Plan Your Last Minute Family Vacation to Perth!
Oh my, it’s already December! Starting to panic because you haven’t had the time or mental bandwidth to plan a family vacation during the school holidays and time is running out? Why not check out Perth, Western Australia?
Booking a trip to Perth is easy with daily flights available from Changi Airport, and a direct flight from Singapore to Perth takes just about 5 hours, so you won’t lose a day travelling. It’s a city just like Singapore, which means accommodation (including Airbnb), food (Halal and vegetarian/vegan options included), and transport are all fairly easy to arrange. (Read this article if you plan on driving in Perth!)
A direct flight from Singapore to Perth takes just about 5 hours, meaning you won’t lose a day travelling. It's a city just like Singapore, which means accommodation, food (halal and vegetarian/vegan options included), and transport are all fairly easy to arrange. A Perth family trip also doesn’t require too many days of annual leave, a big budget, or hassle of packing bulky winter wear.
Sure, you might have visited Perth before… but have you done any of these next few exciting activities?
Whether you love animals, beach life, or thrills, Perth and its surrounding areas make for a great spontaneous getaway. With such a travel destination so close to home and easy to put together, you can make the most of the school holidays without the stress of a detailed travel plan. So pack your bags, gather the family, get your travel insurance, and get ready for an unforgettable December holiday — last-minute travel style!
Make sure you book your travel insurance immediately so you can enjoy being covered even for last-minute cancellations and delays! Bonus, your kids are insured for free with DirectAsia’s family plan!
Whale Watching
Perth offers visitors the chance to witness one of nature’s most spectacular migrations. During the months of September to December, some 45,000 humpback whales make their annual migration away from the warm waters of Australia back towards Antarctica. It’s the largest humpback whale migration in the world!
This is usually the first trip for their newborn calves, providing a rare opportunity to observe the playful and nurturing sides of these majestic sea creatures up close. As the humpback whales tend to travel close to the coastline, Perth thus offers some exceptional whale watching opportunities for the family.
There are several ways to experience whale watching in Perth. With its calm waters and picturesque horizon, a boat tour in Perth is ideal for whale watching; it usually also comes with fascinating commentary into the whales’ behaviour and migration patterns. Or, if you prefer dry land, you can head to scenic coastal vantage points, like Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse and Canal Rocks near Dunsborough, where humpback whales are often spotted breaching the surface even in December.
Whale Watching Tips!
- Go in early December instead of late December as that’s the tailend of the migration period.
- If you’re choosing a boat tour, opt for early in the day for calmer waters and more active whales.
- Some whale-watching tours offer a 100% guarantee to spot a whale — you get to book another tour for free if you don’t spot one on your first tour. This might be a sure-fire way to not end up with disappointed kids!
- Although it’s summer, dress warm — don’t underestimate the ocean breeze!
Kayak with Endangered Sea Lions
Just 45 minutes away from Perth city lies the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park, where you can spend the day sea kayaking. Explore the rugged limestone islands, and get up close and personal with the Australian sea lions. They’re an extremely endangered species that are legally protected under the Special Protected Species status in Western Australia. It is estimated that there are less than 10,000 Australian sea lions left in the wild!
Since you’ll be visiting in the warm summer months, snorkelling will also be available, an incredible opportunity to explore the beautiful reefs teeming with marine life. You can also choose to explore the waters on board a glass-bottomed boat instead, and spot pelicans, albatross, and other seabirds as you cruise along.
Not Surfing but Sandboarding
There are definitely plenty of opportunities to surf the waves along Perth’s sandy beaches, but can you surf sand itself? Well, in Lancelin you definitely can. It’s just 85 minutes north of Perth, entry to the sand dunes is completely free, and renting sandboards is also really cheap.
Sitting on a sandboard and sledding downhill on a sand dune requires no skill, and provides a ton of fun and excitement for kids and adults of all ages. The difficulty increases when you have to walk back up said sand dune (the challenge of walking in sand + uphill!) to go for the next round. Don’t be surprised if your little ones want to be carried up instead of climbing as it gets exhausting!
The best time to visit the Lancelin sand dunes is mid-morning when the winds are not that strong yet. It also gets more crowded later in the day, as there are other activities besides sandboarding that you can try here, such as riding a quad bike, ATV or 4WD in the dunes.
Sandboarding Tips!
- Dress simple — you will fall on your first few tries, and you will get sand EVERYWHERE, so wear something that’s easy to shake sand out of.
- Wax your sandboard regularly to keep it sliding smoothly (wax is provided).
- Think cap, sunglasses, closed shoes, sunscreen when sandboarding in summer.
- There are no toilets or water/food facilities here, so go well prepared!
Extra Travel Idea!
