I don’t know about you but this year has absolutely flown! I’m only a newbie school mum with my little guy in kindy but honestly, it feels like his first day was only yesterday ☹ I’m not at the point yet, where I dread School Holidays and wonder what I’m going to do to keep him occupied for two weeks straight but I’m sure as the years go on, it’ll get harder to keep coming up with cool ways to keep him busy.
So, in saying that and just to give you a wee bit of a hand, here’s a list of both free and paid activities to help keep your lil’ kids (and big kids) entertained these School holidays.
The 2021 Perth Royal Show is back! Coordinated by the Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia, and after a hiatus in 2020, it’s time to get the family together and have some old school fun and WA’s longest running event at the iconic Claremont Showground!
Don’t forget to slip, slop , slap, don your most comfortable walking shoes and prepare to be wowed!
There’s so much to do so head to the website to plan your day and check out the guide of 101 FREE things to do.
*Tickets are available online with a whopping 25% off ticket prices so head to the website to book.
SEE YOU AT THE SHOW!!
*Not available to purchase at the gate. Book now to avoid disappointment
Landsdale Farm
Landsdale Farm is a unique educational farm open to everyone.
At Landsdale Farm you can get up close with the animals, learn about farming and relax in beautiful surrounds. They have goats (personal fav), donkeys, cows, sheep, ponies, geese, ducks, chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs and heaps much more!
Pack a picnic, grab your blanket and enjoy an afternoon on the beautiful lawn area surrounded by all the fun of the farm. There is also a huge outdoor undercover playground which is an absolute must so, grab yourself a coffee and let the kids burn off some energy.
To learn more click here.
Coast Road Palms
Two birds, one stone? Why not get your garden sorted this spring and keep the kids entertained at the same time? Coast Road Palms is a family-owned business which has been operating since 1987. The nursery is set in 10 acres of luscious tropical gardens, where you can view the growth of palms and tropical plants in their natural surrounds. They specialise in Palms, Cycads, Bamboos, Gingers, Heliconia, Cordylines and Indoor Foliage. Their stocks and display gardens range from common to unusual and plants are available from seedlings to advanced stock.
Oh and did I mention dinosaurs? Yep Dinosaurs! You’ll find heaps of life like and some close to life sized dinosaurs hiding all around the nursery. So why not grab an ice-cream treat and let the kids explore. Qualified Paleontologists, oops I mean, Horticulturists are on hand for friendly service and advice.
Saturday, Sundays 10:00am – 4:00pm / Public Holidays 10:00am – 3:00pm / Also by appointment during the week
Visit their website for more. Click here.
Beep! Toot! Honk! adventure trail
School holiday fun returns to Fremantle with the free BEEP! TOOT! HONK! adventure trail.
The streets of Fremantle will be filled with the sounds of happy kids beeping, tooting and honking their way around the city as they bounce on and off a big wheels bouncy castle, ride on a mini fire truck, take a selfie with a giant monster truck and have a go on a retro car merry-go-round.
Engines will be running on the BEEP! TOOT! HONK! adventure trail every day from Monday 4 October to Sunday 10 October.
BEEP! TOOT! HONK! adventure trail is a free ticketed event aimed at children aged 2-12 years.
There will be four codewords for kids to find at each of the key locations as they make their way around the trail.
Start your adventure trail with a ride on the train or bus into Fremantle Train Station and head to your starting location. The adventure trail stops at Walyalup Koort, Fishing Boat Harbour, WA Shipwrecks Museum and Henderson Street Mall near Fremantle Markets.
There’ll be some great characters for the kids to meet, including the much-loved Chase from Paw Patrol.
Bookings are essential and online only, so book early to avoid disappointment. Click here for all the info.
The Nostalgia Box
Located in the heart of Northbridge is Australia’s one and only video game console museum where you can browse some rare retro consoles and also an interactive games area where you can see what these retro games are all about!
The Nostalgia Box has over 100 video game consoles on display, dating right back to the 1970s when video games were still the new kids in town. Learn the history of your favourite video game brands and read about the companies and consoles which became the stepping stones for the brands we know and love today.
And, just for some more fun… your admission tickets include opportunity to replay all your favourite childhood games or take the opportunity to experience games you have always wanted to play but never had the chance. Reminise on days of old or create some new memories. Race around the tracks in Mario kart, chase some ghosts in Pac-man or finally beat that old score in Space Invaders! With such a vast collection, there’s something for everyone at The Nostalgia Box
REGULAR HOURS – Friday 11-4pm / Saturday 11-5pm / Sunday 11-4pm
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS – 7 days a week, 11-4pm
AQWA
It’s just become one of those places you never get tired of visiting because an awesome underwater adventure always awaits you at the Aquarium of Western Australia!
Whether it’s the School Holidays or not, there’s always so much to do at AQWA including Sea School for kiddies aged 2-5yrs, Supersonic Science Show (on until September 30, 2021) and the Marine Scientist for a Day program (which is almost booked out for these holidays). You can even book yourself a behind the scenes tour which includes a ride in a glass bottom boat right over the 3 million litre Shipwreck Coast Aquarium!
