Top things to do in Perth

Things to do in Perth range from a ferry ride to Rottnest Island and a cruise down the Swan River to a winery day in the Swan Valley, a climb over the Optus Stadium roof and a tandem skydive above the island. Ferries and river cruises leave from Barrack Street Jetty in the CBD, so plenty of days start without a car.

Perth tours and day trips

Perth tours cover the island, the river valleys and the coast. Rottnest is the big one: ferries leave Barrack Street Jetty at 8.45am and the return leaves the island at 5pm, with bus tour, bike hire, adventure boat and snorkel versions, all listed under Rottnest Island tours and transfers. The Rottnest bike and snorkel day tour from Fremantle is a popular choice and leaves B Shed at 9.30am.

North of the city, Pinnacles day trips include a sunset and stargazing tour, and the Lancelin 4WD sand dunes and sandboarding tour is a 45-minute run over the Lancelin dunes.

Swan River, Fremantle and Mandurah cruises

Perth cruises start with the river. The Swan River scenic cruise from Perth to Fremantle is a 2.5-hour trip with the captain's commentary, leaving Pier 3 at Barrack Street Jetty and running November to March. A Saturday dinner cruise leaves the same jetty at 7pm, and the Fremantle twilight sail is a 2-hour sunset sail with a glass of bubbles and an antipasto platter.

Mandurah has its own run of dolphin, canal and seafood cruises, and the dining cruises in Perth page gathers the lunch, dinner and wine sailings in one place.

Attractions in Perth

Perth attractions include the Swan Bell Tower at Barrack Square, with five floors of history and an open-air rooftop deck, and the Motor Museum of Western Australia in Whiteman Park, a 25-minute journey from the CBD. The Perth Swan Bell Tower sits at the river end of the city, near the cruise jetties.

Perth activities on the water and in the dunes

Perth activities get you moving: sea kayaking, jet skis on the Swan River, horse trail rides at Jarrahdale and white water rafting at Dwellingup. The Seal and Penguin Islands sea kayak tour paddles out from Shoalwater to look for dolphins, sea lions and fairy penguins.

Flights and skydives over Perth

Flying experiences in Perth include helicopter flights along the coast from Cottesloe to Fremantle, a sunrise balloon flight over the Avon Valley and the 15,000ft tandem skydive over Rottnest Island, with a 66-second freefall and a beach landing.

Driving and motorsports

Driving and motorsports in Perth is mostly V8 time. Options include front seat runs such as the 3-lap V8 hot laps and drive and ride combos.

Food and drink in the Swan Valley

Perth food and drink experiences centre on the Swan Valley. The Swan Valley wineries full-day tour collects from Barrack Street, Crown Burswood and the Swan Valley Visitor Centre and returns around 5pm, with wineries, a microbrewery and a chocolate tasting along the way.

Cultural experiences and behind-the-scenes tours

Cultural experiences in Perth lean on local stories. The Optus Stadium guided tour goes behind the scenes through the change rooms and up to the Sky View Lounge, and a Rottnest electric rickshaw tour covers shipwreck and soldier stories.

Zoos and aquariums in Perth

Zoos and aquariums in Perth include AQWA at Hillarys, where a conveyor belt carries you through an underwater tunnel and the Discovery Pool lets you touch a starfish. Plan on a 3-hour visit and go in the afternoon if you want it quieter. AQWA general admission tickets are a popular choice for families.

How Perth fits together

The CBD and Barrack Square hold the river cruises, the Bell Tower and the Rottnest ferries, and Fremantle has the sailing cruises. Burswood is home to Optus Stadium, and Hillarys has the aquarium and the whale watching harbour. South of the city, Rockingham and Shoalwater are the base for dolphin swims and island kayaking, and Mandurah has its own canals and cruises. The Swan Valley and Avon Valley sit inland.

The Hillarys whale watching cruise runs daily from late August to November, and the Perth whale watching page has more. For wet days, see rainy day things to do in Perth.