24 Lovely Tourist Attractions to Visit and Things to Do in Perth

March 13, 2023 Mustafa Natalwala 4024 Views

Perth is the capital of Western Australia state in Australia. The city sits on Swan Coastal Plain facing the Indian Ocean with the Darling Scarp mountain range at its back. Some of the most fun things to do in Perth, Australia include adventure sports, island cruises, wildlife spotting, underwater exploration, and nature trails.

Owing to its coastal location, you get to enjoy pristine white sand beaches and beautiful bays with incredible views of the ocean. These are also the best places to visit in Perth for water sports, coastal nature trails, swimming, surfing, and beach sports. Although, you can also come here to chill on the beach, enjoy incredible food, and party.

If you still haven’t had enough of the ocean, you should take a boat cruise and head for the islands. Along the way, you will encounter some amazing things to see in Perth such as galloping dolphins and whales. The islands close to the coast are all popular for different reasons. Some of them have been turned into leisure retreats while others are known for outdoor activities to do in Perth. The Rottnest Island gives you both these experiences.

You can enjoy luxurious resorts and spa treatments on the island when you visit Perth. Or you can head for nature trails to see the island’s wildlife and coastal scenery. This island is also popular for surfing, snorkeling, and scuba diving. For all this and more, these islands are the coolest places to go in Perth. You will even see a few shipwrecks while exploring the coast of this island.

On the other side of the city lies the Darling Scarp with several historical and natural Perth tourist attractions. This site has nature reserves, wildlife parks, river valleys, old settlements, vineyards, and farms. The best-known Perth attraction in this region is the Swan Valley, which is especially known for its wine estates, river cruises, kayaking trails, nature trails, and farms. The region is also blessed with an abundance of indigenous Australian wildlife including kangaroos, koalas, crocodiles, wombats, dingos, and more.

You can see these animals in the wild, and some sanctuaries even allow you to get up close with them. This brings us to one of the most popular indoor activities to do in Perth. You can hug a koala, feed a kangaroo, and play with little wombats. These animal encounters make a memorable experience and you can take pictures home as souvenirs.

Now as for Perth sightseeing, you get to explore the indigenous and colonial history of the region. The city, islands, and hills are home to several structures that hail from the early colonial period. Some of these were the first of their kind in Western Australia. The city is also home to museums dedicated to regional history, art history, maritime history, indigenous culture, the Australian Air Force, and more.

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Table of Contents

Top 24 Tourist Places to Visit in Perth in 5 Days (Trip Itinerary)

Day 1

1. Kings Park & Botanic Garden

King’s Park is one of the world’s largest inner-city parks and is one of the most important places to visit in Perth, Australia. The park’s location is tied to Aboriginal and early colonial history. It is also a major part of Perth’s contemporary culture. The park hosts events, markets, movie screenings, concerts, sports events, art exhibitions, and more. The park is also popular for outdoor activities to do in Perth. Kings Park has green spaces, picnic areas, a cricket ground, a football field, nature trails, cycling tracks, a children’s playground, and more. The park’s botanic gardens house more than 3,000 species of plants hailing from West Australia. You will need at least 2 hours to explore this park when you visit Perth.

I suggest you should try a Segway Tour in Kings Park.

2. Lotterywest Federation Walkway

This elevated walkway stretched for 620 meters over the Western Australian Botanic Garden. It takes you on a tour amidst the treetops of Marri woodland forrest, Swan river, wildflower gardens, water garden, and Canning river. The arched glass suspension bridge on this walkway is one of the top Perth attractions. You will need about an hour for this walkway.

3. Bell Tower

Built-in 1999, this tower is known for its unique design and is home to the historical Royal Bells. These artifacts are among the most well-known historical things to see in Perth. They were a gift from St. Martin in Fields Church of London and date back to the 14th century. Aside from these bells, you should also check out the observation deck on the 6th floor to get a great view of the city. You will need about an hour for this tower when you visit Perth.

I suggest you should buy a Skip-the-Line Entrance Ticket to the Bell Tower in advance.