If you’re headed to Lancelin, drive just another hour north and make sure you drop by Lobster Shack in Cervantes, WA. You can book a lobster catching tour and experience the day in the life of a lobster fisherman, or take a tour of the factory where they process the lobsters. End the visit feasting on fresh, succulent lobsters, of course! (Go early for lunch, they close at 3pm.)
Live the Beach Life
Perth has plenty of beaches to choose from, each with their own unique draw. Here are some of the local suggestions to pay attention to:
Mettam’s Pool
Just north of Perth city, Mettam’s Pool is a hidden gem known for its calm, crystal-clear waters and vibrant marine life, making it a favourite spot for families and snorkelers. Located along the scenic Trigg to Hillarys coastal stretch of Western Australia, this natural lagoon is protected by a reef, creating a safe, shallow and tranquil pool for kids to safely swim and explore.
What makes Mettam’s Pool truly unique is its thriving ecosystem that makes it one of the best snorkelling spots around Perth. With an abundance of colourful fish, coral, anemones, starfish, octopus and abalones, Mettam’s Pool is home to all kinds of friendly marine life, just a few metres from the soft, sandy shore. All you have to do is look “down under”.
Coogee Beach
Coogee Beach is what you’d expect from what comes recommended as one of the most kid-friendly beaches around Perth — shady grassy areas, picnic grounds, BBQ facilities, an epic playground, a pontoon for jumping off, and a protected swimming area with a shark net. Yes, it’s not exactly something we have to worry about in Singapore, but staying safe away from sharks is always a good idea!
For older kids who are a little over playground slides and building sandcastles, the Omeo shipwreck lies just a few metres offshore, a fascinating exploration for snorkelers interested in an underwater adventure.
Leighton Beach
Leighton Beach has been known to be a slice of coastal paradise, with its soft sand, turquoise waters, and calm family-friendly waters. But it’s also one of the best kitesurfing spots around Perth and Fremantle, thanks to its strong afternoon sea breeze, adorably nicknamed “the Fremantle Doctor.” (Yes, the breeze has a name!)
Although Port Beach and Woodman Point are also fantastic spots in Fremantle, Leighton Beach is best for beginners, with equipment rental and lessons available so you can get in on some kitesurfing action! The summer months actually bring about the best breezes for kitesurfing, so take advantage of this natural occurrence and ride the waves!
If kitesurfing is not your thing, you can also pick up bodyboarding. A little different from surfboarding, your entire body lies on a bodyboard instead, so there’s no need to learn how to balance while standing on a board. This means that you’ll be able to get the hang of it in just one lesson, and you’re good to go!
Hit Up the Theme Parks
Step aside Disneyland, it’s time for some Australian-style adventures instead! Here are two great theme parks Perth has to offer:
Adventure World
With ride names like Goliath, Kraken and Abyss, you know they mean business at Adventure World. The Abyss features vertical drops and G forces ranging from -1.5G to 4.5G, while Goliath is a spinning pendulum that guarantees you won’t remember which way is up. Meanwhile, the Kraken is the record-breaking longest, tallest and steepest funnel slide on the planet — it’s like dropping from a six-storey building!
Of course, it’s not only about the adrenalin-seeking big kids. Little kids under 8 years old get their own Dragon’s Kingdom, with rides and attractions specially curated to those under 110cm. Adventure World is open every single day in December 2024 except for Christmas Day.
Outback Splash
Just a short drive from Perth and on the doorstep of the stunning Swan Valley, Outback Splash has the perfect combination of waterslides, splash zones and interactive activities.
Thrill-seeking kids looking for high-speed water slides will love the exhilarating 60km/h Gold Rush Plunge, complete with hysteric twists and turns; and The Wedgie, the fastest body slide in Western Australia which promises a rushing 100 tonnes of water per hour on a near vertical drop.
Of course, we can’t forget the younger kids, who will enjoy the mini slides, water cannons, splash zones and fountains catered to them. Out of the water, families can also enjoy the five distinct giant mazes, mini-golf course, and family cabanas and other resort-style amenities.
You should also stop by Swan Valley and check out the gourmet foods and world-class wine that it is known for. Don’t miss Caversham Wildlife Park as well, where you can truly get up close and personal with a koala. (You can hold a koala too, but it’s not for kids; you have to be at least 150 cm and able to carry 5kg!)
Theme Park Tip!
Try and visit the theme parks earlier on your trip as they’re going to get really crowded once the Aussie summer school holidays begin on 13 December 2024!
Beyond the markets and zoos, Perth and its surroundings in Western Australia also have a lot to offer in terms of adventure and unique experiences. Even if you’ve visited Perth before, why not take a second trip back and try out some of these ideas that are sure to be the source of unforgettable memories for the whole family? See you down under!
