This winter is packed with a gazillion ideas for keeping out of trouble during the school holidays. Check out some great activities, workshops and festivals on offer:


SNOW SLIDE - FREE

10am-4pm, July 4 - 16 Forrest Place, Perth CBD

Awesome fun on a 4m snow slide, for little ones under 120cm, along with a 12m monster for bigger kids. Choose from 12 sessions daily. Sessions are 25 minutes each. Suitable for ages 3 - 12. No adults allowed. Free tickets must be secured in advance from visitperthcity.com/events/snowslide.

 

WINTER GARDEN

Daily, 9am-10pm, Fremantle Esplanade

Try out Australia’s biggest outdoor ice-rink, wipe the snowflakes off your lashes and zip down a mountainous pop-up slide. Loads of rides, music and entertainment for all ages at this magical festival dedicated to the delights and traditional wonders of a white winter. FREE entry but some activities are ticketed. Visit fremantlestory.com.au.

 

WILD WINTER

9am-5pm, daily

Perth Zoo, South Perth

Warm up at the zoo with Raja, the prehistoric-looking Komodo Dragon, who will be basking under UV heat lamps set to a balmy 45C. Even the elephants, reptiles and Simmo the 500kg crocodile will be enjoying a heated environment. When you’re walking through the exhibits see if you can spot the heat pads disguised as rocks. The African white rhinos coat themselves in mud to insulate against the cold, while the cute pygmy marmosets share body heat in one nest box to create a warming ‘pygmy sandwich’. Join a holiday program to take a closer look. There’s Zoo Crew (for ages 8-13, July 7-17, cost $89) or Wild Vets (ages 14-18, July 8 & 15, cost $120). Entry $27 adults, $13 children. Visit perthzoo.wa.gov.au

 

DISNEYMANIA

11am-2pm, July 4-12

Karrinyup Shopping Centre

Free Disneyland-themed activities including a Frozen wax ice-skating rink, Cinderella slipper and Disney-Pixar’s Toy Story interactive game. Take the treasure-map challenge and go on an adventure through the centre exploring the wonders of Disneyland. Don’t miss Frozen’s Queen Elsa and Princess Anne on July 11-12. Visit karrinyupcentre.com.au for program details.


MONSTER MISSION

9.30am-5pm, July 4-19

Maritime Museum, Fremantle

Ahoy adventurers! Sail through the Shipwreck Galleries in search of strange and mysterious beasts of the deep. Set out on A Monster Mission with our activity trail and find some of the animals and monsters that lurk under the sea. Cost $2. Suits ages 4+. Visit museum.wa.gov.au/whats-on/school-holidays/perth for more holiday activities.

 

NAIDOC FAMILY DAY

10.30am-3pm, July 9

Ashfield Reserve, Guildford Road

A family fun day celebrating culture and stories through music, dance, children’s activities, give-aways, information stalls, a reconciliation walk, healthy lifestyles expo and entertainment.

 

DIY WORKSHOPS

10am and 1pm, July 11, 12, 18, 19

Bunnings Warehouse

Explore your do-it-yourself potential in woodwork, wall art, gardening, painting and craft workshops. Suitable for all ages. Make a tool box or create a mosaic. Phone your local Bunnings store or visit bunnings.com.au for details.


LEGO LIGHTHOUSE CHALLENGE

9.30am-4pm, daily

WA Museum, Geraldton

Be inspired by the engineering feats of lighthouse designs through the ages as you construct your own Lego lighthouse. Share your design on social media using #wamholildayfun. Suits ages: 6+. No booking required. Visit museum.wa.gov.au/whats-on/school-holidays/geraldton.


BOUNCE DOWN

Daily

State Library of WA, Northbridge

Most people don’t realise that women first played competitive games of Australian Rules football in Perth in 1915. There are now 195,000 girls and women playing Aussie Rules around Australia. This exhibition examines the little-known social and cultural history of the sport. Open Monday-Thursday 9am-8pm, Friday 9am-5.30pm and weekends 10am-5.30pm.


