For the past few years, Perth, Australia landed itself on several top lists, including Travel & Leisure’s Best Places to See in 2017 and Lonely Planet’s Top New Openings of 2017 list. CNN Travel calls it one of the coolest cities in the Southern Hemisphere and included it on the 2018 Best Places to Travel list. Even Vogue shone the spotlight on Perth. But Perth, located on the far west coast, opposite the populous and well-travelled east coast trifecta of Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, often escapes a busy tourist’s itinerary. It shouldn’t. *This post originally appeared on Point Me To The Plane, a points and miles blog I write for.*
Perth enjoys 3,200 hours of sunshine annually, more than Darwin, the next sunniest destination in Australia. There’s plenty to do in this sun-soaked city, from an exciting new food scene to outdoor activities galore.
Perth, Australia, by the numbers
Perth – one of the world’s most isolated (state) capital cities – lies nearly 4,000 kilometres from Sydney. With a population of a little more than two million, it’s the fourth most populous state capital.
Because of its isolation, the majority of American travellers to Australia simply do not get there. In 2016, for instance, only 79,000 Americans visited Western Australia, of 668,000 visited Australia. Sydney and Melbourne top the list for U.S. travellers to Australia, but Perth has a wealth of unique attractions that beckon.
It should come as no surprise then, that Western Australia’s tourism numbers continue to rise. I fell in love with not just the city, but also the Western Australia region, back in 2017, and want to share it with you. Here’s why I love Perth, and why I recommend it as a worthwhile destination on an Australian itinerary.
How to Get to, and Around, Perth
For U.S. travellers, the most logistical itinerary is Los Angeles LAX to Sydney’s Kingsford Smith (SYD) or Melbourne’s Tullamarine (MEL) to Perth Airport (PER). US-based carriers and their codeshares all fly this route, and it allows for time in the eastern cities.
American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines all offer flights between the U.S. West Coast and numerous East Coast Australia cities. These airlines allow award bookings through their own frequent flyer programs ahead of time, too, though typically at outrageous prices.
Flying from other Australian cities to Perth is a cinch. Jetstar, Qantas and Virgin Australia all offer domestic service between Perth and the populous east coast.
Nonstop to Perth
Perth recently became somewhat less isolated from its eastern counterparts when Qantas launched the longest flight in the world, an 18-plus hour nonstop to London, earlier this year.
Other eastbound service to Perth includes an Emirates flight from Dubai (DXB), a Qatar Airways service via Doha (DOH), Singapore Airlines service via Singapore, and Qantas new London Heathrow (LHR) nonstop.
Transit in Perth
Perth’s public transportation system is extensive. There are six train lines that run through and into the suburbs, a ferry system, and four free bus lines. Fremantle, the former port city of Perth, has two free bus lines, and Joondalup, a north coast suburb, has three. Getting around the city by public transport is very easy.
Getting out of the city, though, is easiest with a car. Whether you want to head south to the Margaret River region, explore the Swan Valley, or road trip to the Outback, a car allows you the freedom to stop whenever. And, trust me, there are some great places to stop!
What to Do in Perth, Australia
Despite the limited number of overseas visitors, there’s so much to see and do in Perth. The city’s isolation often means that international musicians and artists exclude it from tours, so the local music and art scene thrives. Museums across the city highlight the extensive maritime history, Western Australia Aboriginal culture, and more. Nature and wildlife abound as well, from Kings Park in the city to nearby Rottnest Island. And when it comes to food and drink, Perth shines. The nearby Margaret River wine region is considered one of the best in the world, where the Mediterranean-like climate is ideal for growing exceptional fruit.
Nature and Wildlife – Meet the Quokka, a Rottnest Island Inhabitant
Visitors to Perth often include one major wildlife experience on their itinerary, and it has nothing to do with kangaroos or wallabies. Instead, take the chance to meet a quokka, the world’s happiest animal (it always looks like its smiling). The quokka is a large marsupial that inhabits Rottnest Island, a 30 minute ferry ride away from Fremantle. Ferries depart from four different points in either Perth or Fremantle regularly throughout the day. There is overnight accommodation on the island, although it’s a popular vacation spot for locals, so book in advance if you want to overnight.
The best way to get around the island is by bike, and the ferry companies offer bikes as part of a package ticket. Several companies also provide bus tours, for those with either less time or who don’t bicycle. Rottnest’s main road is 18km (11 miles) around; cycling the entire island takes anywhere from 2 to 5 hours depending on fitness level and how often you stop.
