Perth and Fremantle?

[Sinople]

Any top tips or insiders knowledge on things to do with toddlers in Perth, Fremantle and surrounds?

This is my home town (although I have lived here for 10 years)...

Great places to take the kids and some things my DS's loved to do:

Perth Zoo, South Perth, fab place for a day out. Take a picnic as the food is expensive and horrible. They have lockers where you can put your stuff whilst you wander around. You can get a ferry from Barrack Street Jetty (on Perth city side, 10 mins across to South Perth, then a 10 min walk to the zoo)!

Kings Park - botantical garden, has fantastic playground for the kids called "Lotttery West Playground" and 'Stickybeaks Cafe" (great for light lunches, breakfast or just coffee and cake). You can also take a picnic lunch (we often did). 5 mins from city. You can also do a tram tour in/around the city and the trams go up to Kings Park, kids might enjoy this.

Cottesloe Beach (was my local beach), nice little playground near main carpark and cafes across the road! Great to go out for breakfast then take kids to the beach or to the playground.

FREMANTLE

The Fremantle Markets (Fri, Sat and Sun) are good for a wander, food stalls, fantastic fruit and veg (I used to go every week), crafts, Oz stuff. Though a warning go early on the weekend as it gets really busy!

Maritime Museum, good on a wet or really hot day. Not sure on the ages but my DS was 2.5 at the time and was happy to run around, did occassionally look at the boats etc. They also had a theatre which had a puppet show on and that also kept him entertained.

South Terrace has lots of cafes, restaurants etc (just around the corner from the Markets). Go to Gino's for best coffee in Fremantle and they do a fab Italian food. Directly across the road is a fab icecream shop (name evades me at the moment) which our kids loved (can you tell we are foodies). Ciccerellos does great Fish and Chips down at Fisherman's Wharf, kids can look at the boats on the marina. There is also a big park on the way that has a playground as well. Not massive but good for letting off a bit of steam.

Further afield in the foothills is Caversham Wildlife Park - kids can see all sorts of Oz animals (could do a whole day out). Our kids got to touch a wombat and pat a koala. They have a big park area attached with a playground, sandpit and picnic bbq's if you want to do your own. In fact lots of parks have free bbq's so you just turn up with bbq stuff, cook it and enjoy.

Another really nice place to have a bbq is Matilda Bay in Nedlands, kids can paddle in the river/beach area or just run around. Nice shady spot about 10 mins from city. They do have a cafe but food is nothing fantastic. We tended to get coffee's or icecreams. Nice restaurant called "Matlida Bay Restaurant" (we had our wedding reception there) but not sure if it is a great place to take kids and not cheap but one of my favourites! Great views back towards the city and Kings Park.

Well that is about all I can think of for now. Bathtime for kids.

Let me know if I can be of further help

Sandgroper thank you so much!! That's all so helpful!!
We're going to hire a house in Fremantle for just over two weeks in May, we'll also hire a car so will more than likely do most of the things that you mentioned... I'm looking forward to all that yummy food and the coffee.... Coffee is essential these days :)

I have two brothers and a sister living in Perth and they love it. I've visited and i'd second eerything Sandgroper has said, but add in Scarboro beach and if you get chance, a trip to Wave Rock.

Hi

Just thought of something else the kids might enjoy doing.

You can get a ferry across to Rottonest Island from Fremantle for a day trip or you can stay there (not up on the accommodation). Can't remember how long it takes, maybe an hour (used to go there as a kid). There are no cars on the island only bikes which you can hire, so great way to get around. Places/cafes to eat, they used to have a fab bakery. They have these animals called "Quokkas" unique to the island. Also beautiful beaches with sheltered coves for the kids to swim, paddle.

Another place not to far from Fremanlte is Penguin Island, you get over to the island by ferry. Nice day trip. Kids can see the Penguins (think they do tours). Again not been since I was a kid but they have done a lot to it since then.

You could go onto the Perth Tourism website and they will give you the lowdown.

Also another great cafe that is child friendly is called the "Dome Cafe" and they are all over Perth. Great cofffee and really good cakes! They also do "Baby Cinos", warm milk and froth with chocolate on top for the kids, they used to be 50c but am sure they have gone up. My DD's loved them and felt very grown up. In fact a lot of cafes will do these for the kids, shame they aren't so popular over here.

Forgot to say the trains from Fremantle to Perth are fab. Clean, cheap and very regular. Parking in the city is expensive so might be another way to get into the city if you don't want to drive. Also they have these free buses (yes free) called CAT buses that do a circuit of the city, they go up to Kings Park so if little feet get tired another way of getting around.

Perth is definately a great place for food, the cafe culture is fab!

Anything else you want to know just shout..

I'll be visiting in June and will be renting a car. Thinking about going down to Margaret River/Augusta to see the whales, and also would like to drive around the bush areas, maybe an hour out of Perth. Are there any particular country towns worth seeing?