At a glance
- Launch
- Sunday 1 November 2026: Santa arrives at 12pm, with the train open from the same day
- Sessions
- Thursday to Sunday through November, about 30 minutes each, free; 9am to 3pm Thursday to Saturday and 11am to 5pm Sunday
- Who it’s for
- Children aged 4 to 10 for the interactive sessions; bookings are only required for the craft activity
- Where
- Karrinyup Shopping Centre, 200 Karrinyup Road, Karrinyup WA 6018
- Parking
- More than 4,800 bays; multi-deck height limit 2.2m; the centre’s page does not state parking charges
- Public transport
- Stirling Station, then a bus to the centre’s bus port, less than 100 metres from the centre
- What to do now
- Book the craft sessions on the Karrinyup website (booking opened 9am Thursday 22 October); if you only want to look, the train can be explored without a booking at the times the centre advertises
- Last checked
- Saturday 31 October 2026, against the Karrinyup and City of Stirling event pages
- Not yet confirmed
- The daily times when the train is open to everyone outside booked sessions (the centre says they are advertised separately) and parking charges
The Polar Express at Karrinyup is free, runs Thursday to Sunday through November, and opens with a Santa’s arrival event at 12pm on Sunday 1 November. Karrinyup Shopping Centre says the activation is a 20-metre train built with Warner Bros. Global Experiences, and that it is “strictly limited to November”. All times here are Perth time (AWST, UTC+8); Western Australia does not use daylight saving.
This guide is based on the centre’s own pages for the activation, Santa’s arrival, Santa photos, opening hours and parking, plus the City of Stirling’s event listing, all read on Saturday 31 October 2026. OZ Local Updates did not visit the centre.
What is The Polar Express at Karrinyup?
According to Karrinyup, the centrepiece is a 20-metre-long train that sets up a Christmas scene inspired by the story. Children and families can step aboard for a session of about 30 minutes that includes interactive storytelling, “nostalgic moments” and a guided Christmas craft workshop. Each child makes a festive piece to take home. The City of Stirling lists the same event on its events calendar, calling it a free session of storytelling and a Christmas craft to take home, with free sessions through November.
The centre describes it as a debut for Perth and says it is only at Karrinyup this Christmas season. It does not say how many people fit into each session, only that places are limited for each one.
When are the sessions and who can join?
The centre gives these details on its Polar Express page:
| Item | What Karrinyup says |
|---|---|
| Launch | Sunday 1 November 2026 |
| Days | Thursday to Sunday throughout November |
| Times | 9am to 3pm Thursday to Saturday; 11am to 5pm Sunday |
| Length | About 30 minutes per session |
| Ages | The interactive sessions are designed for children aged 4 to 10 |
| Cost | Free, bookings required |
| Bookings opened | 9am Thursday 22 October |
| Location | Karrinyup Shopping Centre |
One detail on the page is easy to miss: “Bookings are only required for those participating in the craft activity.” The page also says that during booked sessions, access to the carriages is reserved for people with a valid booking.
Do I need a booking, and what if I miss out?
You need one to take part in the craft sessions. The centre’s page carries a “Join the waitlist” link for the activation, and its Christmas page has a “Book your journey” link, so check the Polar Express page directly for what is still available rather than relying on this guide. Karrinyup says places are limited for each session.
If you only want to see the train, the centre says no booking is needed. Outside booked session times, families can step inside, look at its design details and make up their own story-time adventure. They can walk through the carriages, imagine a journey to the North Pole and take a family photo. General access is available only at advertised times when sessions are not operating, “including selected late afternoons and evenings”, and the centre asks you to check the daily access times before planning your visit. Those daily times were not on the pages we saved.
What happens on Sunday 1 November when Santa arrives?
Karrinyup’s Santa’s arrival page says Christmas begins at the centre at 12pm on Sunday 1 November, with the launch of The Polar Express at Karrinyup. Gather from 11:45am at the train, on the Ground Floor near Cotton On. The centre says to arrive early to secure a good viewing spot. After the arrival, families can follow Santa in a parade to the Santa Experience, Ground Floor near The Coffee Club.
| Time | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 11:45am | Arrive early for Santa’s arrival | Ground Floor near Cotton On |
| 12:00pm | Santa’s arrival | Ground Floor near Cotton On |
| 1:00pm | Santa photos begin (must book, tickets limited) | Ground Floor near The Coffee Club |
| 2:00pm | Exclusive screening of The Polar Express at HOYTS (must book, tickets limited) | HOYTS Karrinyup |
| 2:30pm | Our Lady of Good Counsel School choir | West Deck, on the Main Lawn |
| 7:00pm | Amore Music & Performing Arts troupe | West Deck, near the Giant Tree |
The centre adds that as the sun sets you can see the lights of what it calls Perth’s tallest Christmas tree, and that The Polar Express projections will light up the West Deck. Both are the centre’s description; we have not measured the tree.
