Perched on the Swan River where it meets the Indian Ocean, Perth is Australia's sunniest capital and one of the most remote major cities on Earth — closer to Jakarta than to Sydney. That splendid isolation has given Western Australia's capital a relaxed, outdoorsy character all its own: turquoise beaches, a compact glass-towered CBD, and vast native bushland folded into the city limits at Kings Park.
For most travellers, Perth is also a destination earned rather than simply arrived at — it is the western terminus (or starting point) of the Indian Pacific, the legendary transcontinental train that crosses the Nullarbor Plain from Sydney via Adelaide, covering nearly 4,352 kilometres of Australian outback, wheat belt and desert in one of the great rail journeys of the world. Stepping off the Indian Pacific in Perth after days of red-dirt horizons and star-filled skies makes the city's coastal light and laid-back energy feel especially vivid.
Whether you begin or end your Indian Pacific adventure here, Perth rewards a few extra days: riverside parklands, colonial-era streetscapes in neighbouring Fremantle, world-class produce, and some of Australia's best sunsets over the Indian Ocean.
- ✦Western terminus of the Indian Pacific transcontinental train
- ✦Kings Park's riverside bushland and wildflowers
- ✦Historic port town of Fremantle
- ✦Quokka-spotting on Rottnest Island
- ✦World-class Western Rock Lobster and marron
- ✦Swan Valley wineries and produce trails
- ✦Sunset views over Cottesloe Beach
Places to See in Perth
Kings Park and Botanic Garden
One of the largest inner-city parks in the world, this 400-hectare reserve overlooks the Swan River and the Perth skyline. Wander the treetop Lotterywest Federation Walkway, explore native wildflower displays, and pay respects at the State War Memorial.
Fremantle
This UNESCO-listed 19th-century port town at the mouth of the Swan River is packed with restored colonial architecture, the historic Fremantle Prison, the bustling Fremantle Markets, and a working fishing harbour lined with seafood restaurants.
Rottnest Island
A short ferry ride from Fremantle or Perth, this car-free island is famous for its quokkas — famously photogenic marsupials — along with pristine snorkelling bays and colonial-era heritage sites.
Elizabeth Quay
Perth's modern riverfront precinct on the Swan River, home to restaurants, public art, and the striking Bell Tower housing the bells of London's St Martin-in-the-Fields.
Art Gallery of Western Australia and the Perth Cultural Centre
Located in Northbridge, this precinct brings together the state art gallery, the Western Australian Museum Boola Bardip, and the State Library beneath striking contemporary architecture.
Swan Valley
Western Australia's oldest wine region, a short drive from the city centre, offering boutique wineries, craft breweries, chocolate and cheese producers, and views over vineyards to the Darling Range.
Cottesloe Beach
Perth's most iconic stretch of sand, beloved for its Indiana Ocean-facing sunsets, the historic Indiana Tea House, and a relaxed beach-café culture.
Perth Mint
One of the world's oldest continuously operating mints, offering tours, gold pours, and a chance to view one of the largest gold coins ever cast.
Food & Gastronomy
Perth's dining scene draws on Western Australia's exceptional seafood and produce, with the Indian Ocean and Swan Valley both within easy reach of the city. Fremantle's fishing fleet supplies much of the state's famous rock lobster (Western Rock Lobster), which appears grilled, in rolls, or served simply with lemon and butter at harbourside restaurants.
Marron, a native freshwater crayfish, is a Western Australian delicacy served in the region's better restaurants, while blue swimmer crab and Shark Bay prawns are staples of Perth's seafood menus. The Swan Valley, the state's oldest wine region, is the place to pair Margaret River-style whites and reds with cheese, chocolate, and nougat straight from small producers.
- Western Rock Lobster — Australia's premium crustacean, grilled or chargrilled at Fremantle's fish restaurants.
- Marron — a sweet, native freshwater crayfish unique to the region's rivers and farms.
- Fremantle fish and chips — fresh-caught local fish served dockside at Fishing Boat Harbour.
- Swan Valley wines — verdelho and shiraz from Australia's oldest wine-growing district.
- Small Bar culture — Perth's laneway bars in Northbridge and the CBD serve WA craft beer and native-botanical cocktails.
