Perth Tourism Information
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The fourth largest city in Australia after Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, Perth is a popular destination for both business and leisure. Its location makes it ideal for being the most western city in the country by its proximity to Asia which means flying time to the Asian continent will take only 3 to 5 hours.
Another curiosity about the city is its wealth. Perth enjoys the highest income and the standard of life being the highest in Australia. Nevertheless the city can cater for every pocket and offers a wide range of choices for city tourism, dining and nightlife, adventure and nature.
Perth is the only city in Australia, which has a direct non-stop route to Europe, when the national airline, QANTAS launched flights from Perth to London in 2018 with Boeing 787-900 aircraft.
Perth enjoys a moderate climate year round thanks to its location. Hot summer's (December to March) and mild winter's (June to September). Winters are relatively cool and wet with temperatures ranging from 8°C to 19°C. However, the Summer months, might proof too hot to be outside doing active tourism, with temperatures ranging from 15°C to 33°C.
The best time to visit Perth is during the spring, (September to November) days are warm and sunny with average temperatures ranging from 11°C to 23°C. There is little rainfall at this time of year and there is a lot of flora in the spring, you can discover more than 12,000 species of wildflowers, which blossom in Perth’s nature reserves and national parks.
Arriving to Perth is straight forward, from the airport you can catch the 380 bus which leaves you in the city centre. The city is not big and can reach many places by foot when you arrive.
Perth doesn't have a metro system. It's not really needed in a city which public transport is free within the city centre and services are not congested. It's known as the CAT service, Central Area Transit, with 4 lines designated by colours which pass every 5-10 minutes from 6 am to 7 pm. (see below map).
For a tourist, it's a great benefit to have free access to transport within the city centre. The added benefit is that lots of attractions are within walking distance.
If you plan to access other areas in the Perth region there is a Train network. All lines converge at Perth Station where you can change and connect to the busses as well.
There is a card which enables you to use the trains and busses. The Smartrider Card can be bought for AU $10 at the 4 Transperth Information Centres or at many outlets.
You need to tap in/out when you board busses and trains. (except within the Free transit zone). More info at Transperth.wa.gov.au
Below you can access the maps which displays the transport routes for perth and the free public transport zone in the CBD, (designated by bus line colours):
There is plenty of amusement in Perth, many parks to walk along and sample the views of the city, interesting buildings and shopping. Additionally there are lots of activities you can join either by tour or individual to enjoy your days in the city and the outskirts.
Perth, is Australia's laid-back, remote western city, which is surrounded by some stunning scenery, including lovely, sandy beaches. Perth is packed with attractions to suit everyone, especially food-lovers, who will find more restaurants here per capita than in any other Australian city. With an abundance of fascinating local wildlife and landscapes on its doorstep, Perth has plenty to offer families travelling with kids also.
Poplar family beaches include, Cottesloe Beach and Leighton Beach, but be sure to pack plenty of sunscreen as the Australian sun can be verys strong! Another great outdoors option is the Kings Park and Botanic Garden where visitors can hike, bike or just relax in the shade with a picnic. Consider buying the Perth Sightseeing Pass, which is useful for those planning to do a lot of sightseeing.
Below you find some of the highlights of what to see and do whilst in Perth:
- Kings Park and botanical gardens, a 4.06-square-kilometre park located on the western edge of the central business district in Perth. The park offers breath-taking views over the city and Swan River, while more than 80 species of birds can be found enjoying the indigenous bushland. Kings Park also features the State War Memorial, the Royal Kings Park Tennis club, and a reservoir.
- Bell Tower, located in the heart of Perth in vibrant Barrack Square. Also known as the Swan Bells, the bell tower contains twelve bells made in the 14th century for St Martin-in-the-Fields church in London's Trafalgar Square. Learn how the bells came to Australia, discover the art of bell ringing, and soak in panoramic views of the city, Swan River and Elizabeth Quay from the open-air Observation Deck.
- The Barracks Arch, located on the corner of Malcolm and Elder Streets, at the western end of St Georges Terrace.
- The Town Hall, opened in 1870,built in stone, lime and brick. It has become part of Perth’s folklore as well as part of the landscape. Had it not been for strong public opposition, the building would have been lost in the 1890s as the City Council decided it required a ‘more suitable’ building, presumably echoing the much grander town halls of Melbourne and Sydney. It has been well preserved since then, restored in 2005.
