Categories > Guides and Tips
Things to Do in Joondalup, Perth
- What Activities to Explore in Joondalup, Perth
- Go on a Boat Tour at Hillarys Boat Harbour
- Explore Marine Line at AQWA
- Take Kids to the Neil Hawkins Park
- Take a Stroll at the Sorrento Quay Boardwalk
- Shop at Westfield Whitford City
- Kayak at Pinnaroo Point Beach
- Have a Picnic at Whitfords Nodes Park
- Swim at the Sorrento Beach
Searching for the best things to do in Joondalup, Perth? Don’t worry because we picked out some of our favourites right here!
What Activities to Explore in Joondalup, Perth
Here are the top things to do in Joondalup:
- Boat tour at Hillarys Boat Harbour
- Explore marine line at AQWA
- Play at the Neil Hawkins Park
- Take a stroll at the Sorrento Quay Boardwalk
- Shop at Westfield Whitford City
- Kayak at Pinnaroo Point Beach
- Picnic at Whitfords Nodes Park
- Swim at the Sorrento Beach
Prepare for fun for a whole day (or a couple of days) and check out some of the best activities to do in Joondalup in detail below.
Go on a Boat Tour at Hillarys Boat Harbour
Photo source: www.joondalup.wa.gov.au
Website: https://hillarysboatharbour.com.au
Address: 86 Southside Dr, Hillarys WA 6025, Australia
Contact Details: [email protected]
Opening Hours: Open 24 hours
If you love the smell of the ocean, Hillarys Boat Harbour is a popular tourist spot in Western Australia that we think is worth a visit. It has a lot of activities to enjoy during the day and at night.
Visitors can go on boat tours, watch whales when they’re around, go jet skiing, deep-sea fishing, diving, jet boarding, and take helicopter rides, among other things.
We also believe that Hillarys is an excellent place for most families with kids because their beach is safe and can be accessed by wheelchair or stroller.
In addition, the beach is a protected harbour created by its shape and surrounding structures. Plus, the water is so calm that we think swimming here is like being in a pool!
Otherwise, you can choose from a wide range of handmade art and gift shops, cocktail bars, fine dining restaurants (fine dining restaurants Perth), and kid-friendly options.
Friendly tip: Stop by the chocolate cafe nearby for a well-deserved treat after a hot day at the beach!
There’s also plenty of parking, with over 2700 free parking spaces. However, note that it can get crowded on weekends and holidays.
Buses from Perth City and other locations frequently stop at this beach. You can board a Joondalup Line train at the Warwick or Stirling stations, then exit the vehicle.
After that, switch to the 423 bus to get to Hillarys Boat Harbour.
Explore Marine Line at AQWA
Photo source: www.hillarysboatharbour.com.au
Website: http://www.aqwa.com.au/
Address: 91 Southside Dr, Hillarys WA 6025, Australia
Contact Details: +61 8 9447 7500, [email protected]
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Do you want to see more of the Indian Ocean? At the Aquarium of Western Australia or AQWA, there are tons of beautiful displays of marine life for you to explore.
We like that it features several interactive displays that let visitors get up close and personal with the aquatic life, like a touch pool and a glass tunnel.
Diverse marine animal species, such as calm turtles, sharks, and coral reefs, will also be present all around visitors.
Afterwards, you may go to the AQWA Underwater World, which offers a cafe, a gift store, and a picnic area. This is in addition to events such as turtle feedings and educational talks that take place throughout the day.
Travel tip: Keep an eye out for kids’ activities, too. Many of these are offered for free!
Just remember that weekends and school breaks are the busiest. If you want to come during one of those times, we advise you to get there early to beat the crowd.
Take Kids to the Neil Hawkins Park
Photo source: www.joondalup.wa.gov.au
Website: https://www.joondalup.wa.gov.au/place/neil-hawkins-park-3
Address: 200 Boas Ave, Joondalup WA 6027, Australia
Contact Details: +61 8 9400 4268, [email protected]
Opening Hours: Open 24 hours
If you’re bringing kids under the age of 5, we think Neil Hawkins Park in Joondalup is best suited for them.
It also seems easy to keep an eye on your little ones here because the playground is compact and partially enclosed.
