What to Do During the Holidays in Australia (Especially with Kids!)

The Ultimate Guide: What to Do During the Holidays in Australia — Especially with Kids at Home

Summer in Australia arrives with warm evenings, long days, and kids buzzing with energy. Whether you’re staying home, planning a backyard celebration, or heading to the beach, there’s endless opportunity to make this holiday season truly special.

Below are simple, affordable, family-friendly ideas to help you create magical moments in and around your home, perfect for Perth’s laid-back lifestyle.

Why Home Is the Heart of the Holidays

There’s something uniquely Australian about Christmas at home, bare feet on cool tiles, the smell of sunscreen, the hum of the ceiling fan, and kids running through sprinklers.

For families, home is where the best memories form: treasure hunts, backyard cricket, pool splashes, and late-night storytelling. And you don’t need a fancy setup to make it magical, just creativity, connection, and a few kid-friendly ideas.

1. Host a Backyard Pool or Water Play Day

WA summers are hot, very hot, so water-based play is your best friend. Even if you don’t have a pool, you can create a mini “water park” at home.

Ideas kids love:

• Slip-and-slide on the lawn
• Inflatable pools or splash mats
• Water balloon pinatas
• Pool noodle obstacle courses
• Floating Christmas toys for pool owners

Why this is special:
It keeps kids cool, active, and laughing for hours, exactly what holidays are meant for.

2. Run a Backyard Christmas Treasure Hunt

Treasure hunts add mystery and excitement to any home. They’re budget-friendly and perfect for mixed-age kids.

Theme ideas:

• Santa’s Missing Reindeer Clues
• Aussie Wildlife Hunt (quokkas, koalas, kangaroos, use printed pictures)
• Christmas Countdown Hunt with small treats at each stop

Pro tip:
Use areas of your home, front garden, patio, cubby house, to make the hunt feel like a true adventure.

3. Take the Kids Fruit Picking

Perth families love visiting Swan Valley, Roleystone, and Bullsbrook orchards during the holidays. In December and January, Western Australia bursts with stone fruit, berries, and mangoes.

Why go fruit picking?

• It’s hands-on, healthy and educational.
• It gets kids outdoors and exploring.
• You come home with delicious produce for Christmas cooking.

Emotional trigger: Kids feel pure joy picking their own fruit, memories they’ll remember for life.

4. Head to the Beach for Christmas-at-the-Coast Day

We’re spoiled with beautiful beaches in Perth, Cottesloe, Mullaloo, Scarborough, Trigg and more.

Make it special with:

• A beach scavenger hunt
• Sandcastle competitions
• A Christmas picnic (fresh prawns, cold ham, icy watermelon)
• Sunset swims

Why this works:
It’s free, fun, and lets kids burn off all that holiday energy.

5. Try Indoor Christmas Activities for Hot Days

When the sun hits peak intensity, indoor activities save the day.

Ideas:

• Gingerbread decorating
• DIY ornament craft table
• Christmas sensory play
• Christmas movie fort with pillows and fairy lights
• Paper snowflake workshops

These turn an ordinary living room into a Christmas wonderland.

6. Create a Summer Night Backyard Experience

Evenings in Perth are dreamy once the Fremantle Doctor rolls in.

Set the mood with:

• Outdoor movie nights
• Glow-stick treasure hunts
• Toasted marshmallows on a fire pit
• Fairy lights strung across the patio
• Backyard stargazing

It’s the perfect way to wind down as a family.

You don’t need big budgets, just thoughtful touches. After speaking to countless Perth families, we’ve learned the secret:

1. Personalisation

Kids love seeing their name on a stocking, clue card, or cookie.

 2. Surprise Moments

Unexpected treats or clues spark excitement.

 3. Sensory Play

Water, textures, smells, sounds, kids connect through their senses.

 4. Togetherness

Holidays are about bonding, laughing, and slowing down.

 5. Simplicity

Choose a few high-impact activities and do them well. Kids don’t crave perfection, they crave connection.