Perth is a city that usually gets forgotten on a trip by international travelers, they explore Melbourne, Sydney and Uluru, but Perth misses out. Or better yet travelers miss out on Perth as you`ll discover! Let me take you on a tour around Perth.
King`s Park and Botanic Garden
King`s Park and the Botanic Garden cover 400 hectares and overlooks the Swan River, besides showcasing lots of Western Australian plants it`s a popular place for picnics, walks and events. You can take free guided walks in the park. At 10 am Botanic Garden Walk and at 2 pm there`s a Wilderness & Wildflowers Walk. (More info)
Supreme Court and Gardens
The Supreme Court Gardens are an important open space area in the CBD of Perth. A part from having a stroll through the gardens, it`s a lovely place to sit on a bench and have your lunch. They are located on the corner of Barrack Street and Riverside Drive. (More info)
Swann Bell Tower
The Swann Bell Tower is a very iconic building on the skyline of Perth. I haven`t been up myself yet, but you can visit the tower for AU$ 14/adult. Besides the 360 degrees view you have over the Swan River and Perth City, you will also be able to hear the bells ring. Check for ringing times here.
Harbor
The harbor is a nice place to just stroll around or sit back while overlooking the water. Of course it`s also the place to take a ferry to Fremantle, Rottnest Island or go on a river cruise along the Swan River.
TIP
Even though the center is very walkable, there are FREE buses that take you around Perth city. Three lines, the Red Cat Bus, the Blue Cat Bus and the Yellow Cat Bus make sure you cover most of the city. Check the timetable and map for which bus you want.
You can easily walk around in the city, which makes you take a closer look at the buildings and the artwork in the streets. Perth has a very relaxed vibe to it and families love to come here. Maybe the sunny weather has something to do with that?
Shopping
Murray Street Mall and Hay Street Mall are probably the best known shopping streets with names like David Jones, Target, Myer, etc. The streets are car free for your convenience.
Beaches
Cottleshoe beach is one of the most famous beaches. Besides this beach you have Rottnest Island, Scarborough or the beaches of Rockingham. I haven`t been to all, but so far the beaches of Rockingham are my favorite, as they`re not crowded at all. Rockingham is about 40 minutes south of the city. There is a direct train line between Perth City and Rockingham.
Want to get out of the city?
Margaret River
Margaret River is about 270 km (170 miles) south of Perth and known for its wine region. Besides that, it`s also famous for surfing spots along the coast. At Cape Leeuwin you can find Cape Leewin Lighthouse, mainland Australia`s tallest lighthouse and the place where two oceans meet, the Indian Ocean and Southern Ocean.
You can visit the lighthouse grounds for AU$ 5/adult or take a guided tour and climb the lighthouse tower for AU$ 17/adult. (More info)
Also make a stop at Busselton Jetty, the longest wooden jetty (pier) in the Southern Hemisphere.
How to get to the city center from the airport?
The airport is located approximately 12 km (domestic terminal) and 17 km (international terminal) from the center. It takes you about 30 minutes by car, depending on traffic and road works. I was told prices for a taxi would be around AU$ 30. I noticed we paid a bit more going to a train station just outside of the city center as that was better for our following journey, but do consider a bit more with traffic and road works. I think the rates you can find on the official page of the airport, are pretty accurate.
Other options are (which I haven`t tried yet):
- Shuttle Bus: Perth Airport City Shuttle: every 30 mins (domestic) and 45 mins (international): starting from AU$ 15/adult (domestic) and AU$ 18 (international). The journey takes about 35 minutes.
- Bus: Transperth Bus 37 from the domestic terminal to Kings Park via the city. AU$ 3.20/adult and the journey takes about 55 mins.
*Prices were accurate at time of publishing
What`s your favorite thing to do in Perth?
We like to drink beer and watch the sunsets or go see the West Coast Eagles beat Fremantle!
Thanks, those are some lovely tips. I especially like the Footy game, as I haven`t been to one yet. I only followed it on TV, but would love to go just for the experience!
Perth looks amazing. I’d probably enjoy both the city center and the beach 🙂 I love the idea of a walkable city that also offers free public transport for those who may need it…
I watched a travel show recently that originally aired some time ago, that mentioned a Dutch community in Perth. I wonder if that’s still the case. Did you encounter any Nederlandse mensen while there??
Oh, I didn`t come across any Nederlanders 😉 Interesting!