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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

From thundering waterfalls to ancient Indigenous art, Kimberley’s raw beauty will take your breath away.

Wild, pristine, and shaped by nature, the Kimberley Coast is one of Australia’s most spectacular landscapes. A remote and rugged frontier that remains a bucket list destination for many travellers. Its most breathtaking attractions – including Montgomery Reef, King George Falls and Horizontal Falls – are accessible only by sea or air, making a guided expedition cruise aboard Silversea’s luxury expedition ship, Silver Cloud, the ideal way to explore it.

From its intricate intertidal zones to ancient rock art, extreme tides and rare wildlife found nowhere else in Australia – or the world – this journey offers an unparalleled exploration of one of Earth’s last true wildernesses.

Why Silversea?

Silversea offers a 10-day expedition departing Broome, or an extended 16-day expedition voyage from Indonesia, including landings on the hidden gems of Palopo Sulawesi and Komodo. Accompanied by expert guides and specialists in marine biology, history and geology, guests gain a deeper understanding of the Kimberley’s dramatic landscapes, rich cultural heritage and extraordinary biodiversity.

Silversea offers one of the experiential travel industry’s leading crew-to-guest ratios. Along with all-suite accommodation (80 per cent with private verandah), 24-hour butler service, a swimming pool and four dining options. Silver Cloud also has an experienced crew of multilingual expedition guides and specialists in marine biology, history and geology to enhance your Kimberley Experience.

silversea cruise ship pool deck — Take a dip in the pool deck.

1. Koolama Bay

Before visitors see King George Falls, they hear them – a growing rumble in the distance, steady and foreboding as the Zodiac glides through the gorge, the sound echoing off sheer rock formations. At 80 meters tall, the twin cascades carve through the red cliffs, churning the waters below in a spectacular finale – but Koolama Bay holds secrets beyond its striking scenery.

Named after a ship that beached here following an aerial attack by Japanese bombers in World War II, the bay may seem desolate, yet it teems with life. With Silversea’s expert guides on their 10-day Kimberley itinerary, guests gain a sharper eye for its hidden wonders – rock wallabies darting across the cliffs, crocodiles lurking among dense green mangroves, and high above, the silhouette of a bird of prey circling the sky.

King George Falls at koolama bay excursion on Silversea Kimberley Cruise — Take a shore excursion to see King George Falls.

2. Freshwater Cove / Wijingarra Butt Butt

Connect with Country on a wet landing at Freshwater Cove, also known as Wijingarra Butt Butt. Considered one of the most special experiences on both the 16-day and 10-day Kimberley cruises, Silversea guests are welcomed by the traditional Indigenous custodians of the land, painted with traditional ochre, and invited to take part in a smoking ceremony.

Located on the mainland near Montgomery Reef, Wijingarra Butt Butt holds deep cultural significance to the local Indigenous community. Here, rock formations along the shore represent spiritual ancestors, and guests are guided to a nearby rock overhang filled with ancient art, where traditional owners share the stories and meaning behind these sacred paintings.

welcome to country on freshwater cove during silversea kimberley cruise — Take part in a smoking ceremony. (Image: Tim Faircloth)

3. Vansittart Bay (Jar Island)

Modern history, ancient culture and mystery converge in Vansittart Bay, which is also known as Jar Island. Here, the first thing to catch the eye is the dented, silver fuselage of a World War II-era C-53 plane – a striking relic of the past. Yet, the true cultural treasures lie just a short hike away where two distinct styles of Indigenous rock art – Gwion Gwion and Wandjina – can be found.

The Wandjina figures, deeply connected to Indigenous traditions, stand in stark contrast to the enigmatic Gwion Gwion (Bradshaw) paintings, which date back more than 12,000 years. Significantly different in form and style, the two different styles create a striking juxtaposition, offering a rare glimpse into the region’s rich and complex past.

aerial view of Vansittart Bay, See it in you Silversea Kimberley Cruise. — Explore ancient Gwion Gwion rock art at Vansittart Bay. (Image: Janelle Lugge)

4. Horizontal Falls

Part illusion, part natural phenomenon, the Kimberley’s much-lauded Horizontal Falls aren’t a waterfall, but a tidal and geographic spectacle that visitors have to see to comprehend. Known as Garaanngaddim, the phenomenon occurs when seawater rushes through two narrow gaps- one just twenty metres wide, and the other seven metres in width, between the escarpments of Talbot Bay.

With each tidal shift, the force of the water creates whirlpools, furious currents and the illusion of a horizontal cascade as thousands of gallons of water are pushed and pulled in through the gap every six hours with relentless movement, making this one of the Kimberley ’s most mesmerising natural wonders.

Horizontal Falls are described as "One of the greatest wonders of the natural world". They are formed from a break in-between the McLarty Ranges reaching up to 25m in width. The natural phenomenon is created as seawater builds up faster on one side of the gaps than the other, creating a waterfall up to 5m high on a King tide. — Watch whirlpools and furious currents collide. (Image: Janelle Lugge)

5. Montgomery Reef

As the tide turns in Montgomery Reef, magic happens. With the Kimberley’s legendary tides varying up to ten metres, at low tide the submerged reef almost appears to rise from the depths: exposing up to four metres of the sandstone reef.

The impact is otherworldly: as the water drains, waterfalls cascade on either side of the channel, turtles left exposed scramble and dive, and fish leap in search of sanctuary in shallow pools. Meanwhile, the dinner bell rings for the migratory seabirds dugongs, reef sharks and dolphins that scavenge and feast in the area.

Using zodiacs, guests cruise through one of the world’s most significant inshore reef systems navigated by experienced guides, exploring the most intricate and fascinating parts of a 300-square-kilometre-wide biodiversity hotspot.

aerial view of boat going along Montgomery Reef — Witness seabirds, dolphins and reef sharks on the hunt.

6. Mitchell Falls by Helicopter

Experiencing the Kimberley by sea allows you to feel the power of the tides, but travelling by helicopter reveals the sandstone tapestry of the Kimberley, a landscape geologists believe is over 1.8 billion years old.

One of Silversea’s most popular optional excursions , guests who opt to fly into the interior from the onboard helipad soar up above the rust-coloured landscape of the Mitchell plateau, taking in one of Australia’s most scenic waterfalls: Mitchell Falls, a series of four emerald-coloured pools gently cascades into each other, before plunging down to the river below.

Seeing the landscape from above reveals a landscape weaved and shaped by the power of the freshwater wet season, juxtaposed to the constant lapping of the relentless and powerful tide on the coast.

aerial view of mitchell falls on silversea helicopter excursion — See emerald pools cascade into the river below. (Image: Tim Faircloth)

7. Indigenous Art Caves, Wandjina Art

The Kimberley Region of Western Australia is home to some of the most striking and significant

Indigenous rock art in Australia. Dotted throughout the landscape are caves, cliffs and rock overhangs depicting the striking, ethereal image of Wandjina, the rainmaker spirit and creation being central to many of the Dreamtime stories in this region.

Some of the paintings are regularly repainted by traditional custodians, while others are believed to be over 4,000 years old. Each artwork serves as both a cultural record and a living connection to the past, offering a rare opportunity to engage with the enduring traditions of the Kimberley’s Indigenous communities.

Freshwater Cover Rock Art the kimberleys — Walk among cultural records preserved in stone. (Image: Tim Faircloth)

See the best of this incredible part of the world on a Silversea Kimberley cruise. Book your 10- or extended 16-day expedition voyage at silversea.com

10 things to do before turning 10 in Perth