Real Things to Do in Perth – A Local’s Guide by Interest and Time
A practical local guide to things to do in Perth: the best beaches, parks, museums, day trips and free attractions, sorted by interest and how long you have.
Author: Jamie Evans
Perth’s 6 Best Museums and Galleries and Which is Worth Your Time
A practical guide to Perth’s 6 main museums and galleries: WA Museum Boola Bardip, AGWA, PICA, the two Fremantle maritime museums and the Perth Mint.
Northbridge Perth – Perth’s Dining, Arts & Culture Hub Explained
Northbridge: Perth’s free-to-visit cultural precinct (WA Museum Boola Bardip, AGWA, PICA) alongside the city’s densest concentration of Asian dining and its most experimental bar scene, five minutes’ walk from the CBD.
Bells Rapids Brigadoon – Where Swan River Whitewater Meets 40km Escape
Bells Rapids delivers seasonal Avon River whitewater, two walking trails and free Avon Descent spectating, 40km northeast of Perth. Best June to September.
Perth Observatory – A 130-Year-Old Stargazing Experience in the Perth Hills
Perth Observatory in Bickley: a heritage site dating to 1896, now run entirely by volunteers since losing government research funding in 2013. Night tour pricing, booking, and what to expect from Perth’s dark-sky stargazing experience in the hills.
Fremantle for First Timers – How to Spend an Awesome Day in Freo
A practical day-trip guide to Fremantle: markets, prison, harbour and how to get there from Perth. Note: markets are closed Monday to Thursday.
Swan Bells – Perth’s Riverside Bell Tower & Why it’s a Must Do
Swan Bells (The Bell Tower): an 82.5-metre riverside campanile at Barrack Square housing 18 historic bells, including 12 dating back centuries from London’s St Martin-in-the-Fields, plus the 6.5-tonne Great ANZAC Bell. Observation deck views, the hands-on Bell Chiming Experience, and live demonstration times.
Araluen Botanic Park – 73 Hectares of Heritage Gardens and 250,000 Tulips in the Perth Hills
Araluen Botanic Park, Roleystone: heritage rose and camellia collections in a sheltered Perth Hills valley, and home to the Springtime Tulip Festival each August/September. History, the heritage train, and how to time a visit to avoid the festival crowds.
AQWA Perth – Australia’s Largest Aquarium – Shark Dives, Seadragons & Shipwreck Tunnel
AQWA (Aquarium of Western Australia) at Hillarys: Australia’s largest single aquarium, with a 3-million-litre Shipwreck Coast tunnel, leafy seadragons, and the country’s only in-tank shark snorkel and dive experiences. Pricing, timing, and what locals do to beat the crowds.
Art Gallery of Western Australia – The Free-Entry Perth Art Collection You’re Actually Going to Use
AGWA Perth: 18,600+ artworks worth $361 million, free entry, Indigenous art focus, the Targets rooftop artwork. Hours, access and what’s on now.