There are various things to do here, such as trying out the play equipment that looks like a train engine. There’s also a small slide inside it that’s ideal for crawlers and early walkers.
A 4-seater see-saw is highly popular with children of all ages as well. This way, no one would feel left out.
For families, there are 3 BBQ grills and 7 picnic shelters all over the playground, too. This makes the park a nice place for gatherings.
The big trees that surround the playground also provide lots of shade. However, note that the metal see-saw and rockers on the left side don’t get as much shade and can get very warm in the summer.
But if you’re terrified of birds, we don’t advise visiting Neil Hawkins Park because there are a lot of them here. These birds usually perch on your people’s arms and eat the snacks provided – they’re also great for photos!
Travel tip for animal lovers who frequent zoos: The park is an excellent area to visit at dusk since you might just spot 1 or 2 local kangaroos.
When you’re craving caffeine, keep an eye out because there may be a coffee van parked there on some weekends.
Take a Stroll at the Sorrento Quay Boardwalk
Photo source: www.perthtouristcentre.com.au
Website: https://hillarysboardwalk.com.au/
Address: 58 Southside Dr, Hillarys WA 6025, Australia
Contact Details: +61 8 9246 1042, [email protected]
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday: 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Another fantastic destination for a day out is Sorrento Quay. There’s plenty of time to visit because it’s open 7 days a week.
Travel tip: Visit the beach early on a weekday if you’d like to enjoy some quiet time to unwind.
You may take a walk along the Sorrento Quay Boardwalk to capture the scenery and casually observe the flow of people nearby.
In our opinion, nothing kicks off a chill vacation like a stroll along the waterfront.
Moreover, intimate meals, get-togethers with friends, coffee and cake, and family outings are perfect at this venue – there are restaurants, great shopping, and live entertainment here for your convenience.
Alternatively, bar enthusiasts may stay in a couple of pubs nearby for some tasty cold beer.
Just note that there may not be many adequate seats for seniors. They might find it difficult to get up from low seats in some areas.
Shop at Westfield Whitford City
Photo source: Westfield Whitford City Facebook Page
Website: http://www.westfield.com.au/whitfordcity
Address: Corner of Marmion &, Whitfords Ave, Hillarys WA 6025, Australia
Contact Details: +61 8 9308 2751, [email protected]
Opening Hours: Monday – Wednesday, Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM, Thursday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM, Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Sunday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
During your trip to Joondalup, don’t forget to buy some goodies at the mall! Westfield Whitford City is a large shopping complex about 18 kilometres northwest of Perth’s Central Business District.
We think you could spend the entire day here – there are over 240 specialty shops offering fashion, cuisine, technology, jewellery, accessories, and gifts.
If you want to focus on experiences, their Grand Cinemas show the newest movies, too. When it’s summer or the weather is just hot outside, we believe it’s best to make the most of the air conditioning inside the mall.
For your reference, this centre’s top retailers include Myers, Target, Kmart, Coles, and Big W. Even if you can’t shop from all of them, who says you can’t at least take a good look?
Our recommended window shopping duration is 1 to 3 hours to ensure you’ve seen most of the good stuff.
Parents can also take a break and let their children be entertained in the kids’ activity area at Playworld. Entry is free and open to all children, but kids must always be watched over.
Tip for moms and dads: You may use the parents’ rooms near Edge Clothing, Woolworths, Country Road, City Beach, and the Dining Hub.
Each room offers a separate feeding area, a huge changing table, a microwave, a sink, an adult and child-size toilet, and other amenities.
Additionally, the shopping centre doesn’t have parking fees or time restrictions. When your visit is over, you can seamlessly drive to the exit.
Kayak at Pinnaroo Point Beach
Photo source: www.joondalup.wa.gov.au
Website: https://www.joondalup.wa.gov.au/place/pinnaroo-point
Address: 90 Boas Avenue Joondalup WA 6027
Contact Details: (+61 8) 9400 4268, [email protected]
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Pinnaroo Point Beach Park is a great place for intermediate and advanced kitesurfers and windsurfers to go during the day. Also, it’s a great place to go fishing at night.
You’ll likely run into many other hikers, runners, or walkers on the trail, too – we believe this can motivate you! On the other hand, kayaking is also a fun activity for many guests here.
