Perth is the sunniest of Australia's state capitals, with a long string of Indian Ocean beaches, a huge city park and a quokka-filled island a short ferry ride away. Here are the 20 best things to do, what they cost, how to get around, and a three-day plan.
What are the best things to do in Perth?
The best things to do in Perth are a day on Rottnest Island with its quokkas, a day in Fremantle, a walk through Kings Park and a swim and sunset at Cottesloe. Add the Pinnacles or the Swan Valley and you have the essentials of Western Australia's capital.
| # | Thing to do | Where | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meet the quokkas on Rottnest Island (Wadjemup) | Ferry from Fremantle, Perth or Hillarys | Look, never touch or feed |
| 2 | Cycle Rottnest's bays and beaches | Rottnest Island | Bike hire on the island |
| 3 | Tour Fremantle Prison | Fremantle | A$25 adults; Gatehouse free |
| 4 | Browse Fremantle Markets | Fremantle | Fri to Sun and public holiday Mondays |
| 5 | Walk Kings Park and Botanic Garden | West of the city centre | Free; free guided walks daily |
| 6 | Swim at Cottesloe Beach | Western suburbs | Swim between the flags |
| 7 | Surf and eat at Scarborough Beach | Northern beaches | Busy beachfront, good at sunset |
| 8 | Wineries of the Swan Valley | About 25 minutes' drive east | WA's oldest wine region |
| 9 | Cruise the Swan River | Barrack Street Jetty | Also the Swan Valley by boat |
| 10 | Stroll Elizabeth Quay | City centre riverfront | Free; ferry jetties next door |
| 11 | WA Museum Boola Bardip | Perth Cultural Centre | A$15 adults; 15 and under free |
| 12 | Art Gallery of Western Australia | Perth Cultural Centre | Free entry; rooftop bar |
| 13 | See a gold pour at the Perth Mint | East Perth | Self-guided visit during restoration |
| 14 | Hillarys Boat Harbour and AQWA | Northern coast | Walk-under tunnel aquarium |
| 15 | Penguin Island | Rockingham, south of Perth | Check access first (see below) |
| 16 | The Pinnacles, Nambung National Park | A couple of hours north | A$17 per car entry |
| 17 | Wave Rock | Hyden, 340 km east | Long day; better overnight |
| 18 | Caversham Wildlife Park | Whiteman Park | A$39 adults; koalas and kangaroos |
| 19 | Spring wildflowers | Kings Park and beyond | Mainly August to October |
| 20 | Sunset over the Indian Ocean | Any west-facing beach | The sun sets over the sea here |
Fremantle deserves a full day. Convicts began building Fremantle Prison in 1852 and it stayed a maximum-security jail until 1991; it is now one of the World Heritage convict sites covered in our guide to Australia's convict history. Day tours cost A$25 for adults and are sold at the ticket office on the day, while the Gatehouse is free. Fremantle Markets, trading since 1897, open Friday to Sunday and on public holiday Mondays.
In the city, the WA Museum Boola Bardip (A$15 adults, open 9:30am to 5pm) holds Otto the blue whale, and the Art Gallery of Western Australia next door is free, with a rooftop bar. The Perth Mint's usual Gold Tour is paused during restoration works, but its self-guided visit still includes gold pour demonstrations.
North of the city, Hillarys Boat Harbour has AQWA, the state aquarium, with a near 100-metre underwater tunnel. Caversham Wildlife Park in Whiteman Park has more than 2,000 animals; you can hand-feed kangaroos and have a photo with a koala.
Penguin Island needs checking before you go. Sand build-up at the jetty stopped the ferry for a second season running in 2025, and a jetty replacement is planned. The island also closes in winter and on very hot days. Do not try to wade out across the sandbar.
How do you get to Rottnest Island, and how much does it cost?
You reach Rottnest by ferry from Fremantle, central Perth or Hillarys, and a same-day adult return costs from about A$88 from Fremantle. Every fare includes the island's admission fee of A$21.50 per adult (A$11 for children aged 4 to 16), which the ferry companies collect for the Rottnest Island Authority.
| Departs from | Operators | Adult day return (incl. admission) |
|---|---|---|
| Fremantle (B-Shed or Northport) | Rottnest Express, SeaLink | From A$87.50 to A$90 |
| Perth, Barrack Street Jetty | Rottnest Express, SeaLink | From A$134.50 to A$135.50 |
| Hillarys Boat Harbour | Rottnest Fast Ferries | From A$95 |
Fremantle is the cheapest departure and easy to reach by train. Some fares are demand-based, so book early for holidays and summer weekends.
