Perth Tourist Guide

Your tourist guide for Perth provides you with the essential travel resources to plan your holiday!

Discover Perth: Australia’s Sun‑Kissed Capital of Coastlines, Culture & Endless Blue Skies

Perth is where Australia’s laid‑back beach lifestyle meets cosmopolitan energy, all wrapped in more sunshine than any other state capital. With an incredible 3,000 hours of golden light each year, this west‑coast gem invites you to slow down, breathe deeply, and savour a city where nature and urban sophistication blend seamlessly.

Within just 30 minutes of the city centre, you can sink your toes into powder‑soft sand, wander through tranquil bushland, sip award‑winning wines, and watch the Indian Ocean melt into the horizon in a blaze of colour. Perth is a rare capital city where the great outdoors isn’t an escape—it’s a way of life.

Beaches That Feel Like Your Own Private Paradise

Stretching along the coastline are 19 pristine, uncrowded beaches—each with its own personality. Iconic Cottesloe Beach tempts with its turquoise shallows and relaxed seaside charm, perfect for long swims and sunset picnics. A little further north, Scarborough pulses with surf culture, lively foreshore dining, and rolling waves that draw board riders from around the world.

Whether you’re chasing calm waters, surf breaks, or a quiet patch of sand to call your own, Perth’s coastline delivers the quintessential Australian beach experience.

Getting Here Is Part of the Adventure

Perth is effortlessly accessible, with regular flights arriving from international hubs, every Australian capital, and many regional centres. Touch down and you’re just 20 minutes from the heart of the city.

For travellers who love the journey as much as the destination, Perth offers unforgettable alternatives. Ride the legendary Indian Pacific rail across the continent, embark on an epic Nullarbor road trip beneath vast desert skies, or cruise the sun‑drenched coastline during the summer months. Every route to Perth feels like a story waiting to be told.

Kings Park: A Green Sanctuary Above the City

Perched beside the sparkling Swan River, Perth is a living postcard—its skyline framed by water, parklands, and endless blue. Nowhere captures this beauty more completely than Kings Park and Botanic Garden, one of the world’s largest inner‑city parks and even bigger than New York’s Central Park.

Across more than 400 hectares, you’ll find sculpted gardens, sweeping lawns, and untouched bushland rich with native flora. Wander the treetop walk for panoramic views, join an Indigenous cultural tour to connect with ancient stories, or simply picnic beneath towering gum trees. In spring, the park bursts into colour as wildflowers bloom in spectacular displays found nowhere else on Earth.

Iconic Sights & Cultural Treasures

Just a short stroll away, the Swan Bells—one of the largest musical instruments in the world—fills the air with its resonant chimes. From here, free city buses whisk you to Perth’s cultural heartland, home to museums, art galleries, and the historic Perth Mint, where you can marvel at the world’s greatest collection of gold bars.

Style, Shopping & Urban Energy

Perth’s retail scene is as diverse as its landscapes. King Street is the city’s high‑fashion enclave, lined with luxury boutiques and designer labels. The Murray and Hay Street malls offer big‑brand favourites, while nearby neighbourhoods—Northbridge, Mount Lawley, Leederville, Subiaco and Victoria Park—buzz with eclectic shops, indie designers, and creative energy.

A Taste of Perth: Fresh, Local & Full of Flair

Perth’s dining scene celebrates the region’s incredible produce, from ocean‑fresh seafood to world‑class wines from the Swan Valley and Margaret River. Enjoy a lazy riverside lunch, sip cocktails at a chic small bar, or dine beachside as the sun sinks into the Indian Ocean. The city’s chefs blend global influences with local flavours, creating a vibrant culinary landscape that feels both relaxed and refined.

Views Worth Crossing the River For

For one of the most breathtaking perspectives of Perth, hop on a ferry to South Perth. As you glide across the water, the skyline rises in shimmering blues and silvers. By night, the city transforms into a glittering reflection on the river—an unforgettable sight and the perfect finale to a day exploring Australia’s sunniest capital.

EventON Calendar

Perth Tourist Information Centre

Perth is one of the best cities in Australia for quick escapes — within just a couple of hours you can be swimming in turquoise bays, sipping wine in world‑class regions, hiking dramatic coastlines or exploring ancient landscapes. Here are four curated weekend getaway ideas from Perth, each with a ready-to-go 2‑day itinerary so you can choose your vibe and hit the road.

1. Rottnest Island — Beaches, Bikes & Quokkas

Best for: relaxation, cycling, wildlife
Travel time: 25–45 min ferry

Day 1 — Bays & Bikes

  • Catch a morning ferry from Fremantle or Perth.
  • Rent bikes and cycle to The Basin, Pinkies Beach, and Little Parakeet Bay.
  • Lunch at Hotel Rottnest.
  • Afternoon snorkelling at Little Salmon Bay.
  • Sunset at Wadjemup Lighthouse.
  • Overnight on the island (cabins, glamping, or hotel).

Day 2 — Quokkas & Coastal Loops

  • Early walk to meet the famous quokkas.
  • Explore the West End for rugged cliffs and blowholes.
  • Optional: boat tour or underwater scooter experience.
  • Ferry back to Perth in the afternoon.

 

2. Margaret River — Wine, Forests & Surf

Best for: foodies, couples, nature lovers
Travel time: 3 hrs south

Day 1 — Wineries & Forest Drives

  • Drive to Margaret River with a coffee stop in Busselton.
  • Visit Vasse Felix or Leeuwin Estate for tastings.
  • Lunch at Voyager Estate.
  • Explore the Boranup Karri Forest.
  • Check into a forest chalet or boutique stay.
  • Dinner in Margaret River town.

Day 2 — Caves & Coastline

  • Tour Ngilgi Cave or Mammoth Cave.
  • Head to Surfers Point or Hamelin Bay (look for stingrays).
  • Lunch at a local brewery (Cheeky Monkey, Colonial).
  • Scenic drive back to Perth.

 

3. Lancelin & Pinnacles Desert — Sand Dunes & Alien Landscapes

Best for: adventure, photography, short trips
Travel time: 1.5–2.5 hrs north

Day 1 — Lancelin Sand Dunes

  • Drive to Lancelin for sandboarding or a 4WD dune tour.
  • Lunch at a local café.
  • Swim at Lancelin Beach.
  • Continue to Cervantes for the night.

Day 2 — Pinnacles at Sunrise

  • Visit Nambung National Park for the Pinnacles Desert — sunrise is surreal.
  • Breakfast in Cervantes.
  • Optional: visit Lake Thetis (stromatolites).
  • Drive back to Perth by early afternoon.

 

4. Mandurah & Peel Region — Dolphins, Waterways & Relaxed Coastal Vibes

Best for: families, chilled weekends, water activities
Travel time: 1 hr south

Day 1 — Canals & Cruises

  • Arrive in Mandurah for brunch by the marina.
  • Take a dolphin cruise through the estuary and canals.
  • Afternoon kayaking or paddleboarding.
  • Dinner at a waterfront restaurant.
  • Overnight in Mandurah or Dawesville.

Day 2 — Beaches & Nature

  • Morning at Town Beach or Avalon Beach.
  • Explore Yalgorup National Park (lakes, birdlife).
  • Lunch in Falcon or Wannanup.
  • Easy drive back to Perth.

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