Perth & Surrounds

It’s sunset – a favourite time in the Western Australia capital of Perth when you can watch the sun go down over the ocean from one of the city’s 19 beaches; see the shiny glass towers of the city glisten as you take in the view from Kings Park overlooking the city centre; or maybe seeing the city skyline from aboard a sunset cruise on the broad expanse of the Swan River.

Perth has grown from its colonial origins as the ‘Swan River Colony’ into a dynamic modern city of around 2.1 million and the capital for Australia’s largest State. While the business of mining occupies the weekday agenda of locals, come the evenings and weekends the cafes and bars in precincts around the city brim with life and activity. For visitors there is much to do – just point the compass and start discovering.

In the city, the Perth Mint is a must-see as are the Art Gallery of WA, WA Museum Boola Bardip and PICA – the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art. For lunch head up to Kings Park, arguably Australia’s finest city park, perched on a plateau that overlooks the panorama of Perth. Down on the banks of the river is the iconic Bell Tower and the spectacular footbridge that spans Elizabeth Quay. Join the locals in their passion for being on the water. Cruises depart from Barrack Square including to Fremantle and out to fabulous Rottnest Island for a day of exploring, cycling and discovering.

If you feel like a day in the country then just east of the city is the food and wine region of the Swan Valley with its cellar doors for sampling local wines and restaurants to savour WA’s fabulous food. And if you’re looking for fun, food, entertainment, and heritage all wrapped into one very charismatic coastal community then Fremantle is just 30 minutes drive from the centre of Perth. The Victorian port of ‘Freo’ offers heritage streetscapes, beaches, markets, cafes, and a lively bar scene as well as being home to WA’s pride and joy – the 1983 America’s Cup winning legend, Australia II, on display at the WA Maritime Museum. 

Perth is world-renowned for her spectacular coastline, there are 19 beaches found along the Sunset Coast, each one has a unique character and something special to discover. Here are our favourite spots to relax in the sunshine, take a dip in refreshing waters, draw our toes through white sands or enjoy a meal whilst watching a striking sunset.

• Mettams Pool - a naturally formed lagoon with a shallow reef. A fantastic spot for snorkelling as it is sheltered by rocks and has little to no waves.
• Trigg Beach - one of Perth's more popular surfing beaches. Long soft white sandy beaches and a grassed reserve offer visitors ample space to relax and enjoy the summer.
• Scarborough Beach - Impressive surf breaks and a long white beach make this stretch of vibrant coastline a firm favourite. It's bustling promenade with restaurants, adventure play grounds and bars creates an enticing drawcard for visitors of all tastes.
• City Beach - The presence of facilities like barbeques, playgrounds, change rooms, toilets and more make this a great beach to visit this summer with family and friends. The groynes provide great fishing vantage points and safe swimming for all.
• Cottesloe - One of the iconic locations of Perth with the Indiana Teahouse originally built in 1910 on her foreshore. In March every year many come to view the outdoor exhibition called 'Sculptures by the Sea' which turns the beach into an art gallery. Generations have enjoyed swimming, snorkelling and lazing on this beach.
• Coogee Beach – Peeking out from the shallows, only 2 to 4 meters deep and just 25 meters from the shore rests the remains of iron steamship, Omeo. snorkelers can explore this piece of Australian history up close, alongside the colourful marine life that have made the Omeo their home.
•  Hillarys Boat Harbour – 25 minutes north of Perth CBD is a marina with boutique shops, delicious dining destinations, a protected swimming beach and the Aquarium of WA – AQWA. A day trip destination in its own right, enjoy it day or night.

Perth – it’s where your WA experiences begin.

Further afield, Mandurah and the Peel region, as well as Rockingham, offer wonderful relaxed coastal breaks to the south of Perth, while the sunset coast to the North is the perfect place to soak in the Sun and the Sea.

Download your free Destination Perth 2024 Holiday Planner or order a free hard copy here.