Those who travel through Western Australia will certainly end up in the capital city at some point during their trip. Perth is a city of over two million inhabitants. We stayed for over three months in Perth and to be honest, it is certainly not one of our favourite places in Western Australia. However, it is also a shame to skip. Perth is located on the west coast of Western Australia and is a perfect base for taking all kinds of day trips. Moreover, it is the most remote city in Australia. It’s also the city with the most sunshine hours compared to other major Australian cities.
In addition, Perth is very large and therefore, it is useful to know what the best things to do in Perth are. Looking for the perfect combination of city life and laid-back surf vibes? Perth is the perfect place for you. This capital of Western Australia is friendly, welcoming, laid back and still has enough hustle and bustle to keep all the rich businessmen in town happy.
There is no doubt about it; both in and around Perth there is plenty to do!
TRAVEL TIP: Before going on an amazing day trip in Perth, leave your belongings secured at mindmybag’s luggage storage locations in Perth.
- The Landmark of Perth: Kings Park
- City Parks in Perth
- Wine Tasting in the Swan Valley
- Things to Do in Perth: Chilling at the Beach
- Shopping in Perth CBD
- Visit Fremantle
- Take the Boat to Rottnest Island
- Kangaroo Spotting on Heirisson Island
- The Best Neighbourhoods
- Swan Bells
- St. Georges Terrace
- WA Maritime Museum
- Perth Zoo
- Town Hall
- Perth Mint
- Burswood Entertainment Complex
- Perth Cycle Trails
- Perth’s Culture Centre
The Landmark of Perth: Kings Park
The skyline of Perth may not be as impressive as the skyline of New York, Hong Kong or Sydney, but it is still impressive. When you cross the Swan River from the centre of Perth (CBD) you have a beautiful view of the skyline. But the best view is from Kings Park. Kings Park is the place to barbecue on nice summer days. You can use public barbecues, as in many other places in Australia – just to chill out and enjoy the view. On one side you can see the city, on the other side you have a nice view of the Swan River that flows right through Perth. In addition, in Kings Park, you will find a botanical garden.
Yes, there are many fun things for families to do at Kings Park and Botanic Garden, including having a picnic under the trees at Saw Avenue Picnic Area, playing on the playground, and taking in the sights and sounds of the park at Rio Tinto Naturescape Kings Park.
City Parks in Perth
Not only Kings Park is a great place in Perth to gather and enjoy the beautiful weather. Perth is an incredibly green city and boasts several fine city parks. Tourist favourites are Shenton Park, Hyde Park, Queens Garden, and Herdsman.
Take advantage of City of Perth Parking’s 3-hour free parking on weekends and go explore the city however you like. All of your retail therapy, weekend brunch, and ramen fixation needs can be met within walking distance of these three convenient parking garages.
The parking lot of the CPP Cultural Centre, 2 Roe Street, Northbridge
Parking lot reserved for His Majesty, 377 Murray Street, Perth
Perth, Western Australia, 87-89 Pier Street, CPP Parking Garage
The parking lots will provide you three free hours at no cost, and then they’ll start charging you after that.
Wine Tasting in the Swan Valley
If you like good wines and beautiful scenery, then the Swan Valley is the place to be. Although the wines here cannot match those from Magaret River (a little further south in Western Australia), this is one of the more popular wine regions in Western Australia. As such, locals like to congregate here on the weekends.
The best Swan Valley wine tours and tastings can be found at these locations. Perth Vintage Limousines, Swan Valley Wagon Tours, Alavant Tours, Swan Valley Wine Tours, and Top Gun Tours
Things to Do in Perth: Chilling at the Beach
One of the things you should do in Perth is visit one of the beautiful beaches. Perth is located on the beautiful Perth sunset coast and from the centre you are within no time on one of the beautiful beaches. Favourites include Cottesloe Beach (one of the busiest, but also one of the liveliest beaches), Scarborough Beach with many entertainment venues near the beach, and City Beach. In Australia, you can spot many strange animals, so it’s not surprising that the beaches sometimes sound like a shark warning. Sharks are not strange in Western Australia, but this does not seem to deter anyone. As such, every beach has a lifeguard and alarms in the water that are triggered when a shark is nearby.
