For some reason, Perth, the State Capital of Western Australia, feels the need to run an advertising campaign stating that ‘Perth is okay!’ – you will see the ‘Perth is Okay!’ slogan everywhere, emblazoned on wall murals, posters and other marketing materials around the city. There is even a dedicated website called ‘Perth is Okay’. Apparently, this is to help shake off the historical and outdated nickname of ‘Dullsville’. So, is Perth worth visiting? We decided to find out…
This blog is based on two trips to Perth, after a return in February 2026 – last update was September 2026.
Yes, and not as just a stopover. Perth can be explored in 3 or 4 days, and works great as the start of a road trip rather than a destination on its own. It has beaches, Kings Park, and Fremantle which are all worth exploring.
When researching our holiday to Perth and the route for our road trip of the South West region of Western Australia, I was impressed by some of the facts I discovered about Perth, including:
Perth is one of the World’s most remote cities, being closer to Jakarta in Indonesia than Sydney.
Perth is surrounded by 50 miles of white sand Indian Ocean beaches.
Perth sits in the sunniest state in Australia, and
Perth has more millionaires than anywhere else in Australia.
These positive facts about Perth, Western Australia, felt like a very strong start to our investigations, and suggested a place which is more than just ‘okay’.
Perth, Australia, was founded as a settlement around the Swan River by Captain James Stirling in 1826 – the settlement was developed with the help of convict manpower arriving from Britain in 1850, before an explosion of wealth in the 1890s Gold Rush years.
Over time, the city of Perth spread out to the coast and beach suburbs sprang up along the Indian Ocean. So much so that now Perth is said to be the World’s longest city with a coastline of 150 km (93 miles) from Two Rocks in the north to Mandurah in the south.
As a result of the development along the Swan River and long coastline, you always feel close to water when you’re in Perth.
I’d heard Perth referred to as the City of Light and thought it was because of the amount of sunshine which bathes the city, and the incredible golden and peachy sunsets which often end the day. However, apparently the nickname dates back to 1962.
On 20 February 1962, a NASA astronaut called John Glen set out to become the first American to orbit the Earth, a precursor to the Moon landings at the end of the decade. The residents of Perth decided to show their support for his venture by turning on their lights, shining torches and lighting lanterns, so that he could see Western Australia from Space, which he later acknowledged.
So, is Perth worth visiting? Well, based on all these facts alone, it certainly has potential…
Is there a better way to recover from a long flight, and recover from jet lag, than to spend a few days by the beach?
There are lots of beach options in the Perth metro area, so it’s just a matter of choosing one which suits your purposes. A good idea is to choose one which is on a public transport route to the CBD (Central Business District) if you intend to explore the centre of Perth.
Cottesloe Beach is a great option for this purpose, as it sits on the metro Fremantle line into Perth – just a 30 minute train journey from the Grant Street or Cottesloe stops to Perth CBD.
Cottesloe is a bustling, affluent beach suburb with a stunning beach front, numerous restaurants and cafes, and active outdoor lifestyle.
We booked an AirBnB overlooking the beach front promenade so that we could enjoy ocean views from the flat, and watch the world go by (more of that in a minute).
A few years ago, a survey by the National Diabetes Services Scheme claimed Cottesloe to be ‘Perth’s healthiest suburb‘ with some of the lowest rates of diabetes in Perth, and also Australia more broadly.
It quickly became apparent why this might be the case…
Due to jet lag we were awake in the early hours of the morning on our first day in Cottesloe. By 5.00am the promenade outside the flat was a ‘motorway’ of cyclists, walkers, joggers – everyone working out before the sun appeared and the day heated up. There were even people swimming and kayaking in the water.
On our second morning we got up early to join in the fun outside, taking a ‘brisk walk’ along the promenade from our AirBnB to the Indiana Tea House Building, put on the map by Taylor Swift in 2012 when she posted to social media how much she loved it (although it was already iconic before Taylor Swift visited, just saying).
We got takeaway coffees and sat outside watching the swimmers in the roped off safe area with shark nets, and also those practising Surf Life Saving Sports, such as board racing. A wonderful way to start the day!
Cottesloe Beach offers a relaxed vibe and outdoor coffee culture during the day, and excellent eateries in the evening:
For great coffee and breakfast or lunch options like Acai Bowls, sandwiches and salads, drop into Daisies Cottesloe.
For a casual dinner, grab fish and chips from Amberjacks and either eat on-site or find a bench overlooking the ocean to enjoy your food with a view.
Sample Watermelon Margaritas and other cocktails at Indigo Oscar in the Indiana Tea House building.
Enjoy an upmarket neighbourhood Italian restaurant, Il Lido on bench tables surrounded by wine racks all over the walls – delicious modern Italian food washed down with local Swan River white wine.
The place to be seen is The Gibney in Cottesloe, which was named Western Australia’s Restaurant of the Year at the 2025 Gourmet Traveller National Restaurant Awards. High prices but good buzz, food and views of the beach.
