Top 20 Things to do in Perth – Western Australia

Perth is the capital city of Western Australia and for those lucky enough to live or travel here, it is where you will likely begin your explorations of this amazing state. There are so many things to do in Perth that it’s hard to narrow it down to 20.

There’s something for everyone here, including plenty of things to do in Perth with kids. Make every weekend awesome by going down the list once a week and exploring something new.

I grew up in the south west of Australia and have spent many years living in Perth and constantly exploring this beautiful city and state. I hope you love it just as much as I do and are inspired to get out and enjoy all the wonderful things this city has to offer.

Once you’ve finished exploring these fun things to do in Perth and are looking further afield, check out the best weekend getaways from Perth to plan your next weekend break.

20 Best Things to do in Perth, Western Australia

Kings Park

A perhaps little-known fact is that this beautiful inner-city park is one of the largest in the world. Bigger than both Central Park in New York and Hyde Park in London, it has a huge area of native bushland crisscrossed with walking trails, as well as containing the Western Australian Botanic Garden.

Sitting atop a large hill overlooking the city, you get amazing views of the city centre and the sparkling Swan River as it snakes through the city. There are many beautiful spots to spread a picnic mat or you can enjoy a coffee at the café after exploring the gallery.

The walks through Kings Park are among the best Perth has to offer and there are also guided walks on offer that will teach you about native flora, fauna and history. There are so many places to explore in the park but some top spots are:

• The Lotterywest Federation Walkway
• The State War Memorial
• Kaarta Gar-up Viewpoint
• The DNA tower
• The Rio Tinto Naturescape
• The May Drive Parklands

►Book a Perth Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus Tour to Easily See Top Sights◄

Hit The Beach

Perth is blessed with some of the best beaches in the country, if not the world. You really are spoiled for choice with most of the coastline being easily accessible from the city. Even on busy days the main beaches closest to the city have plenty of space for everyone.

Perth beaches offer a quiet and tranquil vibe with development being limited for the most part. There are still plenty of shops to get some fish and chips or a drink but you really feel like you’re on holiday when you look around and all you can see is sand, sea and trees.

There are so many beaches it is hard to be specific however many have nearby businesses offering surfing lessons, kite-surfing lessons (Perth is a top kite-surfing destination), stand-up paddle board hire and snorkelling/diving. Check out our list of the best beaches in Perth to help make your selection easier!

There is a different beach that best suits each activity so do some research and you will find that Perth has the perfect beach for you, no matter your choice of oceanic activities.

Hike The Hills

Perth lies on a fairly flat area called the Swan Coastal Plain. The eastern border of this plain rises into the Darling Scarp, which is an ancient geological fault stretching far along the coast north to south. This is what is known locally as the ‘Perth Hills’ and offers a perfect escape from the city for half a day or more.

The best way to explore the hills is on foot and there are plenty of great hikes to choose from. See here for some of the best hikes in Perth, all tried and tested, with details and instructions so you can find the perfect one to suit your timeframe and ability level.

There are plenty of country style pubs, bakeries and forested picnic areas to enjoy after you’ve worked up an appetite. Whilst out in the hills make sure to look up attractions in the area where you are hiking so you can make the most of the drive out there. The article linked about list some of the nearby attractions to each hike.

Escape To Rottnest Island

After taking a ferry from Fremantle, you will feel like you have been transported far from the stress and commotion of city life. The tranquil, turquoise seascapes and perfect white sand beaches of Rottnest are a lovely escape for a day or even a whole week.

You don’t have to stay overnight as there are many ferries running all day and into the early evening. You can pack a backpack, grab a bike on the other side and spend a day cycling around finding stunning little bays to yourself and adorable little quokkas to befriend.

The best thing to do however is to make the most of your trip by booking a couple of nights on the island. Once you’re here you really won’t want to leave and this way you get to take in the stunning island sunset and the chilled evening vibes of the Rottnest Hotel. Check out the hotel Karma Rottnest, this is where we usually stay when we go.

For a detailed guide of all the things to do on the island and the best places to eat, drink and stay, check out our full Rottnest Island day trip itinerary. Ferry costs vary by date and time and there are multiple companies so it is hard to provide accurate information. A quick google search will provide the answers you seek (we always use Rottnest Express).

►Book Discounted Rottnest Island Ferry Tickets and Bike Hire Here◄

Explore The River – Sail, Kayak, SUP

The meandering Swan River cuts right through the heart of the city and offers many opportunities for fun and adventures. Being on the water gives you a new perspective on the surrounding scenery and the tranquillity of bobbing down the river at sunrise or sunset is unbeatable.

Funcats Watersports in South Perth offers hire of kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, but best of all are the hobby-cats. These small 2 person sailing boats allow you and a couple friends to harness the power of the wind to fly around the river with the city rising as a perfect backdrop on the opposite bank.

If slow travel and relaxation are more your thing then check out Nauti Picnics. This company rents out electric boats, with a picnic table in the middle surrounded by comfy cushions, which allow you and a group of friends to slowly explore the river while you feast. No skippers’ ticket is required.

Explore The Swan Valley

You really can’t beat Perth for having everything you need to live a great life, not least of which is an historic wine region right on its doorstep! The Swan Valley has been growing grapes since the early colonial days and today is filled with family run businesses producing both wine and table grapes.