If you go for a swim, there are handy, clean toilet facilities for a wash afterwards. Otherwise, you may just enjoy the fresh air away from the city.
Whitfords Horse Beach and Hillarys Dog Beach are two places where visitors can go to watch horses and dogs exercise. Your furry friend must, however, be on a leash.
Additionally, Pinnaroo Point Beach Park has a semi-gated playground. This, in our opinion, would be ideal for some kids to play by the sea.
Their ample parking spaces also make it easier to get to and leave the area.
A word of advice: Some thieves may occasionally operate in the parking lot, so make sure not to leave anything pricey in your car.
Have a Picnic at Whitfords Nodes Park
Photo source: www.joondalup.wa.gov.au
Website: https://www.joondalup.wa.gov.au/place/hillarys-beach-park-whitfords-nodes-3
Address: 115 Whitfords Ave, Hillarys WA 6025, Australia
Contact Details: +61 8 9400 4000, [email protected]
Opening Hours: Open 24 hours
Another beach park we recommend is Hillarys Beach Park in Whitfords Nodes. This has, after all, undergone a nice renovation.
Finding a picnic table for you and your loved ones won’t be difficult, given the abundance of them in the area.
This area for families now has a new playground with traditional and outdoor play structures. We think that this park would be great for kids of any age because of its inclusive design.
Food tip: Lot One Kitchen is conveniently located nearby on the corner of Whitfords Avenue and Angove Drive if you feel like getting some coffee or something to eat.
One of the new pieces of play equipment also has a toddler-sized steering wheel, a clock, and musical components. It’s handy that the ramp makes it accessible for kids using wheelchairs as well.
For those who are looking for more ways to exercise, the park is encircled by concrete walking routes as well. There’s a longer, specifically designed bike route that follows the coastline.
Kids can bring their bikes or scooters and simply ride laps on all of these paths. We believe this to be a secure location for family bike rides along the ocean or for practising riding away from traffic.
Most of the play structures and chairs are also well-shaded, as are the open parking spaces for everyone’s convenience.
Just note that though there are public restrooms, they’re a little bit of a walk along the path. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes so you won’t hurt your feet enough to need sessions with a podiatrist in the future.
And if you happen to be potty training your child, we believe it’s necessary to check in on a regular basis to ensure you’re not caught off guard.
Swim at the Sorrento Beach
Photo source: www.joondalup.wa.gov.au
Website: https://www.joondalup.wa.gov.au/place/sorrento-beach-2-2
Address: W Coast Dr, Sorrento WA 6020, Australia
Contact Details: (+61 8) 9400 4000, [email protected]
Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM, Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Enjoy walking in the white sand? If so, you should visit Sorrento Beach at least once—if not more!
Excellent family swimming is available at Sorrento Beach, where turquoise water laps against snow-white sand. This makes it the ideal location for a leisurely afternoon of beach activities.
In late 2016, the City of Joondalup worked with the State Government to erect a beach enclosure at Sorrento Beach. For everyone’s protection and peace of mind, they set up a shark net.
The City of Joondalup, however, is unable to guarantee that this enclosure will prevent the entry of marine species. This is due to the existing state of the beach enclosure and recent storm events.
Not to scare you, but sharks may still enter the swimming area. But this is an extremely rare occurrence, though.
To stay safe, we strongly advise swimming between the flags and having some presence of mind. We suggest having a swimming buddy, so you won’t always have to mind where you swim – after all, you’re still on vacation.
We feel you shouldn’t worry too much about this, though. The Sorrento Surf Life Saving Club sends out lifeguards on weekends and holidays, which reassures many guests.
In cooperation with Surf Life Saving WA, the City also offers midweek lifeguard patrols. On some weekends, you might even get to see some lifesavers practise their skills.
Friendly tip: For those who can’t live without their morning coffee, stroll up to the surf club kiosk for a nice cup of joe.
Also, keep in mind that the beach may be overrun with seaweed throughout the winter. And of course, more visitors are expected to visit in the summer, so you may want to consider when you plan to go.
And there you go! We hope you find the best things to do in Joondalup, Perth. May you and your loved ones have a delightful and memorable time ahead!