For everything you need to know visit the website https://www.aqwa.com.au/
OASIS Super Golf
There’s something fun for everyone at OASIS Super Golf
SUPA GOLF is a modified form of golf where the golf clubs have oversized heads and are made of plastic. Similarly the ball is also oversized, softer and made of rubber plastic and iridescent in color.
The flight pattern of the ball is also very similar. The maximum distance the ball can travel when struck with the driver is approximately 100 meters. The putting cup size is about 2.5 time larger than a traditional golf hole. SO MUCH FUN!
Or perhaps a round of MINI GOLF set in amoungst a jungle oasis with plenty of challenge, is more your style? The Oasis Adventure Putt course is based on the Adventure Golf which is likened to a normal golf course but scaled down to miniature. The game is set amongst beautiful gardens and water features and utilises earthy materials and colours to compliment the surrounds in which it is built.
Set on approximately 1 acre it is a great outing that is really fun for all ages.
And don’t forget about Mash Brewer & Brasserie onsite for that well deserved Parent Pint after a long day of Golf!
For all the info visit https://supagolf.com.au/
Treetops Yanchep
Tucked away in the beautiful bushlands of Yanchep National Park, is an exciting way of exploring nature!
Barely a 45min drive from Perth, you can spend up to 2.5-hours having fun and navigating through the tuart trees, high above the local kangaroos that call Bull Banksia Oval their home. There are also other adventures in Yanchep National Park so you can make a day out of your visit! Choose from a range of exciting experiences such as walking trails, heritage-listed buildings, limestone caves, Aboriginal culture or enjoy a night under the stars with the camping ground next door!
There are 7 fun and challenging levels to choose from, suitable for ages 3+ where you’ll gain a birds eye view of the Australian bush like never before! Each course is made up of wobbling wooden bridges, tight ropes, cargo nets, ziplines and more! Courses range from 2m low easy courses for your mini adventurers, all the way to 10m high for the adrenaline junkies! And, if you’re short on time but big on adventure you can still feel that adrenaline rush with a 1.5 hour express session. Express sessions are only run during weekdays. Time includes harnessing and training.
Now let’s remember this is a School holiday guide so as a special over the holidays, let instructors take your 8-12yr old monkey up into the treetops while you keep your feet on the ground! These sessions are only available during the school holidays and bookings are essential.
For more, visit https://treesadventure.com.au/
York Festival
The York Festival is a two-week, multi-arts event based in the historic town of York, Western Australia. It attracts thousands of visitors each year, offering a diverse program of family-friendly entertainment featuring music and performing arts; arts and crafts; walking tours; and much more in Western Australia’s oldest inland town held in springtime during the September school holidays when the wildflowers and canola are in full bloom.
This year’s highlights include the long-awaited return of jazz to York over the Festival’s opening weekend, with a jam-packed program of acts from renowned local WA performers held throughout the town’s iconic venues; the launch of a new Writers Program curated by The West Australian’s William Yeoman over the festival’s second weekend; and a host of other events that will see The York Festival reassert itself as the premier cultural event in the Avon Valley.
The Festival’s focus on rare and endangered crafts in the historic town of York is an opportunity to showcase diverse craft practices from blacksmithing and fibre weaving, to boot making and printmaking (in WA’s only print museum), embroidery and wood carving, and presents an opportunity to learn about some of our oldest craft practices and some of the characters who practised them in York in the 19th century. The calendar is absolutely jam packed for 2021 so head to their website and book the family in for some undeniably memorable experiences. For the full schedule and bookings visit https://yorkfestival.com.au/
Kings Park
A forever favourite for us Perth-ites, Kings Park is one of the world’s largest and most beautiful inner city parks. It is rich in Aboriginal and European history, contemporary culture and offers innovative design, displays and services. Kings Park has an international reputation for scientific research, leading horticulture, conservation and public education.
Kings Park is home to the spectacular Western Australian Botanic Garden, which displays over 3,000 species of the State’s unique flora. Two thirds of the 400 hectare park is protected as bushland and provides a haven for native biological diversity.
Visitors can enjoy sweeping views of the Swan and Canning Rivers, the city skyline and the Darling Ranges to the east. Bushland walk trails, immaculate gardens and parklands and a variety of children’s discovery play areas can all be found in Kings Park. The Visitor Information Centre, free daily guided walks, Aspects of Kings Park gallery shop, cafes and public transport are easily accessible. Pack a picnic, let the kids play and explore and enjoy the simple things in life.
Bricktober
To end the excitement and adventures of the school holidays, why not take the fam-bam out to Bricktober?
Bricktober-Perth is a yearly event that showcases models built from LEGO® by local Perth builders. It is held over the last weekend of the school holidays, 9th and 10th October 2021, at Curtin University.
Bricktober-Perth is a family friendly event that brings the community together with an array of amazing displays built from LEGO®, fun competitions, a huge interactive zone suitable for all ages and exclusive Bricktober Perth merchandise.
Just $36 for a family pass, or $12 for single ticket when booking online, Bricktober Perth offers exceptional value for money. For more info and bookings visit https://www.bricktober.info/
Bricktober – Perth is a project of The Rotary Club of Ascot (Inc). in conjunction with The West Coast LEGO® Users Group
Enjoy those Term 3 School Holidays!