One car can change your whole afternoon. The Motor Museum of Western Australia puts Daniel Ricciardo’s 2014 Red Bull RB10 on public display in Whiteman Park, alongside more than a century of vehicles you can actually spend time with. I also like the sheer scale of the collection: over 15,000 scale models and 200+ cars and motorcycles make this more than a quick look.

You’ll probably enjoy the hands-on parts too, especially the family-friendly interactive activities like Scalextric racing. The one consideration: this is a rules-heavy museum experience (including no touching exhibits), so plan for patience if you’re visiting with kids who want to explore with their hands.

If you want a day that feels both genuinely local and quietly impressive, this is a solid pick in Perth. The museum is open daily from 10am to 4pm, with guided tours at 11am and 2pm, so you can choose your rhythm.

Key highlights worth planning around

• Ricciardo’s 2014 Red Bull RB10: the only winning Formula 1 race car on public display in Australia
• 200+ preserved vehicles: cars and motorcycles stretching from the late 1800s to today
• 15,000+ scale models: the largest scale model collection in Australia and in the Southern Hemisphere
• Hands-on family fun: including Scalextric and interactive activities that keep kids moving
• Local art murals: Western Australian motoring stories painted by renowned local artists

Motor Museum in Whiteman Park: what you’re really signing up for

The Motor Museum of Western Australia is in Whiteman Park, and that setting matters. You’re not just walking through a warehouse of metal. You’re spending your day in a motoring-themed place that’s designed to be relaxed, family-friendly, and easy to navigate—while still packing in serious vehicles.

At the center of it all is a very clear idea: show you the big moments in motoring, then let you connect to them in practical ways. That’s why the big-ticket attraction is so effective. Daniel Ricciardo’s 2014 Red Bull RB10 isn’t just a celebrity name on a poster. It’s a race car tied to a specific era of Formula 1, and it gives you a reference point before you start wandering through the rest of the collection.

Two other things make this feel like more than a typical museum stop. First, you get an enormous amount of content for the price. Second, you can shape the visit to your group. You can go with the guided tour at 11am or 2pm, or you can explore at your own pace. That flexibility is useful in Perth, where weather and energy levels can change fast.

Getting there and finding the entrance fast

You’re looking for the museum’s red Morris Minor at the entrance. It sits outside and has a large sign with the Motor Museum of Western Australia logo—so you shouldn’t have to hunt in circles.

This kind of easy, visual meeting point is underrated. It reduces the stress that can otherwise eat up time when you’re coordinating a family or trying to arrive right before the guided tour.

If you plan to join a guided tour, aim to arrive before the start time (11am or 2pm). That gives you a few minutes to settle in, scan the entry area, and avoid feeling rushed once the tour begins.

The guided tours at 11am and 2pm: best use of your time

The museum runs daily guided tours at 11am and 2pm. Those tours are a great option if you want your visit to feel organized without turning it into a classroom.

Here’s how to use them well:

• If you’re short on time, join a tour and then use the rest of the day to focus on the cars and motorcycles that sparked your interest.
• If you’re visiting with younger kids, a guided start can help keep things moving. You’re basically giving them a path through the museum so the scale doesn’t overwhelm.

Even if you do a tour, you still get to explore at your own pace. The key is that the guided time helps you choose what to spend your attention on afterward—especially if you’re drawn to specific eras or styles of vehicles.

Gallery time: 200+ cars and motorcycles without the rush

Your main attraction is the vehicle collection: over 200 preserved cars and motorcycles, including examples from the late 1800s to today. That spread is what makes this visit interesting rather than just impressive.

Why? Because you start to see how ideas evolve. Early vehicles tell one story; later ones show how the same basic goal—getting from A to B—changes when materials, engineering, and design shift over time. You’re not just seeing objects. You’re seeing progress in motion.

Also, these vehicles are described as beautifully preserved. That matters because it encourages slow looking. You can spend time noticing shapes, details, and the overall feel of each era instead of constantly asking, What am I supposed to be looking at?

The F1 moment: Daniel Ricciardo’s 2014 Red Bull RB10

This is the star you’ll hear about before you even arrive. Daniel Ricciardo’s 3x winning 2014 Red Bull RB10 is on display, and it’s noted as the only winning Formula 1 race car on public display in Australia.

When you plan your day around this, I suggest doing it early. See it near the start, then carry the excitement through the rest of the galleries. After the RB10, it’s easier to spot what different types of engineering are prioritizing—speed and stability in racing, practicality and comfort in road vehicles, and so on.

A small practical note: if your group is especially into racing, give that section extra time. The RB10 draws attention, and you’ll want space to look without feeling like you need to speed-walk.

The scale model hall: 15,000 models that reward patience

Next up is the scale model collection: more than 15,000 scale models, described as the largest collection in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere.

This is one of those museum sections where the value shows up if you’re willing to slow down. Scale models can feel like background at other places. Here, the sheer count and the fact it’s a major named feature means it becomes the opposite of background. It becomes something you can spend an hour with, then still not finish.

How to enjoy models without getting stuck

If you’re traveling with kids or you’re short on time, use a strategy:

• Pick a theme for your quick pass (for example, race cars, specific eras, or one brand you recognize).
• Then go back once your eyes adjust to the scale and you start spotting patterns.

Because this collection is so large, it can be easy to get mentally overloaded. A focused approach keeps it fun instead of exhausting.

Interactive family fun: Scalextric and hands-on moments

This museum isn’t just for people who love looking. It’s built for interaction too.

