Perth

The capital of Western Australia: Kings Park and the Swan River, quokkas on Rottnest Island, the port of Fremantle, Swan Valley wineries, and a day trip north to the Pinnacles.

Perth is the capital of Western Australia and Australia's fourth-largest city (population about 2.2 million). It sits on the Swan River in the southwest corner of the continent, facing the Indian Ocean, and has no time difference with Beijing. It is known as the "most isolated capital city in the world."

Where to go: the city center (Kings Park, Elizabeth Quay and the Bell Tower, the Perth Mint, and the Western Australian Museum and Art Gallery in the Northbridge cultural precinct); the river-mouth port city of Fremantle (the Prison, the Markets, the Maritime Museum); Rottnest Island offshore, to see quokkas; Cottesloe, Scarborough Beach and Hillarys Boat Harbour on the northern coast; the Swan Valley wineries and zoo in the northeast outskirts; Penguin Island and Mandurah for dolphins in the south; and a day trip about 200 km north to the Pinnacles and the Lancelin sand dunes.

The climate is Mediterranean: September–November is the best time for wildflowers, and March–May is mild. December–February is dry and hot, the peak beach season; June–August is cool and rainy.

Getting there: Perth Airport has direct flights from Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Singapore and other cities, and the airport train takes 20 minutes to the city. Transperth buses and trains accept credit cards, and the free CAT buses run in the city center. For the Pinnacles and the Swan Valley, driving or joining a tour is recommended. Chinese citizens must apply online for an Australian visitor visa.

Recommended stay: 4–5 days.

Notes: UV levels are extremely high. At the beach, swim only between the red and yellow flags and heed shark alerts. Do not touch or feed quokkas. Watch for kangaroos when driving in rural areas.

Top sights

• Rottnest Island – A car-free island 19 km offshore from Perth, with 63 white-sand bays, snorkelling wrecks and the quokka, the 'world's happiest animal', fou…
• Kings Park and Botanic Garden – This 400-hectare city hilltop park, larger than New York's Central Park, overlooks the Perth skyline and the Swan River. Its September wild…
• The Pinnacles (Nambung National Park) – In Nambung National Park, about 200 km north of Perth, thousands of limestone pillars rise from golden sand dunes in an otherworldly landsc…
• Swan Valley – Western Australia's oldest winemaking area, just 25 minutes from the city. A 32 km loop links more than 40 wineries, craft breweries, a cho…
• Elizabeth Quay – A waterfront plaza on the Swan River in central Perth, with a winding footbridge, spiral sculpture, and ferry terminal. It is the starting…
• The Perth Mint – Australia's oldest operating mint, opened in 1899, where you can watch pure gold pouring demonstrations, see the world's largest gold coin…
• WA Museum Boola Bardip – The Western Australian State Museum's new building, opened in 2020, displays Indigenous culture, the natural world of Western Australia, an…
• Art Gallery of Western Australia – The state art gallery in the Perth Cultural Centre, with a collection of Australian and Indigenous art. Its rooftop bar overlooks the city…
• Northbridge – A dining and nightlife district north of Perth Station, with diverse food, bars, and street art. The cultural centre is also here.
• Perth Zoo – A century-old zoo on the south bank of the Swan River, where you can get close to kangaroos, koalas, Tasmanian devils, and other Australian…
• AQWA – The Aquarium of Western Australia – One of Australia's largest aquariums. Its undersea tunnel shows sharks, rays, and corals from more than 10,000 km of Western Australia's co…
• Hillarys Boat Harbour – A marina on the northern coast with a seaside promenade, a children's beach, restaurants, and shops. It is also the departure point for Rot…
• Scarborough Beach – The liveliest surfing beach in northern Perth, with a seaside plaza featuring a pool, skate park, and bars. It is a popular spot for watchi…
• The Bell Tower (Swan Bells) – A glass spire beside Elizabeth Quay that houses historic bells from St Martin-in-the-Fields in London. You can climb it for views over the…
• London Court – A Tudor-style shopping arcade built in 1937. A knight figure appears at the clock tower on the hour, making it a favorite photo spot in the…
• Caversham Wildlife Park – An Australian wildlife park beside the Swan Valley, with koala photos, kangaroo feeding, and farm shows. It is well suited to a day trip wi…
• Lancelin Sand Dunes – Pure white dunes about 125 km north of Perth. Sandboarding and 4WD driving are classic pairings for a day trip to the Pinnacles.
• Yanchep National Park – A national park on Perth's northern outskirts, where you can see wild koalas and kangaroos, visit the Crystal Cave, and take part in Indige…
• Penguin Island – A small island off Rockingham, home to Western Australia's largest colony of little penguins. Boat trips also let you see sea lions and dol…
• Mandurah – An estuary seaside city about 70 km south of Perth. Canal boat trips to see wild dolphins are popular, and giant sculpture treasure hunts a…
• Heirisson Island – A small island in the Swan River only 2 km from the city center, where wild western grey kangaroos can be seen in a fenced reserve.
• Optus Stadium & Matagarup Bridge – A 60,000-seat stadium on the Swan River, linked to East Perth by an elegant footbridge. Visitors can watch Australian rules football or cli…
• John Forrest National Park – Western Australia's first national park, in the Perth Hills, with a disused railway tunnel, waterfalls and eucalyptus forest walking trails…
• St Mary's Cathedral, Perth – Perth's Catholic cathedral, combining Gothic Revival architecture with a modern extension completed in 2009. Its stained glass windows are…
• Wave Rock – A 15-metre-high 'frozen wave' of granite about 2.7 billion years old, shaped by weathering and erosion. It is a classic long-distance day t…

Where to eat

• Wildflower – A fine dining restaurant on the top floor of COMO The Treasury, featuring a menu that changes with the six Noongar seas…
• Capri Restaurant – An old-school, family-run Italian restaurant in Fremantle, offering budget-friendly meals with complimentary soup and b…
• Alfred's Kitchen – A roadside burger joint in Guildford operating since 1946, offering over forty types of burgers and a signature pea and…
• Lulu La Delizia – A Northern Italian restaurant in Subiaco where the chef pays homage to his Friulian heritage, famous for handmade pasta…
• Tra Vinh – A simple Vietnamese noodle house on the edge of Northbridge, highly recommended by food industry insiders, with a large…

Itineraries

• Perth, Rottnest Island & The Pinnacles – Based in Perth, spend one day on the island, one day in the port town, and one day heading north to the desert—no car r…
• Margaret River, Capes & Wineries – Drive along Caves Road from Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin, connecting beaches, wineries, limestone caves, and karri…
• South West Loop: Albany, Esperance & Wave Rock – Depart from Perth, loop along the south coast to the white sands of Esperance, and return via inland Wave Rock.
• Coral Coast: Perth to Exmouth – Head north along the Indian Ocean, linking desert pinnacles, red gorges, wild dolphins, and Ningaloo Reef, with a one-w…
• Perth to Broome: Coast & Karijini Gorges – Head north along the West Coast, transition from Ningaloo to the gorges of Pilbara, and arrive at the gateway to the Ki…