The best West Australian museums to visit during the summer holidays

Aviation Heritage Museum

Bull Creek

If you think you are not that into planes, think again, because a quick tour around this museum can start to unleash some previously dormant plane-spotter leanings. Highlights include the F-18 Super Hornet and a virtual reality tour which takes visitors on a WWII nighttime bombing mission from inside a Lancaster Bomber, flying from an airfield in Nottinghamshire into the heart of Europe. It’s open every day of the week and adult tickets are $17.50, kids under 16 are just $9, and under fives are free.

Bilya Koort Boodja

Northam

This excellent cultural centre tells the story of the Nyoongar people of the Nyoongar Ballardong region. With interactive displays and historical artefacts on loan from the WA Museum, it is a great starting point when exploring the Avon Valley area. The centre is open from 9am to 4pm every day. Entry for adults is $12 and children are $6.

Old Central Fire Station Heritage Centre

Perth

If you have a kid with a fire engine obsession, get them to this heritage museum. There are plenty of trucks to gawp at, fire equipment to play with and lots of interesting history for the grown-ups to read and yell: “Listen to this bit, it’s important! No! Don’t touch that! Get down from there! This was supposed to be educational!” The centre is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and the first and third Saturday of every month from 9:30am to 2pm. Entry is free.

Tractor Museum

Whiteman Park

There are a number of really fun museums at Whiteman Park and it’s hard to pick a favourite — but how can you go past tractors? There are nearly 40 tractors here, including a 1920 Fordson, a 1923 Bailor cultivator and a Swedish HSCS crawler. Plus there is a tractor kids can climb on. Open Wednesday and Friday (10am to 3pm) and Saturday and Sundays (10am to 4pm), entry is $5 for adults, and free for under-16s.

Railway Museum

Bassendean

If you are looking for WA’s biggest collection of heritage steam locomotives, then stop at this station. There are diesel trains, steam trains, passenger carriages and other things that roll along tracks dating back to the 1800s. You’ll be in trainspotting heaven. They are usually open Wednesdays and Sundays, with adult entry $12 and kids $5. Check their website at railheritagewa.org.au to make sure they are open before heading down.