It’s no surprise that Scarborough Beach, with its shiny redevelopment, is one of Perth’s most popular oceanside spots. There’s just so much for families to do – it’s easy to spend the entire day there. The biggest draw for kids at Scarborough has to be the huge whale themed playground. There’s lots of free fun to be had – a skatepark, rock climbing, and of course the beautiful beach too. Stroll along the wide promenade, enjoy an ice cream or even go bowling! Wherever you hang out – your family’s guaranteed to have a whale of a time in Scarborough. See the kid-friendly guide to Scarborough here.
Whale Playground Scarborough
The $1.4 million Whale Playground is found overlooking Scarborough Beach. Inspired by Noongar culture, the play area features a blue whale skeleton as its main theme. Climb the nets in the body of the whale, or jump onto the log swing and sway with your friends in the belly of the whale.
Children of all ages and abilities have opportunities for play – with elevated wheelchair accessible sand tables and soft fall surfacing with ramps between play spaces. Read more in the Buggybuddys review.
Scarborough Skate Park
Scarborough’s Skate Park, also known as “The Snake Pit”, is one of the biggest and most diverse Skate Parks in Australia. The competition grade skate bowl, rails, ramps and jumps are certain to please little skater boys and girls. Scooters are a popular choice for little kids, and there’s plenty of fun to be had for all skill levels.
A climbing wall is a challenge for all ages and has a handy padded floor all around the base. Be sure to take along a ball to dribble at the half-court basketball court too. Read more in the Buggybuddys review.
Scarborough Beach Pool
If the waves are too rough, that’s ok! The Scarborough Beach Pool offers a cool alternative to ocean swimming, and overlooks the stunning coastline. There are two pools, one for small children, while the other is used for swimming laps. The kid’s pool has a gently sloped entry point and small fountains. The water is geo-thermally heated making the lap pool a lovely 27 degrees and the kids pool a comfortable 32 degrees. Read more in the Buggybuddys review.
Scarborough Beach
Scarborough Beach itself is a brilliant place to dip your toes into the ocean. The lifeguard patrolled beach is wide and 2.5kms long, and there’s plenty of powder white sand to relax, build sandcastles and play. Once you’ve finished swimming there’s also an amphitheater, which is home to live entertainment in summer.
The 30 million dollar revitalisation has provided excellent facilities, with plenty of changing rooms, showers and toilets, as well as free WiFi (on the main central beach and foreshore areas). Stretching along the grassed foreshore area are free BBQs and picnic tables, making it a popular spot for a sunset picnic.
Scarborough Sunset Markets
The Scarborough Sunset Markets are buzzing every Thursday from November to late April, along Scarborough’s Esplanade. As well as a yummy array of food trucks, these evening markets offer a wide selection of giftware and live entertainment. Enjoy your family dinner on the grass or by the beach. Every Thursday evening 5pm-9pm from 2 November 2023 to April 25 2024. Read more in the Buggybuddys review.
Rendezvous Film Club, Scarborough
Sky high cinema, Rendezvous Film Club, is brand new for the summer of 2023/24. This rooftop cinema overlooks Scarborough Beach, on level 24 of the Rendezvous Hotel. Relax in a deck chair, watching the sun set over the ocean, followed by a classic or new movie. Movie and accommodation packages are available, so why not stay overnight with the fam?
Find Rendezvous Scarborough at 148 The Esplanade, Scarborough.
Eating Out in Scarborough
There’s a ton of delicious dining options at Scarborough – many cafes, bars and restaurants welcome kids. The popular night markets on a Thursday evening in warmer months are perfect for cheap eats from a big range of food trucks. Or why not book a table at one of the many tasty venues in the area:
Found right next to the Scarborough Beach Pool, Zoie Café is a chilled café (previously the Cocolat cafe) that offers up coffee, cake and creamy gelato – totally worth doing an extra few laps of the pool! Plus, it has an ocean view, without having an expensive menu. Read more in the Buggybuddys review.
It’s just not a day out at the beach without an ice cream! You’re sure to get your sweet fix at Dumbo Gelato. Dumbo Gelato is a short walk from both the playground and the skate park. There’s lots of flavours to choose from, including some quirky combos. Read the Buggybuddys review.
Queensland import, Bettys Burgers, has landed in Scarbs! We’ve not checked out this new spot yet, but it’s sure to be as good as their burg joint in Forrest Chase. Their burgers are delicious and even offer good GF options. See the Buggybuddys review here.
Brighton Road spot, Lark Cafe, is a great coffee catch up spot. A huge drawcard is the fully fenced and gated nature playground, which is so much fun, the kids won’t want to leave. There’s a great range of food and drink options too. Read more in the Buggybuddys review.
If you grew up in Perth’s late 90s, you may have been to The Lookout nightclub. After a long hiatus, The Lookout is back, and during the day it is a family-friendly venue. Tables at the venue’s street end have a coast view. The Lookout also offers pool tables, giant Connect 4, colouring in and even a bowling alley! Read more in the Buggybuddys review.
Lady Latte Cafe is two blocks from Scarborough Beach, making it an easy walk from the foreshore. The cafe serves up breakfast, brunch and lunch, freshly baked cakes, slices and raw goodies. A standout on the menu is a big range of savoury and sweet gourmet jaffles. Kids don’t have to miss out and the cola backed thick cut ham toastie, with 3 cheeses is a hit. Be sure to treat the kids to an EPIC babycino too. Read more in the Buggybuddys review.
Little Seaview Cafe is named for its distant view of the Indian Ocean. this family friendly cafe features a fun kids corner. For the adults, there’s good coffee and a delicious brunch menu. Read the Buggybuddys review.
Stay in Scarborough
With so much to do, Scarborough is a brilliant spot for a family staycation! There are a lot of options and the biggest hotel in the area, Rendezvous, has plenty on offer. The resort boasts a tropical style swimming pool with a large waterfall, as well as a tennis court and dining options. Read more in the Buggybuddys review.
Getting There
There are about 1400 free parking bays along the foreshore, which sounds like lots, though they soon fill during busy summer days. Paid parking is available in the multistorey Manning Street Wilson carpark (first 2hrs are free), or underground at Rendezvous Hotel. Alternatively, why not catch public transport! Regular busses stop at Scarborough, many via Glendalough Train Station.
What is your favourite place to visit, dine at or stay in Scarborough? Let us know in the comments below!
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Amanda Carlin has her own food and travel blog. Established in 2013, “The Chef, His Wife and Their Perth-fect Life” has enjoyed an exciting name change in 2021, as “The Chef’s Ex-wife” embarks on new adventures with Simply PERTHfect. Amanda loves getting out and about in Perth and WA, as well as brunching, tapas or something a little fancy in equal measures. With her son “Little Chef” in tow, Amanda always has plenty of family friendly eating options to recommend too! Be sure to check out Simply PERTHfect.
