Take a day trip

As in any place with as low a density as Perth, you will spend a lot of time travelling between the sights. One of the best day trips in Perth is to visit Rottnest Island, a nature reserve off the coast of Fremantle. There is a huge variety of wildlife to see (including the famous Quokka) and opportunities to see whales, dolphins and fur seals off the coast, but this will always depend on the season. Another (closer, cheaper but smaller) option is to visit Penguin Island, home of the "Little Penguins" or "Fairy Penguins", located five minutes off the coast of Rockingham, a 45-minute drive south of Perth.

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Listing from Wikivoyage: Perth, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Updated 28 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.

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DoThe Suburbs
Adventure World
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Ascot Racecourse
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Cottesloe Beach
One of Perth's most famous beaches, and a favourite among locals and tourists alike. A quiet beach with a pleasant footpath along Marine Parade with panoramic views over the Indian Ocean. Watch the sunset whilst sitting on one of many benches and the scores of surfers who are still there in winter months trying to catch waves. There is a shady grassed area as well as sand, and the beach is patrolled. From Fremantle, head about 10 minutes north by car via the Stirling Highway. Or take the train to Cottesloe and catch the "Cott Cat" free shuttle bus, running every 15 minutes each weekend and public holiday throughout summer. The Cott Cat runs in a loop between Cottesloe Train Station and Cottesloe Beach, stopping at North Cottesloe (outside the Ocean Beach Hotel) and Cottesloe Beach (outside Il Lido Cafe). From Cottesloe station, you can head west down Forrest Street for about ten minutes to reach the beach. Another option is to take bus 102 from Williams street or Esplanade station and it has a stop right by Cottesloe beach.
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Fremantle Arts Centre
A museum for Contemporary Arts with a shop and a cafe. In summer free Sunday music sessions in the courtyard.
Free entry