Encounter Ecology School Holiday Programs

Ways To Nature’s Encounter Ecology School Holiday Programs are back in April 2021:

Homes and Habitats

What makes a good home? Learn the weird and wonderful ways animals take shelter and stay safe in their bushland home. Discover the important habitat features on which our wildlife depend – a home that takes 150 years to build?? Come and find out why…

Suited for children 8-14 years.

Where: Samphire Cove Nature Reserve, Halls Head.

When: Wednesdays 7^th & 14^th April, 2-3:30pm

Night Ramble

Explore the bush at night with a spotlighting tour! Learn about our fascinating nocturnal wildlife as we take a walk around the bush trails of local reserves and national parks. Search for the animals creating curious hoots, croaks, rustlings and eye-shines observed in the bush after sunset.

Best suited for children 6+ years.

Where: Marlee Reserve, Parklands and Yalgorup National Park –see booking page for more info.

When: Thursdays 8^th & 15^th and Sunday 11^th April

salt & bush holiday program

Nocturnal Bush Walk Tours

Discover what happens in the bush after the sun goes down.

The family will love an evening walking tour – complete with head torches and commentary to find amazing nocturnal wildlife like possums, owls, frogs, and quenda.

Visit Salt and Bush Eco Tours for more details.

Young Naturalist 101 School Holiday Program

Go dolphin spotting

Kids Cruise $2* when you book the Mandurah Cruises‘ $68 family pass. 

Take the family on a fun-filled adventure. Meet Mandurah’s playful wild dolphins, watch a western rock lobster catch demonstration and see this iconic creature up close, spot pelicans, ospreys & swans on the wetlands, explore the city’s illustrious canals. Kids – help the Captain drive from the junior captain’s helm and adults – help yourself to FREE coffee & tea.

The Dolphin & Scenic Marine Cruise departs daily at 10 am, 11:30 am, 1:30 pm & 3:00 pm and with the $68 family pass!

The Mandurah Pirate Cruise

Venture through Mandurah’s inland waterways and canals on a fun pirate adventure for children and adults of all ages. You can steer the pirate wheel, ring the bell, dress up as a pirate on board Mandurah’s very own Pirate Ship while enjoying the scenery and spotting dolphins.

Experiences for kids at Dwellingup Forest Heritage Centre

Try your hand at Billy Tea and Damper Cooking – a two hour programme offered to adults and children of school age. There is also an exciting range of engaging and educational programmes – from E.S.T.E.A.M (Engineering, Science, Technology, Enterprise, Arts, Maths) learning to Indigenous culture and heritage, or the D.B.C.A, the Nearer to Nature programmes has something for everybody. Get details and find out more here.

Samphire Sojourn Guided Nature Walk

Searching for a unique family holiday activity? Explore Samphire Cove’s extraordinary wetlands and wildlife in the heart of Mandurah with Ways To Nature! Book a 1.5 hour tour for all – the walk is suited to most members of the family. Find out more here.

Water bikes

Is it a catamaran or a giant banana? Jump on a bike ride of a different kind – on the water with Mandurah waterbikes. Easier than riding a bike, these waterbikes are steady and stable, so you won’t even get wet as you gently pedal and glide through the water

. Hire a waterbike any day of the week during the school holidays and choose where you cruise, exploring Mandjar Bay and the stunning canals from a new perspective.

Flip Out

Take your kids for a bounce at Flip Out Mandurah next school holidays! Make sure to book online to secure your session.

Get the Kids lost

Amaze Miniature Park has a hedge and circular maze and extensively landscaped gardens to explore. Take a self-guided tour past the ornamental lake and miniature steam and diesel trains, canals, locks and barges to the town of Abington, the oldest continually inhabited town in England. After strolling through the garden, treat yourself to an ice cream, cold refreshment or coffee from the kiosk.

It’s Show Time at King Carnival

Cuddle a koala at Cohunu Koala Park

Burn some energy

South Yunderup’s Adventurescape, is a giant adventure playground and a place for the entire family. Your kids will enjoy climbing atop a 9 metre windmill tower, zipping on a flying fox or playing with Pickles the Pig.

Being one of the favourite playgrounds with the Mandurah locals, Quarry Adventure Park in Meadow Springs has something for all ages with BBQs, viewing platforms, toddler and adventure playgrounds, bike paths and a grass area to kick the footy.

Mandurah’s King Carnival boasts 18-hole mini golf, rides, trampolines, arcade games and water slides.

Or everyone can enjoy inflatable fun at the Indoor Inflatable World.

Have a wheely good time

Explore and be active with the kids on a bike ride. In Mandurah there are excellent cycle paths along the coast and Mandurah Foreshore, around Peel Inlet and into Dolphin Marina. There are many places to stop for a drink or bite to eat along the way too. Bikes and helmets can be hired from Mandurah Boat and Bike Hire, with cycle guide maps also provided.

If you want to go bush, the Marrinup Cycle Trail on the outskirts of Dwellingup is a family friendly cross-country loop travelling through Jarrah forest. Or explore Lane Poole Reserve, Dwellingup, on mountain bikes with Dwellingup Adventures.

Be a zookeeper 4 A Day

Take a train trip

If your children love trains, a train ride on Mandurah’s Mini Toot, the children’s sized Tourist Fun Train, or on board the Hotham Valley Tourist Train in Dwellingup will make for a fantastic day trip away from Perth.

Satisfy your bored teenager

It’s the first day of the holidays and your teens are already saying they are bored? 

At Trees Adventure in Dwellingup, they can challenge themselves on West Australia’s first tree ropes course offering nine different levels and over 20 flying foxes. If they cannot get enough of climbing, head to Mandurah Indoor Rock Climbing Centre for some more action. 

If your kids love skateboarding, they will enjoy the skate parks at Halls Park Mandurah and in Jarrahdale, Serpentine and Mundijong. 

Water maniacs can hire a kayak, paddle board or jet ski. For more adrenaline fuelled fun, cruise on Mandurah Cruises’ Spirit of Adventure high-speed vessel on the Dolphin Adventure Cruise. Or take the whole family white water rafting with Dwellingup Adventures.

Animal lovers can enjoy a scenic trail ride at Waroona’s Langford Hill Riding Farm, set in the beautiful Darling Ranges. It conducts riding lessons every second Saturday and week-long residential camps for children every school holidays. Langford Riding Farm has quiet and experienced horses and ponies to cater for all riders from the age of six upwards.