Things To Do in Perth

If you only had four days to spend in Perth, what would you do? Here are some ideas to get you started to give you a real local’s view of Perth.

Things To Do in Perth in 4 Days

1. Visit Perths Seafront Destinations

The city is synonymous with endless beaches, pristine white sand and the clear, warm waters of the Indian Ocean, so it makes sense to kick off your visit with a tour of the iconic seafront destinations.

Some firm favourites are:

• Cottesloe Beach
• Scarborough Beach (newly revamped)
• Bather’s Beach in Fremantle
• Hillary’s Boat Harbour
• Trigg Beach

If the weather’s good (which it’s likely to be given the city’s fab Mediterranean climate), you can easily spend the better part of a day basking in beachside bliss or lunching at an oceanfront cafe. Odyssea, Bib & Tucker, the Shorehouse and Island Market Trigg are just a couple of local hot favourites.

2. Learn about Perths history

You could spend another day uncovering the city’s past and visiting places of interest that tell the story of its growth and development into a thriving modern capital. Perth City is compact and easy to navigate, plus there’s free public transport in the CBD so getting around is a breeze.

Notable Attractions:

Plan the day to include notable attractions like the Perth Mint (their Heritage Tour is a must), get your culture on at the Art Gallery of WA and take a look inside the magnificent newly renovated State Buildings precinct in the city’s historic heart.

The Bell Tower

A short stroll from the CBD on the banks of the Swan River is the Bell Tower - one of the world’s largest musical instruments and home to giant bells from St Martin’s in the Field in Trafalgar Square. It is well worth a visit and from there, you can check out all that Elizabeth Quay has to offer as well as follow a fascinating street art trail.

Kings Park

You shouldn’t miss the 400 hectare Kings Park, which is Perth’s most famous attraction and also one of the largest and most beautiful inner city parks in the world. It is rich in Aboriginal and European history and home to the spectacular Western Australian Botanic Gardens where over 3 000 species of native wildflowers and plants are on display.

Many tourists visit the State War Memorial and the gallery shop, Aspects of Kings’ Park which has a vast choice of contemporary art, jewellery, accessories, homewares and collectibles - but there are plenty of lookout points and scenic trails if you venture a bit further beyond the crowds.

3. Check out Fremantle (Freo)

Another day should be allocated to discovering Fremantle - a separate port city adjacent to Perth which boasts an impressive collection of well-preserved 19th century buildings and other heritage features.

Places to Visit in Fremantle:

• Fremantle Prison
• The Round House
• Western Australian Maritime Museum
• Fishing Boat Harbour

Fun fact: Fremantle Prison, which is fascinating to visit, is Western Australia’s only World Heritage Listed building!

‘Freo’ offers an eclectic mix of artisanal food, craft beers, lively markets, quirky boutiques, an eclectic music, arts and festival scene and it’s easy to spend a day walking the historic streets and enjoying the area’s warm - and often eccentric - hospitality. Don’t just stick to the usual tourist path though. Head off to some of the local beaches outside of the main area and spoil yourself with some great coffee and sweet treats at the many trendy cafes hidden down the laneways.

Plus there’s plenty of shopping!

Freo is known for its unique character which is reflected in the city’s art galleries and studios, plus you’ll find a huge range of exquisite jewellery, accessories, hand-crafted gifts and souvenirs in the popular shopping arcades and markets.

4. Perth's Unique Attractions

Sometimes, it’s the lesser known attractions in a city - the hidden gems that only a select few know about - that make a trip really special. That’s why a day of your itinerary should be spent discovering more of Perth’s unique attractions such as Caversham Wildlife Park, the Swan Valley and what is quite possibly the city’s best-kept secret of all - the Bickley Valley.

The Bickley Valley

This scenic valley is characterised by winding roads, sweeping vistas of natural forest, orchards and vines plus for wine lovers there is a host of boutique wineries, charming cellar doors, cideries and restaurants cooking up fresh, local produce.

In fact, orchard tours are particularly popular in this area not only because they provide amazing photographic opportunities among the beautiful blossoms in spring and rainbow-coloured leaves in autumn but they offer a variety of options for picking fruit direct from the farms. Fruit-picking season in the Perth Hills runs from around the middle of November through to May, and you can choose from a range of delicious options including pears, apples, cherries, persimmons and even chillies (and yes, they are a fruit!).

The valley is only 30 minutes from Perth City (yes, you read that correctly), but with so many fascinating places to visit and delicious treats to sample, you’ll probably want someone else to take care of all the hard work. Like choosing the best places to go. Planning the best route. Making bookings. Driving. And organising everything. Book a private tour if this appeals to you!

Perth has a lot to offer and ideally you need more than a few days to experience it all. Especially if you want to visit the world famous Quokka's on Rottnest Island! But however long you have, I hope these tips for things to do in Perth in 4 days has been useful.

Author: Paul Montague, along with his partner Shannon, are the owners and operators of Up Close and Local Tours. Up Close & Local Tours are a Perth company, owned and run by bona fide locals who have lived and breathed Western Australia all their lives, and their goal is to create a personalised itinerary that gives you an authentic and memorable tour. Whether it’s wine-tasting in Margaret River, touring the region’s top natural attractions or discovering Perth’s foodie secrets, they’ll hand-pick destinations that are perfect for you.

Images: All images are from pixabay unless otherwise stated.