Perth is a very popular destination for Singaporeans, though I never quite understood why at first — I didn’t know of many “star attractions” in the city. But one big reason might be that flights are relatively cheap: about $280 on Scoot for a five-hour journey.
We spent a week there during the September school holidays with our two kids, and it turned out to be a really good break. It was relaxing for us, and most importantly, the kids enjoyed themselves.
Here’s a rundown of what we did in our six days in Perth.
Firstly, we rented a car from East Coast Car Rentals, who has shuttle to and from the airport. Highly recommended.
Day 1.1: Strawberry Picking
The kids love to eat strawberries, as well as picking them fresh from the farm. It’s something city kids really enjoy, and we’ve tried it in other countries too. Surprisingly, Australia was the cheapest we’ve come across.
One tray cost just AUD 15, cheaper even than in China!
It was great that we went strawberry picking on our first day, because the tray lasted us through the week. We even wanted to visit another farm on the last day to bring some back to Singapore, but ran out of time.
Tip: Check the farm’s picking hours before you go. Some are only open on weekends.
We went to Sue & Tim Fresh Farm, which opens only on weekends. Another option is Pick Your Own Strawberry Farm, which opens daily, but we didn’t manage to visit.
@junda001 ♬ suara asli - Greenhouse
Day 1.2: Caversham Wildlife Park
Caversham Wildlife Park is very popular, and for good reason. There are plenty of kangaroos you can feed (food provided), plus koalas, quokkas, sheeps, and more. The park isn’t huge, so you can comfortably cover it in half a day.
Day 2.1: House of Honey
We had breakfast at the House of Honey and stocked up on their honey — pretty cheap at about AUD 50 for a 1kg jar.
Day 2.2: Fremantle Markets
The Fremantle Markets are indoor markets selling food, crafts, and all sorts of items. It’s basically shopping, but we were lucky to catch a street performer during the weekend, which made the visit more fun.
Afterwards, we drove south to Mandurah. Honestly, there wasn’t much there. A nice playground keeps the children happy for many hours.
Western food in Perth was often disappointing, even a popular steakhouse let us down. We ended up eating a lot of Korean and other Asian food instead. But one great Western café we did enjoy was Wood and Stone.
Day 3.1: Dolphin Cruise
We went on a small “pirate cruise” with about 20 people. It lasted about two hours, though most of the ride was spent looking at waterfront houses around the bay.
Luckily, we did manage to spot two dolphins! 🐬🐬
@junda001 ♬ original sound - junda
Day 3.2: Stones and Giants
Next, we tried to find the Giants. There are many of them scattered around Perth, but my wife chose a faraway one at Lake Clifton Thrombolites, where there are also ancient stones. Unfortunately, the water level was too high and the stones were all submerged.
Then we found out it was a 60-minute hike from the car park to the Giant. With kids in tow, we gave up and drove elsewhere. Honestly, no point driving too far for either the stones or the Giants. If I could do it again, I’d go straight to the closest one.
That said, hiking in Perth’s sunny (but pleasant) weather was still enjoyable.
Day 4: Rottnest Island
Rottnest Island is beautiful, with clear seas and cute quokkas everywhere. We took the hop-on hop-off bus, which loops around the island. Cycling is another option, but I’m glad we didn’t. With all the slopes, my kids wouldn’t have managed. A slow, relaxed pace suited us better.
We even caught a distant glimpse of a whale! 🐳
Day 5.1: Perth City
My favourite breakfast was at a small bakery for their croissants.
Day 5.2: Yanchep National Park
At Yanchep National Park, there are koalas and a guided cave tour. But the highlight for the kids (aged 5 and 10) was the Tree Top Adventure — they loved it so much that they want to do it again next time.
The kangaroos there were extra cute, nibbling on flowers.
Day 6: Kings Park
Kings Park is huge, with plenty of playgrounds, but you’ll need to drive to specific spots like May Drive Parkland or Rio Tinto Naturescape.
There’s also a nice stream where you can dip your feet and play with stones.
@junda001 ♬ suara asli - Mr.r
Bonus tip: If you have Priority Pass, Perth Airport has a lounge you can access. Perfect for filling up before boarding your budget flight!
I believe we’ll be back.