Source : Perth Now news
If the thought of entertaining the kids for the next two weeks has you in a spin, there are a host of fun, creative and affordable options planned across WA to fend off the cries of “I’m bored” for at least a few hours.
Grey skies and tight budgets needn’t put a dampener on winter holiday fun. There are dozens of free activities on offer, in addition to ticketed events and paid workshops, to ensure the kids return to school with plenty of magical memories on board.
Crafter Studio:
If you live with a school-aged child, it’s likely you haven’t escaped the “squishy” craze. The pliable, sensory toys — which include the hard-to-find Needoh brand — are a hit with all ages, and Beaufort Street’s Crafter Studio has embraced the phenomenon by introducing a “DIY taba” class.
Participants create and decorate their own taba, a type of malleable squishy, as well as a stress ball (which parents may need to borrow by the end of the holidays).
For those who already have enough squishies at home the studio also runs mosaics, tote bag painting, fluid art and polymer clay classes. For bookings visit https://crafterstudio.com.au/
Ready, Set, Ride at Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre
This new event promises a winter wonderland of classic carnival rides, sideshow games, showbags and DJs. There are various two-hour sessions available, including twilight time slots on select dates. It runs throughout the holidays and tickets are available for purchase at the door or from readysetride.com.au.
MJ the Michael Jackson Musical:
The curtains will fall on this popular show, which has been met with rave reviews, at the end of the school holidays. The show is recommended for adults and children over eight and in addition to nightly shows, matinees will be held on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
The four-time Tony Award winning smash hit show features more than 25 hits from the music legend, taking the audience behind the scenes of the 1992 Dangerous world tour.
Bounce & Bites at Nikola Estate
The Swan Valley winery has teamed up with the Fun Depot to create an action-packed school holiday playground which will keep both kids and adults happy.
The grounds of Nicola Estate will be transformed into a giant, weather-protected fun zone where kids can burn off energy on bouncy castles, obstacle courses, rides and games.
It launches on Tuesday, July 7 and runs until July 19, with timed sessions between 9am and 4.15pm. Bookings are essential via https://megatix.com.au/events/bounce-and-bites-swan-valley.
Ice skating in Mandurah
Mandurah’s Eastern Foreshore has been transformed into a winter wonderland complete with an ice rink which is open daily until July 19.
Skating in Mandurah features 45-minute skating sessions commencing hourly throughout the day, alongside seasonal entertainment, food experiences, amusement rides and community activations designed to bring winter magic to the foreshore precinct.
On Friday nights, market stalls will be set up nearby featuring handmade goods, food and drinks. The event will focus on accessibility and inclusivity, with sensory-friendly sessions and Kanga Skate Aids. The rink includes ramp access for wheelchair users. City of Mandurah Mayor Amber Kearns said Skating in Mandurah was a highlight of the season.
“It brings a real sense of energy and fun to the foreshore and gives families a chance to come together and enjoy something a little different over the school holidays,” she said.
Rules Of Summer
Spare Parts Puppet Theatre’s adaptation of Shaun Tan’s award-winning 2013 book is back for another season, after first premiering back in 2017.
Designed for ages five and older, expect to become part of the story as the interactive, multi-sensory performance tells the tale of two boys navigating the mysterious rules of their friendship. Tickets $29 from sppt.com.au
Walyalup Fremantle Arts Centre
There are still spots available across a range of creative workshops, including pet portraits and abstract painting for teens, an acting introduction class for younger kids, script writing sessions, loom weaving and a design-your-own skateboard session aimed at 13 to 17-year-olds. For more information visit https://wfac.org.au/art-classes/kids/.
Nostalgia Box
Take a trip down memory lane at this unique video game console museum at City West, where admission gains visitors access to the museum section containing more than 100 consoles from the past five decades, and a gaming area where adults and kids can try their hand at classics such as Space Invaders, Super Mario Bros and Crash Bandicoot.
The museum is open seven days a week during the school holidays but booking in advance is highly recommended at www.thenostalgiabox.com.au.
FREE ACTIVITIES:
Get out in nature
As Nature Play WA says, there’s no bad weather – only bad clothes!
