Twelve of the best things to do in WA these school holidays

The school holidays have arrived and if you’re in need of some inspiration to keep your brood entertained over the next fortnight, we’ve rounded up a dozen ideas to suit kids of all ages.

Walk with dinosaurs

Dino lovers are in for a treat these holidays with the Jurassic World by Brickman exhibition roaring to life at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. It opened on September 24. Inspired by the classic movie franchise and created by Lego Masters star Ryan “The Brickman” McNaught, it’s the biggest Lego exhibition ever staged in Australia, with more than 50 super-sized dinos rendered from more than six million Lego pieces. It’s on until February.

More dino magic

Dinosaurs have also taken over Cockburn Gateway shopping centre with The Great Dino Discovery for budding archaeologists running until October 9. Plus the popular Dinosaurs of Patagonia at the WA Museum Boola Bardip closes next month, so now is the perfect time to check out the awe-inspiring world-first exhibit before it ends on October 23.

Awesome arts

Kicking off on September 26, the annual AWESOME International Arts Festival for Bright Young Things offers more than 50 free and ticketed events based in and around the Perth Cultural Centre, including The Lost Little Llama ballet, The Whale’s Tale at the WA Museum Boola Bardip, and the We Live Here circus. There’s also literary events, music, exhibitions, hands-on workshops and more, with the program running until October 1.

Head to Hogwarts

In an Australian first, Karrinyup Shopping Centre will be transformed into a wonderland for Harry Potter fans from September 27-October 9. Step inside a spellbinding world featuring life-size sets inspired by the famous book and film series, complete with a quidditch pitch, the Halls of Hogwarts and the famous Platform 9¾.

Island life

Spring is a glorious time to visit Rotto and these holidays, children aged 12 and under can visit for free, with complimentary same-day ferry travel and admission until the end of September.

It’s showtime

It wouldn’t be the September school holidays in Perth without the Royal Show, and there’s plenty of new features to check out this year including the Globe of Death and a nightly drone show. More than 300,000 people are again expected to pack into Claremont Showground before the Show wraps up on October 1.

A swell time

WA’s biggest multi-sports youth event, the Groundswell Festival returns to Scarborough from September 30-October 2. From skateboarding and BMX to surfing and street basketball, the free event will feature clinics — including a free skating workshop from all-Indigenous skateboarding team Songline Boys — activities, live music plus arts and wellness components, with more than 15,000 people expected across the three-day event.

Roll up your sleeves

Creative kids will love the Make it Lab workshops taking place daily at Yagan Square in the CBD from October 3-9. There will be three themed sessions each day, designed to suit various age groups, with everything provided to create your own sculpture, candle, bath bomb, jewellery, terrarium, mosaic, self-portrait and more.

See a show

One of the hottest tickets in town, Frozen the Musical has released extra matinee performances just in time for the school holidays. It’s on at Crown Theatre so see Ticketmaster for the full schedule. Plus, Barking Gecko theatre company is bringing back Shaun Tan’s hit show Cicada from September 30-October 1, following its sold-out run in July.

Get gardening

The Kings Park Festival is on until September 30 and there are some excellent events on the program for young gardeners. Nature Lab (September 27-29 and October 4-7) will take kids on a bushland scavenger hunt while the Budding Green Thumbs workshop (September 27 and 29) will teach 5-10-year-olds the basics of planting and how to make a seed bomb they can grow at home.

Skate to it

The team behind “paint and sip” workshop company Pinot & Picasso are hosting a series of Decked Out creative workshops in Fremantle throughout the school holidays. In collaboration with artist and illustrator Mitch Revs, the two-hour workshops will see littlies design their own skateboard deck that can then be turned into a working skateboard — or kept as a cool piece of DIY art.

For the love of art

The Art Gallery of Western Australia has curated a great line-up of free activities these school holidays, including hands-on workshops with Noongar artist Sharyn Egan, guided tours designed specifically for children on the autism spectrum, and an all-ages multimedia collage workshop.