GUIDE TO PERTH

Embrace the best of both worlds in Perth, where soft-sand beaches and scenic parks meet a thriving metropolis of small bars, creative restaurants and curated street art.

By Fleur Bainger

Nature and urban life exist in harmony in Perth, on Australia's west coast. Here, where the locals soak up more sunny days than in any other Australian capital city, you can visit nearby Rottnest Island, walk in leafy Kings Park and experience Swan Valley's vineyards, Aboriginal art, food and history. For local culture, wander the nearby city of Fremantle's winding portside streets, Perth city centre's museum and gallery precinct or peel back the layers of this urban landscape with an Aboriginal guide.

Don't miss

• Take a dip in the glassy waters of the Indian Ocean at Cottesloe Beach
• Meet the world's cutest marsupial and selfie sensation, the quokka, on Rottnest Island
• Discover laneway bars in multicultural Northbridge

How to get there

You can fly direct from London to Perth with Qantas, or connect at one of many global transit hubs. From the airport it's an easy 35-minute taxi or coach ride to the city centre.

Useful tips

• Decide when to visit and what to pack with this info on seasonal weather in Perth.
• Find all of the city’s transport options with this guide on getting around.
• Visit a local visitor information centre for more detailed info on the area.

THINGS TO DO AND TOP ATTRACTIONS IN PERTH

Kings Park and Botanical Garden, Perth, Western Australia

Explore the Australian bush while still in the city

Kings Park is one of the biggest city parks in the world – bigger than Central Park in New York City – yet it's right in the heart of Perth. It grants epic views of the Swan and Canning rivers and the skyscrapers perched on their banks. Astonishingly tall, white-trunked trees line the entrance road to this inspiring patch of green, which has a treetop bridge, bushland trails, manicured gardens and cafés.

Go Cultural Aboriginal Tours and Experiences, Perth, Western Australia

Discover Perth's Aboriginal history through an urban tour

Go Cultural Aboriginal Tours and Experiences offers walking tours around the city's easily accessible waterfront. As you stroll the ancient land, Nyungar guide Walter McGuire shares unique insights spanning culture, bush food and spirituality along the way. Learn of the six seasons observed by Aboriginal people, see how they relate to the edible plants still growing in Perth, and hear spiritual legends that teach listeners what to be careful of and how to live well. By the end of the walk, you’ll glimpse Perth through Aboriginal eyes, as it was before European settlement. A three-hour extended cultural tour includes hands-on elements such as paint-making using natural ochres and handling hunting weapons and other traditional implements.

Cottesloe Beach, Perth, Western Australia

Swim at Perth's beaches

Expect to have your breath taken away at any of the beaches lining Perth's long coast, where pale sand meets turquoise water so transparent you can see your feet, no matter how deep you swim. Visit Cottesloe Beach, with its cafés and Norfolk pines, Mettams Pool for its snorkelling reef, Leighton Beach for its blindingly white sand and rip-free waters, Trigg Beach for its family-friendly grass area and huge playground, and North Beach for its charming rock pools. Each March Sculpture by the Sea transforms Cottesloe's foreshore into an incredible outdoor gallery.