If you're planning that much-awaited year-end holiday with your family, read on.
SCHOOL holidays are the best time to bond and create new memories with your family, and for the children, a break from the mundane daily routines.
If you are looking for a holiday idea where your children can explore sensory learning in a fun and enjoyable manner, look no further – Western Australia has got you covered.
Just a five-hour direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to its capital, Perth, the state also shares the same time zone as Malaysia, so you can hop right into adventure seeking without worrying about jet lag.
Western Australia is home to some of the most intriguing reef and rock formations – also designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites – including the longest coastline in the country at 12,889 kilometres.
The state is also near the Humpback Whale migration route, where tourists can see the gentle giants in Margaret River, Albany, Perth and the Coral Coast, and plays host to the Quokkas, also known as the happiest animal on earth.
There are exciting activities to choose, from going free-and-easy in the city to seeking adventures in Western Australia.
For example, venturing into the Pinnacles while on a scenic drive, go on a food tour at Swan Valley and Margaret River, visit the famous 70 square km pink Hutt Lagoon, or take an enjoyable walk among the ancient timbers of Karri Forest.
While Western Australia has many great adventures to offer, here are three family-friendly ones that you can do with your family for an unforgettable family holiday.
ADRENALINE RUSH AT MATGARUP ZIP + CLIMB
Perth's Matagarup Bridge – connecting East Perth to the Optus Stadium precinct – is the centrepiece for an iconic new adventure tourism attraction, the Matagarup Bridge Zip + Climb.
Visitors can climb the 314 steps to reach the bridge's 72-metre-high Sky View platform – offering stunning 360-degree views over the city, Swan River and Optus Stadium.
For the adventure seekers, they can then make their way to the launch platform of the bridge, sitting 35-metres above the Swan River, to zip-line 400 metres across the river to a landing platform in Burswood Park.
BREATH-TAKING VIEWS AT THE OZONE
The Ozone is the destination to experience all the unique tour offerings at Perth's Optus Stadium.
The new Halo rooftop tours provide breathtaking views of the stadium, where visitors climb 78 steps to the rooftop before taking a seat 42-metres above the ground to take in the expansive sight.
Vertigo is another rooftop experience available, where visitors and tour groups can walk along a new platform projecting 5m beyond the edge of the stadium roof.
The new experience also allows the more daring participants to lean out from the rail-less platform towards the playing field.
The new platform is accessible to all ages and abilities, with lift access available for those that require it.
CUTEST WILDLIFE AT CAVERSHAM WILDLIFE PARK
The Caversham Wildlife Park is just a 30-minute drive northeast of Perth and home to about 200 species of animals, birds and reptiles. Fyi, Western Australia is home to 141 of the 207 mammal species found in Australia.
It is a great place to bring your family to meet most of Australia's animals in one location.
Here, children can feed the animals, take photos with the koala and wombat, or play with the farm animals at the interactive Molly's Farm located within the park.
THE PARADISE OF ROTTNEST ISLAND
Rottnest Island is a holiday haven for your family, attributed to its pristine beaches, aquamarine bays, bike tracks and friendly animals to meet.
About 19km offshore from Perth, it is a 30-minute ferry ride from the capital city, where paradise beckons.
A car-free zone, the island is a safe place for your family to travel about – on foot, with a rented bicycle or e-bike, on the island shuttle, or aboard the hop on-hop off bus that loops around the 11km-long island.
Its beautiful white beaches, clear water and protected coral reefs such as Salmon Bay and Pinky Beach are perfectly safe for children to play, swim or snorkel in. Alternatively, you can cycle or go for a relaxing walk on paved riding and walking trails.
The main attraction of the island is to meet the happiest animal on earth – the Quokkas – as it is the only place in the world where you can find these adorable, furry friends. The friendly, highly photogenic marsupial always has a welcoming face on its face so keep a lookout for them.
A FARM STAY AT FERGUSON FARM
The Ferguson Farmstay is located in the beautiful Ferguson Valley, about 30-minute drive from Bunbury and less than two hours' drive from the south of Perth.
The farm sits on top of the undulating Darling ranges and offers spectacular views of the city of Perth, the farmland, and vineyards all the way to the Bunbury coast.
A child-friendly farm, Ferguson Farmstay offers many activities for all, including feeding farm animals such as goats, ponies, kangaroos, ducks and rabbits. Children can go on pony rides or hop onto a tractor ride to feed the bigger cows.
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