Top ten free school holiday activities | January 2019

Christmas and New Year is out of the way and those lovely summer holidays stretching out through January means four to five whole weeks of finding fun activities for the kids. Each year we put together our top ten list of things to do in Freo that are free or under $10. It’s always a big hit and we’ve updated it for January 2019.

1. Animaze: Amazing Animals for kids at FAC | extended to 28 January. For the first time, Fremantle Arts Centre presents a contemporary art exhibition specifically for kids. Animaze is about amazing animals of all sorts, where kids can wander and explore the wonderful world of animals and art. With the work of more than 40 artists, specially designed play spaces, animal story readings and hands-on kids’ workshops, Animaze is a full-on animal art safari for kids and families. Drop in and watch artist Ross Potter working on his huge, life-size drawing of every kid’s favourite elephant, Tricia from the Perth Zoo. Check the website for the full program of exhibition activities including free craft in the Front Garden.
2. Children’s Nature Play at Moore & Moore Café | 9.30-11.30am Tuesdays. Come down and grab a coffee while the kids get some natural movement and nature connection in their dedicated nature play courtyard. Steve Aldridge will also be free to chat with parents about ideas and strategies to bring more natural movement and nature connection into your family's life.
3. Free film Fridays at Walyalup Aboriginal Cultural Centre | 12-2 pm Friday 11 & 18 January. Relax and learn through Aboriginal film at Fremantle’s Aboriginal Cultural Centre with screenings of We Don’t Need a Map and Yolngu Boy. Bookings are essential.
4. There’s something nostalgic about a picnic and Freo offers fabulous picnic spots by river and sea. Our top picks include Tuckfield Oval with extraordinary views over the harbour. For paddling and skipping stones, Gilbert Fraser Oval, right on the Swan River in North Fremantle feels like a world away.
5. New skateboard or scooter for Christmas or perhaps Santa delivered a bicycle? Esplanade Youth Plaza is one of the best skate parks in Australia and there’s a cool etiquette between skaters of all ages and skill levels sharing the space. South Beach to Leighton Beach is a lovely flat 7 k ride with plenty of stops for snacks along the way.
6. Hit the Freo beach(es)­choose from South Beach with its towering Norfolk Pines, basketball court, playground and calm waters or the long white stretches of sand and a bit more surf at Port to Leighton. You’ll find Bathers Beach directly behind the Round House, tantalisingly close to Fishing Boat Harbour and some of WA’s best fish and chipperies.
7. Explore on foot, on your bike or by CAT Bus, find Fremantle’s amazing street art using the self-guided walking trail at Explore Fremantle. The trail explores the street art in our city, the artistic careers that were born here and the international artists that have contributed to an urban street art collection.
8. Quay to Summer at Victoria Quay |. Classic family movies, free puppet making workshops with Spare Parts Puppet Theatre as part of a little explorer kids’ program and street food markets take place alongside all the action and moving theatre of WA’s largest cargo port. Check their website for screening times and details of events and workshops.
9. Just inside the main gatehouse of Fremantle Prison, and a nice addition to a Locked Up! Tour or Escape! Tour, you’ll find two free exhibitions; Insider Art Summer 2018 showcases the creative achievements of incarcerated prisoners from across Western Australia and the Transportation Exhibition marks the 150^th anniversary of the arrival of the Hougoumont, the last convict ship to arrive in Australia.
10. Did you know one of Australia’s oldest known shipwrecks resides in the WA Shipwreck Museum right here in Fremantle? The story of the Batavia is one of mutiny, massacre and adventure. It was discovered, 300 years later in 1963, and the original hull and a stone portico raised from the sea bed can be viewed at the museum. Entry is by gold coin donation.

One final tip–if you’re coming into Fremantle for the day we’d recommend parking on the outskirts of the city and riding in on the CAT bus–it’s free too!

You can also check out our school holiday listings for workshops, classes and other summer activities in Fremantle.