Families can enjoy interactive activities, including Scalextric racing, and hands-on experiences that encourage you to connect the vehicles to how they work. The description also notes that you can sit in a 1973 Leyland Marina and a Honda Scooter, and that you can watch engines roar to life.

Those specifics matter for planning. Sitting in vehicles reduces the pressure to just look and helps kids feel included. Watching engines start turns the museum into an event, not just an observation.

For adults: why the hands-on pieces still work

Even if you’re traveling solo or as a couple, these parts can add value. They break up the long visual stretches of cars and motorcycles. Plus, you learn how parts function in a way that reading labels can’t always do.

What to watch for

There are strict rules: touching exhibits is not allowed. So consider the interactive areas as your permission to engage, and the rest as a look-but-don’t-touch situation. If your group is the type that taps and tests displays, you’ll have a better day if you set expectations right when you arrive.

Murals by local artists: Western Australia’s motoring story on the walls

You’ll also find murals by renowned local artists that celebrate Western Australia’s motoring story. These aren’t just decorations. They help you connect the museum’s vehicles to the place you’re standing in.

Even if you’re not a painter-person, murals can give your brain a bridge between eras: the vehicles become part of a wider local narrative, not random samples collected from different places and times.

Take a moment to read the mural context as you move through the museum. It’s a quick way to make the whole day feel more grounded in Western Australia.

Planning your day: how to structure a 1-day visit

You’re looking at a valid 1-day experience, with the museum open daily from 10am to 4pm (closed on Christmas Day). The museum is set up so you can do this in a single block without feeling like you’re abandoning key parts.

Here’s a practical way to pace it:

• Start with the guided tour timing if it fits your schedule (11am or 2pm), or start with your must-see attraction first if you prefer self-guided wandering.
• Spend time on the 200+ vehicles before moving to the models—because cars give you the bigger context, and models can then feel like a focused bonus.
• Save the hands-on area for later, once you know where your attention is going. That way, the interactive activities don’t compete with the big vehicle highlights.

A note for people who prefer quiet

There’s no mention of sensory warnings, but the policy is clear that some behaviors are restricted (no smoking, no vaping indoors, and so on). If you’re sensitive to noise, plan to spend your interactive time at a pace that feels comfortable, especially if engines are running in the hands-on zones.

Price and value: is $12 per person worth it?

At $12 per person, this ticket is priced like a “serious afternoon” rather than a splurge. The value comes from the volume and variety you get for that money: 200+ vehicles, 15,000 scale models, guided tours, interactive family activities, and murals—plus the standout RB10.

The biggest reason it feels like good value is that it’s not a one-thing museum. Even if the RB10 isn’t your first love, you can shift your attention to motorcycles, vintage vehicles, the model collection, or the interactive sections. That range matters because it reduces the chance you’ll feel like you paid for a single highlight and nothing else.

Two small cost considerations:

• Food and drinks are not included, so budget for snacks or plan a meal nearby.
• Transportation to and from the museum isn’t included, so your day depends on how you’re getting to Whiteman Park.

Who should book this museum ticket

I’d say this experience is a great fit if you want:

• A Perth outing that’s easy to structure and doesn’t require a long drive to multiple stops
• A mix of big-ticket motorsport history and everyday vehicles
• Something for families that also keeps adults interested

It’s also a good option if you like museums but prefer action: sit-in experiences, Scalextric racing, and interactive activities are part of the deal.

One consideration from the information provided: it’s not suitable for people with a cold. If that’s relevant to your group’s needs, you’ll want to think twice and make other plans.

Should you book? My honest recommendation

Book it if you’re excited by real vehicles, you like automotive history across eras, or you want family-friendly activities that go beyond worksheets and static displays. The combination of Daniel Ricciardo’s RB10, 200+ preserved vehicles, and 15,000 scale models gives you enough to justify a full day, and the guided tours at 11am and 2pm help you avoid wandering aimlessly.

Don’t book if you’re looking for a hands-on museum where you can touch everything. Touching exhibits is not allowed, and this place is built around looking and learning, not experimenting with displays.

If you match that vibe, you’ll likely walk out with two things: a stronger sense of motoring evolution, and a surprising appreciation for how much fun a model collection can be when it’s this large.

FAQ

Where is the Motor Museum of Western Australia?

It’s located in Whiteman Park, Western Australia.

How much is the entry ticket?

The price is $12 per person.

How long can I spend at the museum?

The ticket is valid for 1 day, and the museum is open daily from 10am to 4pm.

What are the main things to see?

You’ll find Daniel Ricciardo’s 2014 Red Bull RB10, over 200 preserved cars and motorcycles, more than 15,000 scale models, interactive activities for families, and murals by local artists.

Are there guided tours?

Yes. Guided tours run at 11am and 2pm, and you can still explore at your own pace.

What interactive activities are available for families?

The museum offers hands-on family fun, including Scalextric racing and other interactive activities. You can also sit in a 1973 Leyland Marina and a Honda Scooter and watch engines roar to life.

Do I need to join a tour to enter?

No. You can explore independently at your own pace, or join the guided tours at 11am or 2pm.

Where do I meet to enter?

Look for a red Morris Minor at the museum entrance. It has a large sign with the Motor Museum of Western Australia logo.

Is the museum wheelchair accessible?

Yes, it is wheelchair accessible.

What’s not included with the ticket?

Food and drinks are not included, and transportation to and from the museum is not included.

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