Welcome to wonderful Western Australia and the vibrant state capital city of Perth. Whether you’re visiting for a couple of days, a week or two or several months, in Perth and Western Australia you’ll enjoy adventures and experiences that are as extraordinary as they are unique.
Averaging over 300 days of sunshine every year, Perth is a playground for adventure lovers and just about everyone who enjoys the great outdoors. With beautiful white sandy beaches, stunning natural scenery, hot sunny weather and a laid back lifestyle, there’s so much to love about the beautiful west coast of Australia.
The largest of all Australian states (more than 2.5 million square kilometres!) if you love the ocean, the outdoor lifestyle and lots and lots of sunshine, Perth and Western Australia will exceed your expectations. With a huge 12,500 km coastline, Western Australia is home to an abundance of beautiful beaches – 19 of which are in the Perth area alone, including the iconic Cottesloe Beach.
Of course there’s so much more to Perth than just our amazing beaches! Hire a catamaran or go kayaking and paddle boarding on the Swan River; take a trip to the Avon Valley for hot air ballooning; and visit the Perth Hills and enjoy some bushwalking. Check out top attractions like Kings Park, Caversham Wildlife Park, Perth Zoo and Fremantle for the prison and markets. Alternatively, browse our museums and galleries, eclectic markets and stylish malls. We even have free Cat buses to help you explore our amazing city.
Experience and explore Perth and WA
Escape to Kings Park… Right in the heart of our vibrant and busy city is Kings Park. With around 4.06 square kilometres of botanical gardens, tranquil parkland and bushland, it’s one of the largest inner city parks in the world; bigger than New York’s Central Park, in fact. Kings Park is the perfect place to head to if you want a change of pace, with spectacular views of the city and the Swan River. If you’ve got a head for heights, try out the Lotterywest Federation Walkway and walk among the treetops!
Explore Margaret River and the great South West… Around 280 kilometres from Perth is the picturesque town of Margaret River. Known for its gourmet food and world-class wine, the area has over 200 vineyards producing award-winning wines. It’s also a renowned surfing location, attracting surfers from around the world. You can’t venture down south without visiting Busselton and its timber jetty, the longest in the southern hemisphere, or Bunbury where you can swim with wild dolphins. If you want more breathtakingly beautiful beaches and coastline, head to Albany.
Enjoy a day in paradise… Paradise awaits, a mere 19km off the coast of Perth. It’s called Rottnest Island. Take the short ferry ride from Perth or Fremantle and be entranced by over 60 pristine beaches and 20 beautiful bays. This paradise island is 11km long and home to some of the state’s best natural attractions. Spend a day exploring the island by foot or bike – no cars are allowed at Rottnest. Alternatively you can use the jump-on, jump-off bus. Visitors can swim, snorkel, fish or simply lie on the beach and soak up the sun. Rotto (as the locals call it) is also a popular location for surfing and diving, kayaking and paddle boarding. A protected nature reserve, keep an eye out for the island’s friendly resident marsupials called quokkas.
Get cultural at the cultural centre… Arts and exhibitions, food and drink, music, markets and shopping: Perth’s cultural centre has something for everyone. Major attractions include the West Australian Museum, Art Gallery of Western Australia, the State Theatre Centre of Western Australia and the Blue Room Theatre, the home of cutting-edge performance in Perth.
Hit the beach and learn how to surf… Water sports and activities are a big part of the Aussie way of life. And Perth alone has 19 stunning white sandy beaches. From City Beach and Cottesloe Beach, to Leighton Beach and Brighton Beach, whether you want to swim, surf or just work on your tan, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Scarborough Beach and neighbouring Brighton Beach are two of Perth’s best surfing spots, with numerous surf schools in the area offering lessons for beginners.
Swim with dolphins and whale sharks… Experience the thrill of swimming with wild dolphins and whale sharks in the beautiful Indian Ocean. Around 2 hours drive south of Perth the Dolphin Discovery Centre in Bunbury is one of the best places to enjoy this amazing experience. Closer to home, and just 45 minutes south of Perth, Rockingham Wild Encounters also organises similar activities. Between April and July, head north of Perth, to the UNESCO World Heritage listed Ningaloo Reef to swim with whale sharks. Swimming with these gentle ocean giants is an unforgettable experience of a lifetime.
Explore the North West… Apparently the northern region of Western Australia has fewer people per square kilometre than pretty much anywhere else in the world. Rivers, mountains, bushland and deep gorges are the natural features of WA’s extraordinary outback. Highlights include Broome, Cable Beach, Karijini National Park, Lake Argyle, the largest manmade lake in the southern hemisphere and the Kimberley, famed for its rugged red landscape.
And the Coral Coast… You can’t head north without checking out the amazing Pinnacles, located in the Namburg National Park. Best visited at sunrise or sunset, these limestone formations protruding from the sand are a unique sight to behold. If you’re in the mood for something a bit more adventurous, visit Lancelin for sand surfing and four-wheel driving down massive sand dunes.
To find out more about Perth, visit Experience Perth and check out the official Tourism Western Australia website.
This article was written for Haus Accommodation website.
