Our Perth Family Road Trip: 5 Days, Two Little Ones and a Whole Lot of WA

Perth in June is cold. Not what you expect from Australia. Pack layers, sort your ETA visa before anything else, and rent a car. You will need it. Most of the best parts of this trip are not reachable any other way, and honestly the drives are part of it. Watch the sky too. We saw more rainbows on this trip than we have seen in years. Double rainbows included.

Day 1 · Perth City

Breakfast at Hylin to ease into the morning. No plans, no rush.

Then Heirisson Island. Honestly I did not know what to expect. Nobody warns you about the feeling of walking toward kangaroos in the wild for the first time. A little exciting, a little terrifying, not knowing how many there would be, where they were or how they would react. Turns out they could not care less about us. The kids went very quiet. So did we.

Around midday we made our way to the Blue Boat House. There is always a queue to get that iconic shot and we joined it without thinking twice. Some things are just worth the wait. The light was warm, the water was still and the University of Western Australia grounds sitting quietly beside it made the whole scene feel almost too beautiful to be real.

Checked into Novotel Perth Murray Street and let the afternoon breathe a little. Later we walked out into Perth CBD, no map, just following wherever felt right.

Elizabeth Quay as the sun came down. Gelato from Gusto Gelato, a carousel for the kids and that particular kind of tiredness that only comes from a day well spent.

Stay: Novotel Perth Murray Street

Day 2 · Rottnest Island

Take the SeaLink Ferry from Barrack Street Jetty. Park right at the jetty area. Book in advance, especially with young kids. The island deserves a full day so go early and come back when you are ready.

Check schedules and book your ferry here → www.sealinkrottnest.com.au

Most people explore Rottnest Island by bicycle but with a toddler in tow we opted for the Quokka Coach instead. It is a hop on hop off bus that goes around the island and honestly it worked perfectly for us. No rushing, no tired legs, just stopping wherever looked good.

We also caught one of the free guided tours while we were there. Learned so much about the history of the island that we would have completely missed otherwise. If you see one starting, join it.

Dinner at Grill'd Fremantle. A little Timezone for the kids before bed. Simple close to a big day.

Stay: Esplanade Hotel Fremantle by Rydges

Day 3 · Fremantle to Busselton

When you are ready, drive south to Busselton. About two and a half hours so factor that in before you leave.

Busselton Jetty is one of the longest timber piers in the Southern Hemisphere. Before your train, stop for lunch at The Goose right by the jetty. A lovely spot to ease into the afternoon.

Then board the Jetty Train out to the Underwater Observatory. Watch the kids faces when the fish appear below the glass. On the way back you can take the train again or walk the full length of the jetty slowly. We walked. Local kids were fishing along the sides and something about that sight, children outside, unhurried, just being kids, made me quietly happy.

The Hilton Garden Inn is right there by the jetty area which makes everything so convenient. Dinner at Busselton Central Dome Cafe, then a quick stop at Woolworths for fruits and snacks before bed. The kind of evening that feels exactly right.

Stay: Hilton Garden Inn Busselton

Day 4 · The Long South Drive

This is the most beautiful but most packed day. If you have time, split it across two days. We did it in one and it was a lot.

Start with a quiet walk at Busselton Jetty in the morning before you check out. Different light, different feeling.

Then drive south to Hamelin Bay, where stingrays are known to glide right up to the shore. The weather was not on our side that afternoon. We stayed anyway. Some places are worth it even on their quieter days.

From there, Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse. The point where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet. It sounds dramatic because it is.

Stop at the Margaret River Chocolate Factory on the way back up. You have earned it.

End the day in Mandurah. Our room overlooked the dolphin pool and we watched dolphins from the window before the kids fell asleep. Nobody planned for that moment. It just happened.

Stay: Seashells Mandurah

Day 5 · Mandurah

Breakfast at Mataya Eatery to start slowly.

Then go looking for the Giants of Mandurah. They are large wooden sculptures by artist Thomas Dambo, hidden across the city's natural landscapes. The whole thing is designed like a treasure hunt. You collect symbols from each giant and use them to crack the code for the final secret giant. Kids absolutely love it.

There are 6 Giants in total. Plan which ones you want to find before you go based on your energy and the weather. On our day it was raining so we kept to Grade 1 trails only, short and flat and pram-friendly. We found two: Seba's Song along the estuary in Wannanup, and Yaburgurt Cirkelstone at Coodanup Foreshore Reserve. Both were worth it.

Plan your giant trail here → visitmandurah.com/giants-of-mandurah/#selfguided

After, a dolphin watching cruise with Mandurah Boat Hire. Or rent their boat and go at your own pace.

Lunch at Sharky's at Dolphin Quay before heading back. Right by the water, casual and easy with kids.

Then drive back to Perth.

Before You Go

Australian ETA visa, sort this first. Pack for real winter if you are going in June. Rent a car, you cannot do this trip without one. Book SeaLink ferry in advance. Day 4 is long. Split it if you can. Check the Giants trail map before Day 5 and plan your route.