Itineraries for Your Trip to Perth
3 Days in Perth for First Timers
After spending nearly a decade traveling the world, I ended up in Perth, lured by the beautiful beaches, great weather, and easy proximity to adventure. After a move from the coast to the Swan Valley—Perth’s wine region—I found an even deeper appreciation for the city and its stories.
As a travel writer, I’ve spent the last few years experiencing the City of Light, and I still keep uncovering new things. After lots of exploring, I’ve got a few favorites under my belt, but in a city as big as Perth, there’s always something new to discover. First-time visitors are in for a treat, though. Here’s a 3-day itinerary to help you hit all the highlights.
Perth is hot and dry in summer, while winters are mild with occasional rain.
If you only have time for one thing, make it Elizabeth Quay—a blend of architecture, history, and art on the banks of the Swan River.
Kick off a trip to Perth by seeing the city center. Ease into your explorations with a walking tour, or, opt for a bicycle tour or a Segway tour. Kings Park is also worth a visit. The largest inner-city park in the world, it’s steeped in aboriginal history and offers views.
This afternoon, enjoy an indulgent experience with a trip to the Swan Valley to sample wine, chocolates, and cheeses. This combo tour includes a scenic drive to the historic wine-growing region, followed by an afternoon tea river cruise back along the Swan with free-flowing wine and cake.
Day two involves heading a little further afield to Rottnest Island. Home to one of the world’s friendliest animals, the quokka, Rottnest is also known for its beautiful beaches and snorkeling. Jump on the ferry from the city and squeeze in some extra sightseeing with a scenic trip down to Fremantle first.
Bicycling is the main mode of transport on car-free Rottnest, but you can use a hop-on-hop-off bus for quicker sightseeing. Wildlife lovers can also opt to add on a wildlife-spotting boat trip while foodies might want to jump on a deluxe seafood cruise.
Spend your final day in Perth exploring some of Western Australia’s sights or learning about history in Fremantle—home to Little Creatures brewery, Fremantle Markets (Fri-Sun), and Shipwreck Museum. Join a city walking tour and spend the afternoon on the beach before hitting up Freo’s best bars on a bar tour.
If the open road calls, you have options. North takes you to Lancelin’s white sand dunes and the Pinnacles. Popular with stargazers, this lunar landscape is filled with natural limestone sculptures. Food and wine lovers won’t want to miss Margaret River, while landscape aficionados should head inland to York and Wave Rock.
