If you only have one week in Western Australia then use it wisely! It’s a big state with some absolute gem locations, but those distances are something else. My recommendation for a fabulous 7 day Western Australian family trip is to focus your itinerary in the south west region and Perth. You won’t regret it. If you want to include trips out bush and along the northern coast, you might want to consider making your stay a bit longer than a week! I’ll write up a longer family trip itinerary for WA soon and will add it here.
This 7 day Western Australia itinerary is focused on those with smaller kids, hence the frequent suggestion of playgrounds, and assumes you have access to a car, at least for the down south trip.
I’d also like to point out that for many international travellers, getting to Australia is a big time commitment! I’d consider at least 2 weeks minimum in the country as a decent stay. Therefore, my assumption is that you’ll be flying somewhere else in our beautiful country before or after your west coats visit. I wouldn’t recommend one week in total in Australia after such a long journey, especially with small children.
Before your Arrival
Visa
First up, make sure to organise your family’s visas well in advance of your trip! As of June 2026, everyone who is not a citizen of Australia or New Zealand requires an electronic visa to enter Australia. Check out the our Home Affairs website of to find out what visa you will need to apply for.
Suggested App Downloads
Download the following apps:
- Google Maps for iphone or android
- Uber for iPhone or android
- Bureau of Meteorology for iPhone or android
If you’re on Facebook, follow the accounts for the Bureau of Meteorology and the ABC for whichever areas you’ll be traveling to.
Car Hire
Most itineraries for Western Australia require you to have access to a car, and this one is no different. Before you arrive you will therefore want to investigate some car hire companies. Anyone booking a petrol car will want to note our petrol prices operate on a weekly price cycle with Tuesday generally being the cheapest for refuelling. We don’t seem to have the same situation with diesel so feel free to fill up your tank any day of the week. Fuel tends to be more expensive in the regional areas but you can check Fuelwatch, our official price monitoring site.
7 Day Western Australia Itinerary
Day 1 – Take a dip in the Indian Ocean
Day 1 of your family trip starts at one of the beautiful beaches of Western Australia. Take a trip to the beach to dip your toes into the Indian Ocean. If you’re staying north of the river then go to Cottesloe. If you’re south of the river then check out the beach at South Fremantle. A 20min walk from South Fremantle is Fremantle, and its iconic Fremantle Markets, which are worth a visit if you’re there on a weekend. If you visit the beach at South Fremantle at the end of the day, stick around and join the locals who gather to watch the sun on the foreshore. In summer I’ve seen pretty decent crowds and they actually clap when the sun sets which is pretty sweet. While there, get some fish and chips from Sealanes across the road and eat it on the foreshore.
Day 2 – Rotto!
Take a day over at Rottnest Island, affectionately known as Rotto to locals. Ferries leave from B Shed (near central Freo), Roushead/Northport (just north of Fremantle, has long term parking), Barrack St Jetty (near central Perth) or Hillaries (north of the city). Rotto is a cycling only island as no private cars are allowed. Visitors can book tickets on the hop on/hop off bus, but in general everyone rents or brings their own bike. Once on the island, hire some bikes for you and the kids at the bike rental shop, and ride to The Basin or one of the other incredible beaches for a swim. You can stop by the bakery for a jam donut before getting lunch at the pub. While out and about, see if you can get a Quokka Selfie.
If you have older kids, or, if you opt for the bus, you can take a trip to the very west side of the island. Not many people make it all the way across there but it is gorgeous!
Day 3 – Head Down South
Drive down to one of the pretty towns of the Margaret River wine region, such as Busselton or Augusta. We holidayed at a gorgeous farm stay in the region in 2025 which I’d highly recommend for families. The region is quite a drive from Perth so do take it easy. Consider stopping at the rather amazing Crooked Carrot for lunch. The children will enjoy a run around in their playground. Do yourself a favour and also visit Bunbury Farmers Market to pick up your grocery supplies for your trip. They have locations in Bunbury and in Vasse Village. Get a good nights rest before your day out tomorrow.
Day 4 – Wine Tour Time!
You can drive around the region and do the tour yourself, or you can relax and book a spot on a wine tour bus. There are several family friendly tour companies, such as Brew Bus, that’ll do a custom tour for you. The stops can include places other than wineries, such as the chocolate factory, olive oil and cheese shops. For lunch, Marianne from Mum on the Move has some ideas for wonderful family-friendly wineries offering great food and also play areas and dedicated children’s menus.
Day 5 – Visit the Dolphins
On your way back up to Perth, take a detour into Bunbury (my home town!) with a stop by Bunbury Dolphin Discovery Centre and lunch at nearby 62Thirty Cafe. There is a fabulous playground next to the cafe so you can always order takeaway and sit at one of the shaded picnic tables nearby. Then, after feeding them, you can let the kids run off their energy.
Day 6 – Day at the Zoo!
Perth Zoo is rather fabulous so its worth a visit. If you’re staying in the city centre, then consider catching the ferry to South Perth from Elizabeth Quay. The zoo is a short walk from South Perth pier. My favourites at Perth Zoo are the giraffes. If you are interested and can book a Close Encounter, do it! I’ve fed the giraffes with the kids before. I’ve also fed the rhinos before but the children were too small for that one. Some experiences have minimum ages so do check before booking them.
Day 7 – AQWA
You can finish up your 7 day family itinerary in Western Australia by visiting Perth’s aquarium, AQWA, in the morning. It’s a 30min journey from the city centre if you drive or take an Uber. If you prefer public transport you can also take the train and catch a bus for the last section, which takes about an hour.
Head back down to the city for an afternoon at Kings Park. You can get some beautiful shots of the city and the river, as well as enjoy the parkland. Head to the State War Memorial if you want the best views of the city and river. Eat lunch or an early dinner at Zamia Cafe, about 30min walk from the memorial across the park, and let the kids release the last of their energy at the massive playground outside.
Conclusion
Hopefully this itinerary can help get you started on planning your own family trip to Western Australia! You can also check out my guide to preparing for a family trip to Australia for more tips. Where else would you go if you had the time?
What do I know about Australia?
I grew up in the south west corner of Western Australia and have spent plenty of time abroad, so I have also spent a lot of time as a visitor here. We moved back to Perth in 2025 and I’m learning a lot about how everything has developed and changed!
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