Singaporean families often jet off to Bali or Phuket for a long weekend of family fun. These holidays usually involve setting the kids up at the hotel’s kids’ club and then spending the afternoon relaxing and getting a massage. Eventually, these trips start to feel a bit repetitive, especially in Bali where it often feels like you haven’t actually left Singapore! For your next family vacation, consider having a family-friendly holiday in Perth, Australia, instead.
Although the flight time is a bit longer, a trip to Australia means visiting the Southern Hemisphere and experiencing a completely different culture than Singapore and depending on when you go during the year, you get to trade Singapore’s equatorial climate for crisp autumn or spring weather.
We’ve scoped out the city (and some of the surrounding areas) to put together this guide, so planning your Perth trip will be a breeze!
Where to Stay: Citadines St Georges Terrace Perth
We loved our stay at the apart-hotel Citadines St Georges Terrace Perth. Consider this when you plan your own family-friendly holiday in Perth. The hotel is conveniently located in the heart of CBD where you are less than 10 minutes from the train station and have access to the free CAT buses that serve the city centre.
The spacious 1-Bedroom Deluxe apartment is the perfect home away from home for your family of four. The apartment comes outfitted with a kitchenette, washer & dryer as well as easily accessible HDMI ports – perfect for a rainy or lazy day. Additional amenities in the 1-Bedroom Deluxe apartment include a spa tub, Wi-Fi and a living room where your family can relax.
Kitchenette
Living Room
Smaller families of three may prefer the Studio Premier apartment which offers the same range of amenities with the exception of the washer and dryer, however, the property offers complimentary access to those facilities as well as same-day dry cleaning for a small fee. All rooms can be outfitted with a rollaway bed or crib in order to provide the most comfortable sleeping arrangement for your family.
Spa Bathtub
The Citadines St Georges Terrace Perth is committed to providing customized service to its guests meaning that you can choose between a king sized bed or two twins and additionally, they offer shopping services, customizable tours and complimentary access to a nearby GoodLife Fitness Centre.
Don’t worry if like us, you forgot to bring a computer adapter! As part of their business services, the aparthotel provides adapters through the concierge as well as built-in USB ports in all the rooms for charging your devices.
Where to Eat: Total BS&Co
Start your day leisurely with room service provided by the in-house restaurant Total BS&Co. The breakfasts were delicious-made using very fresh ingredients and delivered to the room promptly. We recommend trying the Avocado Toast or go all in for their big breakfast.
The restaurants immediately nearby the hotel on St Georges Terrace cater more towards the CBD crowd, but a short walk away, you’ll find a small collection of restaurants along Shafto Lane between Hay Street and Murray Street. We highly suggest reserving a table if you’re there over the weekend, as the little ones probably won’t be too thrilled about if there’s a long wait!
Cross the bridge that spans Perth Station to Northbridge and you’ll find a neighbourhood of trendy cafes and restaurants including Tarts Cafe which offers a family-friendly (and dog-friendly!) atmosphere for children including activities to keep them entertained throughout the meal.
Activities
Perth is popular with young families meaning there are many family-friendly activities to do not just in Perth, but the neighbouring areas, all of which are easily accessible by Perth’s convenient transportation system.
Head to Mandurah, about an hour on the train south of Perth for the Mandurah dolphin cruise. These playful dolphins live in the canals around the beautiful waterfront properties and the guide does a great job pointing them out. Visit at Christmastime to see the homes decked out in their holiday best as you watch for dolphins.
Another popular destination for families is Rottnest Island, located just off the coast of nearby Fremantle. Home to the adorable Quokka and boasting some of Australia’s most beautiful beaches, this island is a favourite among tourists and locals alike.
Finally, just a stone’s throw from the CBD is Synergy Park located inside King’s Park. The park is a must-visit for kids who love dinosaurs as there are several dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures scattered around the park that kids can climb on. It would surely make your family-friendly holiday in Perth more memorable!
Extra info
If you’re taking public transit anywhere outside the city, for example to Fremantle or Mandurah, it’s worth getting a DayRider ticket. A one-way ticket from Perth to Mandurah is AUD $10 whereas a DayRider ticket costs about AUD $13.
The majority of stores in Perth close fairly early compared to Singapore, with grocery stores and malls closing around 5 pm.
Finally, the cost of living in Perth is similar to that of Singapore meaning restaurants cost the same across both cities, although many grocery items are considerably cheaper in Perth.
For more ideas on family-friendly activities, visit Kids Around Perth.
Click here for more information about the Citadines St Georges Terrace Perth and to see their current promotions. Room rates start from AUD $165/night.
Check out our video of the hotel below!
Also READ: Tips to plan an amazing family holiday!