![Kings Park, best attractions in Perth](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/Destinations/Oceania/Australia/Perth/perth-GettyImages-163630565.jpg?imwidth=680)
The 16 best things to do in Perth
From inner-city bush trails to contemporary art, there are so many attractions to explore and discover in the Western Australia capital
![Kings Park, best attractions in Perth](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/Destinations/Oceania/Australia/Perth/perth-GettyImages-163630565.jpg?imwidth=680)
Perth city is full of things you don’t expect to find – so long as you know where to look. There’s a 750 year old boab tree that is expected to live to be 2000. There are friendly kangaroos on an island beside the CBD. And there’s a rooftop cinema hidden atop a carpark. Many of Perth’s most enjoyable pursuits are found outdoors, be it strolling through native bushland, joining an urban walking tour, cruising the Swan River or meeting famous, fuzzy quokkas who’ll smile for Rottnest Island selfie with you. Allocate a few days in Perth and use the following as your hit list for the best things to do.
For further Perth inspiration, see our guide to the city and its best hotels, restaurants, nightlife, beaches and things to do. If you're planning a longer trip, see our ultimate itinerary for a two-week holiday in Western Australia.
Find things to do by area
City Centre
Float down the river on a cruise
The best way to ogle Perth’s astonishing wealth is via the Captain Cook Cruises half-day Swan River ferry trip. Boats stream lazily past mega-mansions – that of Australia’s richest woman, mining magnate Gina Rinehart, is usually pointed out. Did you know Perth is home to more self-made millionaires per capita than anywhere else in the world? As well as opulent mansions, look for dolphins playing in the waves.
Insider tip: I book friends on the one-way trip to Fremantle, getting off at the eclectic port town for a wander around before taking the train back to the city (or vice-versa). Sit on the right hand side of the ferry as you depart Perth city for the best views.
Contact: captaincookcruises.com.au
Nearest metro: Train to Elizabeth Quay station, walk to Barrack Street jetty
Price: ££
![Captain Cook Cruise, Perth](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/Destinations/Oceania/Australia/Perth/perth-GettyImages-605856620.jpg?imwidth=350)
Go bush while you’re still in the city
A trip to Perth without visiting Kings Park and Botanic Garden is a bit like going to New York City and not wandering through Central Park. Perth's patch of green is larger than its Big Apple equivalent. Don’t expect to see the fiery hues of autumnal leaves though – its native Australian bush is non-deciduous, boasting shades of khaki green year-round. Fraser Avenue, lined with white trunked, sky-scraping trees grants beautiful views of the city and Swan River.
Insider tip: Join locals picnicking around the war memorial’s manicured lawns and don’t miss the 750 year old boab tree. It travelled nearly 2,000 miles from its Kimberley home. Free, guided walks are a good way to look and learn.
Contact: bgpa.wa.gov.au
Nearest metro: Free bus to Fraser Avenue (37, 25, 103, Green CAT)
Price: Free
![Kings Park, Perth](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/Destinations/Oceania/Australia/Perth/perth-GettyImages-1358156909.jpg?imwidth=350)
See the city with a local
Engaging, informative, fun walking tours are hard to come by, so the Two Feet and a Heartbeat tours, set up by two local guys, won me over. The guides are full bottle on new bar openings, urban developments and local history – even locals learn things. I rate their historical tour of Perth. Called the Perth Arcades & Laneways tour, it weaves in street art and Aboriginal culture to the city’s laneways, little known nooks and crannies and heritage buildings you may otherwise miss.
Insider tip: If you're portside, the Fremantle Convicts, Culture & Street Art tour stops at stacks of swashbuckling, historical venues including its Unesco World Heritage listed prison. From the city centre, The Fromage Walking Tour indulges all things cheesy, kicking off at an atmospheric, family-owned spice and dry goods store.
Contact: twofeet.com.au
Nearest metro: Perth Central Train Station
Price: ££
Spy friendly kangaroos
You don’t have to go far to find kangaroos in Perth. A collective of female roos reside on Heirisson Island, an oval of land in the middle of the Swan River at the eastern end of the city centre. Yet most locals aren’t even aware they’re there. Accessed via The Causeway bridge, their fenced sanctuary is on the isle’s south-western side.
Insider tip: If you go early in the day, or around sunset, you’re almost guaranteed to spot them grazing in the wetlands or grasses. They’re friendly, so you can gently approach them – some don’t mind being patted and are happy to be photographed.
Contact: parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/site/heirisson-island
Price: Free
![Heirisson Island, Perth](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/Destinations/Oceania/Australia/Perth/kangaroo-perth-free-things-to-do-guide.jpg?imwidth=350)
While away a few hours at Cathedral Square
Cathedral Square is my favourite Perth precinct. There’s the City of Perth Library, St Georges Cathedral, the elegant COMO The Treasury hotel, and a mass of bars and restaurants set within the heritage State Buildings. I order sharp Italian fare at Post, playful sharing dishes in Petition Kitchen and volunteer for mouth burn from Long Chim Perth’s Thai street food. Petition Beer Corner is a lively craft beer hub. Expensive fine-dining Wildflower nails West Australian indigenous flavours.