It’s relatively easy to spot the quokka as you explore the island; they’re very used to humans and are more than happy to come up and hang out.
My personal favourite stop on Rottnest is the sea lion haul out at Cathedral Rocks on the island’s western side. I highly suggest taking a swimsuit as well, since there are gorgeous beaches all over the island and it’s easy to procure snorkelling gear.
In the city, head for the Aquarium of Western Australia at Hillary’s Boat Harbour to learn about all the wildlife found in the waters off Perth.
Arts and Culture
Despite its isolation, or probably because of it, Perth has a thriving arts and culture scene. From world-class museums to vibrant local music and theatre productions, not a night goes by when there isn’t something exciting to see. Perth’s history as a convict city and later as a mining town means that the city’s cultural heritage is varied and rich.
The new Museum of Perth (opened virtually 2012, opened a brick-and-mortar museum in 2015) and the Western Australian Museum both explore the natural and social history of the city and the state. The Fremantle Prison also peeks into the social history, but from a convict perspective. Transport enthusiasts will enjoy the Motor Museum of Western Australia, the Aviation Heritage Museum, and the Western Australia Maritime Museum, all of which highlight a different aspect of transportation in WA.
The Perth Cultural Centre, in the city centre, is home to the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, the Art Gallery of Western Australia, the State Library, and the above-mentioned Western Australian Museum.
Festivals abound in Perth; the most popular are the Perth International Arts Festival, now in its 65th year, and the Perth International Comedy Festival.
Food and Drink
There are a lot of restaurants in Perth, and plenty of great food and wine a stone’s throw from the city centre. Northbridge is a popular bar district, but also has plenty of great ethnic restaurants and is the unofficial Chinatown. Elizabeth Quay, a fairly new waterfront precinct, is home to some of the city’s best new restaurants, upscale gelato shops, bars, and cafes.
I can’t mention food and drink in Perth without briefly touching on the nearby Western Australian wine regions, Margaret River and Swan Valley. Both are exceptional regions, although Margaret River is more well-known. Swan Valley was one of the first settled regions, and has always had fertile soil for agricultural purposes. Its proximity to Perth’s city centre make it ideal for a half day excursion.
In addition to wineries, there are also coffee roasteries, chocolate factories, cheese farms, beekeepers, rum distilleries, breweries, and more.
Margaret River has many of the same characteristics as Swan Valley. In fact, many producers have a Swan Valley site as well as a Margaret River one. Margs, as the locals call it, is one of the world’s most remote and pristine agricultural regions. Its distance from a major city (3+ hours), cool Antarctic air, and the warm Indian Ocean air combine to form a unique microclimate ideal for growing wine. And because those winds don’t cross any other land before sweeping across the coast, they’re pure. Margaret River is known for Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Beaches
Perth offers up hundreds of beaches, and it’d be a shame to go to Perth without spending time at at least one of them. Cottesloe, near Fremantle, is a popular beach for families. It has a spectacular restaurant as well, Indiana, in a charming Victorian house. Hillary’s Beach, north of the city, is a large harbour and shopping district with a gentle kid-friendly marina-side beach.
Where to Stay in Perth
As Perth grows ever more popular on the tourism radar, the hotel industry is one step ahead. There are several luxury properties in the city, as well as a few on the near horizon.
The COMO Treasury, both a Virtuoso property and a Small Luxury Hotel, is located on Cathedral Ave, just one block from Elizabeth Quay. Its central location is ideal for indulging in the food scene, attending performances, or catching the ferry to Rottnest Island.
Hyatt Regency Perth is located in East Perth, along the Swan River. It’s not in the heart of the city, but it is well-situated for those using Perth as a base to explore the surrounding region. The InterContinental Perth and the Holiday Inn Perth are located a few blocks from Elizabeth Quay, while the Crowne Plaza is in East Perth, near Langley Park. A Ritz-Carlton is slated to open in mid-2019 at Elizabeth Quay.
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Perth deserves to be on an Australian itinerary, even if it takes a few tricks to get there. Perth ticks all the boxes, from nature and wildlife to exceptional food and drink and everything in between. With great weather almost all year round, award-winning dining, luxury hotels, and world-class beaches, it’s a destination on the rise.
Do you want to include Perth, Australia on your Australian itinerary? I’m an Aussie Specialist, and can make sure you hit all the highlights of Perth – and Western Australia – on your trip. Email me today to schedule your complimentary consultation. Not quite ready to head Down Under? Pin this >>> for future reference!