On the island, most people get around by bike, which you can hire there, or on foot and by the island bus. The Whadjuk Noongar name Wadjemup is often translated as "the place across the water where the spirits are"; the Rottnest Island Authority describes it as an important meeting and ceremonial place for Whadjuk people. Each year swimmers cross to the island from Cottesloe in the Rottnest Channel Swim.
Can you touch the quokkas on Rottnest Island?
No. Touching and petting quokkas is not permitted, and feeding them can make them ill and lead to aggressive behaviour. A selfie from a respectful distance is fine.
- On-the-spot fines: anyone who deliberately interferes with wildlife, including by feeding, can be fined on the spot under the Rottnest Island Regulations 1988.
- Prosecution: serious cases can be prosecuted under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, with fines of up to A$10,000.
What are the best free things to do in Perth?
Many of Perth's best sights cost nothing. Entry to Kings Park and Botanic Garden is free, and volunteer guides lead free walks every day at 10am and 1pm from outside Aspects of Kings Park.
- Beaches: Cottesloe, Scarborough and the rest of the coast are free, and sunsets over the ocean are the city's best show.
- Art: general admission to the Art Gallery of Western Australia is free.
- Riverfront: walk Elizabeth Quay and the Swan River foreshore.
- Fremantle: the markets and the Prison Gatehouse cost nothing.
Swim only at patrolled beaches, between the red and yellow flags. Our ocean safety guide explains rips and flags, and the best beaches in Australia compares Perth's coast with the rest of the country.
How many days do you need in Perth?
Three days is enough for Perth: one for the city and Kings Park, one for Rottnest and one for Fremantle and the beaches. With four or five days, add the Pinnacles or the Swan Valley.
Wave Rock is 340 km east of Perth at Hyden, so it suits an overnight trip more than a rushed day. Perth is also the gateway to the rest of the west: many visitors head north to Ningaloo and Exmouth or south on a longer road trip. Distances are large, so read up on driving in Australia before you hire a car.
How do you get around Perth?
Perth's Transperth network of trains, buses and ferries is cheap and simple, and you can pay with a contactless bank card or a SmartRider card. Fares were cut on 1 January 2026.
- Fares: trips of 3.2 km or less cost A$2.40, any other trip is A$3.50 for three hours of travel, and card fares are capped at A$7 a day.
- Free Sundays: every Sunday, travel is free with a SmartRider or contactless card, though not on late-night services after midnight on Saturday.
- Free in the city: the CAT buses in central Perth are free, and trips that start and finish inside the Free Transit Zone cost nothing.
- Airport: the Airport Line opened on 9 October 2022. Airport Central Station sits beside Terminals 1 and 2, and a free shuttle (route 292) links Terminals 3 and 4 with Redcliffe Station.
For the Pinnacles, Wave Rock and the Swan Valley wineries, hire a car or join a tour.
When is the best time to visit Perth?
The best time to visit Perth is spring (September to November) or autumn (March to May), when it is warm but not too hot. Summer is hot and dry: February averages about 31°C.
- The Fremantle Doctor: in summer and early autumn, a south-west sea breeze usually arrives in the afternoon and cools the city after hot mornings.
- Wildflowers: they bloom mainly from August to October, and the Everlasting Kings Park Festival runs in late September and early October.
- Winter: June to August is mild, with maximums around 18 to 20°C, and most of the year's rain falls between May and September.
For how Perth fits with the rest of the country, see the best time to visit Australia.
What is a good 3-day Perth itinerary?
- Day 1, city: the WA Museum Boola Bardip and the Art Gallery, lunch at Elizabeth Quay, then Kings Park for sunset over the city and river.
- Day 2, Rottnest: take an early ferry from Fremantle, hire a bike, ride the bays, swim and watch the quokkas from a distance.
- Day 3, Fremantle and the coast: tour Fremantle Prison, browse the markets if it is Friday to Sunday, then head to Cottesloe for a swim and sunset over the Indian Ocean.
With a fourth day, drive north to the Pinnacles or spend an afternoon in the Swan Valley.
Facts checked October 2026. Ferry fares, admission fees, transport fares and opening hours change; confirm with the operator or official site before you travel.
- Fees and charges (Rottnest Island Authority)
- Protect our wildlife (Rottnest Island)
- Ferry fares (Rottnest Express)
- Rottnest Island ferry fares (SeaLink)
- Fares (Rottnest Fast Ferries)
- Tour prices (Fremantle Prison)
- Fremantle Markets (Fremantle Markets)
- Kings Park (Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority)
- WA Museum Boola Bardip (Western Australian Museum)
- Book a tour (The Perth Mint)
- Nambung National Park (Explore Parks WA, DBCA)
- Fares (Transperth)
- Free travel (Transperth)
- All aboard as new Airport Line opens (Public Transport Authority)
