Family bike rides around Perth
Fewer than one in five Australian kids get their hour of activity a day, and most spend more time on screens than the guidelines suggest. A bike ride is one of the easiest fixes there is: it's fun, it's free once you own the bikes, and it ends at a playground. Here are 13 Perth rides sorted by your kids' ages, a plan for each stage, the WA rules, and a free ride bingo to print.
- Kids 5 to 17 getting their daily hour
- 18%
- ABS, released June 2026
- Screen time a day, ages 5 to 17
- 2 h 51 m
- on average; the guideline is 2 hours at most
- Rides in this guide
- 13
- from Joondalup to Mandurah and the hills
Suits: parents and grandparents with toddlers in a seat or trailer, kids just off training wheels, and older kids ready for a proper loop.
Where to start
- Toddlers in a seat or trailer
- Galup (Lake Monger), Bibra Lake or the Swan River loop. Flat, sealed, toilets on the way. Stop every hour so they can run around.
- Just off training wheels
- The 4 km loop at Kent Street Weir or the 3.5 km lap of Galup, with a cafe or playground at the end.
- Ready for a big ride
- The 10.5 km Swan River loop, the 16 km Lake Joondalup circuit, or the Sunset Coast path, riding north with the wind behind you.
- Something different
- The pump track and flow trails at Point Walter, or a short gravel leg of the Railway Reserves trail in the hills.
- The rules
- Everyone wears a helmet, including passengers. In WA, kids of any age can ride on the footpath. Carrying a child in a seat or trailer? You must be 16 or over, and a trailer passenger must be under 10.
Why it matters: kids, screens and moving
Australia's guidelines ask for at least an hour of moderate to vigorous activity a day for 5 to 17 year olds, and no more than two hours of screens for fun. Only 18% get the hour, and only 28% stay within the screen limit. Bike riding is one of the activities the guidelines name.
The national guidelines come from the federal health department and were last updated in March 2026. For under-5s they set at least three hours of activity a day and no screens before age 2. Ages 2 to 5 get no more than an hour of screens a day, and less is better. They also say young children shouldn't be strapped into a pram, car seat or high chair for more than an hour at a time. The same goes for a bike seat or trailer, so build in stops.
The latest national survey results came out from the Australian Bureau of Statistics in June 2026, from interviews in 2023 and 2024. The drop-off as kids get older is stark:
| Age | Active an hour a day | Within the screen limit |
|---|---|---|
| 5 to 8 | 30.8% | 45.5% |
| 9 to 11 | 23.0% | 37.2% |
| 12 to 14 | 8.2% | 15.6% |
| 15 to 17 | 7.6% | 8.7% |
| All 5 to 17 | 18.3% | 27.8% |
- Screen time: 5 to 17 year olds averaged 2 hours 51 minutes a day of screens for fun, and 15 to 17 year olds just over 4 hours. Among 2 to 5 year olds, 28.5% kept to the one-hour limit.
- The whole day: only 7.2% of 5 to 17 year olds met all the recommendations together: activity, screens and sleep.
- WA kids still ride more than anyone. In the 2025 national cycling survey, 41% of WA 5 to 9 year olds had ridden in the past week, against 7 to 15% for most adult age groups. But weekly riding by WA kids under 10 has roughly halved since 2015. The survey reweighted its older data, so treat the exact trend loosely.
- The school run: the WA Department of Transport says only about one in five Perth children walk or ride to school. Half of those driven live less than a kilometre away, and more than half of students say they'd like to walk or ride.
- Outside is good for eyes, too. A 2022 overview of seven systematic reviews found that more time outdoors is linked to fewer children becoming short-sighted. It's protection, not a cure: it did little to slow short-sightedness that had already started.
None of this means screens are the enemy. It means an hour on a bike on Saturday morning is doing a lot of quiet good: the health department lists better concentration, self-esteem, and less stress and anxiety among the benefits of being active.
A first-ride plan, age by age
Short, flat and ending somewhere fun beats long and impressive. Match the ride to the youngest rider, and stop before anyone's had enough.
Under 1
Not on a bike yet. Seat and trailer makers and child-safety groups generally say wait until about 12 months, when a baby can sit up unaided and hold their head up in a helmet.
About 1 to 4: seat or trailer
In WA the rider must be 16 or over, and the child wears a helmet too. Plan a stop at least every hour for running around. Practise with the loaded seat first: in an Australian survey of parents who carry kids, the most common mishap was the bike tipping over from the child's weight. All were minor.
Toddlers: balance bike
A balance bike teaches steering and balance before pedals. Laps of Galup or a council bike skills track are perfect, and the parent walks.
About 4 to 7: first pedal bike
Loops of 3 to 6 km with a playground in the middle. Kids' bikes go by wheel size, but fit by height: seated, they should reach the ground with the balls of both feet. Check the brand's size chart rather than going by age.
