10 Fun Free Things To Do With Kids In Perth – South Of The River

1. Beaches

Rockingham Beach – this has to be our favourite beach to take the kids to. White sand, beautiful turquoise water, shallow with no waves! A stunning, safe beach to swim with little ones. With cafés, a lovely green belt and playgrounds this beach is hard to beat.

Coogee Marina - the brand new Coogee Marina is another favourite of ours. A gorgeous man-made beach that is very calm with white sand, free BBQ’s and a water play park. There is a Dome café close by. We have often seen dolphins playing in the waterway.

2. Playgrounds

Kadidjiny Park, Melville (AKA Dr. Suess park) this awesome park is modelled on all things Dr. Suess! With red and white striped trees, blue rolling mini hills and winding pathways this is a kids dream! It is fully fenced, has free BBQ’s and toilets.

Bibra Lake – this lake is home to a lot of wildlife, especially birds. On the edge of the lake are two playgrounds, one fenced and one unfenced. Both are excellent playgrounds for younger kids.

Glasson Park, East Fremantle – Glasson Park has recently gone under a modern transformation making it a popular place to go. Beautiful new play equipment, shady areas and a basketball court are some features.  Making it even more appealing is the street its on. Gorgeous boutique shopping, cafés and wine bars to have a look in after your kids have fallen asleep!

The Esplanade, Fremantle – a large playground for all ages. Not fenced but the grass area it’s in is huge. Café and toilets nearby.

Gordon Dedman Park, North Fremantle – this is a favourite of ours as our two little boys love the toddler skate bowl there. A tiny replica of a ‘big boys’ skate bowl, great for scooters and little bikes. A great playground and shady areas too.

3. Shops

Fremantle Markets – Great for tastings and having a look at all things interesting. Music, coffee and much much more. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays they also have a Wildlife Zoo, Baby Animal Farm and the Market Fairies.

4. Parks

Bibra Lake – Along with two great playgrounds is the natural environment of this park. A beautiful 6km circuit follows the perimeter of the lake. Along the way stop off at the newly built Bird Spotting house that has been built out on the lake.

Rockingham Foreshore – Many playgrounds are dotted along this 4km stretch of greenbelt that runs directly along the ocean.  Free BBQ’s, toilets, miniture train rides, and Trikes to hire and some of the attractions.

Quarantine Park, Bicton – this is a stunning park to meet friends at for a BBQ. In addition to a stunning view are: fenced playground, toilets and free BBQ’s.

5. Day Trips

Araluen Botanic Gardens – set in the hills of Roleystone is the beautiful Araluen Botanic Gardens. You will really feel like you’ve stepped into paradise when you come here. You will have no idea you are still virtually in the city! Amazing gardens, large green areas, ponds and café.

Lake Leschenaultia, Mundaring – This beautiful lake is a popular day retreat for families. There is a pontoon in the lake for the adventurous kids but swimming in the shallows is just as fun. A campsite is also on the lakeside. Café and toilets available. There is also a 3km walk track following the edge of the lake.

6. Water Playgrounds

Cockburn Central Town Square – this relatively new water play area is a popular spot for locals. Fountains can be started by the kids and run from 8am – 8pm year round. Grass area, café and toilets nearby.

Coogee Marina – a small water play park in the newly developed Coogee Marina. BBQ’s and toilets here.

7. Perth Cultural Centre

OK, not quite south of the river but I couldn’t resist as the amount of stuff to do here for kids is worthy of many trips to town! Catch the train to the city, kids ride free! The Perth Cultural Centre is such a fabulous place for the family. The city library with the brilliant kids mezzanine which contains a kids library and fun play space. This is a brilliant place to come when its too hot outside, chairs for mum to sit and the kids can play in cubby houses, play BBQ’s, educational computer games, the list goes on! The museum Discovery Centre is fantastic for the kids, activities, animals, snake and frog feeding, bones to touch and more!! Outside is the Play Space. Based on nature and sound, the play space focuses on climbing, balance, energy, music, texture and educational play.

The art gallery is also fantastic with many changing exhibitions and activities for the kids. Near here is the wetland area where you can get up close and personal with frogs and birds! And opposite that is the beautiful Urban Orchard. This is a gorgeous green area with large vege planter beds, where the kids can see the importance of growing fresh, healthy food. This is a resource for the whole community to use. 

8. Restaurants

Little Creatures, Fremantle – we always end up here when we are down at Fremantle as it is one of the best places to have a meal and a drink while the kids are actually having fun. A massive sandpit filled with toys is the main attraction here along with a roving kids entertainer on the weekend.

Salt on the Beach, North Fremantle – this place also really caters for kids. Thursdays kids eat free, Fridays 5-7pm is Kids Club, fenced playground in the garden bar, healthy kids menu, and free face painting!

Ninniku Jip, East Vic Park – great Japanese/Korean restaurant that has Western dishes also. Great kids menu but best of all is the playground enclosed by a glass wall right in the restaurant that the kids can run to and from at their leisure!

9. Markets

Bathers Beach Night Markets, Fremantle – running during summer is these awesome markets for the whole family. Everyone brings a blanket to sit on, a drink to relax with and let the children watch the busker show or the live band. On from 4 – 8pm, every stall is a food from a different country. Brilliant family fun.

Growers Green Markets, Lefroy Rd – these are beautiful markets and really relaxed family fun. Everyone brings their dogs in for a walk too!  Sit down and enjoy the music and some lovely food on offer.

10. Extra's

Jandakot Airport Viewing Area – this sounds like a weird playdate venue, but the kids will love it. Literally on the edge of the runway where planes and choppers take off constantly is a café and green/shady space which is fenced. Bring a blanket to sit on, have morning tea and the kids will be engrossed for ages.

Pioneer Village, Armadale – nestled at the back of Armadale is a magical little enclosed village which is like stepping back in time. There are little shops and cafes, a school and ‘streets’, which the kids will love walking round. And it’s safe as no cars can get in.

Cockburn Central Town Square – every Thursday night is a free concert with local artists, right by the café Mooba in the middle of the green area. Becky the café owner has loads of games and activities on offer for the kids.  Like them on Facebook to keep updated on other events like free community outdoor cinema nights, family friendly hotrod shows, fairs and much more. 

Read 10 Fun Free Things To Do In Perth

Read 10 Fun Things To Do In Perth