Keep your eyes peeled for people you might know in Cottesloe. We spotted The Last Dinner Party (a popular all-girl Indie band from the UK) outside Il Lido on the night before they played a gig in the city!
We have a separate article on how to enjoy your first day in Perth, and how to survive any jet lag you may get.
Alternatively, if you prefer to stay in the city centre from the outset then there are lots of options available on Booking.com. At the end of our road trip in Western Australia we stayed at the InterContinental Perth which is a good city centre option close to the action in the Central Business District (see below).
The Perth CBD (Central Business District) is a compact area largely bounded by Kings Park to the west, Perth River to the south and east, and railway to the north. It’s an area filled with offices and retail, restaurants, cafes and bars, and attractions. Northbridge is the area next to the CBD which houses some of the city’s best museums and nightlife.
Walking around Perth CBD feels fairly relaxed. Whilst there are high rise buildings in the CBD, they are balanced nicely with rows of low rise 2-storey heritage buildings with covered walkways to shade you from the sun as you walk around.
In addition, the city has a series of lanes weaving through CBD and Northbridge, offering hidden cafes, bars and street art, so there is lots to explore.
If you want to learn about the city from a local, consider booking a guided walking tour on Get Your Guide:
Elizabeth Quay (named after the late Queen Elizabeth II) is a modern, attractive space with smart buildings, restaurants and art sculptures.
You are greeted by the huge Spando sculpture in the centre of Elizabeth Quay and the First Contact sculpture (see Featured photograph) by an indigenous artist overlooking the water to welcome visitors to the Quay by boat.
Elizabeth Quay Bridge is a pedestrian bridge offering good views of the quay and across the water.
The Bell Tower on Elizabeth Quay houses the Swan Bells – 12 bells dating to the 14th century which came from St Martins-in-the-Field Church in London. The Swan Bells have seen a lot of history and whilst in London were rung for numerous key historical events.
Elizabeth Quay is a hub for catching boats in Perth. Barrack Street Jetty in front of the Bell Tower is a main departure point for boats, although there are other boat departure points around the Quay as well. Boat trip options include:
TransPerth Ferry to South Perth – a 10-minute journey from the Elizabeth Quay Ferry Terminal takes you to South Perth and gives you access to Perth Zoo and enjoy great views of the city from Swan River.
Little Ferry Company – WA’s only solar electric ferry, offers a guided tour of the Swan River along the foreshore from Elizabeth Quay to East Perth and back.
Gondolas on the Swan – a Venetian style gondola offering a leisurely ride.
Captain Cook Cruises for sightseeing on the Swan River – offering several packages, such as Evening Dinner Cruises, Swan River Wine Cruise, and Swan River Dinner Cruise. We enjoyed the Swan River Wine Cruise on our second visit to Perth.
Captain Cook Cruises to Fremantle – either one way (takes 1 hour 15 minutes), or a return package allowing you 3 hours of sightseeing time in Fremantle before returning.
Rottnest Ferries – departing Barrack Street jetty once a day for Rottnest Island (takes 1 hour 30 minutes), or Sealink Ferries offer the same service 6 times a week.
Wild West Charters – guided tours of the city, including the Perth Swan River Adventure Tour, Carnac Islands Eco Tours (Australian sea lions) and whale watching.
As Perth is a city built around water, then taking a boat trip of some description needs to be part of your itinerary, and as you can see from the above, there are lots of options to choose from. This is the Swan River Wine Tour that we booked through Get Your Guide:
There are some excellent museums in the centre of Perth, too many to try and visit in one trip. Here are a couple of suggestions:
A 20-minute walk east from Elizabeth Quay takes you to the Perth Mint, Australia’s official bullion mint, which is wholly owned by the Government of Western Australia.
The Perth Mint has a museum offering the history of Australia’s mint and the World’s ‘biggest, heaviest and most valuable gold coin’ weighing in at one tonne of pure gold and featuring a jumping kangaroo.
At the Perth Mint you can admire a range of gold nuggets, check your weight in gold, and watch a live gold pour demonstration which was fascinating, even for the young adults in our group.
The museum and live pour demonstration were surprisingly enjoyable and informative. I would definitely recommend a visit.
The Western Australian Museum is the umbrella name for several different galleries across Western Australia, such as the WA Maritime Museum in Fremantle.
WA Museum Boola Bardip is situated in the Perth Cultural Centre in Northbridge, next to Perth CBD. Boola Bardip means ‘many stories‘ in the Nyoongar language, and the museum focuses on the history, culture and landscape of Western Australia.
We were very impressed with the WA Museum Boola Bardip, but with 8 permanent galleries, and special exhibitions, then your head will be full of facts before you’re half way through the exhibits.
I particularly enjoyed the exhibit about how Western Australia has been populated in different waves of immigration over the years including enterprising traders importing camels from Afghanistan and Pakistan during the Gold Rush years.
Today, the city is keen to pay its respects to the indigenous people and the land on which the city is built with messages of acknowledgement everywhere to the ancestors of the land being used.
The Museum exhibits are largely based in the modern side of the building, and then you get a surprise when you come across the skeleton of an enormous blue whale in the hall of an adjacent old building, which looks very impressive.
