Things to Do in Perth

Editor's picks

A local's shortlist — the places worth your time first, each with a tip.

Kings Park & Botanic Garden

Nature · West Perth

400 hectares of bushland and botanic garden on an escarpment over the Swan River, larger than Central Park and entirely free.

Local tip: Go in September and October for the wildflower season — WA has more endemic wildflower species than anywhere on earth, and the Botanic Garden displays them without a four-hour drive north.

Fremantle

Neighborhood · Port city, 20km south-west

A working port with the best-preserved 19th-century streetscape in Australia, a convict-era prison on the World Heritage list, and a stubbornly independent culture.

Local tip: The Fishing Boat Harbour is where visitors eat; South Terrace and the Wray Avenue end is where locals do. Come by ferry up the Swan rather than by train at least once.

Cottesloe Beach

Nature · Western suburbs

The classic Perth beach — white sand, Norfolk pines, a pub on the hill and the Indian Ocean sunset the city is built around.

Local tip: Swim at the north end near the groyne where it is calmer, and stay for sunset with a drink from the Beach Club. In March, Sculpture by the Sea takes over the whole stretch and it is free.

Rottnest Island

Landmark · 19km offshore

A car-free island of bays and salt lakes, home to quokkas and reached by ferry from Fremantle, Hillarys or Elizabeth Quay.

Local tip: Take the first ferry and hire a bike rather than the bus. The west end bays — Little Salmon and Parakeet — are empty before 11am while everyone else is still queuing for a quokka photo at the settlement.

Northbridge

Nightlife · North of the CBD

Perth's entertainment quarter — small bars, Chinatown, the State Theatre and the Perth Cultural Centre all inside a few blocks.

Local tip: The small-bar laws changed WA drinking culture entirely. Skip James Street's big venues and look for the unmarked doors on William, Lake and Brisbane Streets — that is where the good ones are.

Swan Valley & Guildford

Hidden gem

Food · 25km north-east

Australia's oldest wine region outside the Hunter, plus breweries, distilleries and a colonial river town, all within 30 minutes of the CBD.

Local tip: Margaret River gets the visitors and the three-hour drive; the Swan Valley is on the doorstep and half the price. Go midweek, start at Guildford's antique shops, and use the Ellenbrook rail line rather than driving so you can actually taste anything.

Explore 131 places across Perth

Museums, landmarks, monuments, heritage sites and parks — mapped, with photos. The most notable spots first.

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Museum · 10Landmark · 8Monument · 8Religious · 28Archaeological · 3Park · 71Attraction · 3Open in OpenStreetMap

Museums & galleries

(10)

Photograph unavailable Fremantle Prison

Museum

Fremantle Prison

Former prison in Fremantle, Western Australia

Editor's picks

Kings Park & Botanic Garden

Fremantle

Cottesloe Beach

Rottnest Island

Northbridge

Swan Valley & Guildford

Explore 131 places across Perth

Museums & galleries

Fremantle Prison

Art Gallery of Western Australia

Western Australian Museum

Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts

W D Moore & Co Warehouse

Scitech

Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery

Freshwater Bay Museum

Midland Workshops Museum

Wireless Hill Museum

Landmarks & architecture

Barrack Square

Yagan Square

Fremantle Railway Bridge

Fremantle Traffic Bridge

Stirling Bridge

Barrack Street Bridge

Seventh Avenue Bridge

Barker's Bridge

Monuments & memorials

Maitland Brown Memorial

Pioneer Women's Memorial

Australian Sikh Heritage Trail

Proclamation Tree and Marmion Memorial

Claremont War Memorial

Vlamingh Memorial

Edith Dircksey Cowan Memorial

Bali Memorial

Places of worship

St Mary's Cathedral, Perth

Perth Mosque

St Patrick's Basilica, Fremantle

St John's Pro-Cathedral

Redemptorist Monastery, North Perth

St Mary Star of the Sea

Fremantle Grammar School

Ross Memorial Church

Scots Presbyterian Church

Cathedral of St Constantine & St Helene

St Brigid's Church, Perth

Wesley Church, Perth

St John's Anglican Church

St Columba's Presbyterian Church

St Denis Church, Joondanna

St Joseph's Church

Saint Mary's Church

Aquinas College Chapel

Guildford Grammar School Chapel

First Church of Christ, Scientist, Perth

Fremantle Synagogue

Trinity Church, Perth

St Matthew's Church, Guildford

Church of the Good Shepherd

Holy Spirit Catholic Church, City Beach

Monastery of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (former)

Lynwood Christian Church

Christ The King

Heritage & archaeology

Coffee Point Boatyard

Cottage Ruins

Albany Bell Hatchery

Parks & nature

Kings Park

Bold Park

Wireless Hill Park

Stirling Gardens

Whiteman Park

Hyde Park

Langley Park

Manners Hill Park