NIDA DRAMA SCHOOL

10am-5pm, July 13-17

Subiaco Arts Centre

Explore your imagination while developing essential performing arts skills including improvisation, voice, movement, acting, physical awareness, spontaneity and stage craft. Creative play and rehearsing scenes from classics plays are a focus at these National Institute of Dramatic Art courses, with participants having the chance to put their skills to the test with a performance for family and friends at the end of the five days. Suitable for year groups 3–6 and 7–10. Cost $595. Booking and information plus details of other classes at nida.edu.au/national.


SAVANNAH SAFARI

11am-4pm, July 6-19

Garden City, Booragoon

From the depths of the jungle to the African savannah get up close and personal with your favourite wild animals. This free animatronics exhibition features life-sized gorillas, monkeys, tigers and giraffes. Learn more about your favourite animals through a series of workshops and interactive activities.


ART WORKSHOP

11am-2.30pm, July 15 (ages 5-7), July 16 (ages 8-10)

Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, UWA

Be inspired by the artworks in Elise Blumann: An Emigre Artist in WA 1938-1948 and experiment with drawing landscapes and figures with a local artist. Cost $10. Book at lwag1518.eventbrite.com or check out other holiday activities at lwgallery.uwa.edu.au
 

TEEN TREK

9am, July 13 to 3pm, July 15

A three-day expedition for young teenagers, camping out and experiencing the fun and camaraderie of connecting with the bush. Plenty of mental and physical challenges along the way. Cost $185. Includes return transport from Murdoch Park ‘n’ Ride, track map, planning night, trip preparation manual, equipment hire and experienced guides. BYO food. Ages 13+. Book via bibbulmuntrack.org.au.


BOING, BOING

From 9am, Daily

Bounce, Cannington

Burn energy among more than 50 interconnected trampolines, giant air bags with slam-dunk arenas, wall-running and dodgeball courts. A huge indoor, urban trampoline park. Single one-hour sessions $17 (over 110cm), $11 (3+ under 110cm), family holiday special $55. Bookings advisable at bounceinc.com.au.


PERTH MINT

9am-5pm, daily

310 Hay Street, East Perth

Watch 200 ounces of pure gold being poured to form a luminous, solid-gold bar. You can also see the biggest coin ever made, weighing a massive one tonne of pure gold and valued at $50 million. Take a look at Australia’s biggest collection of natural gold nuggets including Newmont’s Normandy Nugget, the second-largest nugget in existence, weighing 25.5kg. Free chocolate coin for kids under 15. Entry $19 adults, $8 children, family $45. Visit perthmint.com.au.


PASTEL SELFIES

10am-1pm, July 16

Fremantle Arts Centre

Ever wondered how people took selfies before Instagram was invented? In this colourful workshop we’re going old school with artist Loren Kronemyer. Using bright soft pastels, learn to draw your own portrait in the style of the greats such as Van Gogh and Frida Kahlo. Cost $52. Suits ages 9-12. Bookings and other course such as Amazing Egyptian Masks and Lost Sock Friends via fac.org.au/courses.


WEST COAST FEVER CLINIC

2.30-3pm, July 18, Merredin Netball Association

The chance for young, keen netballers to gain tips from the pros. Suitable for ages 5-13 years. Cost $70. Book via westcoastfever.com.au/clinics.


GOLDFIELDS TREK

10am-4.30pm, July 3-20

WA Museum, Kalgoorlie

Follow the story of Sam Sunday as he makes his way to the Goldfields. Find out how he makes his journey easier and makes sure he gets enough water. As you follow Sam Sunday’s journey, create the illustrations for your book and colour them in. Cost $3.50. Suits ages 7 . Visit museum.wa.gov.au/museums/kalgoorlie-boulder/.


SMART ART

11am-3pm, July 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17

Art Gallery of WA

Special, free workshops by indigenous artists Jade Dolman and Barbara Bynder. Suits ages 5. No booking required. Visit artgallery.wa.gov.au.