- London Court, between Hay Street Mall and St. George’s Terrace, is London Court, built in 1937 for wealthy gold miner Claude de Bernales. The street features Elizabethan-style architecture and statues of Sir Walter Raleigh and Dick Whittington at either end. It also features two replica clocks, one of Big Ben in London, and the other of “the great clock” in Rouen, France. It’s worth walking through here to admire the architecture, have a coffee and look into the small shop windows. It's a popular area for souvenir shopping.
- Supreme Court Gardens, The stunning Supreme Court Gardens are part of an important open space area in the City’s Central Business District. More than 100 years old, the garden is semi-enclosed by mature trees and gardens and was formed following the reclamation of the Swan River shallows in 1903. It was planted as gardens back in 1920. Todays its a lovely open space for visitors and locals to enjoy, practice sports, come for a picnic and enjoy the beautiful views.
✔️Tip: Continue walking towards Langley Park, where more open green spaces awaits. You can get a decent panoramic view of the city, good for day and night shots!
- Elizabeth Quay is a mixed-use development project in the Perth central business district. Located on the north shore of Perth Water and centred on the landmark Swan Bells, it is named in honour of Queen Elizabeth II.
- Art Gallery of Western Australia, is a public gallery that is part of the Perth Cultural Centre. It's conveniently located within easy walking distance from the Perth train station, and is accessible from most Perth-bound bus routes.
For those staying a little longer in Perth, consider in taking a tour to some of these places of interest and see as much as possible!
- One of the most beautiful places to see out of Perth, is Swan Valley and its vineyards, it's the oldest wine region in western Australia, where you can sample their fruits, feast on award-winning local produce, discover local heritage and relax in the natural bush land of the Darling Range.
Just 20 minutes east of Perth, the Swan Valley and Darling Range is easily accessible by road, or take the scenic route aboard a Swan River cruise from Perth's Barrack Street Jetty.
- Nambung National Park, located in the Swan Coastal Plain, just 245 km north of Perth, the National Park is home to one of Australia's most incredible natural attractions - the Pinnacles Desert. It consists of thousands of limestone pillars, protruding from the yellow desert sand in a variety of shapes and sizes (some reaching 3.5 metres in height). It is a truly unique sight, unlike anything you've ever seen before. Best viewed in September and October, when wildflowers bloom, adding colour to the vast desert expanse.
Perth is quite a business focussed city, so most of the night venues open from Thursday to Saturday. The most popular dance clubs are concentrated in Northbridge, Subiaco and Fremantle. Perth is home to a healthy indie rock scene and the 'craic' is good at several Irish pubs and non-Irish establishments city-wide.
Some venues ask for a cover charge and a smart standard of dress, which means no thongs (flip flops), vest-tops or shorts.
For shopping, Perth is not perhaps the most exciting place for this, but it does offer some good opportunities, from high-end fashion boutiques and homogenous shopping centre stores to indigenous art sellers, homemade craft stalls and plenty of gourmand markets. Wesley Quarter is the place for a bit of glamour, Northbridge for chic local design or Fremantle for its undercover market.
Hay Street and Murray Street pedestrian-only malls replicate the best high street shopping, while historic King Street has designer boutiques and galleries selling Aboriginal art. The best authentic Aboriginal art comes from Indigenart, at 115 Hay Street, and Creative Native, at 32 King Street.
Fremantle Markets, 84 South Terrace, are WA’s oldest markets, an undercover labyrinth of clothes, souvenirs and produce. Open every weekend Friday 0900-2100, Saturday and Sunday 0900-1800 plus Public Holiday Mondays 0900-1800.
The Old Perth markets feature arts and crafts, produce, and live music from the local area.
Perth's central shopping area is bound by the Hay Street and Murray Street malls and the Forrest Chase complex. Major department stores like Myer and David Jones can be found here, alongside a number of historic arcades, fashion franchises and duty-free shops.
Hotels can be expensive in Perth, therefore staying not directly in the city centre is the best idea in order to save money and then use public transport which is more convenient and even free on some routes. Comparing hotel sites and making bookings directly with the hotel is another way to save some money. Alternatively Airbnb is popular in Australia and naturally hostels and guesthouses houses as well. For Hotels you expect to spend up to €60 per night.
✔️Tip: When choosing your accomodation in Perth, check that it is close to one of the CAT routes, these are FREE busses which run in the central area of the city.
💭 Suggestion! A recommended place on a budget would be "Hay Street Traveller's Inn", a backpackers Hostel, located 10 min walking to downtown Perth. It offers reasonable rooms, individual or shared.
Perth is not a huge city and seeing the main interests won't take long. A comfortable stay of up to 3 nights would be enough.
However if you planning to visit outside of the city, rent a car and do some adventure tourism then a few more days will come in handy, or taking tours.
Perth Photo Slide 📷
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