4. The Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA)

This museum focuses on artworks hailing from Western Australia. With more than 17,000 art pieces, this museum traces the evolution of art in the region. It is also one of the top Perth tourist attractions to see Australian, British, Italian, Greek, Indian, and Islamic artworks. The collection includes paintings, photographs, sculptures, multi-media installations, handicraft items, and more. You will need 2 hours to tour this gallery.

5. St. Mary’s Cathedral

The history of this church dates back to 1865 and was built in 3 phases. It is a major architectural highlight of Perth sightseeing for the gothic structure. People can get a guided tour of the cathedral on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. You will need 20 to 30 minutes to tour this church.

6. Perth Mint

This is Australia’s official bullion mint and among the cool places to go in Perth for those interested in history and economics. The biggest highlight of this institution is the Gold Exhibition. This exhibit traces the history of gold in Western Australia. This mint is also home to the largest gold coin ever made: the Australian Kangaroo One Tonne Gold Coin. You will need about an hour from Perth travel to tour this mint.

I suggest you should book a Guided Tour to Perth Mint with an Admission Ticket.

7. Queens Gardens

Spread over 3.3 hectares, this charming park is known for a lot of fun things to do in Perth city for everyone. The land has a rich history that includes horse racing, clay mining, and brickwork. They turned the mine into a nice pond which houses ducks, swans, pelicans, and other birds. You can easily spend an hour or so in this garden.

Day 2

1. Fremantle Prison

This 1859-built prison is the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Western Australia. The 15-acre complex includes security walls, guard quarters, gatehouses, cottages, underground tunnels, and more. It is one of the best places to visit in Perth to learn about the history of crime, criminals, and law enforcement. The prison runs several tours that focus on a prison security system, major criminals, and escape attempts. You will need about 2 hours to tour this prison.

2. Fremantle Markets

This historical market dates back to 1897 and has always been used as a market for retail, wholesale, packaging, and distribution. The market now has 150 stalls for buying fresh produce, food products, local items, street food, boomerangs, didgeridoo, and aboriginal art pieces. It is one of the best places to go in Perth to shop for souvenirs. You can easily spend an hour or so exploring this market.

I suggest you should go for a Guided Tour of Fremantle.

3. The Round House

Built-in 1829, this is the oldest surviving building in the city. The building was first used to detain convicted criminals. Later it served several other purposes, ranging from jail to jailer’s home. Here, you will learn about the various phases of this place’s history, the events that occurred here, and the people who stayed here as inmates or jailers. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to tour this Perth tourist attraction.

4. Western Australian Maritime Museum

This museum looks at several years of the maritime history of Western Australia. It is also home to actual ships and a submarine, which is one of the coolest things to see in Perth. The museum exhibits several artifacts concerning maritime warfare, communication, craftsmanship, trade, merchants, prominent sailors, famous voyages, vessels, and more. It takes about an hour to tour this museum.

5. Cottesloe Beach

This is one of the most beautiful Perth beaches to visit and also one of the most historic. The beach is known for two iconic historical buildings: The Pylon & the Teahouse. It is known for its chill village-like vibe and some of the outdoor activities to do in Perth including snorkeling, beach sports, surfing, swimming, and more. It is also one of the most popular spots to watch the sunset. You can easily spend a couple of hours enjoying this beach in Perth.

6. AQWA The Aquarium Of Western Australia

This aquarium has the largest single tank and the largest walk-through tunnel in the world. It is also home to one of the world’s largest living corals. This is one of the best things to do in Perth city for families. The aquarium specifically focuses on the marine creatures living on the Western Australian coastline. It houses more than 400 species of aquatic being including corals, sharks, sea dragons, pineapple fish, turtles, rays, octopus, clown fish, and more. The aquarium is also popular for its indoor activities to do in Perth city such as snorkeling sharks, scuba diving, tunnel walks, dine beneath the sea, swimming with turtles, glass bottom boat ride, and more. You need at least 2 hours to explore this aquarium.

I suggest you should get your Admission Ticket to AQWA The Aquarium of Western Australia in advance.

