Fun things for FIFO workers to do with their families while on R&R

Optus Stadium from above

If you’re a FIFO worker and you’re looking for something fun to do in Perth while you’re on R&R, here are 14 ideas.

The last couple of years have been tough for everyone, but FIFO families have felt a particular pain, with many FIFO workers experiencing longer than normal away swings thanks to coronavirus roster changes.

If you’ve been away from your kids for an extended period of time, you probably want to make the most of your time together while you’re home on R&R.

Here are our 14 ideas for fun days for families in Perth.

14 fun things for FIFO workers to do with their families while on R&R

  1. This one is for gamers, young and old. Introduce your kids to the consoles that kept you entertained as a child and see how much technology has changed over the years at The Nostalgia Box - Video Game Console Museum.
  2. Been spending too much time on the driving range? (If your site has one!) Show off your golf skills with a trip to the latest 3D mini golf sensation, Glowing Rooms.
  3. Help ignite a passion for STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) in your little learners with a trip to Scitech.
  4. More than 1300 animals from around the world can be found just five minutes away from the Perth CBD. Every kid loves a day out at Perth Zoo. (You can go into the reptile enclosure and show them the snakes you see on a daily basis!)
  5. Grab the family and embark on a virtual adventure to uncover Perth’s golden secrets with the Heart of Gold Discovery Trail around Perth’s CBD. (There’s a Kalgoorlie trail, too).
  6. Looking for a real adrenalin rush with the kids? Why not try out your head for heights with a trip to Flying Trapeze Perth. It’s incredibly good fun! (The bungee trampoline is a hoot.)
  7. Do you have a budding AFL legend in your family? Or perhaps a budding rockstar? If you do, why not take them on a behind-the-scenes tour of Optus Stadium to see where they could, one day, find themselves playing in front of a crowd of thousands. You could also walk around the stadium roof or take an Aboriginal cultural tour.
  8. While you’re near the stadium you could try the Matagarup Bridge climb.
  9. Ever wanted to find out if a pirate’s life is for you? Take the whole family on a pirate adventure on the high seas of the Mandurah canals aboard the Pirate Ship Mandurah.
  10. With mazes, sensory play activities, children’s playground and Australian animal experiences, not to mention waterslides and other water-based fun (depending on the season), Outback Splash in the Swan Valley is an adrenaline-packed day out for the whole family.
  11. Love the idea of skydiving but don’t really feel like getting on another plane right now if you don’t have to? iFly Perth Indoor Skydiving will let you experience skydiving without the need for a plane. It’s a fun day out for anyone aged from three to 103.
  12. If your child is plane mad, Flight Experience Perth has flight simulation experiences designed especially for young pilots.
  13. Get the kids outdoors and into the fresh air at the Rio Tinto Naturescape in Kings Park. It’s a chance to find out more about WA’s landscape and animals in a real bush setting.
  14. Sometimes the classic days out with the kids are still the best. WA’s largest indoor go kart track in Belmont is great fun for ages seven and up.
Dan Hatch
Mining People International