Whether you’re a visitor discovering Perth for the first time, or a local hoping to entertain guests and get the most out of your city, there’s a smorgasbord of things to do in Perth.
This City of Light is a magnet for visitors with its array of cultural and modern attractions dotted around the city. Here are just some of the best fun things to do in Perth!
Take a cruise on the Swan River
The Swan River winds its way through the Perth CBD, adding a swathe of natural beauty to a vibrant metropolis. One of the best ways to enjoy this contrast – and one of the best things to do in Perth city – is to take a cruise along the river to take it all in.
Operators such as Captain Cook Cruises offer relaxing trips up and down the river. From the boat deck, you’ll be able to spot the Bell Tower, Swan Brewery, Kings Park (more on that shortly), the Royal Perth Yacht Club, and the city’s striking silhouette.
Cruises head down to Fremantle and back, all with a captain’s commentary along the way pointing out the sights and explaining interesting tidbits about the city. This is a great way to start your trip to Perth to get a feel of the city, or as a break from walking all day.
Explore Kings Park
On a clear, bright day, there are few places quite as beautiful and serene as Kings Park. It’s one of the largest inner city parks in the world, and it’s home to the Western Australian Botanic Garden.
Open since 1965, this 17-hectare park is a celebration of the unique flora of Western Australia. You can visit the Banksia Garden, a fascinating collection of banksia blooms, which are not just unique to Australia, but almost completely unique to Western Australia.
The Lotterywest Federation Walkway provides a beautiful treetops stroll with phenomenal views over Perth City and the Swan River, and the Conservation Garden is an incredible place to spot some of the region’s rare and endangered plants.
Visit the Perth Mint
The Perth Mint opened in 1899, and while it doesn’t create Australian currency, it does mint coins and bullion that are legal tender.
You can visit the shop, grounds, and bullion trading room for free for a look around. Or, you can book yourself in for a tour.
The Gold Tour invites you to view the world’s largest gold bullion coin – a one tonne gold coin with a leaping kangaroo on the front. You’ll also watch a live gold pour, see the gold exhibition and nuggets, and even have the chance to engrave your own medallion for a unique, beautiful keepsake.
Go shopping on King Street
Fashionistas can make a bee-line for King Street, the city’s premier fashion destination. This is where you’ll find world-renowned brands such as Louis Vuitton and Chanel, as well as a variety of boutiques.
Even if you’re not into high-end fashion, King Street is worth taking the time to see. This historic district or more than 150 years old, with heritage buildings lining the street and creating a beautiful, vibrant district ideal for strolling.
See a show at His Majesty’s Theatre
Designed in the Edwardian Baroque style and built at the dawn of the 1900s, His Majesty’s Theatre is at the top of any list of cool things to do in Perth.
The building itself is on the State Register of Heritage Places, and has been named as a State Heritage Icon. It is also home to both the West Australian Ballet and the West Australian Opera, both of which provide regular shows.
As well as ballet and opera, you might find comedy shows, cabaret, and more, so be sure to check out what’s on during your visit and make a night of it.
Tour The Bell Tower
No list of cool things to do in Perth is complete without a mention of The Bell Tower.
This iconic structure is 82.5 metres tall, and is home to 18 bells, two of which add chromatic notes, making it the second largest set of change ringing bells in the world. You’ll hear them ring on Thursdays and Sundays from noon until 1pm, although they do sometimes also ring for special events.
You can visit during open hours from Wednesday to Sunday, and take a tour for a behind-the-scenes look into the ringing chamber and to learn about the history of the tower.
Bonus for couples: There’s a Love Lock chain just outside The Bell Tower. Before your visit, you can order a custom engraved love lock for you and your sweetheart, so you can pick it up on arrival and lock it to the chain together to mark your unbreakable bond.
Dine at a world-class steakhouse
After so much exploring, it will be time to relax and treat yourself to a meal at a 6HEAD, a premier Perth steakhouse.
What began on the waterfront in Sydney has now expanded to Perth CBD, where we’re excited to offer locals and visitors our range of premium steaks. We work with the highest quality producers in Australia such as Mayura Station and Tender Valley. As a result, we serve exceptional steaks, including wagyu, our Signature Tomahawk, and Platinum T-Bone cuts.
However we are arguably most well-known for our in-house dry ageing program. The transformation of meat through dry ageing creates a steak dining experience unlike any other, with unparalleled tenderness and flavour in every bite.
For something lighter, our a la carte menu is brimming with exquisite Australian fare, including fresh seafood and flavourful vegetarian meals. And since no premier restaurant is complete without an equally impressive wine list, our wine menu is designed around the six greatest wine regions of the world – Australia, New Zealand, France, Italy, South Africa and the United States.
Make your reservation at 6HEAD to enjoy an unforgettable meal, and tick off one of the best things to do in Perth CBD.