Insider tip: Order the cold brew martini Poole’s Temple, a sultry bolthole hidden in a basement opposite the library. The cocktail has got a spicy ginger twist that sets it apart.
Contact: cathedralsquare.com.au
Nearest metro: Bus to St Georges Terrace (multiple services); train to Perth central station
Price: £-£££
![Petition, Cathedral Square, Perth](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/Destinations/Oceania/Australia/Perth/perth-petition-SHOTBYTHOM-0002101.jpg?imwidth=350)
Get your art fix
There’s an awful lot jammed into the Perth Cultural Centre: cafés attract hungry urbanites, while the revitalised WA Museum Boola Bardip (it reopened late 2020 after a new, A$400M (£230) space was constructed around existing heritage buildings) and Art Gallery of Western Australia act as bookends. Down the painted stairs is PICA, The Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, which is worth a look. The pedestrian zone is serviced with free Wi-Fi and leads to Perth's Central Train Station.
Insider tip: Across from the gallery is the Urban Orchard, a city garden of leafy greens, herbs and more, that everyone can pick and eat. It often hosts night markets and events, as well as a lively alfresco bar during festival season (January-March).
Contact: perthculturalcentre.com.au
Nearest metro: Train to Perth Central Train Station or bus to William Street (Blue CAT)
Price: Free
Stroll through Elizabeth Quay
Named after the late Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth II, the $440M (£252M) riverside entertainment area of Elizabeth Quay includes a water fountain park lined with palm trees, 1.5km of riverside walkways, a ribbon-like pedestrian bridge, short-stay boat moorings and a playground. Treat yourself to a scoop at Gusto Gelato or head to tri-level tapas bar The Reveley by sunset –level two does relaxed fine dining with wrap-around city views.
Insider tip: For something different, Little Ferry Company's cute, electric water taxis can take you on an river exploration of the indigenous Whadjuk people's culture, with commentary, a simple sightseeing loop, or even a twilight cruise.
Contact: developmentwa.com.au
Nearest metro: Train to Elizabeth Quay Station; bus to Elizabeth Quay Bus Station
Price: Free-££
![Elizabeth Quay, Perth](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/Destinations/Oceania/Australia/Perth/elizabeth-quay-perth-attractions-guide.jpg?imwidth=350)
Shop produce like a local
Craving crisp lettuce? Eager for just picked apples? Searching for nitrate-free bacon? More than 45 stalls at Mt Claremont Farmers' Market are manned by those who grow the produce and make the goods. The offering extends beyond fruit and veg, seafood and meats to artisan cheeses, handmade breads, French pastries and cut flowers. The lettuce truck, which always sells out early, also has masses of fresh herbs. If you’re in town at Christmas time, the Perth Hills stonefruit is particularly good.
Insider tip: Arrive close to opening for the best produce and grab breakfast while you’re there.
Contact: mtclaremontfarmersmarket.com.au
Price: £
Watch cult films on a rooftop
I love shooting six floors up to a land of astro turf, retro caravans, palm trees and garlands of lights. Rooftop Movies affords excellent views of the city by night and a luscious dive into cult classic films – think Grease, North by Northwest, The Big Lebowski and Dirty Dancing. They also screen recent releases and box office hits as well as niche and indie flicks.
Insider tip: The entry is well hidden; if you’re not driving into the Roe Street car park, pedestrian access is off James Street, the colourful, somewhat bombastic entertainment drag in Northbridge. Go down the white corridor and look for the two lifts on the right.
Contact: rooftopmovies.com.au
Nearest metro: Perth Central Train Station
Price: £
![Rooftop Movies, Perth](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/Destinations/Oceania/Australia/Perth/rooftop-movies-things-to-do-perth-guide.jpg?imwidth=350)
Discover the city's arty alleys
Some of the world’s most respected street artists have been engaged to colour Perth’s laneway walls and nondescript buildings. Through the annual Public program, hundreds of local and international artists have had their way with the city’s overlooked and forgotten spaces, breathing life into shadowy spots and adding a much-needed layer of grit to Perth’s polished surfaces.
Insider tip: The murals, by big names such as Belgium’s Roa, Milo Manara from Italy and Maya Hayuk from the United States as well as local star, Stormie Mills, are best seen on foot, with the help of this free map.
Contact: streetsofperthwa.com/map
Price: Free
![Street Art, Perth City Centre, Perth](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/Destinations/Oceania/Australia/Perth/perth-street-art-perth-free-things-to-do-guide.jpg?imwidth=350)
Feast on street food
Each Monday, dozens of food trucks park along Beaufort Street at the Inglewood Monday Night Market, a 10-minute drive north-east of the city centre. For locals, it’s a fun, convivial event that gets them out of cooking, while for travellers, it’s a window into local life and an antidote to the many restaurant closures on a Monday. Head to the strip between Eighth and Eleventh Avenue, where the trucks cluster, from October to May.