There is still loads to do here for those less interested in wine, with artisan food producers, breweries, cider producers and art galleries all over. The valley is surrounded by a beautiful landscape with some lovely parks to visit for a hike or picnic.

To properly explore this region, we would highly recommend a winery tour, this way you can make the most of your day and not have to worry about driving. Tours can be arranged via road but for a unique and wonderfully relaxing experience you should consider a boat trip up the Swan!

►Swan Valley Full-Day Winery Experience with Lunch from Perth◄

Caversham Wildlife Park

Australia has some of the most unique and beautiful wildlife in the world and it’s always so much fun to get up close and personal with the various creatures. When looking for an experience interacting with native wildlife, you want to make sure that your money is going to the right place and you are supporting a park with high standards of animal welfare.

Caversham Wildlife Park in Perth’s northern suburbs is one of these places. The ticket price might be a little more that other parks but the place is huge and the layout is beautiful. On top of this the animals are all very well looked after by the passionate staff and the enclosures are large and well decorated. This is one of the best kids activities in Perth.

The park is open from 9:30am to 4pm every day. Entry is $30 for adults and $14 for children. This includes photos with koalas, feeding kangaroos, getting up close with snakes, birds and wombats and farm shows. Expect to spend at least a few hours here to get the full experience.

Sunset Picnic

With some great parks, a huge stretch of riverfront, many beaches and a wine valley to boot; there’s no shortage of great picnic spots in Perth. Invest in a picnic basket that has everything you need conveniently packed away then all you have to do is buy some goodies and pick a spot.

We’ve written an article showing some of the best picnic spots in Perth, but you will never run out of new places even if you have a couple of picnics a week like us! It sometimes seems like an effort to get outside and organise it all, but it’s always worth it when you’re watching a beautiful sunset and sipping a delicious local wine.

If the picnic mat and basket really aren’t your thing then during summer head down to the South Perth StrEATS. Right on the foreshore surrounded by beautiful parkland and with the best views of the city skyline, a range of delicious food trucks are set up and there are tables all ready for you. It’s like the location and vibe of a picnic but none of the effort!

Fremantle

The port city of Fremantle was once independent from Perth but has long since been absorbed into the ever-expanding metropolitan area. Fremantle has maintained many of it’s heritage buildings from the Victorian era and is a great place to explore the maritime and colonial history of Australia.

There are loads of amazing bars and restaurants here so you might want to take the train. One of Perth’s best bars is situated right on the waterfront here, called Bathers Beach House, it allows you to have a drink while lazing on a beach chair. Right next door are some of Perth’s best fish and chip shops, check out the classic Cicerello’s Fremantle.

Fremantle has real character which distinguishes it from the rest of Perth, you will want to plan for a full day to explore this beautiful area. Some of the top sights which you shouldn’t miss include:

• The W.A. Maritime Museum – A very well laid out and interesting museum, you can even explore the inside of an old submarine!
• Fremantle Prison – Dating from the colonial era and a UNESCO world heritage site, you can now take tours and if you want an extra special experience there is a super spooky night tour.
• Fremantle Markets – Housed in a building dating from the late 1800s, there are many beautiful artisan food and goods stands to explore. A great place to grab lunch during your explorations.

Find more awesome things to see and do in Fremantle by checking out our guide. See the link below for a fully guided tour of Fremantle’s highlights.

►Best of Fremantle 2 Hour Walking Tour – Highly Rated◄

Take a Day Trip

Lancelin and Yanchep

Lancelin is a small beachside town about 1.5 hours north of Perth. The town has a beautiful coastline, but the highlight here is the huge sand dunes and all the fun stuff you can do on them. The dunes are made up of beautiful white beach sand and tower up over the town and surrounding scrubland.

The best thing to do in Lancelin is rent a sandboard at one of the local shops and drag it up to the top before flying down and trying not to eat a face-full of sand! You can also arrange quad bike and buggy tours around the dunes, which is a super fun experience. Quad tours also often include sandboarding in the price.

If getting sand everywhere really puts you off then you can also hire stand up paddle boards and surfboards and explore the beautiful beaches instead.

On the way back to Perth you will pass through Yanchep National Park. There are many beautiful walks here, including a koala boardwalk where you can spot koalas in the trees. You can also see a whole bunch of other wildlife around the park.

There are many caves in the park, with Crystal Cave and Yonderup Cave being the most accessible. You can take guided tours into the caves and there is also a high ropes treetop experience for the kids. If caves aren’t you thing then relax at the beautiful pub right there in the park whilst the kids zip through the treetops.

►Yanchep & Lancelin – Full day tour from Perth◄

Pinnacles Desert and Cervantes

The strange limestone pillars of the Pinnacles Desert are an iconic landmark of Western Australia. Situated 2 hours’ drive north of Perth and just off the highway you will find the entrance to the self-guided drive.

The cool thing about this attraction is that they’ve build a winding road through the landscape, so you can slowly drive through and stop whenever you want to have a closer look. There is also plenty of parking at the main entrance so you can just leave the car and complete the easy 1.5km walk if you prefer to get some exercise.

After exploring the landscape, you can visit the Pinnacles Discovery Centre to learn about the geology and history of the area. There is a café on site to re-fuel before moving on. The beachside town of Cervantes is just 15 minutes further up the road. Here you can visit the Lobster Shack and learn about the fishing industry before eating some delicious fresh lobster.