Galup (formerly Lake Monger): a free, 24-hour, 70-hectare urban wetland five minutes from Perth CBD with a flat 3.5km loop, reliable black swan sightings, and 38 recorded bird species. Renamed in June 2025 to restore its Whadjuk Noongar name and history.
Kings Park: 400 hectares of free parkland, botanic garden and native bushland overlooking the Swan River and Perth CBD, with the Federation Walkway, DNA Tower and September’s Kings Park Festival (running since 1964). Getting there, family playgrounds, and what locals know about avoiding the crowds.
London Court: a free, working 1937 mock-Tudor shopping arcade linking Hay Street and St Georges Terrace in central Perth, with a mechanical jousting knights clock that chimes every quarter hour. History, what’s inside, and how to fold it into a CBD walk.
Mundaring Weir: C.Y. O’Connor’s heritage-listed 1903 dam and the start of the 566km Golden Pipeline to Kalgoorlie, roughly 40 minutes from Perth CBD. History, the small on-site museum, walking trails, and the sobering story behind the engineering.
Optus Stadium Perth: home to the West Coast Eagles, Fremantle Dockers and Perth Scorchers on the Burswood Peninsula. AFL and cricket match-day guide, OZONE stadium tours, getting there via Matagarup Bridge or train, and what locals know about ticketing.
Perth Hills: the Darling Range region 25 to 55km east of Perth, covering Lesmurdie and Serpentine Falls, Kalamunda and John Forrest National Parks, and small-town Kalamunda and Mundaring. Realistic waterfall expectations, getting there without relying on trains, and what locals know about timing a visit.
The Perth Mint: a working gold refinery and mint since 1899 in East Perth, with live gold pour demonstrations and the chance to handle real bullion. Pricing, hours, and how to combine it with nearby CBD attractions.
RAC Arena Perth: the WA’s biggest indoor venue (around 15,500 seats), home to Perth Wildcats basketball and major touring concerts. History, getting there without a car, and what locals know about ticketing and event nights.
Perth Zoo: 17 hectares and 160-plus species in South Perth, reachable by a genuinely pleasant Transperth ferry crossing from Barrack Street Jetty. Tickets, keeper talks, best times to visit, and what locals do differently.
St Mary’s Cathedral Perth: a free Gothic Revival cathedral in Victoria Square built across three eras, from 1865 to a $32.9 million rebuild completed in 2009. History, mass times, and how to combine it with the nearby WA Museum and State Buildings.