Our 10 top things to do in Perth include Kings Park And Botanic Gardens; iCity Kiosk Walking Tours; Perth Mint; Swan Valley Food and Wine Trail Scenic Loop; Out And About Wine Tour; Fremantle; Captain Cook Cruise; Sunset Coast Self Drive Tour; and The Little Ferry Co. Swan River Cruise.
In our opinion, Perth is a perfect holiday destination. Firstly, Perth is renowned as Australia’s sunniest capital city. Secondly, there simply is many top things to do in Perth. Yes, Perth has far more on offer than is listed in this post. Nevertheless, by limiting the list to 10 items, the hope is we will whet your appetite to visit Perth.
Perth stole our heart on our very first visit in 2006. On that occasion we only spent one week in Perth and surrounds. Even so, this jam packed week was simply great fun.
When travelling around the north of Western Australia we made the decision to apply to be house sitters. To our surprise we were offered a number of house sits. We were so lucky to be accepted to do our very first house sit in Perth.
Including our time house sitting, we spent a month all up in Perth. This gave us an ideal opportunity to really explore this wonderful city.
Please note: This post contains NO affiliate marketing. Our comments and recommendations about things to do in Perth are solely based on our personal experiences.
10 Top Things To Do In Perth – Our Recommendations (In No Particular Order):
1. Kings Park and Botanic Gardens – For Spectacular Views and Gardens.
Kings Park and Botanic Gardens is a must. The views over Perth and the Swan River are a delight. The War Memorial stands on the bluff of Mt Eliza. As a consequence, the Cenotaph adds a spectacular dimension to the skyline looking over Perth. For these reasons, we were keen to return to Kings Park and Botanic Gardens on our second visit to Perth .
After visiting the Cenotaph area we enjoyed wandering through the 17 hectares of the Western Australian Botanic Gardens. These gardens are the largest display of Western Australian wild flowers in the world (no surprise I guess). Importantly, there are regional displays for every region of Western Australia.
Western Australia is renowned for their wildflowers. As a result, many tourists visit in spring to see these famous wildflowers. Importantly, Kings Park and Botanic Gardens offer an easy option to see lots of the regional wildflowers, all in one location.
We were lucky to see the abundance of wonderful spring blooms. They were simply stunning. And, we recommend a walk along the tree top suspended bridge. From this elevated position there are wonderful views over the gardens and city.
Travel tip: Travel to Kings Park by the free bus service from the Perth city centre.
Cost: Free.
2. iCity Kiosk Walking Tours – Discover The City of Perth.
We are big fans of walking tours.Wherever we go we look for walking tours. And the iCity Kiosk free guided walking tours did not let us down. We enjoyed two tours- The 90 minute orientation tour and the tour of Perth’s Town Hall.
The iCity Walking Tours are located in the Murray St Mall, in the city centre. The volunteers share local knowledge and give great tips throughout the tour. Due the efforts of the volunteers we learnt a lot about Perth. Also, we visited sections of the city we otherwise would not have. Therefore, we highly recommend these tours.
The photos above are of the historic buildings in Perth’s city centre. Because Perth is a modern city, the feature image more accurately depicts the cityscape.
Travel Tip: Another way to see the Perth city centre is to catch the TransPerth CAT buses. They are a great way to travel around the free transit zones.
Cost: Free
3. Perth Mint – Enjoy A Guided Heritage Tour & A Traditional Gold Pour.
Enjoy a guided heritage tour of the Perth Mint. On this tour you will visit the original heritage premises; the Guinness World Record Australian kangaroo one tonne gold coin; the 1899 melting house; plus exhibitions and shopping opportunities for gold, silver and jewellery.
Perth Mint
In our opinion, the traditional gold pour demonstration was the best. This is a live demonstration. However, as I accidentally bumped the camera settings, I have no photos of the gold pour.
Cost: $19.00 per person, concessions available.