Yes! Swimming is extremely safe in Western Australia. The majority of Australia’s residential beaches are monitored by surf lifesavers and have quiet, protected seas and extremely contemporary amenities.
Shopping in Perth CBD
For anyone who loves to shop, there is Perth CBD, the city’s Central Business District. Here you will find the famous chain stores and you’re really in the centre of Perth. Every Friday night during the summer months there is a lively market where you can eat real Dutch pancakes. Do you prefer smaller boutiques to big chains? Then Subiaco is the district in Perth where you should be.
Great keepsakes from Perth include works of printmaking, fabric art, painting, weaving, sculpture, and rock engraving that pay homage to Australia’s rich Aboriginal heritage. For fantastic examples of creative artwork, have a look in these Perth gift shops: Art Space Japingka.
Visit Fremantle
South of the city of Perth lies the super hip and laid-back suburb of Fremantle. It is the place where backpackers flock to and where you can visit all kinds of markets during the summer months. Fremantle is located right on the beach and is mega cosy. Crazy about special beer? Then pay a visit to the Little Creatures brewery in the harbour and try different types of beers.
For its convenient location, Fremantle is a great place to spend your vacation. The city of Fremantle is ideal for strolling. Most of the city’s best attractions are conveniently located within walking distance of each other. Fremantle’s proximity to other popular Western Australian attractions is another perk.
Take the Boat to Rottnest Island
Okay, it doesn’t belong among the Perth sights, because you have to travel a bit for it, but if you’re in Perth a visit to Rottnest Island should not be missed. Rottnest lies about 20 kilometres west of Fremantle and can be reached after about half an hour by boat. The beaches here are breathtakingly beautiful, but the biggest attraction is the cute quokkas you’ll see everywhere. Rent a bike or put on your good walking shoes and enjoy a great day out.
There is a strict no-pets policy on Rottnest Island and its surrounding waters because the island is classified as an “A” class reserve.
Located 19 kilometres off the coast of Perth, this is a popular holiday and day trip location. The island of Rottnest, just 19 kilometres off the coast of Perth, is a popular tourist and day trip destination. The island is easily accessible, taking only 12 minutes by plane or 2 hours by boat to reach.
Kangaroo Spotting on Heirisson Island
Anyone travelling to Australia will want to spot kangaroos. And while this is not very easy in a big city, there is one place to go. Heirisson Island is located in the Swan River and is a small city park. Several kangaroos live here and with a little luck – they are well hidden when it is warm – you can spot them. So this was the first time for us that I saw kangaroos.
Free admission is offered to a gated part of the island where kangaroos can be seen; however, visitors are not permitted to feed the animals, and dogs are also not permitted inside the enclosure. Our family of four had a great time on the 20- to 25-minute stroll around Heirisson Island.
The Best Neighbourhoods
Perth is a huge city and is divided into several neighbourhoods, all with their character. The real centre is the CBD (Central Business District) where you will find many high-rise buildings. In our opinion, the best neighbourhoods are Northbridge – here you will find many hostels – and Leederville. And those who go a little further south should not miss Fremantle, of course. This hip coastal town is worth a visit.
Swan Bells
From the outside, it is not immediately apparent what the Swan Bells are. The clock tower at Barrack Square houses a set of eighteen bells housed in a remarkable sort of tower. Fourteen of these bells come from St. Martin in the Fields church in London’s Trafalgar Square. The Swan Bells tower is over eighty-two meters high and has about six floors with an observation deck at the top where you can look out over the river and the city.
Barrack Square is home to the Bell Tower in Perth’s central business district. We have conveniently located a short distance from the city centre on Barrack street, near the river, and are easily accessible by the Blue Cat bus.
St. Georges Terrace
Parallel to the river, this main street of the business district runs through the centre. Many interesting streets like Barrack Street, Victoria Avenue, and William Street side streets of St. Georges Terrace. The most attractive thing about this street is the choices of some good to very good restaurants and terraces.
Tours of St. George’s Terrace should be reserved in advance to avoid disappointment. If you cancel your Tripadvisor tour reservation at least 24 hours before it begins, you will receive a full refund.
