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Sightseeing |
Sightseeing in Perth is easy. Because of the Free Transit Zone, within which all public transport is free
(notably the three color coded CAT bus lines, see Transperth
for more information), you can get easily to most if not all sights in the inner city area. Touristic transport
like the Perth Tram offer guided tours around the most interesting sites.
Since there are so many sights worth a visit (or two), here is a small selection of them. Be sure to see our
recommendations regarding beaches, night life and interesting
spots around Perth. You can locate most of the sights on our map.
Parks and recreational areas
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Kings Park is 406 ha of bushland, parkland, and botanic gardens
situated on top of Mt Eliza with a gorgeous view onto Swan River, the city and Darling Ranges behind.
The bushland area can be explored by bike and contains 300+ WA native plants and trees. The area located
next to the swan area consists of suberbly cultivated botanic gardens, family recreational areas (with BBQ
of course) and the Lotterywest roundtrip. In the wild flower season around october the whole park blossoms
like a newly created colorful carpet.
The park is a very popular place for recreation, weekend trips and ceremonies, e. g. weddings. What else is
up in Kings Park can be seen on the web site of the Botanic Gardens and
Parks Authority.
The Red and the Blue CAT stop within five minutes from the park, and the bus line 37 stops in front of the
War Memorial in the park.
Kings Park was named in honour of King Edward II after his visit to Perth. Mt Eliza was already a famous spot for
the local aboriginal people, the Nyoongar. It was this place, where the tree was cut to announce the
foundation of Perth. And now it is a park!
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The Queens Gardens, established 1899, are a cute little spot
in amidst the developing part of East Perth.
In the first place it is meant as a recreational spot, featuring lilly-filled lakes, displays of flowers, lawns,
and a large variety of trees and shrubs. You'll find a number of seats, public toilets and a drinking water fountain.
The best place to lie down still is the green grass. The park is surrounded by an iron, overgrown fence. It's
amazing, how quiet it is inside the gardens, while the traffic roars by at the outside.
The gardens can be reached by the Red CAT, stopping at Hay St opposite to the fence. For our guests it's only
a fifty metre walk (hint, hint!)
Can you believe that these gardens have been clay mines and brick factories? But in fact the lakes are the former
clay pits.
More information on the web site of the City of Perth.
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The largest natural bushland reserve on the Swan Coastal Plain (436 ha), Bold Park was established
in 1936 “...for the people of Perth.”
Bold Park features over 500 native and non-native plants and over 200 kinds animals (including snakes). There
a number of walking and bridle trails, totalling a length of 15km. Enough look-out points guarantee, that you
don't miss one of the spectacular views—from Reabold Hill in particular you can see the city of Perth,
the Indian Ocean, Rottnest Island and Kings Park.
The park is for hiking and bridling only. There are only some cycle paths around the perimeter of the area.
Bold Park isn't serviced directly by busses, but since its close location to City Beach, you can use the
lines 91, 92, 81, and 84 to get there.
The park was named after William E. Bold, Town Clerk of the City of Perth until 1944. Have a look at
Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority for more information.
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Heirisson Island, a small island in the Swan River, might be overrun by the most. It is located
between East Perth and Victoria Park, and the Causeway runs through it.
But if you are into cycling or walking, you might want to consider to divert from the bridge onto the
island, walk around and see, if you can see some of the Western Grey Kangaroos which have been placed
there (but it's not easy).
Sorry, no bus stops there, but don't be so lazy!
The island, which originally consisted of two islands linked by mudland, was named after François-Antoine
Heirisson who was member of a French expedition and drew the first map of the Swan River. More information
on Wikipedia.
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Entertainment
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Near the river, surrounded by a public park, the Burswood Entertainment Complex hosts restaurants,
bars, a luxury hotel, a convention centre, a golf course, the casino, the Burswood Theatre and the Burswood Dome.
The Burswood Casino is the only casino in Perth and features coin-operated game machines and gamble tables. The
Dome is used for large events like sports or pop concerts, while the theatre proves to be multifunctional just
by changing the arrangement of stage and seating facilities. The park, located at the edge to the river, is
one of the favourite spots for the Perthites to relax or do some sports.
