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Oceania · Australia · Self-guided

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.

By The Fredette Family · Last updated March 2026 · 8-min read

The Fredette Family in Western Australia

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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.

Mar–May, Sept–NovBest time to go

2–12Good for ages

1–2 weeksIdeal length

~$11–16kRough budget (family of 4)

One week in Western Australia

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.

Where we stayed

An Airbnb in the heart of Freo

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.

A favorite day from the base

Heirisson Island’s wild kangaroos

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.

The highlight of the trip

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.

Two weeks in Western Australia

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.

~30 min ferry from Freo

Rottnest Island

The trip’s highlight — e-bikes, white-sand beaches, blue water, and quokkas. (See above for how we did it.)

~2.5–3 hrs south

Margaret River

Forests, caves, calm beaches, and kid-friendly farms — a relaxed multi-day add for week two.

In Perth, ~30 min

Kings Park

One of the world’s biggest city parks — playgrounds, big views, and room to roam if you head into Perth.

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.

Honest notes

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.

Book it yourself

Everything we used for Western Australia

Flights from Boston

Boston (BOS) to Perth (PER)

We search and book on Skyscanner. From Logan, an overnight that lands mid-morning is gold — the girls sleep most of the way.

Skyscanner

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Where to stay

Family stays with a kitchen

Filter for a family room, a washer, and an elevator — then pick the quiet street.

Booking.comAirbnb

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Tickets & day trips

Skip-the-line, kid-friendly

Pre-book the two or three big experiences so you walk straight in.

GetYourGuide

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Staying connected

An eSIM before you land

Airalo for data the second we step off the plane — maps and translation with two kids in tow.

Airalo

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Travel insurance

We never fly without it

SafetyWing for longer trips — your home health plan usually won’t cover you abroad.

SafetyWing

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What it costs

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.

One week · family of 4

$11,000–$16,000

all-in, flights included

Flights (BOS–PER, x4)$7,200–$12,000

Airbnb in Freo (7 nights)$1,400–$2,400

Food (eating out + groceries)$800–$1,400

Ferry, e-bikes + activities$500–$1,000

Two weeks · family of 4

$14,000–$20,000

all-in, Freo + Margaret River

Flights (BOS–PER, x4)$7,200–$12,000

Lodging (14 nights, 2 bases)$2,800–$4,800

Food (2 weeks)$1,600–$2,800

Car hire, ferry + activities$1,400–$2,600

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.

Pack smart

The exact kit we pack with two kids

Lightweight stroller, the carry-on setup, and everything else that earns its space — in one tested list.

See the packing list →

From our trip

Western Australia, at three feet tall

Before you go

Read Rosie in Paris with them first

Kailah wrote and illustrated our Paris picture book, drawn from our family’s travels — a lovely way to get the kids excited about the world before wheels-up.

See the book →

Quick answers

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