22 Accessible Holiday Destinations in Perth

If you or a loved one live with a disability, you know that getting around and planning fun things to do isn’t always easy. While disability access and inclusion have come a long way, there is still much to be done in making holiday destinations and activities more accessible to people with mobility, sensory, cognitive or communication needs.

If you want to plan a holiday with your loved ones in Perth this festive season, you’re in luck. With the summer holidays just around the corner, many families look forward to spending more time with loved ones. 

Perth is one of the most popular holiday destinations for local, interstate, and international travellers, welcoming 9.9 million overnight visitors and hosting 19.2 million day trips in the year ending June 2022.

But not all of these provide adequate access to people with disabilities, frail aged people, live with chronic health conditions or are carers to people with support needs.

We’ve compiled a list of Perth’s 22 best holiday destinations that the whole family will love. Whether you’re planning a day trip, an overnight stay, or an extended vacation, we have some tips, activities, and accommodation suggestions to help your festive season go smoothly, so you can focus on making memories. 

Accessibility in Perth, what is disability access?

Disability describes any physical, sensory, intellectual, cognitive, or psychiatric impairment that affects a person’s ability to undertake everyday activities. Disabilities can be present from birth or at any stage of your lifespan. Some disabilities are visible, while others are invisible.

Disability accessibility describes how easily a person can participate in physical environments, social settings, and activities. Access to public spaces, employment, recreation, and community life must be granted to everyone regardless of the presence of a disability. 

In Australia, accessibility is legislated by the 1992 Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). The DDA “makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person, in many areas of public life, including employment, education, getting or using services, renting or buying a house or unit, and accessing public places, because of their disability.”

Disability discrimination can be direct, such as explicitly excluding people with disability from events, places, or organisations. Indirect discrimination is often passive or unconscious and occurs when a practice, policy, or rule applies to everyone equally in a way that disadvantages or creates barriers for people with disability. 

Examples of indirect discrimination include selling tickets to venues that can only be entered via stairs, meaning that people who use mobility aids are at an unfair advantage.

People with disability in Australia

Australians with disability are a significant, important, and valuable addition to our nation’s community. The number of people living with a disability is increasing in Australia and globally due to population growth, increased life expectancy, and population ageing.  

Approximately 18% (1 in 6) of Australians identify living with one or more disabilities, equating to around 4.4 million individuals. Of these, about 1 in 3 (32% or 1.4 million) people live with a profound disability requiring higher support needs to lead a normal life. Disability prevalence increases with age, meaning you may be more likely to acquire some form of disability as you age.

Is Perth a disability-friendly city?

In the City of Perth, over 95,000 residents reported having a disability, though this number may be higher due to reporting issues. Access benefits not only people with disability but with all of their friends, family members, caregivers, colleagues, and service providers. Many people in Perth benefit from greater accessibility and inclusion.

Like many cities around Australia and the world, Perth strives to be a destination of choice for all people, including those with disabilities and their loved ones. Perth has pedestrian-friendly streets and public spaces that are designed according to universal design principles. Continuous accessible paths of travel link public transport, parking, retail, business, and entertainment areas.

While accessibility in Perth has come a long way, there is still more work to be done. The City of Perth regularly updates its Disability Access and Inclusion Plan to continue to work towards greater access and inclusion for visitors and residents. 

Some of the actions the City of Perth is taking to improve physical accessibility for people who use mobility aids are as follows.

• Use of kerb ramps, tactile indicators, and audible crossing signals.
• Provision of major public buildings, arcades, post offices, and most churches and theatres that are accessible.
• Accessible public toilet provision throughout the central city district.
• Provision of assistive equipment hires at some public venues.
• Accessible parking spaces.
• Taxi User Subsidy Scheme to offer an affordable and accessible alternative to public transport.
• Citiplace Community Centre. An accessible central city hub for older people and people with disabilities to access social support, essential services, excellent facilities, and information. This central hub is great for people with disabilities to seek assistance or advice when planning a day out in Perth.

