Water play and swimming for kids in Perth
56 places to cool off across the region: water parks, pools, beaches, lakes and swimming spots, nearest first from Perth. Choose your suburb at the top to sort from where you are staying.
Everything on the map
Nearest first, from Perth
Beaches and islands
Beach
Shelley Beach
Shelley
about 15 min
Beach
Point Walter
Point Walter Reserve
At low tide you can walk out along the sandbar into the Swan River; two shaded playgrounds, a kiosk and barbecues on the foreshore.
about 15 min
Photo: JoshMuirWikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Beach
City Beach
A wide sandy beach between rock groynes, with shady lawns in City Beach Park overlooking it. Cambridge beaches reopened on 7 October 2026 after water testing.
about 15 min
Photo: Calistemon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Beach
Swanbourne Beach
Reopened to swimmers on 7 October 2026 after a shark-related closure; check SharkSmart before swimming.
about 15 min
Beach
Palm Tree Beach
Bicton
about 15 min
Beach
Cottesloe Beach
An eco shark barrier is in place each year from October to April; showers and toilets under the Indiana building, with shady lawns behind the sand.
about 15 min
Photo: Calistemon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Beach
Point Roe Beach
Mosman Park
about 15 min
Beach
Scarborough Beach
City of Stirling beach inspectors patrol all year and surf clubs patrol weekends October-March; free Surf CAT bus from Stirling Station.
about 15 min
Beach
Milo Beach
Mosman Park
about 20 min
Beach
Leighton Beach
A grassed area up from the sand has electric barbecues, picnic tables, toilets and a kiosk; beach wheelchairs available.
about 20 min
Beach
Trigg Beach
Surf beach on the City of Stirling coast, which has year-round lifeguard patrols; swim between the flags.
about 20 min
Photo: Calistemon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Beach
Hammersley Pool
North Beach
about 20 min
Beach
Hartfield Beach
Forrestfield
about 20 min
Beach
Mettams Pool
North Beach
about 20 min
Beach
North Beach
North Beach
about 20 min
Beach
Port Beach
A cafe sits beside an enclosed playground; free parking, change rooms and accessible toilets.
about 20 min
Photo: Charles Van den Broek from Melbourne, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0
Beach
Bathers Beach
300 m of sand beside the Round House, a 12-minute walk from Fremantle station; a seasonal swimming enclosure is installed from October to April.
about 25 min
Photo: Wikimedian132366, CC BY-SA 4.0
Beach
Waterman Beach
Watermans Bay
about 25 min
Beach
Sorrento Beach
A local favourite for swimming, with surf lifesaving patrols, parking, toilets and food nearby.
about 25 min
Photo: Rhyshuw1 (talk) (en.wikipedia), CC BY-SA 3.0
Beach
South Beach
A family beach with barbecues, showers, a cafe, free beach wheelchairs and a Changing Places toilet.
about 25 min
Photo: Gnangcomapp, CC BY-SA 4.0
Beach
C. Y. O'Connor Beach
North Coogee
about 25 min
Beach
The Basin
Rottnest Island
A reef-sheltered bowl that suits kids learning to snorkel when the wind is from the south-east, south or south-west; 10-minute walk from the settlement.
about 25 min by ferry from Fremantle (45 min from Hillarys, 90 min from Barrack Street Jetty)
Photo: Matthew.crompton, CC BY-SA 4.0
Beach
Ngarkal Beach
North Coogee
about 25 min
Beach
Whitfords Beach
Hillarys
about 25 min
Beach
Coogee Beach
Woodman Point Regional Park
A year-round swimming enclosure (about 300 m by 75 m) sits beside Coogee Jetty; playground, barbecues, showers and shaded picnic tables.
about 30 min
Photo: Calistemon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Beach
Champion Lakes Swimming Beach
Champion Lakes
about 30 min
Over 30 minutes
from Perth
Beach
Rockingham Beach
North-facing and sheltered, with calm water for most of the year; playgrounds and picnic lawns on the foreshore.
about 45 min
Photo: Calistemon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Waterfalls, lakes and swimming
Lake
Hyde Park
A two-basin lake with bird islands, playgrounds (one accessible, with a Liberty Swing), toilets with baby change and a kiosk; the water playground runs November to late March.
under 5 min
Photo: Calistemon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Pool
Beatty Park Leisure Centre
North Perth
under 5 min
Lake
Galup (Lake Monger)
A 109 ha lake reserve containing registered Aboriginal heritage sites of historic and cultural significance to Whadjuk Noongar people.