Day 3

1. Swan Valley

This valley is known for historic buildings, pubs, settlements, churches, and farms. It is also the oldest wine region in Western Australia. The valley is home to several pastoral attractions including estate homes, old-school pubs, wine estates, olive groves, rum distilleries, chocolate factory, art galleries, handicraft workshops, and wildlife sanctuaries. You can basically take an entire day from Perth sightseeing to tour this valley. You can get guided tours to explore the history, nature, culture, and booze in the Swan Valley directly from Perth.

I suggest you should book a Food and Wine Tour of Swan Valley in advance.

2. Scitech

This planetarium and science center has exhibits and activities concerning scientific disciplines such as chemistry, physics, biology, geography, zoology, and astronomy. The majority of exhibits are geared toward children. So it is one of the most fun things to do in Perth city for family tourists. Scitech is best known for the planetarium show with surround sound and laser projector, which takes you on a journey across the universe. You will need at least an hour to tour this place.

3. Old Mill

Built-in 1835, this is the oldest mill in Western Australia. There used to be another mill at this site which dated back to 1833 but was destroyed by indigenous people. To prevent this from happening again, this mill was built like a fortress with thick stone walls. You can tour this Perth attraction and learn how it used to work and support the early colonies. It will take you 30 to 45 minutes to tour this mill.

4. Perth Zoo

This zoo houses more than 1200 animals from 164 species hailing from Asia, Africa, Australia, and South America. You will see African Lions, Asian Elephants, Giraffes, Penguins, Numbats, Meerkats, Rhinoceros, Orangutan, Sumatran Tiger, Sun Bear, Tortoise, Binturong, Snakes, Swans, Stork, Emu, Kangaroo, Crocodile, Ghost Bat, Koala, Red Panda, and several other animals. The close encounters with animals like orangutans, tortoise, sun bear, kangaroo, dingos, red panda, and penguins are some of the best things to do in Perth, Australia and you can only experience them at this zoo. You will need 2 to 3 hours to tour this zoo.

Day 4

1. Rottnest Island

When you visit Perth, take a trip to this island for its gorgeous beaches, beautiful landscapes, rich wildlife, and various adventure activities. The island is also known for its links to the history and culture of Western Australia. The island has many historical buildings which date back to the colonial period. Today, you can find several hotels, resorts, and recreational venues on the island. It is also popular for a variety of fun things to do in Perth including nature trails, scuba diving, snorkeling, and swimming. The island also has an underwater trail that includes actual shipwrecks. You can easily spend an entire day or more on this island.

I suggest you should book a Round-Trip Ferry to Rottnest Island in advance or if you like to add some adventure to your trip to Rottnest Island then I suggest you should book a Full Day Rottnest Island Bike and Ferry Trip.

2. Aviation Heritage Museum

This museum exhibits artifacts hailing from the Royal Australian Air force. The museum is home to 32 aircrafts and miniature airplane models. You will also see historical artifacts concerning the air force such as uniforms, weapons, equipments, photographs, and more. It is one of the best places to visit in Perth if you are interested in aviation. The museum allows you to climb into some of the planes. You will need about an hour from Perth travel to tour this museum.

3. Cohunu Koala Park

This wildlife sanctuary is home to several native Australian animals such as kangaroos, koalas, emus, wallabies, wombats, and more. You can take a mini-safari ride through the park to see some of these animals. But, it is included among Perth tourist attractions for animal encounters such as hugging a koala and feeding kangaroos. You will need about 2 hours to explore this park when you visit Perth.

Day 5

1. Caversham Wildlife Park

This is yet another one of Perth’s attractions to have memorable encounters with animals. You can meet and feed koalas, kangaroos, wombats, penguins, Llama, and farm animals. This wildlife sanctuary cares for a variety of birds and animals including kookaburra, sugar glider, echidna, quokka, owls, swans, buzzards, emu, cassowary, wallaby, crocodile, monitor, dingo, and more. You will need about an hour from Perth travel to tour this park.

I suggest you should combine your trip to Caversham Wildlife Park with the Pinnacles Desert.

