IT’S easy to beat the winter blues these school holidays, with heaps of fun activities and events happening.
Kids can explore the world of sharks at the WA Maritime and Shipwrecks Museums, see Spare Parts Puppet Theatre’s latest show Fox, get up close to native Australian animals at Fremantle Markets, participate in NAIDOC Week celebrations and more.
This list has something for children of all ages.
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READ NOWCockburn Gateway
816 Beeliar Drive, Success
Kids can enter the chill zone and enjoy free crafts during Cockburn Gateway’s Winter Fest.
The activity centre outside Big W includes a snow storm entry, winter plunge ball pit, icicle toss and winter-themed craft activities.
Kids can also have their photo taken on a ski lift thanks to an augmented reality photo opportunity.
The activities are from 10am to 2pm daily until Friday, July 19.
Also designed to help beat the winter blues are:
Igloo zone: Winter craft activities outside Woolworths from 10am-2pm until July 19.
Edible craft workshops: Children can maketasty winter treats, with edible igloos on offer on Saturday, July 20 and Polar Bear Pikelets on Sunday, July 21.
Snow fairies: Glitter tattoos and face painting on Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28.
Snow angel and polar bear: Kids can say hi to these winter characters on Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28.
For more information, become a friend of Cockburn Gateway on Facebook or visit http://www.cockburngateway.com.au.
Fremantle Prison
1 The Terrace, Fremantle
Children can hear about and visit the sites of daring, desperate and dangerous prison escapes during Fremantle Prison’s Escape! tours.
The tour is just for 5-12 year olds, but parents can do the Convict Prison tour while kids plot their escape.
The tours start at 10am on Friday, July 12, Monday, July 15, Wednesday, July 17 and Friday, July 19.
Bookings and pre-payment are essential.
Phone 9336 9200 or visit https://fremantleprison.com.au for more information.
Fremantle Arts Centre
1 Finnerty Street, Fremantle
The Fremantle Arts Centre’s school holidays program is jam packed with activities for kids and teens.
Children aged 5-8 years can take part in classes to create dinosaur mosaics, draw portraits or decorate mugs and bowls, while those aged 9-12 years can sew their own soft toy, make a piece of art using spray paint and stencils, decorate a T-shirt or get an introduction to the pottery wheel and more.
Teens can choose from art and filmmaking classes.
Visit www.fac.org.au for the full list of courses including costs.
Fremantle Markets
Corner South Terrace and Henderson Street, Fremantle
Kids can get up close and personal with native Australian animals at Fremantle Markets.
Wildlife petting zoo West Oz Wildlife lets children and adults experience animals such as koalas, snakes and dingoes in a relaxed setting.
The zoo is from 12pm-2pm on Friday, July 12 and 19.
Also at Fremantle Markets, there will be free workshops to celebrate Plastic Free July.
Kids can create a hand-printed beeswax sandwich wrap, with the support of Natural Storage Company, from 10am-11am and 3pm-4pm on July 13.
All materials are included.
There is a maximum 15 kids per workshop.
Winterworld Fremantle
Esplanade Reserve
Winterworld Fremantle is back this year, with an open-air ice skating rink and outdoor festivities for the whole family to enjoy.
The main attractions also include a snow pit and Synergy power slide.
Winterworld Fremantle runs until July 21.
Get Wild About Wetlands
Cockburn Wetlands Education Centre, 184 Hope Road, Bibra Lake
The City of Cockburn is presenting environmental activities for families until July 19.
They include letting kids use their senses to explore and engage in creative play during Messy Moments (2-4 years), discovering dragonflies through learning and craft in the Secret Life of Dragonflies (5-12 years), and helping create homes for bandicoots and wildlife during Tree Planting (all ages) at Beeliar Regional Park.
The cost is $5 per child. Bookings via the website are essential.
Spare Parts Puppet Theatre
1 Short Street, Fremantle
Fremantle’s premier puppet theatre, Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, is presenting Fox these school holidays.
Suitable for ages 5+, it is adapted from the book by Margaret Wild and Ron Brooks.
The show fuses puppetry and dance in a journey through scorched scrub land and deserts to discover the meaning of loyalty and companionship.
