water slides (including a six-storey water slide tower where the brave can hurtle at speeds of up to 75 kilometres per hour), add mini golf, mazes, a handful of Australian animal experiences, plus the odd child-friendly eatery and you have one of Perth’s most popular family attractions. Located on the doorstep of Swan Valley, just 30 minutes from the city, Outback Splash features four new water slides and water attractions (open September to April) but the park’s other attractions can be enjoyed year-round (Cost: Adult: $41.00; Child aged 4–13: $34.00). And it would be rude not to sneak in a cake, slice or ice-cream at one of the retailers on site.

Get wet at Outback Splash.

10. Visit WA Museum Boola Bardip

Australia is home to well over 200 nationalities and more than 65,000 years of Indigenous stories. Introduce the kids to their mates and neighbours on a deeper level by visiting WA’s newest museum, the spectacular WA Museum Boola Bardip. Located in the Perth Cultural Centre, the museum reopened its doors in November 2020 after a $400 million overhaul, the spaces offering visitors a range of experiences with a focus on multicultural and Aboriginal stories. In spectacular suspended fashion, it also showcases the massive blue whale skeleton and WA icon dubbed Otto. Activities are offered for kids and the museum has ‘Quiet Hour’ afternoon sessions for those with specific sensory needs. Open from 9.30am to 5pm every day, entry is free.

Visit WA Museum Boola Bardip. (Image: Michael Haluwana, Aeroture)

Perched on the banks of Perth’s Swan River, the Wonil Hotel Perth pairs contemporary rooms and sweeping waterfront views with a sense of purpose that sets it apart.

In a rare model for the hospitality world, Wonil Hotel Perth operates as a not-for-profit hotel, directing 100% of its net revenue toward medical and scientific research across Western Australia’s five major universities. So while guests enjoy the calm of riverside living, their stay also quietly contributes to the future of science, innovation and health in Australia. And it’s a refreshing stand-out in Perth’s hotel scene.

Location

The peaceful riverside hotel is set on the banks of the Swan River.

Wonil Hotel Perth is located in the inner-city suburb of Crawley, a peaceful riverside locale about 10 minutes from Perth’s CBD. It’s positioned steps from Matilda Bay Reserve, where walking trails hug the shoreline and black swans glide along the water. From here, it’s a short drive or bike ride to Kings Park, Elizabeth Quay and the city’s arts and culture precincts. Though close to the action, the setting feels removed – quiet, leafy and surrounded by nature.

Style and character

The floor-to-ceiling windows offer a picturesque view of Matilda Bay.

Named after the Noongar word for peppermint tree, of which there are many shading the riverbanks outside, Wonil Hotel Perth is the first Australian property in Accor’s Handwritten Collection. The overall style is minimal without being sterile – warm wood finishes, tactile furnishings and clever lighting create a relaxed, understated space that melts into its natural surroundings.

The lobby is stunning, spacious and filled with inviting leather couches, well-stocked bookshelves and Indigenous art and sculpture work. The floor-to-ceiling glass doors open out onto a sheltered outdoor deck filled with tables and chairs overlooking the river. During the day this serves as the world’s most picturesque coworking space, but come 5pm, it’s where you’ll find most guests milling around, cocktails in hand.

Facilities

Spend time reading books in the cosy library nook.

Wonil Hotel Perth leans toward a pared-back offering, focusing on what guests actually need. While there’s no on-site fitness centre, hotel staff can provide access to the nearby University of WA gym and pool. But why would you, when the hotel is in prime location for an outdoor workout. Walk along the trails that meander through Matilda Bay Reserve, run along the riverfront to the iconic Kings Park, or even tackle the nearby Kokoda Trail – a steep 150-step ascent designed to simulate the exhaustion and effort of the original Kokoda Track soldiers in WWII.

The hotel includes West Kitchen & Bar, a small but well-curated restaurant, plus free Wi-Fi, meeting rooms and secure paid parking. Limited parking is available on-site with an advanced booking.

Rooms

the premier king room with river view at Wonil Hotel Perth

Each room is sleek and spacious with views over the Swan River.

The hotel’s 66 rooms range from Standard to Executive and Premium, many with balconies and uninterrupted views over the Swan River, and some with interconnecting options for families or groups. My room was a Deluxe King with a balcony and river view.

Bathrooms are luxe and spacious.

The space somehow manages to be both modernly sleek and warmly inviting – textured grey walls illuminated by warm sconce lights, an exposed concrete ceiling offset by rich timber accents, and a black wrought iron balcony met with earthy-hued, upholstered leather furnishings. The spacious king bed, roomy shower with luxe Mr Smith toiletries, and complimentary coffee add a special touch.

Food and drink

the outdoor terrace at Wonil Hotel Perth

Gather for sunset drinks on the outdoor terrace.

West Kitchen & Bar offers a truly local experience. When it comes to the drinks, you won’t find anything – wine, beer, spirits – from outside WA. Even the soda water hails from the west. The wine list sees big WA makers like Leeuwin Estate, Vasse Felix and Voyager dance alongside smaller producers like Ironcloud, Singlefile and LS Merchants; with beers from local legends Gage Roads, Little Creatures, Beerfarm and Eagle Bay Brewing.

The dinner menu features seafood, steak and small plates designed for sharing, showcasing local producers. Standouts are the Rottnest kingfish with ruby grapefruit, the barramundi with Tuscan cabbage and the Harvey beef tri tip with smoked bone marrow butter and red wine jus. For dessert, a unique take on a classic – spiced red wine pannacotta, served with poached pear and fresh honeycomb.

Come morning, the hotel offers a curated selection of buffet breakfast options including seasonal fruits, homemade granola, pastries and sourdough. Plus, guests also get a choice of one item from the à la carte breakfast menu – the tomato bruschetta with balsamic, basil, feta and poached eggs on rye was exceptional.

Does Wonil Hotel Perth have access for guests with disabilities?

There are accessible rooms to accommodate guests with accessibility needs.

Is Wonil Hotel Perth it family-friendly?

Yes – the interconnecting rooms make family stays appealing, and the vast grassland and river foreshore of Matilda Bay Reserve are a beautiful spot for kids to run, splash and play in nature.

Best for: Couples, families, business travellers

Address: 21 Hackett Drive, Crawley

10 things to do before turning 10 in Perth