2. Lake Monger Reserve

This nature reserve sits square in the middle of the urban locale. It is popular among locals and tourists for outdoor activities to do in Perth city. The reserve is built around a huge pond and has nature trails around the pond that are frequented for bird-watching. The reserve also has a picnic area, bbq sites, recreational facilities, and playgrounds. You can easily take an hour or so from Perth sightseeing and enjoy some time here.

3. Hyde Park

The site of this park is deeply rooted in aboriginal history as it was inhabited by the Whajuk Noongar people. While serving as an urban park, it also has exhibits concerning this aspect of its history. As for recreation, the park has lakes, picnic spots, playground, gazebos, and fitness facilities. It’s a nice place to enjoy fun things to do in Perth city with your family. You can easily spend an hour or so enjoying this place.

4. Adventure World

This amusement and water park is one of the coolest places to go in Perth if you are looking for some excitement. The place has rides, slides, roller coasters, themed zones, thrill rides, games, and more. You can easily spend 2 to 3 hours going wild at this amusement park.

If you are looking for more places to visit in Perth, Australia then check out the sections below. We have listed out all the attractions and activities that you can enjoy in and around this city.

Things to do in Perth

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Perth

Fremantle Prison
The Art Gallery of Western Australia
WA Museum Boola Bardip
The Perth Mint
Fremantle Arts Centre
Scitech Museum
WA Maritime Museum
The Round House
WA Shipwreck Museum
State War Memorial
Saint Mary’s Cathedral
State Library of Western Australia
Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts
Aviation Heritage Museum
The Museum of Perth
The Railway Museum
Railway Reserves Heritage Trail
St. George’s Anglican Cathedral
The Nostalgia Box Museum
Wireless Hill Museum
Oliver Hill Battery
Wadjemup Museum

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Perth

Caversham Wildlife Park
Yanchep National Park
John Forest National Park
Mundy Regional Park
Lake Leschenaultia
Mettams Pool
Ellis Brook Valley Reserve
Rio Tinto Naturescape
Lake Monger
Serpentine National Park
Herdsman Lake
Rocky Pool
Marmion Marine Parks
Beelu National Park

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Perth

Kings Park and Botanic Garden
Swan Valley
Perth Zoo
The Bell Tower
The Aquarium of Western Australia
Adventure World
Little Creatures Brewery
Sandalford Wines
Whiteman Park
Araluen Botanic Park
Mundaring Weir Dam
Perth Observatory
Bold Park
Upper Reach Winery
Point Walter Golf Course
Fraser Avenue
Cohunu Koala Park
Lancaster Wines
Olive Farm Wines
Esplanade Park
Hyde Park
Perth City Farm
Ugly Duckling Wines
Burswood Park
Langley Park
Swan Valley Visitor Centre
Myattsfield Wineyard
iFly Perth Indoor Skydiving
CPP John Oldham Park
Pinelli Wine Estate
Swan Valley Cuddly Animal Farm

Shopping in Perth

Elizabeth Quay
King’s Street
Fremantle Market
Raine Square
Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour
Brookfield Place
E Shed Markets
Northbridge
Manning Farmers Market
Enex Perth
Twilight Hawkers Market
Watertown Brand Outlet
Kalamunda Farmers Market
Forrest Chase
Scarborough Sunset Market
Hay Street Mall
Subi Farmers Market
Wesley Quarter
South Perth Streats Night Market
140 Perth
Kyilla Community Market
Murray Street Mall
Inglewood Monday Night Market
London Court
Mount Claremont Farmers Market
Oxford Street
Queens Taverns
Freo Farmers Market
Midland Farmers Market

Beaches & Islands in Perth

Cottesloe Beach
Scarborough Beach
Penguin Island
Rottnest Island
Trigg Beach
Shoalwater Islands Marine Park
Leighton Beach
Mullaloo Beach
Bathers Beach
Carnac Islands
Coogee Beach
Cape Peron
Heirisson Island
Swanbourne Beach
Floreat Beach
Rockingham Beach
Sorrento Beach
Trigg Beach
Catherine Bay Beach
Little Salmon Bay
The Basin
Parakeet Bay
Cathedral Rocks

