One of my travel goals for the last couple of years has been to visit Perth in Western Australia. I’ve done some cheap Australian holidays in the past- I backpacked up the East Coast from Sydney to Cairns, visited Alice Springs and did a tour of Uluru, watched the Grand Prix in Melbourne, drove the Great Ocean Road and won the World Nomads Vantastic competition to drive a van around South Australia. Having made some really good friends in Europe who are from Perth, I decided it was time to finally book a ticket over here.
I think it’s my favourite place in Oz so far. I’ve been fortunate enough to have fantastic friends driving me around and showing me all the best spots. It’s that bit more laid back than the cities on the East Coast, and the coastline is stunning. The climate is pleasant and most of the activities here are based around the water and being out and about in the sunshine.
Here are my top 5 things to do in Perth:
1. Take a trip to Rottnest Island
Rottnest Island lies 19km off the coast of Fremantle and is inhabited by ‘quokkas’ which look like a cross between kangaroos and rats. Take the ferry over, or if you have a friend with a boat, then even better. The island is great for snorkeling, fishing, diving and cycling and there’s a great pub called the Rottnest Hotel (previously “The Quokka Arms”).
2. Have chilli mussels at Little Creatures Brewery in Fremantle
Little Creatures Brewery is a really cool pub in Fremantle that’s set inside a massive converted boat shed on the water. It’s a modern brewery and restaurant that serves some great beer and the best chilli mussels I’ve ever tasted. It’s packed on a weekend and plays pumping music too, so it has a really fun vibe.
3. Admire the view from Kings Park
Sitting on Mount Eliza on the edge of the Central Business District, Kings Park is one of the largest inner city parks in the worldm covering 4.06 square km. It offers some incredible views of Perth and the Swan River, and is just a great place to relax and escape the bustle of the city.
4. Have a swim at Cottesloe Beach
Cottesloe Beach is a really nice sandy beach and perfect for a swim at the end of the day. Spend the day sunbathing on the sand and swimming in the ocean, then watch the beautiful sunset before popping into the Ocean Beach Hotel for a beer. Known as the “OBH”, this pub gets really busy on a Sunday when everyone goes there for a Sunday Session.
5. Experience a Sunday Session
Australia is all about ‘Sunday Sessions’, and nowhere does a Sunday Session quite like Perth. Basically on a Sunday afternoon, everyone goes to the pub and has a few drinks with their mates before going to work on the Monday. Sunday sessions usually take place in beer gardens overlooking the ocean or the Swan River, with DJs pumping out tunes into the evening. A typical Sunday session starts in the early afternoon and goes on till about 10pm, and popular places to go are the OBH, The Windsor, Cottesloe Hotel, The Grosvenor and Leederville.
I love the food at Little Creatures! They have opened a beer hall in Fitzroy, Melbourne but it’s not as good because you don’t get the whole experience of being in a brewery and seeing the beer getting bottled. But it is much easier for me to get to than Freo.
The food and the atmosphere there is amazing! I didn’t know they have opened one in Melbourne, but I will check it out when I am there next!
Awesome! Im going to Perth in Mid may and Im super excited! Thanks for the tips
This is a great top 5. The fact that the Perth Mint does not feature adds enormous credibility. Love your work.