Insider tip: Expect to pay about AU$10-AU$15 (£5-£8) for a street food feed, plus a few gold coins for the buskers, who add to the ambience.
Contact: facebook.com/InglewoodMondayNightMarkets
Price: £
Fremantle
Browse for souvenirs
At least 150 stalls are crammed into the cream stone Victorian building of Fremantle Markets, constructed in 1897. It's a microcosm of Fremantle: historic bones, arty, hippie interior, and a happy heart of noise and colour. You could easily spend hours rubbing handwoven cotton towels between your fingers, gazing at multi-coloured plastic chandeliers and wondering how you could fit a large print of a WA beach into your suitcase. And that’s before you've even reached The Yard, where street food sizzles, coffee froths and fresh produce shines.
Insider tip: Visit just before closing time for heavily discounted fruit and vegetables sold in exuberant fashion.
Contact: fremantlemarkets.com.au
Nearest metro: Fremantle line
Price: Free
![Freemantle Markets, Perth](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/Destinations/Oceania/Australia/Perth/perth-GettyImages-148875327.jpg?imwidth=350)
Spend a moment with Bon Scott
Pay your respects to the late Bon Scott, known for his brief but bright spark as the raging lead singer of AC/DC. The cheeky Fremantle lad, who called the port town home from the age of 10, is characterised in a bronze sculpture, microphone in hand. Find it near the Shipwreck Galleries, which you can visit for free to see the recovered remains of Dutch vessels that traced WA’s coastline hundreds of years ago.
Insider tip: It’s also across the road from local microbrewery, Little Creatures, where you can do a free tasting. Bon would like that.
Contact: monumentaustralia.org.au
Price: Free
Rottnest Island
Escape to a nearby island
Perth is lucky to have a holiday island – Rottnest Island – just 12 miles away. Rotto, as locals call it, is car free; get around on bikes hireable on the island, or when you book your ferry ticket. Cycle between 63 sandy beaches, some with great snorkelling, join free tours given by yellow t-shirt wearing volunteers, visit historic buildings and snap selfie stars, the furry quokkas.
Insider tip: Day trip fares with Rottnest Express are dynamic, so book ahead for the best deal (from AU$78/£40 return), or take SeaLink’s earlybird ferry at 7am for a A$55/£28 return fare (Mon-Fri only; kids free). Depart from Barrack Street jetty in the city centre for a scenic cruise of the Swan River. Otherwise, go from Fremantle’s B Shed, left of Fremantle train station (if you drive, check you’re in B Shed’s all-day carpark section). In Fremantle’s industrial area, Rous Head port also has car parking.
Contact: rottnestisland.com
Nearest metro: Ferry to Rottnest Island
Price: £-£££
![Rottnest Island, Perth](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/Destinations/Oceania/Australia/Perth/rottnest-island-perth-attractions-guide.jpg?imwidth=350)
Swan Valley
Savour Aussie wine
The Swan Valley is the oldest wine region in Western Australia; it will celebrate 190 years of winemaking in 2024. It’s also the city’s nearest wine region, a 35-minute drive from the centre. A self-drive day trip following the 20-mile Swan Valley Food and Wine Trail (map available at the Swan Valley Visitor Centre) will take you from wineries to chocolatiers, breweries, farms and wildlife parks. Kick off at Taylor’s in the Valley for an excellent breakfast (order the “red shakshuka”), then head to Mandoon Estate for a tasting.
Insider tip: If wine isn't really your thing, then there’s also a Swan Valley Cider and Ale Trail or, for those interested in the area’s Aboriginal culture, a Bush Tucker and Beyond Trail.
Contact: swanvalley.com.au
Price: £
![The Swan Valley, Perth](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/Destinations/Oceania/Australia/Perth/swan-valley-perth-free-things-to-do-guide.jpg?imwidth=350)
Roam the Perth Hills
You’d never know, but beyond Perth’s industrial eastern border lies rolling hills raked with fruit orchards, tracts of eucalyptus trees plunging into gullies and waterfalls smattering on granite boulders. The Perth Hills fly under the radar, visited almost exclusively by locals. Go, particularly when autumn leaves glow, or in spring when tiny native wildflowers speckle the forest floor. You’ll find lesser-known wineries with excellent boutique restaurants (try Plume Estate, Fairbrossen or Millbrook Winery), old railway lines that’ve been turned into hiking and biking trails (fit folk could hire an e-bike and tackle the Railway Reserves Heritage Trail, passing waterfalls) and fruit farms where you can pick your own produce (try CORE Cider House or The Fruit Corner).
How we choose
Every attraction and activity in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets and styles, from world-class museums to family-friendly theme parks – to best suit every type of traveller. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up to date recommendations.
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