PERTH Parks, beaches,
endless adventure & fun

Perth is Western Australia's capital city and the major gateway into the state. Fronting the widest stretch of the meandering Swan River, city and river make a stunning contrast, especially when the skies and river are a perfect Perth blue. The Swan hosts a range of water sports, including sailing, water skiing, sail boating, jet boating, fishing, parasailing, cruising. And there are more than 50 km of riverside pathways for walking and cycling. Perth's lifestyle is easygoing with a number of inner city parks adding to the relaxed, nature-based feel. And getting around is simple there's a free public transport service within the city centre.

Kings Park and endless beaches
For a bird's eye view, take a helicopter flight, or head to Kings Park for a spectacular view across Perth's cityscape and river. Kings Park is Perth's pride and joy, presenting a mix of untouched bushland, botanic gardens, walkways and grassy lawns. Take a walk on the Federation Walkway, relax with a picnic and take advantage of free barbecue facilities. Enjoy an impressive wildflower display in spring or the outdoor cinema in summer.
Within minutes of the city centre are Perth's beaches. There are nineteen to choose from some, such as Scarborough Beach are great for surfing, and others, like Cottesloe with its beachside cafes, are ideal for families.

Al fresco dining and great shopping
Hopping in Perth is fun and affordable. You'll find department and chain stores as well as chic designer outlets, all with a blend of design influences Aboriginal, Asian, African, European.
Dining out in Perth is all about fresh local produce, fine wines and a superb setting the warm climate encourages people out onto the street and down to the water's edge.
Restaurants and nightlife cater for all tastes and budgets, in the city centre and the suburbs. Northbridge has been joined by a number of other café pulse points including Leederville, Subiaco, Mount Lawley, Sorrento and Cottesloe.
On Sunday afternoons, head to a local pub for the traditional “Sunday Session” it's a great way to experience the Perth lifestyle.
Another local tradition is Aussie Rules football head to Subiaco Oval to see one of the local Australian Football League teams, the West Coast Eagles or the Fremantle Dockers
Avon Valley
Western Australia's Avon Valley is steeped in pioneer history. It's also the place for adventures that keep you firmly in the moment.

Along the Avon River
The white waters of the Avon River host the annual world-famous, heart-pumping Avon Descent canoe and powerboat race. Adrenalin junkies will find rafting another exciting option, which is available all year round or there's sky-diving and hot air ballooning to get you airborne.
Northam boasts the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in Australia, and it's one of the best places for taking photos of the white swans.
There are plenty of refreshing riverside picnic spots around Northam, nearby Toodyay, York and Goomalling, all close enough to Perth city for day trips as well as long lazy holidays.

Driving through heritage country
The Avon Valley offers gentle self-drive trail through rolling countryside with sweeping views. And there are heaps of walk trails from short strolls to leg-stretching treks around the Avon Valley National Park.
Another scenic drive meanders from Beverley to York via County Peak, offering views over nine shires and the Yenyenning Lakes chain.
The drive between Toodyay and Chittering winds through picturesque country side with picnic spots, wineries, orchards, farmstays and bed & breakfasts.
York is Western Australia's first inland settlement and, like Toodyay, is awash with heritage buildings, museums, art galleries and craft shops. You'll want to stay a while in both towns to soak up the relaxing atmosphere and to buy a few gifts.
Heritage country is scattered with colonial homesteads among undulating farmland, where farmstays and guesthouses extend a warm welcome. Here's your opportunity to try bush camping within easy reach of several towns.



New Norcia - truly unique
Don't leave the Avon Valley without making the trip north to Australia's only monastic town, New Norcia.
The architecture, with its strong Spanish flavour, dominates the Australian bush setting the entire town is registered on the National Estate.
Take Mass with the monks, try local Abbey wines or mouth watering locally baked cakes and bread New Norcia is unique, tranquil and delicious.