Accessibility and inclusion in Perth are better than ever, so there has never been a better time to get out and explore all the city has to offer.

22 Accessible holiday destinations in Perth and regional Western Australia

Whether you want to get out into the great outdoors, visit some of Perth’s famous landmarks, book a stay in an accessible regional cabin, or book a city escape in an accessible hotel, we’ve compiled 22 of the best holiday destinations across Perth for you or a loved one with accessibility needs.

Accessible beaches

Australia has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Why not spend a day at one of these beaches with accessible features? A day at the beach is one of the best, free, and most fun activities for the whole family to enjoy the sun, sea, and surf.

1. Geraldton Beach

Features: A beach wheelchair is stored at 2 Foreshore Café, and a second beach wheelchair is available and stored in the Changing Place amenities, for which you will require an MLAK key and is available at the Geraldton Visitor Centre (within the Geraldton Regional Art Gallery, 24 Chapman Road, Geraldton) and also from the Sail Inn.

2. Madora Bay Beach

Features: Hippocampe Beach Wheelchair, Track and Trail Beach Wheelchair, and Beach Walker are free to hire. 

3. North Coogee

Features: purpose-built boardwalks, an accessible toilet, an enclosed adventure playground, and an accessible BBQ area with accessible parking nearby.

4. Rockingham Beach

Features beach access matting, beach wheelchairs, beach walkers, and accessible jetties. 

5. Trigg Beach

Features: Beach access matting, play equipment, barbecue facilities, a large grassed area, a universal access toilet facility, and ACROD parking.

6. Hillarys Beach

Features: beach wheelchairs, access matting, accessible Changing Places toilets, accessible beach parking.

7. Mullaloo Beach

Features: all-terrain beach wheelchair, access matting, and beach walker. 

8. Quinn’s Beach

Features: Beach wheelchairs are available for hire via the City of Joondalup council website.

9. City Beach

Features: 60 meters of access matting runs from the main pathway down to the water’s edge, the car park includes ACROD parking, and universal toilet and shower facilities are available. A beach wheelchair is also available at City Beach and can be booked online via the Town of Cambridge website.

10. South Perth Foreshore

Features: A beach wheelchair is available for use at Sir James Mitchell Park’s foreshore beach and water areas. It’s located near the easy-access Disable Parking Bays near the Scented Gardens Playground.

Inclusive and accessible animal encounters

Interacting with animals is an amazing way to spend a day in Perth. Interacting with animals has been associated with improved behavioural, social, cognitive, and emotional outcomes for people with disabilities. 

1. Perth Zoo

Perth zoo proudly offers a fun, family-friendly, and inclusive environment with many sights, sounds, and smells to immerse you and your loved ones in nature. They are committed to ensuring accessibility to their features, exhibits, and interactive programs. 

Perth Zoo accessibility initiatives include the following.

• Free Carer/Companion Card entry. Perth Zoo welcomes and accepts the national Companion Card. They offer no-cost admission to a carer/companion of an individual with a Companion Card.
• Accessibility Map. This free, symbol-based map groups our facilities into audio-visual, tactile/interactive, sensory/olfactory, tranquil/rest areas, and aural/keeper talks, so that people with a range of needs can plan their visit. It also shows ACROD parking, doors, and inclines. Download the Perth Zoo Accessibility Map (PDF) via their website.
• Social Story for visitors on the Autism spectrum. These stories were created in partnership with Autism WA to offer reassuring and useful information about what to expect during their visit.
• Inclusive children’s playground featuring accessible toilet facilities, drinking fountain, BBQ, and picnic tables.
• Assistance Animals welcome. Some areas of Perth Zoo (eg, walk-in or free-ranging exhibits) may be off-limits to assistance animals due to health or behavioural risks posed to animals in our collection. A request to visit with an assistance animal must be made in writing before the planned visit. Please send your written request to [email protected].
• Mobility-friendly lockers and drinking fountains.
• Audio options and soundscapes. 

