Best Things to Do in Perth, Western Australia

Perth is one of Australia’s most underrated cities — a sun-drenched, laid-back capital with world-class beaches, a thriving food scene, incredible natural parks, and easy day trips into wine country. With over 3,000 hours of sunshine per year and the Indian Ocean on its doorstep, it rewards visitors who take the time to explore beyond the CBD. Here are the best things to do in Perth right now.

Kings Park & Botanic Garden

Start here. Kings Park sits on the edge of the CBD on Mount Eliza, covering more than 400 hectares — making it one of the largest inner-city parks in the world. The botanic garden alone contains over 3,000 native Western Australian species, many of which flower spectacularly between August and October.

The treetop walk (the DNA Tower) gives you elevated views over the Swan River and city skyline that no rooftop bar can match. Entry to the park and gardens is completely free, and the café at the top of the hill does a solid flat white. Come early on a weekday if you want it to yourself — by 10am on weekends the car parks fill up fast.

Cottesloe Beach

Perth’s beach culture is serious, and Cottesloe is the pick of the metro beaches. It’s about 14km from the CBD (a straight shot on the train to Cottesloe station), with a long stretch of white sand, calm turquoise water, and the iconic Indiana Tea House sitting right on the beach.

The swimming is safe year-round — water temperatures hover around 17–22°C depending on the season. There’s a grassy foreshore area perfect for a picnic, and Norfolk Island pines lining the esplanade give it a classic Australian beach-town feel. In March, Cottesloe hosts Sculpture by the Sea, which transforms the beach into a free outdoor sculpture gallery stretching 1.2km along the coast.

Rottnest Island

Take the ferry from Barrack Street Jetty (roughly 90 minutes) or from Fremantle (30 minutes) and you’re on Rottnest — a car-free island that’s home to the quokka, one of the friendliest animals on the planet. Hire a bike for around $35 for the day and ride the 26km circuit to visit over 60 beaches and bays.

The Basin, Little Salmon Bay, and Porpoise Bay are all snorkelling spots that rival anything in Southeast Asia. Book your ferry and bike hire at least a few days in advance in summer and over school holidays — this place fills up.

A Day Trip to Fremantle

Fremantle sits 19km south of Perth and is connected by a regular train from the CBD (30 minutes, under $5 with a Transperth card). It’s a proper working port city with Victorian-era architecture, excellent coffee, and one of the best food markets in the country.

The Fremantle Markets operate Friday to Sunday and have run continuously since 1897. Grab a bag of fresh WA marron, browse local art, or just eat your way through the food hall. The WA Maritime Museum on the waterfront is worth the $15 entry — the HMAS Ovens submarine alone is extraordinary. Round out the afternoon with a cold beer at the Little Creatures brewery on Fishing Boat Harbour.

The WA Museum Boola Bardip

Back in the city, the WA Museum Boola Bardip (which means “many stories” in Noongar) opened in 2020 inside the Perth Cultural Centre and is genuinely one of the best state museums in Australia. The building itself is striking — a contemporary glass structure wrapping around four heritage buildings from the 1800s.

Admission is free for the permanent collection. The galleries covering WA’s natural history, First Nations culture, and the state’s extraordinary mining and exploration history are all well worth a few hours.

The Swan Valley

If you want wine without driving four hours to Margaret River, the Swan Valley delivers. It’s WA’s oldest wine region, sitting just 25km northeast of the CBD, and while the wines are earthier and less refined than those from the South West, the cellar doors are relaxed, the prices are reasonable, and a half-day loop by car covers a dozen producers.

Houghton Wines, established in 1836, is the valley’s most famous name and worth a stop. The region also has a strong craft beer scene — Mash Brewing in Upper Swan is consistently good.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days do you need in Perth?

Three to four days covers the city highlights comfortably — Kings Park, a beach day, Fremantle, and the museum. Add another two or three days if you want to visit Rottnest Island and do a day trip to the Swan Valley or Pinnacles Desert.

Is Perth expensive to visit?

Perth is comparable to Sydney and Melbourne for accommodation and dining. Budget travellers can get by on $100–$150 per day using hostels and public transport. The city’s best attractions — beaches, Kings Park, the WA Museum — are all free.

What is Perth known for?

Perth is known for its extraordinary beaches, relaxed outdoor lifestyle, booming food and wine scene, and proximity to unique natural attractions like Rottnest Island, the Pinnacles Desert, and the South West wine region. It’s also the world’s most isolated capital city, sitting 2,700km west of Adelaide.