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventures in Perth

Hiking
Trekking
Camping
Boat Cruise
Kayaking
Island Tours
Snorkeling
Scuba Diving
Surfing
Water Sports
Dolphin Spotting
Indoor Skydiving
Shark Encounters
Animal Encounters
Whale Watching
Deep Sea Fishing

Sightseeing in Perth

Elizabeth Quay Waterfront
The Bell Tower
Hillary’s Boat Harbour
Bibbulmun Track Northern Terminus
Perth Cultural Centre
Yagan Square
Matagarup Bridge
Fremantle Harbour
Blue Boat House
DNA Tower
Thompson Bay Settlement

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Perth

Yahava Koffee Works
Lucy Luu
Cottage Tea Rooms
La Condesa
May Street Larder
La Lune
Chinta Cafe
Testun Bar
Bistro Guillaume
Dandelion
Chapels on Whatley
Nextdoor
Bites by D
Wildflower
The Reveley
Old Young’s Kitchen
The George
Nieuw Ruin
Blackbird
The Boatshed
Heritage Wine Bar
Mister Walker
Le Rebelle
The Shorehouse
Long Chim
Rambla on Swan
The Corner Diary
Gioia on the River
Manuka Woodfire Kitchen

Where to Stay in Perth?

Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious, Mid-Range, and Budget Hotels in Perth. You can check the below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Perth.

Luxurious Hotels

Mid-Range Hotels

Budget Hotels

Custom Tours Package in Perth

How to Reach Perth?

By Air

The city is served by Perth airport, located 9 km away. You can get direct flights to visit Perth from Kuala Lumpur, Mauritius, Auckland, Tokyo, Denpasar, Dubai, Hong Kong, Brisbane, Cairns, Melbourne, Sydney, Doha, Singapore, and several other cities in Oceania and Asia. You can reach the city from the airport by train, buses and cabs.

By Road

You can get direct trains to reach Perth from cities in western Australia as well as major cities on the island. The city sits on 3 train routes namely: The Prospector, The Indian Pacific, and The Australind. These routes allow Perth travel from Bubury, Kalgoorlie, Adelaide, and Sydney.

You can also get direct buses to reach Perth from several cities and towns in Western Australia. There are buses connecting Perth to other parts of Australia as well, but these are significantly long journeys. It would be easier to get to the nearest major city and get on a flight or a train to reach Perth.

Although if you are planning to visit Perth by road, you should head west on routes Brand Highway, Great Northern Highway, or Great Eastern Highway. All these routes meet at Perth.

By Water

You can get ferries and boat rides to reach Perth from Rottnest Island. The Fremantle port in the city also docks several cruise ships and most of them include at least a day of Perth sightseeing on their itinerary.

Image Reference

Kings Park & Botanic Garden – Harry and Rowena Kennedy / Flickr
Lotterywest Federation Walkway – Rakesh A / Flickr
Bell Tower – Logan Campbell / Flickr
The Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA) – The Logical Positivist / Wikimedia Commons
St Mary’s Cathedral – Ray Marsh / PixaBay
The Perth Mint – Sei F / Flickr
Queens Gardens – Sei F / Flickr
Fremantle Prison – Gnangarra / Wikimedia Commons
Fremantle Markets – Sei F / Flickr
The Round House – Graeme Churchard / Flickr
Western Australian Maritime Museum – Graeme Churchard / Flickr
Cottesloe Beach – Matteo Bondioli / Flickr
AQWA The Aquarium Of Western Australia – Tim Sneddon / Flickr
Swan Valley – Sei F / Flickr
Scitech – SeanMack / Wikimedia Commons
Old Mill – Gnangarra / Wikimedia Commons
Perth Zoo – Victoria Al-Taie / PixaBay
Rottnest Island – xiSerge / PixaBay
Aviation Heritage Museum – Alec Wilson / Flickr
Cohunu Koala Park – Bahnfrend / Wikimedia Commons
Caversham Wildlife Park – Jesse Palmer / Flickr
Lake Monger Reserve – Calistemon / Wikimedia Commons
Hyde Park – VirtualWolf / Flickr
Adventure World – Martin Lewison / Flickr