Perth takes a while to get to. Located on the West Coast of Australia, means more travel time from the large cities on the East Coast. The flight takes approximately 4 to 5 hours and from Melbourne and Sydney on the East Coast.
The city of Perth has a laidback feel. No one seems to rush like they do in sceney Sydney. An additional drawcard of Perth is the closeness of the beaches to the city, providing a coastal and natural lifestyle.
Another notable feature of Perth is how clean the city is! Perth seems well maintained with care, supporting the natural feel of the area.
I visited Perth from Melbourne in July, right in the middle of Australian winter, and was not dissapointed! Perth had mild weather conditions (compared to Melbourne!). The beach side warmth of the sun confirmed the attractive lifestyle of the city.
Let’s get to it. Here are my 10 best things to do in Perth, Australia.
Fremantle
Fremantle is a sweet, relaxed part of Perth, a 20 minute drive from the CBD. Visiting ‘Freo’ is one of the best things to do in Perth, Australia. A lovely area to wander through on a sunny morning, taking in record stores, boutique shops, and historic buildings.
I had my morning coffee from Hush Specialty Coffee, a great way to start the day. Highly recommended!
Taking a metro train south from Perth city is an easy and fun way to see the smaller suburbs on the way out to Fremantle. Highlights in Fremantle include: Esplanade Park, a well maintained park next to the fishing harbour. The ferris wheel and kids playground are located here for fun over summer.
Bathers Beach House is a top spot for dinner, drinks or lounging outside gazing at the stunning sunset.
It’s clear that the history of Fremantle is mainly in docks and shipping. The HMS Challenger arrived off the West Australian coast near Swan River in 1829 and formally ‘took over’ the land.
In 1829, Captain James Stirling sailed from England to establish Perth’s Swan River Colony. The port community was given the name “Fremantle” by Stirling in honour of Captain Fremantle, the HMS Challenger’s captain.
Fremantle has well maintained, beautiful buildings, gardens and streets. Its easy to imagine its history as you wander the streets, even with the influx of newer stores and restaurants.
Perth Beaches
Perth beaches are cleaner than other big city beaches and there are a lot to choose from. Mostly located on the north coast of Perth, the beach culture is a main draw card of visiting Perth. Visiting these beaches is one of the best things to do in Perth, Australia.
Scarborough Beach
Scarborough Beach in Perth is charming. A gorgeous beach 20 mins drive north, with a line of shops close to the water. You’ll see ice cream and coffee shops and a clean and empty (in July) long stretch of stunning beach.
Taking a bus to Scarborough from Perth CBD is an easy way to see the inner suburbs of north Perth. The Transperth timetables can be found here.
City Beach
City Beach is situated inside Cambridge, a seaside stretch in Perth. There is plenty to choose from for food and drinks from the fancy restaurants and bars in this area.
Although City Beach is on the quiet side it’s a small but popular beach. In summer the Surf Life Saving Club are patrolling the area.
Cottesloe Beach
Halfway between Fremantle and Perth CBD is Cottlesloe beach, another popular beach destination in Perth.
Cottesloe Beach stretches more than a kilometer and is one of Perth’s favoured spots for swimming, snorkeling and surfing.
When the beach is not busy, you can dive from a floating bell into the clear ocean. Perfect for gazing upon the the sun as it sets over the Indian Ocean.
In March the ‘Sculpture by the Sea’ transforms Cottesloe Beach into an outdoor art gallery. Sculptures created by Western Australian artists are displayed along its shoreline.
Where To Eat In Perth
There are many dining options in Perth, Australia. From low key, beach side bars or fancy restaurants in inner Perth. Please note to book ahead in peak seasons.
Here is a list of recommended places I ate at in Perth:
Balti Indian
Balti Indian is a totally delicious and high class Indian restaurant, located in inner Perth. The service is great, and food delicious with menu items including a wide range of curries, sides and tasting plates. Highly recommended!
Public House
Public House is charming, well located and the food is very delicious. The menu has a number of South American flavors, the staff are friendly and the atmosphere is relaxed and fun.
UMA at the Sheraton
The high class Peruvian cuisine at UMA at the Sheraton is a novelty and the service and food is exceptional. I couldn’t get enough of the potato sides and linguine with prawns.
Rottnest Island
I visited Rottnest Island for half a day during our stay in Perth. Rottnest is a remarkable place to see. Even in the off season, visiting this island is one of the best things to do in Perth, Australia. Typical activities on Rottnest Island include snorkeling, swimming, surfing and bike riding.
The green/blue of the sea, the natural surroundings and dining options are all top reasons to visit Rottnest. I took a ferry from Fremantle and wasn’t disappointed.
See more on Rottnest Island HERE.
Best Sunset Locations In Perth
Scarborough Beach
One of the best free things to do in Perth, Australia is to visit the stunning sunset locations. Scarborough Beach has a beautiful beach sunset in North Perth not to be missed if you’re in the area late afternoon, or early evening.
Hillarys Boat Ramp
Hillarys Boat Ramp is one of the many North Perth beaches that has wide landscape with incredible sunsets.