4. For Food & Wine Lovers: A Visit To The Swan Valley Food & Wine Trail Scenic Loop Is A Must.
The Swan Valley is only 16 km from Perth. We enjoyed the many delights of the 32 km Swan Valley Food And Wine Trail scenic loop. There are over 40 wineries, plus restaurants, cafes, and breweries, chocolate, nuts, honey, fresh produce… Add galleries, and I’m sure you get the picture. In other words, there is heaps to enjoy.
Our first house sit was located on the edge of the Swan Valley. As such, I bet it is no surprise to hear we saw quite a lot of the Swan Valley!
Cost: Self drive expenses.
5. Enjoy An “Out And About Wine Tour” In The Beautiful Swan Valley.
We love wine tours. Apart from the wine tastings, the food, the scenery, there is the fun company a wine tour offers. Besides, we do not have to drive. And, the Out And About Wine Tour did not let us down. To sum up, we really enjoyed a fun filled full day tour.
Cost of full day tour: $115.00 per person
6. For History Lovers – A Visit To Fremantle Is A Must.
Fremantle is 30 minutes South West of Perth. It is a city full of history and charm.
Fremantle is a popular tourist destination. So much so, we have visited Fremantle several times. It’s a city we love to return to. Each visit we always find something different to enjoy.
As many of you will know, we are history lovers. And Fremantle has lots of interesting history and great museums. We recommend you visit the Maritime Museum, the Shipwreck Museum, The Round House, and the Army Museum of Western Australia, the Old Fremantle Prison. Needless to say, we spent ages at these great museums.
Make sure you visit the Fremantle Port. This is a fully operational and busy Port, with lots of interesting sights to see. Likewise, the Fremantle waterfront precinct is another hive of activity. Check out the all the large boats! Or, have a meal at the Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour.
And, for a little shopping, check out the quirky shops and the E-Shed Markets.
After all that, take a tram ride around the Fremantle. The stunning historic buildings are a delight to see. The majority of these old buildings are in excellent condition. Clearly, I couldn’t resist taking lots of photos of these beautiful buildings.
Costs:
Travel expenses (train, car, cruise options). For $9.00 you can have unlimited travel on the trains for the full day – including travel between Perth and Fremantle.
- Round House (once the old Fremantle Goal / Jail) – by donation
- Western Australian Maritime Museum – $15.00 per person, concessions available
- Western Australian Shipwreck Galleries – by donation
- Army Museum Of Western Australia – $8.00, concessions available
- The Old Fremantle Prison – free. Tours individually priced.
7. Captain Cook Cruises – For Stunning Scenery Along The Swan River Between Perth and Fremantle.
Captain Cook Cruises offer a range of cruises along the Swan River.
Yet, for us, we couldn’t resist a repeat Captain Cook Cruise to Fremantle. We did this cruise in 2006. Even so, it was just as good the second time around.
We again loved all the sights along the beautiful Swan River and into the Port of Fremantle.
We spent the day exploring Fremantle. Then, we returned to Perth by train, which was a cheaper option. Obviously we saw different suburbs of Perth on this return trip.
Cost: Cruise one way – $40.00 per person. Return by train – around $7.40 per person.
8. Enjoy A Sunset Coast Self Drive Tour In Perth.
We enjoyed a Sunset Coast Self Drive Tour. This drive is over 50 km in length and all within metropolitan Perth.
What we discovered is Perth has a pristine coastline. For instance, the beaches have beautiful powdery white sand and breathtaking turquoise coloured water.
Sit on one of the beautiful beaches and watch the sunset over the Indian Ocean. Western Australia is renowned for it’s to die for sunsets. Likewise, Perth sunsets will not let you down.
Cafes and restaurants are dotted along the coastline, many overlooking the beautiful beaches. On the other hand, you might prefer to visit a marina, or enjoy family fun entertainment facilities along the way.
Interestingly, there are large FREE car parking areas immediately behind all the beaches. As a consequence, there are no parking problems here! So, good one Perth!!!
Cost: Self drive expenses.
Below are more details about some of the destinations along the Sunset Coast Self Drive Tour.
For Beach Lovers: Visit Perth’s Iconic Cottesloe Beach.