Daily showings are at 10am, 1pm and 6.30pm until July 20.
Tickets are from $23.
Native ARC
Bibra Lake
The Native Animal Rehabilitation Centre is running a Wonderful Waterbirds activity for families.
It is an opportunity to visit Native ARC’s new enclosures at Bibra Lake and see the waterbirds that live there.
Kids can then create their own colourful waterbird.
The activity is from 10am-12pm on Monday, July 15.
The cost is $5 per child (adults and under 4 free). Registrations are essential.
WA Shipwrecks Museum
Cliff Street, Fremantle
Oddysea
Designed for children aged 3+ years with a disability and their families, Oddysea is an immersive, multi-sensory theatre production set in a world beneath the waves.
The oceanic adventures of Crab and Turtle come vividly to life through touch, smell, taste, live music and stunning imagery.
The 60-minute Sensorium Theatre production is at 10am and 1pm on July 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 and 3pm on July 20.
The cost is $20 (plus booking fee) for 1 child and 1 adult
Bookings are essential at 10nightsinport.com.au.
A Monster Mission and Mythconceptions
Kids aged 4+ years can join A Monster Mission trail in search of beasts of the deep or listen to tales of sea monsters and strange creatures during storytelling sessions.
They can also make their own fantastic beast in a Mythconceptions creative craft activity.
Storytelling is at 11am and all other activities from 10am-2pm until July 21.
Bookings are essential for groups of 10+ on 1300 134 081.
Garden City Shopping Centre
125 Riseley Street, Booragoon
The WA Museum team has transformed Garden City into an underwater oasis for all ages these school holidays.
Visitors can see how they measure up against life-size shark cut-outs and learn about the lifecycles of sharks living across our coastline.
They can even touch shark skin.
Kids can create their own shark to include in the digital aquarium.
The free activity until July 21 is from 11am-2pm on July 14 and 21, 10am-2pm all other days.
WA Maritime Museum
Victoria Quay, Fremantle
Planet Shark: Predator or Prey
Dive into the incredible underwater world of sharks during the WA Maritime Museum’s new exhibition.
With rare fossils including teeth and cartilage up to 370 million years old, life-size models and a multi-sensory cinematic walk-through, this experience is perfect for young (7+ years) and old.
The exhibition is from 9.30am-5pm until November 10.
Bookings are essential for groups of 10+ on 1300 134 081.
Visit museum.wa.gov.au/planet-shark for pricing information.
Shark Show: World of Wonders
This fun, interactive theatre show about sharks is for all ages.
It is on at 10.30am and 11.30am until July 19.
The show is free but adult entry fees apply
Bookings are essential for groups of 10+ on 1300 134 081.
We Love Sharks
Kids aged 4+ years can make shark papercraft creations or a paper tole picture and listen to fascinating shark-themed stories.
They can also contribute to the goal of creating 1000 origami sharks to raise awareness of shark conservation.
Storytelling is at 11am and all other activities from 10am-2pm until July 21.
The activities are free but adult entry fees apply
Bookings are essential for groups of 10+ on 1300 134 081.
State Library of WA
Cultural Centre, Perth
Not just a bracelet
Using colours from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags, staff in the museum’s Discovery Zone will help kids in this creative activity and explain what the bracelet represents.
The free activity for all ages is from 10am-2pm until July 21.
Makuru
NAIDOC Week falls in the Nyoongar season of Makuru, which is the coldest and wettest time of the year.
Kids are encouraged to imagine what a typical day would be like during this season, draw and share it.
The free activity in the Discovery Zone is for all ages and from 10am-2pm until July 21.
Stories in the Sky
Some Aboriginal communities in WA have an important concept called Emu in the Sky.
Kids can learn how to spot the emu in the sky during this fascinating indoor astronomy presentation.
The free activity in the Discovery Zone is for all ages and from 10am-2pm until July 21.
Tracks in the Sand
Animal tracks are very important in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
This drop-in hands-on workshop will explore and recreate animal tracks and show how they can lead to food.
The free activity in the Discovery Zone is for all ages and from 10am-2pm until July 21.