About 8 to 12: proper loops
10 to 16 km is fine with snack stops. Teach the path rules: keep left, ring before passing, walkers first. Let them lead the way on a loop they know.
Teens: hand them the map
Let them plan the route and the cafe stop. A one-way coast ride with a pick-up, or a gravel leg in the hills, feels like an adventure.
- Pack: water, more snacks than seems sensible, sunscreen and hats for the stops, a pump, and a spare tube in the right size.
- Pick the season. Perth summers are hot: ride early, and remember snakes are active on warm paths near lakes and bush. Spring and autumn are the sweet spot.
- Choose separated paths. Parents in that same survey said quieter routes and times were their main way of staying safe with kids on board.
13 family rides around Perth
Pick who's riding and where you are. Each ride lists its distance, toilets, playgrounds, trains and anything to watch for. Who it suits is our reading of the trail facts; we'll add our own notes as we ride them with kids.
13 rides
-
Swan River loop
The full loop suits kids happy on their own bikes for an hour or so, and trailers and seats. Smaller riders can do Elizabeth Quay to Point Fraser, about 2 km each way.
Route, stops and trains
- Route
- A flat path right round the river between the Narrows Bridge and the Causeway. Tourism WA says the bridge is the only hill. Allow about an hour of riding plus stops. The ferry from Mends Street to Elizabeth Quay makes a handy short cut.
- Stops
- Elizabeth Quay's water park, the Point Fraser playground, Heirisson Island (a side trip off the Causeway, with kangaroos and a playground), the Coode Street playground, and cafes at Mends Street.
- Toilets and water
- Toilets and drinking fountains along the way. Bring bottles and refill.
- Trains and parking
- Elizabeth Quay, Claisebrook and Victoria Park stations are near the loop. Parking at Point Fraser, McCallum Park and Burswood Park.
- Hire
- About Bike Hire at Point Fraser has kids' bikes, baby seats, trailers, tag-alongs and family quad bikes. Hours change with the season.
- Watch for
- Busy shared paths at weekends, and the Narrows Bridge path runs beside the freeway.
-
Galup (Lake Monger)
The classic first loop: balance bikes, scooters, kids just off training wheels and trailers. Short enough to do twice.
Facilities
- Route
- A sealed, flat lap of the lake, under an hour even at toddler pace. Trails WA lists it as the Galup Trail.
- Facilities
- Accessible toilets, barbecues, shade, picnic areas and a car park. There's a pump track at the reserve too.
- Watch for
- Dogs and walkers sharing the path. Don't let anyone drink the lake water.
-
Herdsman Lake
Kids about 6 and up for the whole loop. Younger riders can do the 3 km section from Popeye Lake at the north end.
Start, facilities and a toilet warning
- Start
- Heron Place car park at the south end of Lakeside Drive. There are also car parks on Jon Sanders Drive and Herdsman Parade, and at the Discovery Centre on Selby Street.
- Facilities
- Playgrounds, shade, picnic areas, and the Wildlife and Discovery Centres. Trails WA says there are no toilets at the lake, so go before you leave.
- Watch for
- The unsealed parts flood in wet weather. Dogs on a lead.
-
Kings Park
Older kids on the park roads with an adult; little ones in a trailer or on the signed shared paths. There are hills, and there are rules.
Bike rules apply
Where you can ride
- Where
- On the main park roads (40 km/h) and signed shared paths (10 km/h). No riding in the State War Memorial precinct, the Botanic Garden or the developed parkland, according to the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority.
- E-bikes
- 200 watts at most, and nobody under 16 may ride one in the park.
- Bike racks
- At the Rio Tinto Naturescape, May Drive Parkland, the Poolgarla family area, Saw Avenue picnic area, and the Wadjuk and Forrest car parks.
- Watch for
- Cars on the park roads, and some solid hills.
-
Canning River at Kent Street Weir
A short, flat first ride for 4 to 8 year olds, with a cafe and toilets at the start.
Start and facilities
- Route
- Trails WA's Butterflies, Birds and Bridges loop through Canning River Regional Park, starting at the end of Kent Street, about 20 minutes' drive from the city.
- Facilities
- Toilets, a cafe, barbecues, shade, picnic areas, an interpretive centre and a bike rack.
- Watch for
- Snakes in the warmer months. Dogs allowed.
-
Point Walter and the Dyoondalup bike park
A playground-and-pump-track day. Little ones ride the foreshore paths; older kids try the graded flow trails.
Bike park and facilities
- Bike park
- Three flow trails graded green, blue and black, jump lines and a pump track.
- Facilities
- Two shaded playgrounds, toilets, a cafe and kiosk, and barbecues. Parking on Honour Avenue and Burke Drive.
