Perth, capital of Western Australia, is home to some of the most magnificent natural wonders and has been a tourist favourite for years. Like Melbourne, Perth frequently ranks as one of the world’s most liveable cities. Though the city has an incredible skyline, it’s more than just sky scrapers! It has many amazing restaurants, bars, pubs, stylish boutiques, art galleries and museums and entertainment hotspots.
There are a plethora of things to do in Perth that entice tourists from around the globe, year after year. Locals believe in celebrating every season and with the start of the summer comes a long list of activities.
So read on as we share the best things to do in Perth in Summer.
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Planning your trip to Perth
Things To Do In Perth, Australia
- Where to stay in Perth
- Kings Park and Botanic Garden
- Swan River
- Beaches
- St. Mary’s Cathedral
- Perth Zoo
- Bell Tower
- Swan Valley
- Before you leave for Perth
Where To Stay in Perth
Kings Park and Botanic Garden
One of the top things to do in Perth is to visit the spectacular Kings Park and Botanic Garden.
This park is one of the worlds largest inner city parks and is home to the Western Australian Botanic Garden. Kings Park has it all; beautiful grassed parkland, an immaculate botanical garden, cafes, bushland walking trails and a rich cultural heritage.
The botanical garden has over 3000 of the states unique flora here, it really is a site to see.
Among the many attractions here to see, the war memorial and the DNA tower are a must.
Visitors can enjoy a variety of guided tours at Kings Park, including by Segway! The ideal way to immerse yourself and learn about this place.
Swan Valley
On a summer’s day in Perth, a great thing to do is visit the Swan Valley. Located just a 30-minute drive from Perth, this region offers some of the most scenic and verdant landscapes in Australia, characterised by sprawling vineyards, serene rivers, and a diverse array of wildlife.
The Swan Valley is particularly renowned for being Western Australia’s oldest wine region. The array of wineries and distilleries to explore is extensive, with many offering a unique blend of traditional and modern wine-making techniques. A culinary hotspot, it also boasts artisanal cheese makers, chocolate factories, and gourmet eateries offering farm-to-table delicacies.
There are many other things to do in Swan Valley beyond its gastronomic delights such as numerous walking and cycling trails. Visitors can even book free guided tours to make the most of their visit.
You can also get to the Swan Valley by taking a boat cruise up the swan river!
Beaches
Whenever tourists fly to any island or coastal location, they will always be drawn to its beaches. Perth is home to some of the most precious, quaint, breathtaking, and even surreal beaches. This makes it a perfect location to spend your summer holidays.
Different visitors will want different types of beaches to visit, some want to head down with their families, others want to spend time alone and be amongst nature. Therefore, we’ve compiled this list of the nicest beaches to visit in Perth:
- Cottesloe Beach (The Postcard Beach)
- Leighton Beach (For all the tropical feels)
- Mettams Pool (To enjoy water activities)
- Bathers Beach (For a lively atmosphere)
- City Beach (Closest to the city)
St. Mary’s Cathedral
If you are searching for a quaint place to enjoy some tranquil time, pay a visit to St. Mary’s Cathedral. Originally built in 1865, the cathedral has undergone three separate expansions throughout its life. It has gained its fame and importance after being the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Perth for over 150 years.
If you want to enjoy a tour of the cathedral, there are several guided tours available.
Perth Zoo
Perth zoo is a fun-filled, adventurous place, perfect for families to visit. Opened to the public in 1898, the zoo is spread across a huge 41-acre area and has been welcoming streams of visitors since then.
As of now, the zoo houses more than 1300 animals made up of approx. 164 different species and has a widespread botanical collection. The varieties of animals include Asian, African, Australian, South American and many more.
To ensure the animals are comfortable, the ambience and the geological conditions of the zoo are maintained their natural habitat would be.
The zoo also has many activities available to try out. If you thought it was just about watching the animals, below ia a list of things to do in the zoo:
- Elephant Walk
- Rhinoceros Tours
- Zebra Car Tour
- Free zookeeper sessions
- Animal feeding presentations
- Educational programs
This is likely why Perth Zoo is one of the most visited tourist locations in Australia.
If you are looking for a good bag for your time exploring Perth, we can highly recommend the Wandrd Bag PRVKE 41L, especially if you are carrying camera equipment around the city. If you are looking for a smaller backpack, The Nest by Tropicfeel is one of the most comfortable bags I have ever owned and perfect for a city break.
Bell Tower
Perth is home to one of the world’s largest musical instruments – the Bell Tower.
The Bell Tower is designed in such a way that it looks like a space rocket ready to launch. But don’t be fooled by the look, it hides one of the most interesting facts. It houses the Swan Bells in a distinctive 82.5 metre-high tower located in Barrack Square.