2. Bunbury Wildlife

Bunbury Wildlife Park is a great day out for the whole family. Meet some of the native wildlife residents and enjoy the scenery. They also offer an accessible playground, where kids of all abilities can play together. Contact the park directly to discuss your individual access needs before visiting. 

3. Visit the quokkas on Rottnest Island

Take an accessible ferry trip to the homeland of the quokka. Quokkas are one of Australia’s cutest, friendliest, and most photogenic marsupials, who will often happily pose for a selfie with you or your loved ones. Rottnest Island is an excellent wheelchair-friendly adventure with wide pathways and ramp access to most facilities. The island also has a wheelchair-compatible shuttle bus for access to and from the ferries.

Accessible trails and walking experiences

Taking a leisurely stroll is one of the best ways to take in the sights and connect and converse with those you love the most. AllTrails is a fantastic resource for checking accessibility information before you go. You can also find information about difficulty level, scenic highlights to look out for, and weather information.

1. North Mindarie Walk Trail

This beautiful coastal walk is an 800m accessible trail suitable for all ages and fitness levels. Start your walk from the north side of Mindarie Marina at the car park on Rosslare Promenade and ends at the car park outside Quinns Rocks Caravan Park. 

2. John George Trail

This 5km return trail is located in Woodbridge and follows a sealed path through the Swan Regional Riverside Park. 

3. Perth Bridges Trail

A more challenging 10km trail that allows you to see the Swan River from all angles. This beautiful waterfront loop explores the South Perth Foreshore, the Causeway, Elizabeth Quay, the Narrows, and back through South Perth.

4. Kings Park Law Walk

Kings Park Law Walk is one of many beautiful trails in Kings Park. It is a 2.5 km loop walk that provides visitors with scenic views of the Swan River.

Accessible landmarks and tourist attractions

1. Araluen Botanic Park

One of Perth’s hidden gems, this park is about 40 minutes’ drive from Perth’s Central Business District. Explore 59 hectares of native gardens, manicured landscapes, and waterfalls. The park offers accessible entry, mobility equipment available for hire, and mapped trails accessible by wheelchair or scooter.

Cost: Children: $5.00, concession: $8.00

2. The Art Gallery Of W.A. Cultural Centre

This gallery welcomes all visitors and offers a walking frame, manual wheelchairs, and an electric buggy. ACROD parking is available in the Perth Cultural Centre car parks. Companion cards are welcome. Large format print labels are available on our website for exhibitions, and a copy is available at Information. Find out more or plan your visit here.

Cost: entry is free, but the gallery requests a donation. 

Accessible accommodation and hotels

1. Quest East Perth – Perth CBD

Price: From $293 per night.

Phone:  (08) 6210 6000

Email:  [email protected] 

Address: 176 Adelaide Terrace, East Perth WA 6004

Website: https://www.questapartments.com.au/properties/wa/east-perth/quest-east-perth/overview 

2. Mercure Perth

Price: From $236 per night.

Phone: (08) 9326 7000

Address: 10 Irwin St, Perth WA 6000

Website: https://mercureperth.com.au/rooms-suites/accessible-room/ 

3. Nesuto Curtin Perth

Price: From $219 per night

Phone: (08) 6255 0800

Address: B420 Koorliny Way & Beazley Ave, Bentley WA 6102 

Website: https://www.nesuto.com/curtin/accommodation/accessible-hotel-guest-room 

How Homage can help

Planning a holiday is always exciting, but it also involves a lot of effort and can become stressful. Why not engage the support of a professional, dedicated Care Professional from Homage? Our companionship service can support your loved ones by filling their day with companionship and activities they enjoy for a fulfilled life. We can accompany them on holidays our outings, so you can spend less time worrying and more time making memories. 

Provide the best care to your loved one today!

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