Perth is the capital of Western Australia. It is a beautiful mixture of cities and suburbs. There are so many best things to do in Perth that can enjoy like chilling at the sandy beaches and seeing the botanical gardens.
Perth contributes in the prosperity of many businesses. It is a culturally as well as economically developed city. Perth city itself has a number of sites for travelers and explorers. It has the State Library of Western Australia and the Western Australian Museum.
You can enjoy the art in the various museums, go for fine dining or sit on benches facing the Swan River. If you are an extrovert and love to have some thrilling experiences, you can also try the different water sports like windsurfing on the many beaches.
Here we have listed some of the top 10 things to do in Perth to add an element of thrill to your tour:
- Visit the Kings Park and Botanical Garden
The Kings Park and Botanical Garden is a 990-acre park in Perth, Western Australia. It is the most popular tourist attraction. Almost five million people visit this park each year. It is a combination of parkland, botanical gardens and natural bushland.
You can also see the State War Memorial here which is one of the fun things to do in Perth with kids on weekend.
The botanical garden is within the park. It has around two thousand different species of flora. These flowers and plants are really pretty and will make you happy and calm. Some plants you can see here are Acacia glaucoptera, Pileanthus and Anigozanthosmanglesii.
Two-thirds of the grounds here are conserved as native bushland.
- Cruise on the Swan River
The Swan River is indeed a splendid view against the skyline of the city. Initially, the Swan river was used as the main transport route between Perth and Fremantle. Now, it is a popular tourist attraction.
There are dual paths along the river so many people walk, ride bicycles or skate around it.
You can also go on a cruise to Fremantle, Swan Valley and Rottnest Island. This way you can relax and simply enjoy the ride while having a delicious lunch.
For those who like water sports, windsurfing and sailing are some of the cool things to do in Perth this weekend.
You can do fishing or bird-watching if you are looking for leisure activities. Or you can have a little picnic with your friends on the grass along the river.
- See the Bell Tower
Another amazing thing to see in Perth is the Bell Tower. It overlooks the Swan River. Many historic events are associated with it. Its unique design makes it an iconic monument.
The Swan Bells basically 18 bells hanging in a campanile made of copper and glass. The ring of bells was given to Western Australia during the Bicentennial celebrations in 1988. The Bell Tower includes the twelve bells of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. These are recorded as existing since before the 14th century!
These bells are the second largest set of ringing bells in the world.
Another noteworthy thing about the Bell Tower is that the bells are not rung by machines but are instead run by the volunteers of the St. Martin’s Society of Change Ringers Inc.
- Play with the Kangaroos at Heirisson Island
Heirisson Island is situated on the Swan River in Perth. Australia is known for its kangaroos.So you should definitely visit HeirissonIsland which is home for many kangaroos. Kangaroos are nocturnal and are active during the night. So you may not be able to see them during the day. But Heirisson Island is open 24 hours so you can see them at night as well. The best time to spot them is either early morning or late afternoon.
The kangaroos are kept inside a gated area. You are allowed to go inside the gated area and even feed the kangaroos.
A few areas of the island road can be rough and patchy, but nothing too difficult. There are great views of the city from the island. There are a few benches if you want to sit and take in the surroundings. If you are lucky you can even spot dolphins near the Causeway.
You should also see the statue of Yagan towards the far west of the island. Yagan was a Noongar leader during the early years of the Swan River colony.
- Visit Fremantle
Fremantle is a port city in the metropolitan area of Perth. There are many Perth things do to you can try here.
- Food and Dining:
Fremantle has a wide variety of dining experiences. Many restaurants provide Italian and Asian cuisines. Many old buildings have now been renovated- including Little Creatures Brewery. It contains a cafe and an art gallery.
- Fremantle Beaches:
Fremantle has five beaches- Bathers Beach, River Beach, South Beach, Leighton Beach and Port Beach. The afternoon sea breeze, called as ‘Freo Doctor’, has made these beaches ideal for wind and kite surfing. Taking a walk through the beach is one of the romantic things to do in Perth tonight
- Historic Buildings:
You can also see the many heritage buildings. Fremantle is known for its well-preserved architectural heritage. The Fremantle Markets that exist from 1897, provide handicrafts, food, dining halls, fish and vegetable markets. The Fremantle School buildings and the Fremantle Arts Centre were constructed in the 1860s from locally quarried limestone.
There are several art galleries and museums here including the Western Australian Museum, Maritime Museum and the Army Museum.
- Music and Art Culture:
The city also has musical venues and a community theatre company called as Harbour Theatre Inc. They have been performing in the city since 1963. The streets of Fremantle are filled with music and many types of art.
- Shop in the Downtown Area
For all the shopping lovers out there, you should know that Perth provides many shopping options. There are small markets to high-end malls. The Murray and Hay Street malls are two of the main malls where many people go for shopping. They are pedestrian malls so you don’t have to worry about traffic. Myer and David Jones are two of the main department stores. There are many paths to walk along and do window shopping as well.
- Visit the Perth Zoo
Perth Zoo is a 41-acre zoo in South Perth. It was opened in the year 1898. By 2011, it had 1,258 animals and also an aquarium. It has three main areas or zones- Australian Walkabout, Asian Rainforest and African Savannah. All exhibits are designed according to the animals’ natural habitat.
- The Australian Walkabout:
It has the Australian Wetlands, Australian Bushwalk, Reptile Encounter, etc. Some of the animals are- black swan, freckled duck, red kangaroos, wombats, freshwater crocodiles, pig-nosed turtles, koalas, etc. The nocturnal house has ringtail possum, rough-scaled python, sugar-glider, bilby among many others.
- Asian Rainforest:
The Asian Rainforest has a number of endangered Asian species. These are Asian elephants, small-clawed otters, red pandas, Sumatran Orangutans, Sumatran Tigers, etc.
- African Savannah:
This exhibit replicates the African Savannah and has African lions, Grant’s zebras, baboons, meerkats, African painted dogs, giraffes, etc. If you have kids then a tour of this zoo is one of the fun things to do in Perth tomorrow or today with kids.
- Astrotourism in Western Australia
If you are someone who loves to look at the starry skies and the magnificent galaxies, Perth is the perfect destination. There are many observatories here in Chittering and Bindoon- which allow you to see the stars through a telescope. The clear night sky without any light pollution is ideal for stargazing. The Nambung National Park is also great for seeing the milky way.
What’s Next?
Whether you are looking for cheap things to do in Perth for free or cool things to do in Perth today, the above travel guide will give you a perfect glimpse of this amazing city. Once you know what to do in Perth, you can go ahead and plan your journey accordingly. If you are planning to visit some other tourist attractions one Perth, check out our Australia travel guide to get all the information.
About Author: Suchita Kasab is a versatile writer who loves writing in different niches. She is extremely passionate about traveling and loves contributing her thoughts through regular travel blogs.
