There is endless fun to be had in the City of Cockburn even on a cold, winter day. You may know where to go when the sun is shining—like one of our stunning beaches or pristine wetlands—but what about when the weather is less than ideal?
Never fear. Cockburn is home to world-class recreation facilities, with options to turn to when it’s cold and raining outside. Here are suggestions for five fun-filled options in Cockburn when you would prefer to spend more time indoors than outdoors.
Cockburn ARC is Cockburn’s premier aquatic and recreation facility, but did you know it offers plenty of options to escape a chilly day? Both the 25-metre indoor and 50-metre outdoor pools are heated, plus there’s a warm pool and spa, and sauna and steam room to sweat it out. While you’re in your bathers, and visiting on a Friday or weekend, the ARC’s famous waterslides are open for those ready for an adrenaline hit. That’ll get the blood pumping!
You’re already dressed for the cold, so why not visit Perth’s top-tier ice skating centre? Cockburn Ice Arena boasts the state’s only full Olympic-sized rink and offers more than 20 public sessions to choose from each day. The rinks may be chilled to an icy 10°c, but after a hectic session on the ice, warm up by the fire in Cabin 401 Bar & Grill and enjoy mouthwatering Aussie American cuisine while watching ice hockey or figure skating on the sports rink. Poutine anyone?
Nothing beats cozying up with a good book indoors to escape the winter blues. Cockburn Libraries have three suburban libraries you can visit in person—Coolbellup, Spearwood and Success—but if you want to stay home, they also offer an excellent eLibrary service for borrowing eBooks, eMags, audiobooks, games, and more! You need to be a member of the library and you can sign up on the Cockburn Libraries website. During the school holidays, each library releases a program of fun and educational workshops and events for school-aged children, which you can discover on the Latest News for Kids blog.
If you're interested in history, the heritage-listed Azelia Ley Homestead and Museum located in beautiful Manning Park, Hamilton Hill is worth a visit. Built between 1920 and 1923 for Azelia Ley (nee Manning), the homestead and museum gives a glimpse into the life of a prosperous settler family living in the Cockburn district. With a vast collection of items such as furniture, clothing, photographs, paintings, toys, memorabilia, historical artefacts, and farm machinery, visitors can understand how people lived, worked, and played during this period.
The museum is open on Sundays from 1.30-4.30pm, and on Wednesdays during school holidays from 10am-1pm. For more visit our history website.
Fashion, food, and fun await at Cockburn Gateway located in the heart of Cockburn Central. The shopping and lifestyle destination has enough choices to keep you entertained when it’s just too cold to be outside. Indulge in some retail therapy at one of the centre’s diverse range of stores and once you’ve worked up an appetite, enjoy a meal with friends or family at one of the delicious dining options available.
If you’re a Cockburn Gateway Kids Club member you’ll receive access to exclusive experiences and be the first to know about upcoming activities, special offers, competitions, and more. There’s heaps of fun to be had during the winter school holidays!
Every school holiday, the City of Cockburn hosts many fun and educational events and workshops for young people aged two to 17. Visit events and workshops for more information or to register.
If you want to be one of the first to find out what’s on during the school holidays, sign-up to the City’s events eNews