WA Maritime Museum
On Victoria Quay is Perth’s Western Australian Museum. The collection consists mainly of geological, ethnological, and biological subjects. Permanent exhibits include the history of Western Australia, including dinosaurs and diamonds and parts of the Moon and other planets. History on culture and people, and an exhibit on animals. In the Discovery Centre, there are several experiments and workshops to follow which will certainly be an educational experience for children.
Perth Zoo
For both young and old, visiting a zoo remains a fun pastime. The Perth Zoo is a zoo that consists of three zones: the Australian Walkabout, the Asian Rainforest, and the African Savannah. In addition to several exotic species such as orangutans, Sumatran tigers, and elephants, there are many indigenous animals. For us, these are very special. The park is neatly laid out and maintained thanks to a few hundred volunteers.
There is no limit on the number of people who can visit the Zoo, just like there is at other parks. Guests get more than 2 square meters of personal space at the Zoo, thanks to its open layout and expansive 19-hectare size.
Town Hall
With its outstanding Victorian appearance and its location on the highest point of Perth, no one will pass by this beautiful town hall. The building was built around 1869 to a design by Richard Roach Jewell and James Manning. Today, Perth’s Town Hall is a sought-after venue for weddings, events, and parties. You’ll find this town hall on the corner of Hay and Barrack Street.
Tables, parking, chairs, location, dance floor, wet weather cover, and a third-party provider are all available through Perth Town Hall for your event.
Perth Mint
This 1896 building was placed to convert gold into coins. Especially after the ‘gold fever’ it was important to turn it into a means of payment as soon as possible. Besides a branch in Perth, one was also placed in Sydney and one in Melbourne. To this day, gold and other precious metals are processed in this building. The history and craft of processing can also be found here. There are several exhibitions to visit and you can come up with your creation.
Tours of the Perth Mint are available daily from 9 AM to 5 PM. Perth Mint will not be open on the following national holidays: New Year’s Day, Australia Day, Anzac Day, Good Friday, Christmas Day, or Boxing Day.
Burswood Entertainment Complex
Right on the Swan River is this Burswood Entertainment Complex. The unusual-looking building is a canopy for a casino, many restaurants, bars, luxury hotels, a convention centre, a nightclub, and a very large theatre, among other things. Several business partners and developers have gone deep into the budget for this huge complex of fun.
The hotel does not accept any guests under the age of 18 unless they are accompanied by a parent or guardian. When visiting Burswood Entertainment Complex, you can rest assured that your safety and security will be prioritized.
Perth Cycle Trails
This is one of the best free things to do in Perth if you’re trying to save some money. The breathtaking sunsets and picturesque beaches have already been mentioned. It would be a shame not to take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy the sights and sounds of the coast while pedalling. Great for cyclists, this path is littered with signage that provides background on the local flora, animals, and history.
Many visitors come to see Marmion Marine Park, Burns Beach, and Hillarys Boat Harbour. Hillarys is well-known for its cafes, family-friendly swimming beach, and stores, while the nearby Marmion Marine Park is ideal for snorkelling. Beautiful natural shorelines and breathtaking vistas are woven together at Burns Beach. You can easily find a place to hire a bicycle in Scarborough if you don’t have one of your own. Biking along the South Perth Foreshore is a fantastic way to get some fresh air and take in the cityscape.
The city of Perth encourages the use of bicycles and has an extensive network of cycle and dual-use lanes. The majority of metropolitan bicycle merchants stock accurate bike maps, and many waterfront routes have prominent signage directing riders to their destinations.
Perth’s Culture Centre
With so many fascinating possibilities, you may be wondering where most of the action is in Perth.
The Perth Culture Centre has just received a major refurbishment, making it a vibrant hub for music, art, food, entertainment, festivals, and an excellent example of Perth’s free offerings.
Please join us for an evening of music, delicious food, and informative talks on environmentally friendly gardening techniques. Francis Street and William Street Monday through Friday, business hours are from 9 AM – 5 PM.
Neither the Art Gallery of Western Australia nor the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art charge admission. Some galleries may charge admission depending on the nature of the exhibitions housed there.