The complex is not far from the train station of Burswood (Armadale Line). An in-house bus metro service is
run privately on a hop-on and hop-off basis.
A warning for the casual backpacker: the Burswood Entertainment Complex enforces a dress code! For more
information on this and others see their web page.
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The Scitech Discovery Centre tries to increase the interest and participation by visitors in science
and technology. It features a variety of interactive displays which let the visitor discover more about the
world and the science behind the things.
A new feature is Horizon the Planetarium, a domed theatre screening journeys into the universe with music
and narration.
The Scitech Centre is found in West Perth, close to the train station of City West (Fremantle line).
Have a look at the web site to find out more
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Culture, History and Architecture
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The Western Australian Museum has a large collection (2.5 million) of artefacts showcasing aspects
of geology, ethnology, biology, anthropology, archaeology, and social and cultural history.
Along permanent exhibitions, the museum opens up special exhibitions on a regular basis, showing works
of local artists or doing education programmes. But what can I tell you that you can't see there by
yourself?
Centrally located at the mall in Northbridge and next to the Perth railway station, the museum is easily
accessed by the Red or Yellow CAT, getting out at the railway station.
For more information—and there is much more—see The
Western Australian Museum.
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Have you ever lifted a 400oz gold bar? Or do you know your body's weight worth in gold? Go, try and find out
at the Perth Mint!
You can watch molten gold being turned into bars, or coins being pressed. You can see Australias largest
collection of gold nuggets. You can attend an exhibition about a 19th century Prospectors camp.
The Perth Mint is operational since 1899, the years of the gold rush in Western Australia, has acted
as the official mint since then, and still is doing nowadays as one of the oldest of the world.
The mint is located at Hay St, in walking distance from the hostel. If you feel lazy, take the Red
CAT or visit the web site.
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The Art Gallery of Western Australia preserves, interprets and displays visual art with an emphasis
on Western Australian and indigenous art. It maintains the State Art Collection, consisting of over 16,500
pieces.
Special exhibitions take place there, too. The
Art Gallery page has more information about special events and programmes. Entry is usually free except
some special exhibitions which are flagged appropriately.
Located at the mall in Northbridge it forms a cultural centre together with the Western Australian Museum.
Take the Red or the Yellow CAT to the railway station, but walking is an option, too.
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Other sights
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The Swan Bells is the largest musical instrument of the world. Some of its eighteen bells have
been donated by the City of London and date back to the 18th century.
Its location at Barrack St Jetty makes it to one of Perth's easiest accessible attractions. And it's
modernistic architecture catches your eye immediately.
The Swan Bells are the only instrument that you can climb. It is opened every day from 10am, closing
time varies seasonally. Usually the entry fee is $6, but on every first Tuesday of every month entry
is free!
It has a web site, too.
You can get there by using the Blue CAT. But a nice walk along the river will do, too.
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The Perth Zoo is home to about 1500 native and exotic animals and famous for its breeding-to-release
programs. The animals live in exhibits which closely resemble their natural habitats.
Try the different wild life environments and events like Reptile Encounter, African Savannah, Asian Rainforest,
Australian Wetlands, Australian Bushwalk or the World of Birds.
The zoo will open to special events to advertised on their home page.
The zoo is located in South Perth, south of the river, and is opened everyday from 9.00am to 5.00pm. It can be reached
via bus lines 30, 31, 730, and 731. Facilities make arrivals by bike or by car easy. Or why not take the ferry
from the Barrack St Jetty?
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The Aquarium of Western Australia ( aqwa ) advertises to show 12,000km of Australian coastline
at one place. And it does—exhibitions range from species from the Great Southern Coast to ones from
the Far Northern Coast of Western Australia.
The most impressive experience is the walk through the glass tunnel underneath the biggest aquarium in Australia.
See sharks, sea turtles, rays and heaps of other species gliding by right next to you or above your head.
Maybe you can also find Nemo in one of the exhibitions.
The ( aqwa ) is located at Hillarys Boat Harbor next to the Indian Ocean. Take the train (Clarkson line) to
either Stirling or Warwick stations and go on by bus lines 423 or 441 respectively.
Have a look at their web site for special events.
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