Western Australia with kids,
the real way
How we actually do Western Australia with the girls — pick a relaxed home base, keep the days flexible, and let the place come to you. Here’s the one-week plan, how to stretch it to two, and what it costs from Boston.
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Western Australia with little kids works best when you slow down. Our approach: book a comfortable home base, plan one thing a day, and leave room for the rest. Here’s the whole plan — one week, how to stretch it to two, and the honest costs from Boston.
Base in Fremantle — relaxed, walkable, and right by the water
We spent a week in Fremantle (“Freo” to the locals) just south of Perth, and it was an amazing, relaxing visit. It’s a laid-back port city with a great food-and-brewery scene, easy beaches, and just enough to do without ever feeling rushed — exactly the slow pace we love with kids. It’s also the jumping-off point for the trip’s big highlight, Rottnest Island.
We rented an Airbnb within a 5-minute walk of Esplanade Park, Gage Roads Brewing, and Little Creatures Brewing — an ideal spot. The park gives the kids room to run, and the breweries are surprisingly family-friendly, relaxed waterfront spots for a casual lunch. Being able to walk to everything meant easy, low-stress days. And there’s so much more right there too — shopping, restaurants, an arcade, bowling, mini golf, and plenty to fill a rainy or low-key afternoon without ever needing the car.
Find a family stay near Esplanade Park on Airbnb, or browse Booking.com.
One day we headed to Heirisson Island, a natural kangaroo sanctuary where kangaroos live in the wild — if you’re lucky, you’ll spot one. It’s a genuinely fun way to teach the kids about sustainable wildlife practices (wild animals living wild, on their terms, not in an enclosure). Afterward we walked to The Point, a rooftop bar and restaurant with its own brewery on site, and had an amazing lunch with a view.
A day on Rottnest Island (“Rotto”)
If you do one thing in Western Australia, make it Rottnest Island. Here’s exactly how we did it, and we’d repeat every step. We rented electric bikes from Ocean Cycles (highly recommend) and took the ferry over with our bikes to the island. For little kids, grab a tow-behind stroller/trailer for the bikes — it makes the whole day work.
Then we just toured the island at our own pace — and the payoff is some of the most amazing white-sand beaches and impossibly blue water we’ve ever seen, with quiet bays to stop and swim wherever you like. We finished the day with apps and drinks at Frankies on Rotto, where we even got a few visits from the island’s famous quokkas — the little smiling marsupials Rottnest is known for. An unforgettable family day.
Add the southwest — or just slow down more
A week in and around Freo is a wonderful trip on its own. With two weeks, the natural add is a road trip south to the Margaret River region — forests, calm bays, caves, and easygoing small towns. Just remember distances out here are big, so don’t over-pack the route.
Pre-book ferries and bike rentals ahead in peak season. We price-check tours on GetYourGuide. With kids, walking straight in beats a queue every time.
What landed — and what we’d skip
What the kids actually loved
Meeting the quokkas on Rottnest, the huge beaches and Kings Park, and the easy forest-and-bay pace down in Margaret River.
What we’d skip or watch out for
Distances are big — it’s a long-haul flight and a spread-out region; don’t pack the route. Sun is fierce; rashies, hats, and shade are non-negotiable. It’s pricey; a kitchen and self-catering help.
Everything we used for Western Australia
Western Australia with kids, roughly — from Boston
Rough ranges for a family of four (2 adults + 2 kids), flying from Logan and staying in a place with a kitchen. Estimates to plan around, not quotes — season and how far ahead you book swing them a lot.
Adding more kids? It’s mostly about the beds.
Kids don’t add cost evenly — lodging is the real lever. Two adults + 1–2 kids fit a studio or one-bedroom; a third or fourth usually bumps you to a two-bedroom, the biggest single jump in the budget.
Flights: a child under 2 flies as a lap infant for very little; every child 2 and over is essentially another full seat (~$1,800–$3,000 round-trip from Boston). Food rises gently; most attractions are cheap or free for young children.
Rule of thumb: +1 child ≈ one more flight seat + a step up in lodging size.
Flight figures reflect typical round-trip economy fares from Boston (about $1,800–$3,000 per seat depending on season). Swap the headline totals and line items for your own numbers once you’ve booked — real receipts beat estimates every time.
Western Australia, at three feet tall
Western Australia with kids: FAQ
How many days do you need in Western Australia with kids?
A relaxed week based in Fremantle — with a full day on Rottnest Island — was perfect for us. Since it’s such a long flight from Boston, many families make it two weeks and add a road trip south to Margaret River.
Where’s the best area to stay with a family?
Fremantle (“Freo”) — we based within a 5-minute walk of Esplanade Park and the waterfront breweries, and it’s the ferry gateway to Rottnest Island. Relaxed, walkable, and right by the water.
How do you do Rottnest Island with little kids?
Rent electric bikes (we loved Ocean Cycles) and take them on the ferry from Fremantle. For little kids, add a tow-behind bike trailer/stroller. Then tour the island at your own pace — white-sand beaches, blue water, and quokkas everywhere. We finished with apps at Frankies on Rotto.
Is Western Australia good for young kids and toddlers?
Yes — keep days short, base somewhere with green space or a beach, and lean on the simple joys. That’s the whole NOE approach.
Keep planning: Paris with kids · the gear we pack · how we book every trip · all destinations