Fremantle and Rottnest Island
There are two places that shouldn't be missed during a visit to Experience Perth - Rottnest Island and Fremantle. Big favourites with locals, they offer relaxing getaways and a blue ocean backdrop.
Fremantle, known locally as 'Freo', is just 20 minutes drive from Perth city. You can also take a scenic route and go by ferry. Rottnest Island, or 'Rotto', lies half an hour's ferry ride from Fremantle perfect for a day trip or short escape.
Fremantle - open seven days
Fremantle oozes heritage and cosmopolitan culture. Seven days a week, the streets are abuzz with shoppers and al fresco diners, while pubs brim over with patrons from across the globe.
A strong Italian influence has produced a vast array of pizza and pasta restaurants, alongside a wide selection of other international eateries.
Don't miss the weekend markets which are great for fresh fruit and veggies or that unique gift.
But best of all, are the fish and chips. Some of the state's most popular seafood restaurants and cafés are dotted around Fishing Boat Harbour the perfect place to sample the Indian Ocean's bounty.


Western Australia's pioneering history lives on in the port city, where convict prisons and maritime museums tell fascinating stories of courage and mischief.
Sitting on Victoria Quay is the Western Australian Maritime Museum. Designed to depict a boat stranded on a sandy promontory, the museum houses famous sailing vessels along with hands on exhibits bringing sea-faring heritage to life.
Weekends make way for an array of street performers, setting an artistic and fun-loving tone for shoppers.
Funky Australian fashions, the freshest local produce and the latest indigenous art you will find it all in Fremantle's boutiques, markets and shopping centres.
Spend the day or stay a while in 'Freo' and really get into the lifestyle. There's no shortage of accommodation choices ranging from stunning hotels to backpackers' lodges.

Rottnest Island relaxing and rejuvenating
'Rotto' has a tranquil atmosphere it's the island where the locals go to get away from the every day. Situated just off the coast of Perth, Rottnest Island is renowned for superb snorkeling, diving, surfing, fishing, boating and swimming in crystal bays. There's plenty for land-lovers to do too, including golfing and walk trails. Private vehicles are not permitted on the island. Instead, visitors hire bicycles and pedal their way from bay to bay or catch the bus.
Accommodation is in villas, cabins, hotel rooms or on the campsite, but needs to be booked well in advance. Wherever you stay, Rottnest Island's relaxed pace will leave you rejuvenated and ready to face the real world again.

Peel and Rockingham
Intricate waterways, soothing beaches and native forests are standout features of the Peel and Rockingham. Less than an hour's drive south of Perth, both offer a variety of activities for day trips and short getaways.
Enjoy a round of golf, plunge into the thrill of white-water rafting, or take a peaceful walk deep into jarrah forests. Ideal conditions for fishing and boating are also plentiful and there are local wineries and outdoor cafes to enjoy.

Family fun and watery activities
Both Mandurah the Peel's 'capital' and Rockingham are great family destinations, with their wide grassy foreshores for picnicking and cafes for al fresco and waterfront dining.
They are also famous for interactive dolphin experiences and fishing Mandurah's crabbing season drawing visitors from far and wide.
The safe, sandy beaches and sheltered waters of Cockburn and Warnbro Sounds are ideal for swimming, diving, sailing, boating, windsurfing and fishing.
Or explore the Peel waterways on a charter cruise or houseboat perhaps the most idyllic touring option to while away a few days meandering along the marvellous Murray River.

Action for land-lovers
The adventurous have an array of activities to keep them busy. Canoeing, white-water rafting and world class golfing are just the beginning. There's the chance to hike part of the world famous Bibbulmun Track or cycle the Munda Biddi trail and families will love the farm animal interactions and pony rides.
Be sure to catch a ride on the Hotham Valley Tourist Railway steam train, as it winds through Western Australia's magical jarrah forest and seasonal wildflowers. If this gets you into a nostalgic mood, reminisce on a tour of discovery through the many timber towns dotted around the region, such as Serpentine, Jarrahdale and Dwellingup.
Jarrahdale is Western Australia's first timber town. Nestled in the foothills it is a good base from which to explore winding forest walks, historic villages, woodcraft outlets, and the Serpentine National Park another great picnic spot. With so much to see and do in the Peel, you may like to stay a few days. There is accommodation to suit all budgets from backpackers and caravan parks to farm stays and five star luxury and family resorts.

