When your child gets into double digits, you may notice they lose a little enthusiasm for those things they used to love doing – like playing in a park for hours on end. A “tween” is generally between being a young child, but not quite a teenager – about 9 to 12 years old. Tweenagers particularly love an activity they can do with a friend or two. Buggybuddys has a big list of activities in Perth for Tweens, which definitely pass the cool test.
Mini Golf
Mini golf is a “hole” heap of fun! The popular activity is huge in Perth, with so many mini golf courses to choose from – adventure golf, supa golf, indoor golf and even night mini golf! Challenge your Tweens to a round of 18 holes at one of the best mini golf courses in Perth. Our favourites include Glow Golf at Wanneroo Botanic Gardens, Wembley Golf Couse, and The Vines Mini Golf! See the Buggybuddys guide to Mini Golf in Perth here.
Climbing & Ropes
Let your tweens climb to new heights at a climbing, bouldering or ropes centre. They’ll feel their adrenaline pump on a tree-top rope obstacle course like Treetops Adventure in Yanchep National Park. If they love a vertical climb, Clip and Climb at iPlay (Westfield Carousel) or Adrenaline Vault will tick the rock climbing box. See the Buggybuddys guide to indoor climbing centres in Perth here.
Skate Parks
You might not know what a closed flow bowl or pump bumps are, but if your tweens do, they will love you to take them to a skate park! Whether they love to ride a scooter or show off their skills on a skateboard – there’s plenty of awesome skate parks all over Perth. Fremantle Esplanade Youth Precinct and Scarborough Beach Foreshore are two of the best. See the Buggybuddys guide to Skate Parks in Perth here.
Ice Skating
You can’t get a much cooler activity than Ice Skating! Both experienced and beginner skaters can have fun in a public sessions at Cockburn Ice Arena or Perth Ice Arena.
Water Parks
If the sun is out – it’s time to have a splashing good time on some thrilling water slides. Adventure World undoubtedly has the best selection in Perth, as well as some white knuckle rides too! And great news for tweens, now that they’re older, they may be tall enough to ride them. Perth’s Outback Splash opened some super cool slides. See the Buggybuddys guide to Adventure World with Tweens here.
Parkour & Trampolines
A French term meaning “the course”, Parkour is a type of obstacle course using a combination of climbing, swinging, vaulting, jumping, rolling and running. You can find parkour courses at indoor centres like BOUNCE inc Joondalup Some of these places also offer trampolines, bouncy basketball and other activities too.
Laser Tag
What could be more fun than running around in the dark, tagging your friends with a laser gun?! This high-energy activity is sure to get the heart racing. There are lots of laser tag centres all around Perth and is perfect for tweens that would love to get into paintball, but are still a bit too young.
Cool Classes & Experiences for Tweens in Perth
For tweens ready to try something beyond traditional sports, Perth has plenty of creative, active and educational experiences to explore. At the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research Holiday Adventure Programs, children aged 10 and over can step into a real teaching laboratory in Nedlands and get hands-on with medical science activities, including using lab equipment and exploring microbiology techniques.
Animal-loving tweens can enjoy the WA Wildlife Hospital Tour at Cockburn Wetlands Precinct. The guided experience offers a behind-the-scenes look at the work involved in caring for injured and orphaned native wildlife, followed by the chance to meet resident animals in the outdoor discovery area. The tour is recommended for children aged eight and over.
For a high-energy outdoor challenge, XLR8 Obstacle Course in Baldivis offers muddy, military-style obstacle events, private group bookings and school holiday challenges. With climbing, crawling, balancing and teamwork involved, it is a great choice for tweens who love Ninja Warrior-style adventures.
Creative tweens will love Crafter Studio Perth, where they can make fluid bears, decorate iPhone or AirPods cases with Decoden cream and charms, try polymer clay craft, or create texture paintings. All materials are provided, and staff are available to help bring their ideas to life.
Go-Karts
Great fast-paced fun for older kids, go-karting is always popular with the grown-ups too. Whether you’re north or south of the river, Perth has some great go-karting tracks that are perfect for one-off races or birthday parties and functions. See our big guide to karting in Perth here.
Escape Rooms
If you are looking for a great group activity, an Escape Room is a fun challenge! An Escape Room is a real-life, puzzle-solving adventure game, where you and your team are locked in a room and immersed in a fantasy scenario – to get out, you have to find clues, solve puzzles and work as a team to beat the clock. Find an Escape Room near you
Gaming
From old-school gaming at Nostalgia Box to pay as you go arcade games at iPlay, Timezone, Palace Arcade, Planet Royale and Dave n Busters – there’s a lot of places to play in Perth! If your tween loves Minecraft, they might like to join a dedicated Minecraft Camp, like Mind Buzz, during school holidays.
Roller Skating
Joining in on a public session of Roller skating is loads of fun. The large skating rink is lit up with colourful lights, lasers and shiny disco balls. High energy music gets everyone singing along to favourite tunes and dancing to pop hits like the Macarena and Gangnam Style. At Rollerzone Malaga, kids can try rollerblading too.
iFly
Kids are way too young for skydiving, but if you have a mini adrenaline junkie on your hands, they will love the rush of iFly! Perth’s first Indoor Skydiving Experience involves a training session then a “flight” in a giant wind tunnel, simulating a free-fall dive from 14,000 feet. Read the Buggybuddys review on iFly here.
Bowling
Bowling has to be the ultimate indoor activity, day or night, rain or shine. Absolutely anyone can join in on trying to get that elusive strike and it’s a great way for tweens to spend a few hours with their family or friends. There’s many bowling alleys around Perth, from Zone Bowling in Joondalup and Strike Bowling at Westfield Carousel.
Do you have Tweens in Perth? What is their favourite thing to do? Let us know in the comments below!
Find more family friendly things to do in Perth here.
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Amanda Carlin has her own food and travel blog. Established in 2013, (first as “The Chef, His Wife and Their Perth-fect Life”) Amanda loves getting out and about in Perth and WA for her blog ‘Simply PERTHfect’. You’ll find her checking out the newest foodie spots, as well as lots of WA travel, and fun family activities with the kiddos in tow. Part of a blended family of 6, Amanda always has plenty of family friendly recs. Be sure to check out Simply PERTHfect.
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Every one of these, except the skate park, needs money to go to. We’ve just struggled through Christmas and a tween birthday – what can we do that’s very low cost or free?