- Watch for
- No dogs in the reserve, according to the City of Melville.
-
Whiteman Park
All ages: short loops round the Village and Mussel Pool for little ones, longer rides for bigger kids, and two train stations.
Paths, trains and wildlife
- Paths
- Nearly 17 km of shared paths link the Village and Mussel Pool, with connections to Malaga and Whiteman Park stations on the Ellenbrook line.
- Rules
- Walkers have right of way, and riders keep their speed down. Dogs on a lead.
- Watch for
- Reptiles sunning themselves on warm paths, and kangaroos on the quieter ones.
-
Lake Joondalup circuit
The full loop is for kids about 10 and up. Younger riders do the western shore from Neil Hawkins Park and turn back.
Start, direction and snakes
- Start
- Neil Hawkins Park: car park, playgrounds, barbecues, toilets and shade. Trails WA suggests riding clockwise. Joondalup station is about 1.5 km away.
- Shorter
- Ride the western shore from Neil Hawkins Park and turn back whenever legs are done.
- Watch for
- Tiger snakes and dugites live here. Reviewers say the north and east sides run beside busy roads with little shade. No dogs at Neil Hawkins Park.
-
Sunset Coast: Marmion to Burns Beach
Kids 8 and up, for a section rather than the lot. Do a car shuffle, or turn back early.
Detour at Ocean Reef Marina
Wind, stops and the detour
- Ride north
- Trails WA says the usual wind makes riding south harder, so start at Marmion and head north.
- Stops
- Cafes, toilets, barbecues and shade along the way, including Hillarys Boat Harbour and Mullaloo.
- Status
- Works at Ocean Reef Marina divert riders via Ocean Reef Road (Trails WA, 12 October 2026).
- Watch for
- It's very busy in the mornings, late afternoons and at weekends. Dogs on a lead.
-
Bibra Lake
Kids on their own bikes from about 5, and trailers. The adventure playground is the reward.
Parking, playground and trains
- Start
- Park on Progress Drive. By train, ride or bus from Murdoch station.
- Facilities
- Toilets, barbecues, shade, drinking water, an adventure playground (open 8.30 am to 9 pm), and a food truck near the south playground entrance.
-
Rockingham foreshore
Families ride a short stretch of the foreshore from the start and turn back. The full Foreshore Flow Trail has hills and suits strong older kids.
Start and facilities
- Start
- The HMAS Derwent gun turret on the foreshore. Park on Wanliss or Weld Street.
- Facilities
- Toilets, cafes, barbecues and shade along the way. Carry your own drinking water.
- Watch for
- Road crossings, and not every beach allows dogs. Trails WA rates the whole trail moderate.
-
Mandurah Bridge Loop
A family day trip. Trails WA allows about 40 minutes of riding, so kids happy on their own bikes can do the lot, with the foreshore to explore after.
Start and facilities
- Start
- The Mandurah Visitor Centre, 75 Mandurah Terrace. The loop crosses the estuary bridge.
- Facilities
- Cafe, toilets, barbecues, shade and bike racks at the start. There's bike hire beside the Visitor Centre; check hours before you go.
-
Railway Reserves Heritage Trail, short legs
Kids about 6 and up who are happy on gravel. Gentle old railway grades, bush, and town-to-town legs that feel like a real trip.
Family legs and summer warning
- Family legs
- Mundaring to Sawyers Valley, 3.8 km; Sawyers Valley to Mount Helena, 2.9 km; Darlington to Glen Forrest, 2.5 km (each one way, from the Shire of Mundaring). The whole network is 59 km; see our WA hub.
- Getting there
- Parking near most of the old townsites; buses 86, 96 and 97.
- Watch for
- Summer heat and fire season: ride early and check the fire danger rating. The Falls Road bridge at Parkerville is being replaced until late 2026, so you walk your bike past it. That isn't on the legs above.
No rides match both. Try "Anyone" or "Anywhere".
Further afield: Rottnest by bike (kids' hire bikes, trailers and baby seats, and no cars) and the Wadandi Track in the South West.
WA rules for riding with kids
Helmets for everyone, footpaths are fine at any age, walkers always come first, and anyone carrying a child must be 16 or older.
- Helmets: every rider must wear an approved helmet, done up. That includes children and passengers in seats and trailers.
- Footpaths: riders of any age may use footpaths in WA unless a sign says otherwise. Ride single file, give way to pedestrians, slow down near children and animals, and use your bell.
- Shared paths: keep left and ring before you overtake. Kids under 12 on scooters, skateboards or trikes count as pedestrians, so riders give way to them too.
- Child seats: the rider must be 16 or over. The seat must be fixed to the frame (not the handlebars), with footrests, a harness the child can't undo and a guard if it's near the wheel.