Fremantle
Bathers Beach House in Fremantle is a beautiful spot for one of the best sunsets in Perth. Grab a beach chair and watch the sun drop with a drink and some bar food under the sparkling lights.
Lesmurdie Falls
Watch the sunset at Lesmurdie Falls, by driving up the road from the carpark and watch from your car. Alternatively take a 5 min walk, sit on the platform next to the falls and soak up the golden light.
This is a stunning location to relax. Idyllic with the waterfall beside you, city in front of you and the neighborhood hills surrounding you.
Art Gallery Of Western Australia
I visited the Art Gallery of Western Australia on a rainy day in Perth. Discovering the free exhibitions here were one of the highlights of my trip, especially seeing the many indigenous artists represented.
The gallery is within the inner city arts precinct, and was fairly quiet on a weekday in July. I happily wandered through, finishing the afternoon with coffee at the Gallery cafe.
The Art Gallery of Western Australia was supposed to be a library. Instead, the first stone of the gallery was laid in 1901, shortly after Australia’s federation.
Website
Open 10am-5pm, Daily
Closed Tuesdays, Good Friday and Christmas Day
Snorkeling
The gorgeous clear water in Perth is enough to draw snorkelers from all parts of the country. Here are some top spots to try when snorkeling in Perth.
Mettams Pool is a great spot for snorkeling in Perth. This protected bay has a rock formation that creates a ring around the pool, making it calm and protected. You’re bound to see colourful fish ranging in all sizes, with marine life living among the reef.
Rottnest Island has an incredible array of marine life. Sleep with the fish (from a safe distance) and swim with sharks, rays, and turtles at Rottnest Island’s stellar snorkeling spots.
Snorkeling and diving are located only 75 metres from the sea wall of Hillarys Boat Harbour. You’ll have an epic time swimming around these reefs and see a great range of marine life.
The Coogee Maritime Trail is Western Australia’s first underwater trail. The trail is located 25 metres from the shore. It begins at the Omeo shipwreck, an artificial reef with underwater art sculptures around it creating a linear dive trail.
Perth Bars
Tucked away underneath the old 1907 on Queen Street, Caballitos has some of the best drinks in the area. Buy a lagerita and some tacos to end the day.
The story behind Helvetica is one of Perth’s best secrets. Hidden behind a sliding door, you’ll find a vast whiskey selection that has been curated over the years.
Bob’s Bar at Brookfield Place is a lovely airy, open space. It has an extensive menu of craft beers, ciders and cocktails. The bar is well stocked with quality spirits and serves a variety of delicious house made non alcoholic cocktails.
Wildlife
West Australia not only offers stunning beaches, but also some of the best wildlife in the world. Here are some of the standout wildlife to see while you’re visiting Perth.
Quokkas
Quokkas are found on Bald Island and Rottnest Island. They’re also present in pockets of the south west corner of Western Australia, particularly near Northcliffe.
Thanks to their friendly and peaceful nature, you can cuddle up to one of these cuties if you wish!
On Rottnest Island, they simply hop over and present themselves to be patted or cuddled by visitors. Some private reserves also have quokkas on site as pets.
Dolphins
Dolphins are a common sight in Perth. The best time for dolphin watching is September to May, when you might spot them in Swan River, Sorrento or Ocean Reef.
You could take a trip from Perth to Monkey Mia for WA’s iconic dolphin interaction experience. Or alternatively join one of the many dolphin tours out of Perth to Rockingham, Mandurah or Bunbury.
Sea Turtles
If you are snorkelling through the coral gardens of the Ningaloo Marine Park, you will likely see sea turtles.
The loggerhead turtle is the most endangered species of sea turtle in the world. You can find some of their major breeding sites in the Coral Coast. Turtle Bay area, Shark Bay World Heritage Area, Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area and Muiron Islands off Exmouth.
Stingrays
Hamelin Bay is a town in Western Australia, known as a home of a unique underwater stingray experience. The Hamelin Bay Stingrays have become a major drawcard to this area, who now attract more than 40,000 visitors annually.
Penguins
Penguin Island is a tiny island off the coast of Rockingham, part of the Marine Park of Shoalwater Islands. With the Boardwalk Trail, it’s easy to get around and spend time watching the Little Penguin colony at their nests.
Surfing
With more than 12,000km of coastline, WA is home to some of Australia’s best surf breaks and most secluded beaches. From Rottnest Island to the rugged waves of the southwest, here are some of the best surf spots near Perth.
Rottnest Island
Surfers on Rottnest are normally able to sniff out a quiet break they can enjoy all to themselves.
Scarborough Beach
Perth’s beachside suburb of Scarborough is the place to go when you want to enjoy the city’s laidback vibe. The long golden stretch of sand is a hot spot for surfing, windsurfing and kite surfing.
Fremantle
More experienced swimmers usually head for Coogee Beach or Fremantle Port Beach to catch a wave.
Conclusion
Whether you are visiting Perth for a short or long trip there are plenty of things to do in this beach-side city. I hope this list of best things to do in Perth, Australia has assisted in planning your next trip. My personal choice would be to prioritize the gorgeous beaches if only visiting for a couple of days.
I’d love to hear your top experiences when visiting Perth!