The beautiful Cottesloe Beach is said to be the oldest and most popular beach in Perth. Needless to say, this was our favourite beach. Come here to swim, surf and snorkel. Plus, the Cottesloe Beach is only 15 minutes from the Perth City Centre.
For Coffee Lovers: The Esplanade Cafe Strip Scarborough Beach
Scarborough Beach foreshore area has undergone major reconstruction and is a great area to visit. You will find great cafes and restaurants along the Esplanade Cafe Strip. As a consequence, we found this a popular area. We were lucky to visit a couple of times.
Travel Tip: There are lots of holiday accommodation options at Scarborough Beach.
For The Family: Visit Hillarys Boat Harbour.
Come to Hillarys Boat Harbour and enjoy leisure and adventure activities.
This is a great place for families. For example, visit the Aquarium and the underwater glass tunnel. Inspect all the boats moored in the marina. Enjoy the water slides, rides, and mini golf… This is just some of what is available for families to enjoy.
We simply enjoyed lunch overlooking the water – along with many others. Generally, this is another popular destination.
Cost: Aquarium $18.00 per person
10. Take a Beautiful Swan River Cruise On The Little Ferry Co.
Take a scenic cruise on a small, solar electric ferry with the Little Ferry Co. We boarded the ferry at Elizabeth Quay and went to Claisebrook Cove. To clarify, this is a completely different route to the other cruise we went on.
Sitting on this small ferry was novel in itself. Plus, we enjoyed wonderful views of the city of Perth, including the Perth Stadium and Crown Casino Perth.
If you wish you can simply hop on and hop off this ferry. Most importantly, there are only 11 seats available on the ferry. I said this ferry is small! Therefore, we recommend you book a seat.
Cost: Varies, dependent on the number of stops. A single stop costs $14.00 per person and the maximum return trip is $38.00 per person.
For Other Top Things To Do In Perth – We Also Recommend You Visit:
- Rottnest Island – Take a ferry to explore this island paradise just offshore from Perth
- Swan Valley River Cruise and Wine Tasting Day Trip From Perth
- The Bell Tower, Perth – check out the bell chiming demonstrations
- Guildord, in outer Perth. The whole town is heritage listed
- Serpentine National Park for bush walks and a waterfall
- Avon Valley – Western Australia’s first inland settlement (day trip)
- The Pinnacles – limestone formations within Nambung National Park. (day trip)
- New Norcia Benedictine Community – Australia’s only Monastic Town (stay overnight)
- Margaret River, a famous food and wine destination (This is an minimum 2 night visit)
We have visited everything on the list above. A follow up post about day trips from Perth will soon follow.
In Conclusion, There Are Plenty Of Top Things To Do In Perth.
Perth is a great city and gets a big thumbs up from us. In our opinion, Perth offers plenty of great, diverse tourist attractions.
In our list of top things to do in Perth you will find several of Perth’s best known tourist attractions. Alternatively, we have added a few less known attractions for you to consider. Many of these are free or not overly expensive.
Perth is a modern, clean city and is easy to get around. We found driving the best way to get around the suburbs. To get into the city we found the trains the best option.
We highly recommend Perth as a tourist destination, If you haven’t been to Perth, we recommend you put it on your bucket list.
Please Note: Prices listed in this blog post are merely a guide. The prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
We’d love to hear your thoughts. Please join in the conversation and leave a comment.
Perhaps you might like to follow us on Facebook and Instagram, where more fun stuff happens.
Wishing you happy and safe travels
From Estelle & Greg – Retirees Enjoying Travel.
Wow! What a fabulous read! I enjoyed all of your photos, so perfectly laid out and eye-catching – wonderful! I like the idea of a full day tour – so much to see. Sounds like great value. There’s so much information here that I might return for another read. I have Pinned it too.