The bells themselves are special too! They are original 14th-century bells from Saint Martin in the Fields Church, the parish church of London’s Buckingham Palace!
Visitors can see many exciting exhibits associated with the history of bells. Those who wish to enjoy a 360-degree view of the Swan River should head towards the observation deck on the 6th floor.
For an extra special memento, couples can buy customised love locks and put them on the chain-linked fence.
Before You Leave for Perth
Before you set off on your way to Perth, Australia, there are a number of things you will need to get organized to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey. These include what to pack, where to stay, and what is the best insurance for your trip to Australia. All of this is discussed in detail below.
How to Get to Perth
When you arrive in Perth, you will most likely arrive at one of the main train stations, the bus station, or the airport. If you are wanting to explore the city center sights, such as Kings Park, the Swan River, and the bustling shopping precincts, then Perth Station is the best train station for you. The Elizabeth Quay Bus Station is also conveniently located near the city center, making it an excellent choice for arriving in the city.
Perth Airport is situated approximately 12 km from the city center. However, there is a very simple and reliable public transportation system that runs throughout the city. You can catch a Transperth bus or shuttle from Perth Airport directly into the city center, or opt for a taxi or rental car to reach your destination.
For this itinerary, any of these options will be suitable for getting you into the city center. However, since most of the sights are centered around the central business district, Perth Station or the Elizabeth Quay Bus Station would be the closest and most convenient stations.
What to Pack for Your Trip to Perth
Depending on which season you visit Perth, what you will need to pack will vary. During the summer months of December to February, temperatures can reach temperatures in the 30’s.
During the other months, temperatures and weather around this region are rather consistent, fluctuating between the teens and low 20’s. We highly recommend that you pack a rain jacket and some warm layers, however, also pack some light and summery clothing for the days blessed with sunshine.
If you need more inspiration on what to pack for your trip, check out our full packing guides for all-weather conditions over here.
When it comes to toiletries, we recommend that you pack as much sunscreen as you can. The sun in Australia is strong, and even the darkest skin tones can get easily burnt. No matter what the season is or how warm you may feel, you should always wear sunscreen in Australia.
Given the beautiful sights and scenery that you are no doubt going to see around Perth, we highly recommend packing a good camera for your trip. If you want to read more about the cameras we use and why we love them, check out the link below.
You can read what else we keep in our camera bag over here.
Photography Equipment
Main Photography Camera – Sony A7v Mirrorless Camera and Sony A7iii Mirrorless Camera
Microphone – Shure VP83 Condenser Shotgun Microphone
Main Lens – Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8
Zoom Lens – Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8
Camera Tripod – ZOMEI Z669C Camera Tripod
Gorilla Pod – JOBY JB01507-BWW GorillaPod
Action Camera – GoPro Hero 11 and Insta 360 One RS
Drone Camera – DJI Mavic Pro 3
Camera Bag – Wandrd PRVKE 41L and The Nest by Tropicfeel
Phone Tripod – Manfrotto MKPIXICLAMP-BK, Mini Tripod with Universal Smartphone Clamp
Sturdy Phone Tripod & Selfie Stick – ATUMTEK 61″ Selfie Stick Tripod, Sturdy Phone Tripod Stand with Wireless Remote
Hard Drives – LaCie Rugged Mini, 5TB, 2.5″, Portable External Hard Drive
SSD – SanDisk Extreme Pro 1TB Portable NVMe SSD
Travel Adapter –Worldwide Travel Adapter Universal Travel Plug with 4 USB Ports+Universal AC Socket
What is the Best Travel Insurance for Perth
I know travel insurance is the least enjoyable thing to purchase and look at when you’re planning a trip, however, you wouldn’t want to be without it in the event that something happened. Accidents can happen anywhere and the extortionate medical bills will ruin your trip if you are not covered.
To ensure you have a stress-free trip with no worries about potential medical bills, make sure you cover yourself when you travel. We can recommend using SafetyWing, a backpacker-friendly and cheap insurance company that provides good coverage and support. It is also nomad-friendly, unlike most other insurance companies, meaning you do not need to worry about being out of your home country for too long.
Get a quote for your travel insurance right here and get covered!
So there you have it, the top things to do in Perth, Australia. If you are visiting this incredible city and have any other questions on what to expect, leave us a comment down below. We love to chat about this stuff! If you have already been, let us know how it was!
Also, remember to share this with your friends and family that you are going to share this amazing experience with. Sharing is caring and we want to ensure that everyone is fully prepared to maximise their experience visiting Perth.
If you are planning an Australia trip soon then check out our other Scotland content right here. Come and find us on social media to see where we are currently exploring. Tag us in your photos from your stay and we will share them with the rest of our community of explorers and backpackers.
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