There is a colony of Western Grey Kangaroos on Heirisson Island in east Perth, just a 7-minute car journey from Elizabeth Quay, or a 40-minute walk if you are feeling energetic.
The island is accessible over Boorloo Bridge if you’re on foot or bicycle. If you’re visiting in the car there’s a free car park just over the Causeway to the island.
There is a colony of Western Grey Kangaroos on Heirisson Island in east Perth, just a 7-minute car journey from Elizabeth Quay, or a 40-minute walk if you are feeling energetic.
The island is accessible over Boorloo Bridge if you’re on foot or bicycle. If you’re visiting in the car there’s a free car park just over the Causeway to the island.
Try to visit early in the morning or at dusk for the best chance of seeing the kangaroos. We spotted 4 kangaroos on our visit at 9.00am. Allow an hour for your visit, or longer if you plan to take a picnic and hang out on the island.
Note – there are no facilities on Heirisson Island but you could take a picnic with you.
Kings Park sits on Mount Eliza looking out over the Swan River, Elizabeth Quay and South Perth, and it is the thing we would send anyone to first.
Here is the fact that surprised us – at just over 400 hectares, Kings Park is bigger than Central Park in New York. It is one of the largest inner city parks in the world, and about two thirds of it is left as natural bushland rather than laid out as gardens. You can be ten minutes from the CBD and standing in scrub with black cockatoos going over.
The Western Australian Botanic Garden sits inside it across around 18 hectares, and everything growing there is native to Western Australia. In spring the wildflower displays are the reason people plan their trip around September and October.
You can walk up from Perth CBD in about 15 minutes, with one note of caution: it is all uphill.
Once you reach Mount Street West it becomes a pretty climb up a tree lined street. Depending on your timing, the Mount Street Breakfast Bar is a good excuse to break the journey. It was doing brisk business as we hiked past.
At the top of Mount Street West, take the short detour down Cliff Street for the black cockatoo murals, which are worth the two minutes. Cliff Street also brings you out at the top of Jacobs Ladder, a long wooden staircase rising up from the valley below. You will see Perth doing its fitness thing on it at almost any hour.
If you would rather not walk it, the free CAT bus service runs up from the city, and there is parking inside the park.
More than you expect for somewhere free to enter. The ones worth planning around:
Kaarta Gar-up Lookout: The best sweeping view of the Perth CBD in the city. Kaarta Gar-up is one of the Whadjuk Noongar names for Mount Eliza, alongside Mooro Katta and Kaarta Koomba, which means big hill.
The Lotterywest Federation Walkway: A 620 metre elevated walkway through the Botanic Garden, including a 52 metre glass and steel arched bridge suspended up in the canopy of the tall eucalypts. Panoramic views of the skyline and the river, and the best thing in the park for anyone travelling with teenagers.
The DNA Tower: A 15 metre white double helix staircase built in 1966 on the highest point of the park, with 101 steps up to the observation deck and a 360 degree view from the top. A short climb that pays off.
Gija Jumulu, the Giant Boab: Our favourite thing in the park. This boab is thought to be over 750 years old and was brought here on a lorry from the Kimberley over six days, the longest known journey for a tree of its size and a serious operation to pull off.
The State War Memorial: A striking granite cenotaph above the river, recording the Western Australians who did not come home. Worth stopping properly, and there is more about it on our first day in Perth guide.
The Bali Bombings Memorial: A quiet, affecting spot that means a great deal in this city.
There are a couple of cafes in the park if you want refreshments before you leave.
The Botanic Garden runs free walking tours with volunteer guides at various times throughout the day. Check the Visitor Centre for the day’s programme when you arrive.
We left the kids to chill in the shade while we went round with a guide, and came away knowing far more than we expected about karri, marri, tingle and jarrah trees. It is one of those tours where the volunteer’s enthusiasm carries the whole thing.
If you are here towards the end of the day, you are in the best spot in Perth to watch the sun go down over the city.
In the summer months the park also hosts the outdoor Moonlight Cinema and a series of outdoor concerts with big name performers. Check the events programme for the dates you are in town, because an evening up here is a very good way to spend one!
In closing
So, is Perth worth visiting? I say definitely. Whilst Perth CBD might not have the immediate impact of Sydney, it has a charm which reveals itself during your stay – you start to notice old Gold Rush style buildings, alongside modern architecture and bright street art murals. Nothing was too flashy or high rise, just subtly modern.
There is art, history and culture everywhere in the city, alongside beautiful Kings Park and Botanical Gardens, and beautiful scenery on the River. Wine, kangaroos and outdoor cinemas – yes please! Staying in a Perth beach suburb adds another dimension, and helps you experience a different side of life in Perth. Oh, and the sunsets were out of this world!
With so many accolades – ‘sunniest’, ‘healthiest’, ‘wealthiest’ – it makes me wonder why people often miss it out and head straight to Sydney and the east coast? !
Is Perth worth visiting? 100% yes. Perth is more than okay, it’s fantastic.
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