Thanks so much Georgina for your comment and positive feedback, which is all so very much appreciated. I had fun posting the photos and I am pleased to hear you found them eye catching. And yes the full day tours are so much fun.Thanks also for pinning this post – again all very much appreciated. Enjoy a great day 🙂
Many thanks, Estelle, for a fabulous and comprehensive tour of Perth! I went there 50 years ago and can see I am due for a return visit. I really enjoyed the photos and all the great tips about what to see and do in and around Perth. I will certainly save this post for future reference to ensure we get the most we can out of our visit to Perth.
Thank you so much Roz for your comment. Yes it is time for you to return to Perth! I bet you would be surprised how much Perth has changed. In fact, I’m curious what Perth would have looked like 50 years ago? I glad to hear you enjoyed the photos and tips about what some of what is available in Perth. I hope the post will be a helpful future reference.:)
What wonderful memories you’ve brought back for me Estelle. I haven’t been to Perth in years but your post has made me long to return. It’s such a gorgeous city. Wonderful post.
Thank you Miriam for your comment. I am so pleased to hear my post bought back wonderful memories of your time in Perth. It sure is a lovely city.
We have been to Perth three or four times and always loved it. The wildflowers in Kings Park are fantastic.
Thanks Lyn for your comment. I would love to visit Perth more often. And yes the wildflowers in Kings Park are spectacular 👌
Excellent post Estelle. Sounds like a fabulous place to visit — food, wine, history, beach — who could ask for more?!? Lovely photos to illustrate the great things to do.
Thanks Christy for your comment. Yes,Perth sure has many of our favourite things to do. No wonder we recommend Perth. And who knows. Maybe one day you may visit?
I’ve heard lots of good things about Perth – so much to see and do. I think I’d particularly enjoy a trip to Fremantle to explore all the history.
Thank you Karen for your comment. I think you very probably would really enjoy both Perth & Fremantle. Both have a lot for visitors to see and enjoy 😀🤗
Just added more reasons to travel to here! Such a great read with all the lovely photos too.
Thanks Seema very much for dropping by and leaving a comment. There is no doubt Perth is a great city to visit. And I’m so glad you enjoyed the photos 👍👍👍😀😀😀
Fantastic travel guide and photos! Thank you for sharing. You two managed to fit in a lot of sights during your one-month stay in Perth. A nice advantage house sitters have is to be able to immerse oneself into a region. The wine tasting tour looks fun and tasty.
I took a train across the country once, when I was 25, and truly enjoyed my short visit in Perth that time, many years ago. I fondly remember the beautiful beaches, the snorkeling by just walking into the ocean, and the most amazing sunsets. And, I’ve lived and sailed for eight years well after that visit. 🙂
Perth is also the place where bought my last film camera and where I found a travel mate to explore some of the outback with, while car camping. Incredible.
Hi Liesbet and thank you for your comment. It is so interesting to read you have travelled so extensively in Australia & enjoyed time in Perth. I can imagine you snorkelling just off the beach. I agree the beaches and sunsets are truely incredible. And house sitting was an exceptional opportunity, as it gave us the time to really explore the Perth region 😀
Fabulous post and photos Estelle. Perth is on our list and now I have 10 reasons why we should go there 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts.
Hi Debbie and thanks for your comment. We totally recommend you visit Perth. It is such a wonderful city & I’m sure you will find plenty to enjoy whenever you visit. 😀
I’m saving this one Estelle! I’ve never really spent any time in Perth (well not since I was about 19) and we really should make this a holiday destination in the next few years. I particularly like the idea of visiting the winery area nearby and also Fremantle is somewhere I’ve always wanted to go! Just thinking- might be a good idea for a winter escape one year. Perth would have to be warmer than Melbourne! Great photos too!
Hi Jenny & thanks for your comment. I’m guessing you will love Perth. It is such a beautiful city. Yes a winter escape sounds a great idea. I’m certain the winter weather will be far kinder than Melbourne’s. Fremantle is a must! And no doubt you will enjoy visiting the food & wine trail in the Swan Valley. Given you enjoy visiting wineries I think Margaret River is a must do too. But you will need to add several more days (at least ) to your holiday, to really enjoy such a visit. 👍😀