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Perth & Surrounds, WA

The City of Perth is focussed on the central business district and surrounding inner city residential areas. Nestled in a picturesque natural amphitheatre, bordered by Kings Park botanical gardens and the beautiful Swan River. Visitors find the city to be clean, well laid out and easy to get around.

Perth Australia

The city is a must see destination for all visitors. It is the State’s centre for the arts, for business, government and entertainment. The Perth Cultural Centre, featuring the State Library, Museum and Art Gallery is one of the most popular attractions for visitors from near and far.

Shopping enthusiasts will be easily satisfied by Western Australia’s largest range of shops and boutiques, while sports fans will be delighted in cricket and football fixtures at the WACA ground and Gloucester Park harness racing.

Public transport within the central city is free. The very popular CATS bus service travels on fixed east-west and north-south routes, guaranteeing the traveller’s return to their point of boarding. Two major bus terminals and the central train station make public transport access to other suburbs in Perth an inexpensive and easy travel option.

There is good shopping available, plenty of riverside and beachside restaurants and cafes to dine at, world-class golf courses, over 80 kilometres (50 miles) of white sandy beaches to sunbathe on and a mecca of outdoor activities and experiences to enjoy.

Popular Things To Do From Perth

Perth is an ideal base from which you can explore the diverse surrounding attractions. Only minutes away, you can visit wineries with sumptuous lunches, swim with wild dolphins in their natural environment, holiday on an island, and explore the colourful port city of Fremantle.

Sunset coast

Of the almost two million people that live in Western Australia, the vast majority reside in the state’s capital of  Perth. A sophisticated and scenic city, it is not hard to understand why so many are drawn to this very special and unique corner of the globe.

Perth was settled on the banks of the Swan River in the 1800s and to this day remains an uncomplicated and clean city that leaves a lasting impression on all of its visitors.

Characterised by numerous waterways, green parks and a compact city centre, Perth’s brilliant blue skies and warm sunny climate must be experienced to be believed.

There is plenty to see and do in Perth. You can tour the city or a segway tour, get around by motorised tram or courtesy bus, partake in the many water sports on the Swan River, enjoy a glass of Western Australian wine in a riverside or beachside restaurant, or explore one of the city’s most popular icons – the 400 hectares of natural bush that form the spectacular Kings Park in the centre of the city.

Perth is also the home of the world’s oldest operating mint; numerous museums and art galleries, historic character buildings, a five-star resort and casino and a great variety of shopping – all of which are only minutes from the CBD.

Perth shopping

There is good shopping available, world-class golf courses, countless outdoor activities and experiences to enjoy, and over 80 kilometres of white sandy beaches to sunbathe on. A popular beach is Cottesloe, a pretty crescent of sand with safe swimming and a small surf break. Another one popular with locals and visitors alike is Scarborough, which has white sand stretching for miles.

Perth is an ideal base from which you can explore the diverse surrounding attractions too. Only minutes away, you can visit wineries with sumptuous lunches, swim with wild dolphins in their natural environment, holiday on an island bouncing with native marsupials, and explore the colourful port city of Fremantle.

Explore Rottnest Island

An ideal short trip from Perth, Rottnest Island is located approximately 18 kilometres west of Perth. It is one of Western Australia’s most popular holiday destinations, with over 400,000 visitors per year.

Swan River fun in Perth

A glittering modern city geared towards outdoor pursuits, physical recreation and enjoyment of life, Perth has plenty to offer: museums, art galleries, a popular zoo, theatres, Kings Park and the dining and nightlife suburb of Northbridge.

Perth Western Australia

You can also cruise the Swan River, a vital aspect of city life since 1829, when Perth was known as Swan River Settlement. River ferries depart from a jetty on Perth Water, a lagoon on the Swan formed by the bridged Narrows and enjoyed by windsurfers and sailors.

Some Swan cruises head to the Swan Estuary Marine Park, where three biologically important areas provide a home for birds and animals, including thousands of migratory wading birds.

swan river

From here, it’s a short cruise to Fremantle, 20 kilometres from Perth. Other cruises head upstream to the fertile Swan Valley wine region, just 30 minutes or so from downtown Perth. It’s the oldest-established winegrowing area in Western Australia.

Many wineries are family owned and run, offering alfresco meals as well as cellar-door tastings. Pinelli and Sandalford are two well-known local winemakers, and the underground cellar at Olive Farm is well worth a visit.

The Swan Valley also offers art studios and galleries, including Western Australia’s largest private gallery. The historic riverside town of Guildford, 12 kilometres from Perth and classified by the National Trust, offers horseback rides beside the river, trains and trams in Whiteman Park and koalas at the wildlife park.

Nearest Airport: Perth Domestic and International Terminals

Where to stay?

Perth & Surrounds Destinations

Experiences

  • 18-35's
  • Active
  • Romance
  • City
  • Cultural
  • Food and Wine
  • Historic/Heritage
  • Honeymoon
  • Indulgence/Luxury
  • Island

Popular Activities

  • City Sightseeing
  • Cruising
  • Golfing
  • Lunch Cruising
  • Scenic Flight
  • Shopping
  • Swimming
  • National Park
  • Fishing
  • Nightlife
  • Beach
  • Diving

About Perth & Surrounds

  • Locality: Major urban locality
  • Perth & Surrounds Postcode: 6000
  • State: Western Australia
  • Region: Perth & surrounds
  • Latitude: -31.9554
  • Longitude: 115.85859
  • Elevation: 47m
  • Population: 11425
  • Median Income: $49348
  • Area (Sq/km): 4.563
  • Timezone: Australia/Perth

Explore The Outback

Australia has a vast remote interior, much of it largely untouched. By night, the outback is deathly quiet, with the only light provided by the stars and the moon - a perfect oportunity for stargazing. Explore the isolated heart of the country, meet and connect with Aboriginal people and experience one of the oldest living cultures in the world. Go ‘walk-about’ and immerse yourself with Australia’s endless outback horizons.

Outback Experiences

Luxe Accommodation

Enjoy a distinctly Australian luxury experience, such as the unforgettable reefs, islands, beaches and coast; rugged mountain ranges, rainforests and vast national parks; and the many vibrant food and wine regions. Take a once in a lifetime adventure and discover the sheer indulgence of experiencing the wonders of Australia in style and stay in total luxury.

Australia has wide variety of accommodation options to suit most budgets and travelling preferences. Choose from luxury lodges, boutique hotels, serviced apartments, motels, bed and breakfasts, caravan parks as well as youth and backpacker hostels.

Accommodation

Glasshouse Mountains

The Glasshouse Mountains in the hinterland of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast are actually the cores of 20 million year old volcanoes. The sides of the volcanoes have eroded away leaving only the hardened rock spiremountain cores we see today. Learn more about this awe-inspiring landscape.

Glasshouse Mountains