Sunset Coast
Experience Perth has some of the most pristine coastline in the world. Powdery white beaches stretch from the city's western suburbs to Lancelin, 125 kilometres north of Perth. Although local life revolves around the water, Perth's beaches are never crowded, giving a sense of space and freedom.
Hire a bicycle or convertible car and make the best of the glorious sunshine with a beachside picnic along the sunset strip, or try something more active like windsurfing or yachting.
Perth beaches
A local favourite is Cottesloe, 15 minutes from Perth city. Bustling cafes, children's playgrounds, warm sunshine and the inviting Indian Ocean draws young crowds and families for body boarding, surfing and snorkeling.
City Beach and Floreat Beach are also excellent for body boarding and sunset beach fishing. Surfers should head further north to Scarborough Beach and Trigg Island, 15 minutes north-west of the city. Most Perth beaches have playgrounds and cafes, and there's a large range of beachfront accommodation in Scarborough.

Nature & Adventure at the Marmion Marine Park
Nature lovers and fishing enthusiasts will have a ball in Marmion Marine Park, stretching from Trigg Island to Burns Rock. The reef has formed shallow crystal lagoons where dolphins play, and sea lions laze nearby on Little Island.
Mettams Pool is a calm snorkeling spot, ideal for little people and new swimmers. Find it by following the oceanfront cycle track from Sorrento Beach to Trigg.
Hillarys Boat Harbour also offers shallow, protected swimming, and the famous Sorrento Quay is right next door with its timber boardwalks lined with cafes and specialty shops. Hillarys and Ocean Reef have marinas with public boat launching facilities.

From bushland to sand dunes
At Joondalup, in the northern suburbs, there are picnic areas and a walk trail where visitors can view and interact with kangaroos and local bird-life. Half an hour north-west of the city and you're among dunes, limestone cliffs, bushland and parks, such as Yellagonga and Neerabup.
National Park is hard to beat. It's located within an hour of the city, and is also famous for its koala sanctuary, limestone caves and Aboriginal program. Local Nyoongar people teach visitors about bushtucker, playing the didgeridoo and traditional dancing.
Another half hour will find you in a small fishing village called Lancelin, basking between glittering ocean and gigantic sand dunes. This is the spot for the adrenalin rush of world-class windsurfing and exhilarating sandboarding, as well as great fishing, sailing, diving and surfing.

Swan Valley and Darling Range
Cellar-door wine tastings, eclectic dining and invigorating bush walks are just some of the temptations attracting visitors to the Swan Valley and Darling Range for day trips and short getaways.
Tall timber forests, tumbling waterfalls and sweeping views are an inspiration to artists, who keep the local galleries well stocked.
Head into the valley by car or take a cruise up the Swan River from Barrack Street Jetty. Tour the award-winning wineries, art studios and craft shops by coach or orse-drawn wagon, or explore on horseback starting at historic Guildford.
Into the forested landscape of the Darling Range Into the hills, John Forrest National Park epitomises the natural beauty of the Darling Range, with bush trails, granite outcrops and waterfalls.
Mundaring, in the heart of the hills, is the site of one of Australia's greatest engineering feats the Mundaring Weir and the Golden Pipeline, which carries water all the way to Kalgoorlie. Discover fascinating pioneer history, follow a gentle walk trail, or visit the Hills Forest Activity Centre for all kinds of outdoor activities, from camping and bushcraft to canoeing and abseiling.
The first leg of the Munda Biddi Bike Trail stretches from Mundaring to Dwellingup, and the award-winning Bibbulmun Track begins at Kalamunda and covers a full thousand kilometres to the south coast.
Kalamunda's Zig Zag offers a scenic view over the city, or head to the History Village for more Darling Range heritage.
Among several irresistible picnic spots are South Ledge, perched above Mundaring Weir, and Lake Leschenaultia, named for one of the many native wildflowers that carpet the hills in spring.
Accommodation in the valley and hills includes self-contained chalets, farm-stays, caravan and camping parks, luxury hotels and even converted railway carriages.