But if you’ve got all the right gear, and no idea where to go, download the free Play Trails App which guides families on a series of outdoor trail scavenger hunts.
Nature Play has partnered with local governments and community organisations to create the app, which encourages users off the beaten track to discover unique, scenic spots across Perth.
Scarborough Beach is the latest landmark to sign up, with a 1.5km pram-friendly route taking kids across eight stops featuring quick and playful challenges.
Marble Run at Hillarys Boardwalk
Between 11am and 2pm daily, from July 6 to 19, visitors to Hillarys can experience a giant indoor marble run which will weave throughout the undercover precinct. No bookings are required but all children must be supervised by an adult.
Squash Stars at Karrinyup
To celebrate the 2026 Squash Masters Championships later this year, Squash Australia is hosting free workshops at Karrinyup Shopping Centre.
Designed for all ages and skill levels, the workshops will teach new skills through interactive activities and games. July 6 to 8, 10am to 3pm, at Centre Court near The Coffee Club.
Sunken Treasure Quest at WA Shipwrecks Museum
This free, drop-in activity runs between 10am and 2pm during the school holidays at the Fremantle Shipwrecks museum.
Aimed at children aged four and over, sessions include under the sea-themed craft activities and a search through the galleries to uncover “treasures” across the ocean floor.
Local libraries
Local councils have a range of free, interactive and educational events planned for all ages, including reading camps and tie-dying sessions at the City of Wanneroo, virtual reality gaming workshops at the Forrestfield library, oil pastels workshops at Spearwood library and egg carton craft in Success.
Check your local library website for details; in many cases bookings are essential.
At the City of Joondalup, a $5 charge applies to its school holiday library workshops which include vinyl record painting in Woodvale, fairy house making at Joondalup library and Minecraft movie making at Whitford.
Rio Tinto Naturescape Kings Park
Kids will have plenty of opportunity for messy, creative play and adventure with a host of nature-based activities, including a new Wild Child self-guided trail, plant-based art lessons, a loose parts bush camp and mud kitchen play.
Bookings aren’t required but the Naturescape is closed Mondays. For details visit https://www.bgpa.wa.gov.au/kings-park/events/.
Freo Builds
This popular event returns for the first week of the holidays between 10am and 4pm. Collect your map from either the Fremantle Town Hall or WA Maritime Museum before embarking on an adventure trail to discover eight Lego creations across the city. Upon completion of their map, kids will receive a free Lego toy. Bookings required.
Play Dates at the Art Gallery of WA
Children can tap into their creativity at a range of arts, crafts and performance holiday workshops at AGWA, including seed pod necklace making, “cardboard couture” wearable sculpture making workshops and interactive traditional dance and didgeridoo sessions.
Visitors can also check out the interactive Cranky Pants exhibition, a collaboration with UK artist Bruce Asbestos. Workshops are free but bookings are required via https://artgallery.wa.gov.au/whats-on/events/play-dates-winter-school-holidays-2026.
Credit: Louise Coghill
The West Australian Pulse
While at AGWA, don’t forget to go past the 34th Pulse exhibition for a vivid insight into 63 bright, brilliant young adults. The free exhibition runs until September 13 at The Art Gallery of WA, showcasing works from the best Year 12 visual arts graduates from 2025. The selected works provide a window into young people’s private, social and artistic concerns.
Percy’s Playground events
The popular play space at the Stirling Arms Hotel in Guildford has a packed calendar of school holiday activities daily between 10am until 7.30pm, including rhyme time, circus workshops and potion creation. Families can then extend their outing with a pub lunch at the Stirling Arms. Visit their website to book a spot.
Alphabet I Spy
For those wet, wintry days at home, Perth mother and entrepreneur Tori Bowman Johnson and her son Hamish have created a web-app for children over three which offers a safe, fun and collaborative form of screen-time. Alphabet I Spy is similar to Wordle, but involves images instead of words, and was created to help Hamish with his spelling, reading and focus.
“It’s getting a lot of cross generational love of late, with families playing for friendly competition and banter,” Mrs Bowman Johnson said. To play visit www.alphabetispy.com.