about 5 min
Photo: Calistemon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Water park
Maylands Waterland
Maylands
about 5 min
Pool
State Swim
Osborne Park
about 10 min
Pool
Belmont Oasis Leisure Centre
Belmont
about 10 min
Lake
Herdsman Lake
7 km walk
A 7 km shared path circles the lake, with more than 100 bird species; no boats or fishing.
about 10 min
Photo: Gnangarra, CC BY 2.5 au
Pool
Bold Park Aquatic Centre
City Beach
about 10 min
Pool
Claremont Aquatic Centre
Claremont
about 10 min
Swimming spot
Deep Water Point
Deep Water Point Reserve
River beach with a swimming jetty, small playspaces under big trees, barbecues and a Changing Places toilet.
about 10 min
Pool
Cannington Leisureplex Play Centre
Cannington
about 15 min
Photo: Orderinchaos, CC BY 4.0
Pool
Riverton Leisureplex
Riverton
about 15 min
Photo: Gnangarra, CC BY 2.5 au
Pool
Aquatic Centre
Bull Creek
about 15 min
Lake
Lake Gwelup
Lake Gwelup Reserve
Blue-green algae above recommended levels was detected in October 2026: follow the signs and keep people and dogs out of the water.
about 15 min
Photo: Sam Wilson (taken with Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G), CC BY-SA 4.0
Swimming spot
Bicton Baths
Bicton Baths Reserve
A river swimming spot in use since the mid-1920s; dogs are prohibited in the reserve.
about 15 min
Photo: JoshMuirWikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Swimming spot
Mettams Pool
Marmion Marine Park
Inshore reef pool the City calls the main safe bathing area on its coast; snorkel straight off the beach; new handrail ramp into the water.
about 20 min
Lake
Mussel Pool
Whiteman Park
Picnic area in Whiteman Park beside Pia's Place playground, with a kiosk, a train station and a tram stop. Park entry and parking are free; open 8.30am-6pm.
about 20 min
Lake
Bibra Lake
6 km walk
An easy 6 km loop path with bird hides; most people park on Progress Drive, beside the regional playground.
about 25 min
Photo: Calistemon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Swimming spot
Hillarys Marina Beach
Inside Hillarys Boat Harbour, sheltered from waves by the marina: calm water for toddlers, with toilets and cafés close by.
about 25 min
Photo: EurovisionNim, CC BY-SA 4.0
Lake
Manning Lake
Beeliar Regional Park
Manning Park is open 7am-7pm with picnic areas, a playground and the 192-step Manning Stairs up to two lookouts (daylight only).
about 25 min
Photo: Calistemon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Swimming spot
Coogee Maritime Trail
The snorkel trail starts 25 m from shore at the Omeo wreck and is mostly 2.5-5 m deep. Look with your eyes only and never stand on the wreck.
about 25 min
Photo: Calistemon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Swimming spot
Champion Lakes
A 55-hectare rowing lake with dedicated public swimming areas, barbecues and 11 km of sealed paths; it also hosts rowing and canoe regattas.
about 30 min
Photo: Samuel Wiki, CC0
Big playgrounds
Big playground
BHP Water Park
Perth
Free interactive water jets and lights opposite Elizabeth Quay Station; 10am-6pm from 3 February to 27 November (closed Tuesdays for maintenance), 9am-9pm in summer; no lifeguard, change rooms next door.
under 5 min
Big playground
Hyde Park Water Playground
North Perth
A free zero-depth water playground with sprays, tipping buckets and cannons under shade; runs November to late March, 8am-8pm.
under 5 min
Big playground
Lycopod Island
Kings Park
An island fort, a 75 m elevated walkway, life-size extinct megafauna and a water-misting forest, best for children seven and older; free barbecues and Zamia Cafe.
about 5 min
Big playground
Braithwaite Park Nature Playground
Mount Hawthorn
A fenced nature play area designed mainly for 10-14 year olds, with water features, logs, ropes and two flying foxes, plus a toddler playground.
about 5 min
Big playground
Jackadder Reserve playground
Woodlands
Listed by the City of Stirling among its destination playgrounds. Note the current blue-green algae alert for Jackadder Lake: keep out of the water.
about 10 min
Big playground
Kent Street Weir Park playground
Wilson
New district-level play space with a main play tower, water play and sensory areas, due to open at the end of October 2026.
about 15 min
Big playground
Wharf Street Basin nature play
Cannington
Small nature-play area for young children with a water-play feature, log steppers and stilts, in a smart park with a boardwalk and AR app.
about 15 min
Drive times are estimated from the distance, so treat them as a guide. Tap a card for the full page.
Region boundary: ABS Tourism Regions 2021 (Tourism Research Australia), CC BY 4.0. Outings from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and venues' own listings; nature spots from OpenStreetMap and park services.