What about Santa photos and the $10,000 draw?
Santa is at Karrinyup from 1 November to 24 December 2026, in Centre Court near The Coffee Club, according to the Santa photos page. Photo sessions must be booked. The centre lists three kinds:
- A standard Santa photo.
- Pet photos, for a photo with Santa and your pet.
- Sensitive Santa, a quieter, slower, sensory-friendly session run in partnership with Autism Association WA.
The centre says that if you book a Santa photo and have it taken by 4 December, you enter a draw to win a $10,000 travel voucher. Terms and conditions apply and are set out on the centre’s page. To reschedule, use the “re-schedule” link in your booking confirmation or reminder email; the centre says rescheduling is subject to availability.
How do I get to Karrinyup, and where do I park?
Karrinyup is at 200 Karrinyup Road, Karrinyup, and says it is 13km from the Perth CBD. Its parking page says there are more than 4,800 car bays, with undercover parking and valet parking. The car parks are reached from four roads:
| Entrance | Notes from the centre |
|---|---|
| Karrinyup Road | West Multi-Deck Car Park, best for The West Deck and The Fresh Market, when travelling eastbound |
| Jeanes Road | New intersection with Karrinyup Road for the West Multi-Deck Car Park when travelling westbound; valet access |
| Francis Avenue | East Multi-Deck Car Park, best for The Cafe Terrace and The Loop |
| Davenport Street | East Multi-Deck Car Park; open-air parking is also reached from Davenport Street or Burroughs Road |
The West Deck, where the Main Lawn and the Giant Tree are, is closest to the West Multi-Deck Car Park, according to the centre. The multi-deck car parks have a vehicle height limit of 2.2m; taller vehicles can use the open-air parking. The page does not state any parking charge, so check the signs on arrival.
By public transport, the centre says the closest train station is Stirling Station, where a range of bus routes stop at the centre’s dedicated bus port, less than 100 metres from the centre. Plan the trip on the Transperth journey planner. Taxis and rideshare drop off at Main Street in The West Deck, or at the Customer Lounge on Level B1 of the East Multi-Deck Car Park.
When is the centre open, and what else is on in November?
Karrinyup’s opening hours page gives the regular centre hours below. Retailers’ hours can differ.
| Day | Centre hours |
|---|---|
| Monday to Wednesday | 9am to 5:30pm |
| Thursday | 9am to 9pm |
| Friday | 9am to 5:30pm |
| Saturday | 9am to 5pm |
| Sunday | 11am to 5pm |
The centre also runs a First Class Lounge on Thursday to Sunday, 12pm to 4pm, on the Fashion Loop, Level One, outside Sephora, every week in November from Sunday 1 November. To enter, spend $200 or more at participating retailers in a single day, present your receipts and complete the entry form; entrants must be 18 or older and show valid ID. The centre says you then get a glass of Mandoon Estate wine. Outside bar hours, it says the lounge is open to customers to relax in: 9am to 5pm Monday to Wednesday, and before 12pm and after 4pm Thursday to Sunday. Terms and conditions apply.
For other stores and parking details, see our Karrinyup new stores guide.
Who do I contact?
Karrinyup Shopping Centre lists the phone number 08 9445 1122 and the email hello@karrinyupcentre.com.au on the City of Stirling’s event listing. For Santa photo bookings, the centre points to Scene To Believe customer support through the chat box on its page.
Sources
- Karrinyup — The Polar Express at Karrinyup (checked 31 October 2026)
- Karrinyup — For The Love of Christmas (checked 31 October 2026)
- Karrinyup — For The Love of Santa’s Arrival (checked 31 October 2026)
- Karrinyup — For The Love of Santa Photos (checked 31 October 2026)
- Karrinyup — First Class Lounge (checked 31 October 2026)
- Karrinyup — Parking information (checked 31 October 2026)
- Karrinyup — Location and parking (checked 31 October 2026)
- Karrinyup — Opening hours (checked 31 October 2026)
- City of Stirling — The Polar Express at Karrinyup (checked 31 October 2026)
Featured image: A Christmas tree near Sapporo Sushi at Karrinyup (photo: Orderinchaos / CC BY 4.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Karrinyup Shopping Centre, the GPT Group or Warner Bros. Session times, bookings and parking can change; check Karrinyup’s website or call the centre on 08 9445 1122 before you go.