 

CIRCUS

JOSEPH ASHTON

Until July 19

Cannington Greyound Track, Albany Highway

The Ashton family continues its 167-year tradition under the big top. Roll up for a family-friendly circus that will have you on the edge of your seat. Multiple shows daily. Tickets from $15 from circusjosephashton.com.au.


CIRQUEST CIRCUS

10.30am-12.30pm, July 7-10, July 14-17

City Farm, East Perth

Learn basic trapeze, rope, acrobatics, juggling and other manipulative skills, as well as games and developmentally appropriate general co-ordination activities. Sessions for ages 2-5, 6-9 and 10-15. Cost $25 a day. Information and bookings via cirquest.com.au.

 

HOP TO IT

Sessions 10am-noon, noon-2pm, 2-4pm, Daily

Morley Rollerdrome

Still rolling after 35 years, this popular venue is jumping into the school holidays with Frog Days. Hundreds of Freddos, frog toys and frog movie giveaways will be on offer at each session plus there are 10 pairs of rollerskates to be won over the holidays. Entry $10. Morley Rollerdrome is at 95 Catherine Street. Visit morleyrollerdrome.com.au.


LIGHTS, ACTION, CAMERA
July 6-19

Filmbites Youth Film School, Malaga

Direct your own film, try acting, create a computer game and learn special effects and editing techniques. Beginner workshops available in gaming and Flash animation make-up plus extension courses for young actors. Prices from $35. Visit filmbites.com.au/classes/holiday-workshops/.


FOLLOW SWEEP

10am-5pm, July 4-19

Aqwa, Hillarys

Follow the sweep through the caves and crevices as you decide where they go next in this interactive underwater journey. These inquisitive, local reef fish are aptly named footballer after their football jersey-style striped body. Collectors cards free with every child entry. Tickets $30 adults, $18 children. Visit aqwa.com.au.


FOSSIL FEVER

10.30am-1pm, July 4-19

WA Museum, Perth

Discover some of the creatures that lived in WA’s ancient oceans. Decorate a mask with a prehistoric gogo fish design, and compare the size of a massive megalodon with today’s great white shark when you tackle our Megalodon Mobile. Suits all ages, Cost $2. Full holiday program at museum.wa.gov.au/whats-on/school-holidays/perth.


SOCCER SCHOOL

July 13-14, July 16-17

Perth Glory hosts a variety of two-day clinics to provide children of all abilities with a dynamic, challenging and fun experience in a professional training environment. Schools operating at Subiaco AFC’s Rosalie Park, Melville City FC’s Len Shearer Reserve, Albany JSA’s North Road Clubrooms and Mandurah City FC’s Hyundai Stadium. Cost $160. Suits ages 4-13. Register at perthglory.com.au.


COPPER LANTERNS

10am-1pm, July 8

Fremantle Arts Centre

Use thin sheets of copper to make a beautiful hanging or table lantern with artist Louise Snook. Punch holes in the metal to make different patterns which the light shines through. Cost $59. Suitable for ages 9-12. To book this course or view the school holiday arts program visit fac.org.au.


PIAZZA big top - FREE

2pm, July 11-12

Cockburn Gateway Piazza

Roll up to a circus show with a difference. Entry free. Check out the entertainers and face painting in the food court between 11am-2pm, July 6-12, and meet the Penguins of Madagascar in the Penguin Activity Centre from 11am-2pm, July 13-17, outside Big W.

DIDJ, DOT, DANCE

10.30am-noon, July 10 & July 13

WA Museum, Albany

Try ceremonial face painting with traditional ochre colours. Listen and dance to the distinctive sound of the didgeridoo, played by a local Minang man, and have fun decorating and playing along with your own set of tapping sticks.

Cost $7. Suits ages 4-9. Book at museum.wa.gov.au/whats-on/school-holidays/Albany.


OMY! Drama Camp

9.30am-2.30pm, July 14-16

Old Mill Theatre, South Perth

Three-day workshop for children aged 6-10 and 11-15 by performer and dramatic arts specialist Maree Grayden. An opportunity for kids to embrace their creative side and learn professional skills. Cost $250 (includes Old Mill Theatre one-year membership). Phone Maree on 0407 936 800 for details.