Australia’s most remote state capital, Perth, plays by its own rules of sun, surf and relaxed urban living.
Perth positively pulses. And why not? – the next closest major city is almost 3000km away. Its laid-back vibe and year-round blue-sky climate contrasts with the more uptight east-coast counterparts over in Sydney and Melbourne. A prosperous mining boom has helped shape Perth into a confident, sports-mad city buzzing with boho style and optimism alongside a rich indigenous cultural heritage and contemporary arts scene.
Discover an outdoor Aussie capital like no other
There’s a lot to love about Perth, and much of the magic happens on or near the water. The Indian Ocean surf beaches exude a bohemian but sporty vibe, with locals living for the sea and the balmy days begging you join to them. The Swan River winds playfully through the city and is the place for ferries from Elizabeth Quay and sunset cruises.
Nearby King’s Park is a colossal botanic garden space three times the size of London’s Hyde Park. Visitors are spoilt for choice with museums and galleries, cultural tours, pubs, cafes and sports stadiums – Aussie Rules football and cricket are big here and you can climb to the roof of the state-of-the-art Optus Stadium. Perth is also a springboard to regional wineries, towering forests with treetop walks and coastal surf towns.
Explore Perth’s Urban and Coastal Locales
Like any good capital city Perth has eclectic suburbs and districts to suit all tastes. Looking for arts, culture and nightlife? Head to Perth’s inner city. Want a stylish hotel with ocean views? Scarborough is the place. Cultural cruising on the Swan River? Get on board at Elizabeth Quay.
Perth City & the Swan River
Central Perth is brash and breezy with a stack of gleaming skyscrapers, museums and the Swan River splitting it from South Perth. This district includes the CBD, the pub and nightlife precinct of Northbridge, and the alternative café scene at Leederville. Elizabeth Quay is the place to catch a public ferry, a sightseeing cruise or even a Venetian gondola.
Kings Park & Around
One of Australia’s largest urban parklands, Kings Park is an awesome green place where you can spend an entire day getting lost. The botanic gardens feature local Western Australian flora – WA is famous for its seasonal wildflowers. North of the park, Subiaco is one of Perth’s most stylish suburbs where Rokeby Rd is lined with cafes, restaurants and boutique shops like a Downunder Champs Elysees.
Fremantle
The historic port of Freo – Walyalup in the local Noongar language – takes full advantage of its glorious waterfront position with direct ferries from the city and out to Rottnest Island. You’ll also find waterside breweries, seafood restaurants and a historic core that balances colonial past with indigenous culture. Many historic 19th-century buildings remain from the convict era and the weekend Freo Market is not to be missed.
West Coast Beaches
The Indian Ocean meets the coast with a foaming crash, creating reliable surf until the Fremantle Doctor (mid-afternoon breeze) blows in. Perth’s favourite stretch of coast is between Cottesloe and Scarborough, the best of a string of beaches linked by a walking and cycling coastal path. ‘Cott’ is the safer family-friendly beach where Sunday sessions belt out from the OBH (Ocean Beach Hotel). Scarborough has a lively surf culture but also a beachside public pool.
Rottnest Island
Cute quokkas and a convict past combine to make Rottnest Island a curious time-warp but most travellers make the short boat journey here for car-free hiking, cycling, beach-hopping or sailing. ‘Rotto’ is easily reached by ferry from Fremantle or Hillary’s and you can hire a bike straight from the ferry terminal and start your island exploration. Spot and take a selfie with a quokka, the approachable and curious native marsupials (Dutch explorers mistook them for rats, hence the island’s name ‘rat’s nest’) – take photos but don’t feed them.
Dive into Perth’s Highlights
Perth City
Perth County
WA Museum Bool Barip: Perth’s newest museum and gallery is an absorbing series of exhibitions exploring Western Australia’s past, present and future, through traditional stories and interactive technology.
Perth Mint: The Gold Tour features a gold pour and the world’s largest gold coin.
Art Gallery of WA: This free gallery in the Perth Cultural Centre in Northbridge is the hottest art collection in town with contemporary and Aboriginal art among well-known 20th-century Australian artists.
Kings Park & Nearby
Perth
Botanic Gardens: Highlights include the 620m Federation Walkway boardwalk, views from the State War Memorial, free volunteer-guided tours, indigenous cultural tours.
Perth Zoo: Across the Swan River in South Perth, the zoo is strong on Aussie wildlife from koalas and dingoes to deadly snakes.
Fremantle
Freemantle
WA Shipwreck Museum: Famous for the Batavia Gallery, telling the story of the 17th-century Dutch wreck. Also check out the big ships at the Victoria Quay Maritime Museum, including Australia II, the yacht that famously won the America’s Cup.
Walyalup Cultural Centre: Indigenous art and workshops down at Bathers Beach.
Fremantle Prison: The foreboding prison tells haunting tales of convicts and executions through various spine-tingling guided tours.
Scarborough & Cottesloe
Redcliffe Peninsula
Aquarium of Western Australia: You don’t need to scuba dive to see marine life from all along WA’s coastline; the aquarium is at Hilary’s north of Scarborough.
Surf schools: Learn to surf or hire a board at one of the beachside surf schools in Scarborough or Trigg.
Spend the Night in Perth
Perth has accommodation aplenty, in all price ranges. You can bed down in a flashy central city high-rise or be lulled to sleep to the sound of the waves in Cottesloe or Scarborough, but expect to pay a premium for the best locations. Northbridge and Leederville are late-night entertainment districts with plenty of budget hotels and backpacker joints, and Fremantle has some pricey B&Bs in historic buildings.
Kangaroo Inn
The name may be a bit corny but this central Perth backpacker place is jumping with tidy dorms, private rooms, a theatre and the Quokka Arms pub next door.
Great Southern Hotel
In fashionable Northbridge, Great Southern is a reliably clean and quiet midranger, close to the entertainment and dining scene, but with an inhouse restaurant too.
Mercure Perth
Savour the city and river views from the rooftop pool, hit the gym or dine in style at the Mercure in the heart of Perth’s CBD.
Downtown Backpackers Hotel
Brits and international travellers enjoy the laid-back East Perth location, clean dorms and kitchen at the Downtown.
Perth Price Guide
Perth was once considered an expensive city by Australian standards, but it more than gives Sydney and Melbourne a run for their money. Parks, beaches and many galleries are free.
Meal in a midrange restaurant – A$20-35
Café breakfast – A$12-25
Barista coffee – A$5
Hostel dorm bed – A$40-60, apartment hotel from A$200
A pint in a pub – A$10-15, cocktail in Northbridge A$18+
Zone 1 on Transperth bus, train or ferry A$3.40, full-day unlimited travel A$10.30
Perth ticks all the boxes for an awesome Aussie adventure – beaches, history, its Aboriginal heart and the vast Australian outback on the city’s doorstep. It’s an unforgettable adventure in its own right – without the crowds and congestion of east-coast cities – and a launching point for the West Coast, Australia’s lesser-travelled ‘other side’.
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