- Trailers: the rider must be 16 or over, and the passenger must be under 10.
- At night or in low light: a white front light, a red rear light, and reflectors.
- Trains: bikes can go on Transperth trains outside peak times, with limits. Check Transperth's current rules before you plan a ride around one.
Where kids can learn to ride in Perth
Council bike skills tracks, pump tracks, AusCycling's learn-to-ride sessions, and WA Bike Month every October.
- Bike skills tracks: mini road networks with signs, crossings and traffic lights, built for small riders. The Calista track in Kwinana is a 200 m loop for toddlers and preschoolers, with a barbecue and a drinking fountain. Toilets are at the Kwinana Adventure Park next door.
- Pump tracks: at Galup (Lake Monger) and in the Dyoondalup bike park at Point Walter (rides 02 and 06).
- AusBike: AusCycling's learn-to-ride program for 5 to 12 year olds, from training wheels up. Its WA school holiday sessions in July 2026 ran at the SpeedDome in Middle Swan; you bring the bike and helmet.
- WA Bike Month: every October, run by the state transport department. Councils have run family rides and learn-to-ride sessions in past years; check the events calendar.
- At school: the state's Your Move program helps schools with bike education, skills tracks and bike parking. Ask whether your school is in it.
Free printable: ride bingo and ride log
Two A4 pages: a 5 by 5 bingo of things to spot on a Perth path (black swans, ferries, a bobtail, someone who waves back), and a ride log with a sticker circle for every ride.
Five in a row means you choose the next snack stop. Cross out any square that doesn't suit your ride and write in your own.
Free to print and share at home, at school, or in a club or playgroup. Link to this page if you pass it on.
Questions people ask
What are the best easy bike rides for kids in Perth?
For a first ride: Galup (Lake Monger, 3.5 km), Kent Street Weir (4 km) or Bibra Lake (6 km). All are flat loops with toilets and somewhere to stop. Once kids can manage an hour, try the 10.5 km Swan River loop.
Do kids have to wear helmets in WA?
Yes. Every rider must wear an approved, fastened helmet, including children and passengers in seats and trailers.
Can kids ride on the footpath in WA?
Yes, at any age, unless a sign says otherwise. Ride single file and give way to pedestrians.
How much screen time is recommended for kids in Australia?
None under 2, no more than an hour a day for ages 2 to 5, and no more than two hours of screens for fun a day for ages 5 to 17. School work doesn't count.
How much exercise do kids need?
At least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity a day for ages 5 to 17, and at least three hours of activity a day for under-5s. Only 18% of 5 to 17 year olds manage the hour.
What age can a child ride in a bike trailer in WA?
Under 10, with a rider aged 16 or over. Most makers and safety groups suggest starting from about 12 months, once the child can sit up and wear a helmet.
Sources
How we made this guide. We built it from the official sources below, checked on 12 October 2026: trail managers, councils, the Road Safety Commission and national health and statistics agencies. We haven't yet ridden all of these rides with kids, so "who it suits" is our reading of the trail facts. We'll add our own notes and photos as we do. Facilities and works change; check the trail page before you go. If something's wrong or out of date, tell us and we'll fix it.
No commissions. Nothing on this page earns us money.
- Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing: physical activity and exercise guidelines for children and young people (5 to 17) and infants, toddlers and preschoolers (birth to 5) (updated 13 March 2026).
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Children's physical activity, screen time and sleep, National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey 2023 (released 30 June 2026).
- Cycling and Walking Australia and New Zealand: National Walking and Cycling Participation Survey 2025, WA report.
- Department of Transport WA: The declining rate of walking and cycling to school in Perth (2021); WA Bike Month.
- Dhakal R et al. (2022), Time spent outdoors as an intervention for myopia prevention and control in children: an overview of systematic reviews, Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics.
- Road Safety Commission: Bicycle riders (updated 6 February 2026).
- Raftery S, Oxley J, Thompson J, Wundersitz L (2016), Transportation of children with bicycle seats, trailers and other carriers, Centre for Automotive Safety Research, CASR139.
- Trails WA: Galup Trail, Herdsman Loop, Lake Joondalup Circuit, Butterflies, Birds and Bridges Loop, Ride the Sunset Coast, Bibra Lake Loop, Foreshore Flow Trail and Bridge Loop Ride.
- Tourism WA: Urban Bike Explorers: Swan River Loop; About Bike Hire.
- Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority: Kings Park transport options. Whiteman Park: walk and cycle paths. City of Melville: Point Walter Reserve. Shire of Mundaring: Railway Reserves Heritage Trail.
- City of Kwinana: Bike skills track opens in Calista (2023). AusCycling: Learn to Ride school holiday program, WA (2026).