Perth City Western Australia
From the wonderful lifestyle and friendly people, the clear blue skies and the white, sandy Beaches, this is a truly special city. A clean, attractive metropolis on the banks of the Swan River and 150 kilometres of the Indian Ocean.
At a Glance
Due to the the city's remote location, Perth is surrounded by more natural attractions than an other major city on the planet, something that West Australians embrace with pride.
The best way to book Perth City
Where is Perth City?
Perth City is in South-West Australia
Perth is situated on the west coast of the Australian continent in south-west Western Australia and faces west to the Indian Ocean. Adelaide, in South Australia is roughly 2500 kilometres away, making Perth the second most isolated, major metropolitan area in the world after Honolulu, Hawaii. One of the best ways to get around Perth is to hire a car from Perth Airport.
Things to see in Perth City
Elizabeth Quay
Relax and be entertained by the Swan River. Enjoy a drink or a bite to eat by the water or bring the family into the city for some free fun and entertainment. The BHP Billiton Water Park includes amphitheater style decking and an interactive water feature. The Island, with restaurant and playground, and 20-metre high suspension bridge linking to it, offers stunning views of the river and city. The split-level promenade features pedestrian areas and casual spaces with public art and children;s carousel. A ribbon of trees provides shaded places for visitors to relax and enjoy the inlet views. View more details
Image © Tourism Western Australia
The Belltower & Swan Bells
Built in 2000 to celebrate the millenium, this modern sculpture is as tall as New York's Statue Of Liberty and houses the 500 year old bells of St Martin which were presented as a Bicentennial gift by the city of London to Perth in 1988. It is the largest musical instrument in the world and home to the largest set of chain ringing bells in the world. The Swan Bells are the only major set of bells to ever leave England, having previously rung out over Trafalgar Square for centuries.
Image © Garry Norris Photography
Kings Park & Botanical Garden
The largest central city park in the world. Overlooking Perth from Mount Eliza directly adjacent to Perth city centre, the park provides breathtaking panoramic views of the Perth skyline, river and hills. The park is extensively landscaped and hosts a world-class flower festival, features a 52 metre long, 16 metre high tree-top walkway and is also the home to Western Australia's sacred War Memorial and Eternal Flame. It is a truly special place and should not be missed by any visitor to Perth.
Image © Tourism Western Australia
Adventure World
Have an AWesome day with family and friends at Adventure World! Perth’s only Theme Park/ Water Park, with over 25 rides and attractions all set in beautifully landscaped botanical gardens and lawns. Including the world-class heart thumping, adrenaline pumping roller-coaster Abyss and Kraken; the longest, tallest and steepest funnel water slide on the planet. Plus, this season Adventure World welcomed an exciting NEW AWesome Goliath attraction which get even the most hardened of pulses racing! There’s also the ever-popular Hawaiian resort themed Kahuna Falls, an Aussie Wildlife Experience and the enchanting Dragon’s Kingdom; custom built for our younger adventurers to name just a few. View more details
Image © Adventure World
Perth Mint
An amazing place to view everything there is to know about gold, the world's oldest currency. Housed in a grand heritage building, learn about Western Australia's golden history and view Perth Mint's output of gold bars and coins. Behold the amazing spectacle of a traditional gold pour, where pure gold is heated to molten temperatures and transformed into a solid gold bar. See the world's greatest collection of investment gold bars and see Australia’s largest natural gold nugget collection.
Image © Tourism Western Australia
Forrest Place
Created in the 1980's, this is Perth's largest public square and adjoins the Murray Street Mall. Directly opposite Perth's historic train station, Forrest Place is bound by the historic Post Office and Commonwealth Bank buildings. Made famous in 2012 with the installation of what has been dubbed the "Perth Cactus" which is actually a representation of a biomorphic element and takes pride of place at the northern end. Also opened in late 2012 is a large public water feature that the public can walk through. Public events are held in the square and is host to the City Of Perth's traditional Christmas Tree from late November.
Image © Tourism Western Australia
Rottnest Island
Relax in the cool, sub-tropical waters of Rottnest Island, just 16 kilometres offshore from Perth and 20 minutes by fast ferry, leaving directly from Barrack Square. The many picture perfect bays with white sandy beaches are perfect for snorkelling and safe family swimming. Native to the island are mammals called Quokkas which are similar to small Kangaroos and are less than a foot tall. They are friendly and easily hand fed and seem to strike a smiling pose for the now infamous "Quokka selfie". Tandem bicycle hire is also available as well as a submarine to view the underwater reef and there is also a golf course.
Image © Garry Norris Photography
Perth Zoo
Located just five minutes drive from Perth city or by direct ferry access across the Swan River, Perth Zoo is home to over 1300 amazing animals representing 200 native and exotic species. Set amongst lush gardens, naturalistic exhibits closely replicate the animals' native habitats and allow unique animal experiences. The zoo is divided into themed areas from each continent and includes a Nocturnal house as well as native Australian animals including a viewing tank for a Saltwater Crocodile.
WA Museum Boola Bardip
The WA Museum is the State’s premier cultural organisation, housing WA’s scientific and cultural collection.For over 120 years the Museum has been making the State's natural and social heritage accessible and engaging through research, exhibitions and public programs.The WA Museum Boola Bardip opened in the Perth Cultural Centre on Saturday 21 November 2020 with nine-days of celebration. View more details
Image © Government of Western Australia
What's the weather like?
As Australia's sunniest Capital City, Perth experiences over eight hours of sunlight each day which sets over the ocean every night. With warm Summers and cool, wet Winters the seasons follow a Southern Hemisphere climate. In Summer (December to February), the average maximum temperature is 31°C with an average minimum temperature of 19°C. In Winter (June to August), the average maximum temperature is 16°C with an average minimum temperature of 9°C.
Get to know Perth City's history
Founded by Captain James Stirling in 1829 and originally known as the Swan River Colony. Perth gained city status in 1856 after which the population increased substantially as a result of the introduction of convict labour from Great Britain and the gold rush of the late 19th century. The centre of Perth was chosen as the settlement site due to the protection of Mount Eliza from possible gunfire attacks from ships in the Indian Ocean.
An influx of immigrants following the conclusion of World War 2 which was followed by a surge in economic activity as a result of several mining booms in the 1990's and 2000's. Many beautiful historical buildings were lost to development in the second half of the 20th century however many have been preserved and are now restored and integrated into the urban fabric. A notable example is the new Brookfield Place precinct that houses the BHP Tower and restored West Australian Newspaper house building that is now one of the finest bars in the city. The mining industry still sustains the largest population growth of any capital city in Australia and Perth is now emerging as an oil, gas and mining regional headquarters.