Best things to do in Perth

Set on 400 hectares (988 acres) looking out on downtown Perth, the Swan River, and the Darling Range hills, Kings Park and Botanic Garden presents you with a spectacular landscape of Western Australian bushland, manicured park grounds, and colorful botanic gardens. Blooming wildflowers make September the best time to visit, but you can enjoy walks through coastal bushland and by colorful flowerbeds any time of year. Bold Park contains over 1,000 species of native and nonnative plants, animals, and fungi. The Botanic Garden showcases plants from Western Australia and other temperate climates around the world. Relax at one of the many cafes during the day or take in the view of the glittering Perth skyline at night.

Swan River provides an excellent venue for enjoying a sunny day in Perth. Like the locals, you can boat, fish, kayak, and swim in the clean water, or enjoy a picnic and view from the riverbanks. Various companies provide river cruises, introducing you to an ecosystem that includes water plants, fish, crabs, dolphins, osprey, pelicans, and black swans. Head upriver to the Swan Valley to tour a winery or downriver to see historic Fremantle at the river's mouth.

Located on Mount Eliza and overlooking Perth Water, State War Memorial houses the Cenotaph, a well-known city landmark. Erected in honor of all Australian soldiers whose remains are buried elsewhere, the Cenotaph represents an "empty tomb." Anzac Day is a national holiday observed in April to honor Australians and New Zealanders who served in the military and died in wars and peacekeeping operations. On Anzac Day, a service is held at the memorial that attracts over 40,000 visitors. At this site, you can also visit the flame of remembrance and a pool of reflection, inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth II in 2000.

At the The Perth Mint, learn about Perth's historical importance to Australian gold mining. During a guided talk, hear stories about the 19th-century gold rush in Western Australia. Watch the heating of pure gold into liquid and then its transformation into a gold bar. See the most valuable gold coin in the world, the world's large collection of gold bars, and Australia's largest collection of gold nuggets.

On the UNESCO World Heritage List as one of 11 Australian Convict Sites, Fremantle Prison paints a vivid image of the country's penal-colony history. Convicts built the prison in the 1850s. Today you can explore the prison on a guided tour, including a torch-lit option. Navigate tunnels 20 m (65 ft) beneath the ground on foot and by boat. The prison art gallery sells pieces created by current and ex-prisoners in Western Australia.

Bringing the Swan River and the city of Perth together, Elizabeth Quay provides entertainment and recreational prospects to locals and visitors alike. Look for interesting pieces of modern art on the quayside as you stroll around, or consider some dining options in the area. This is also the place from where you can catch a ferry to Rottnest Island.

Come see one of the largest sets of ringing bells in the world at The Bell Tower. The tower is a modern architectural delight, with its copper and glass bell tower and 18 bells. Climb the spiral staircase to ring the bells yourself. Take a rest at the observation deck and enjoy the views of the Swan River and urban surroundings. If you prefer to stay at ground level, walk on the path inlaid with ceramic tiles around the tower. Opened in 2000 to commemorate the new millennium, The Bell Tower has become a city icon.

Discover wildlife from four different continents at the Perth Zoo. Here you'll encounter over 1,200 animals across 160 species. Gaze at koalas, red kangaroos, wallabies, and Tasmanian Devils in the Australian Bushwalk exhibit. See crocodiles, frogs, tortoises, and local birds in Australian Wetlands. Reptile Encounter brings you up close with snakes and lizards, and Penguin Plunge showcases penguins waddling on beaches and swimming around reefs. Feed giraffes at African Savannah, which is also home to lions and cheetahs.

At The Nostalgia Box Museum, you'll discover Australia's very first interactive video game console museum.

The museum contains more than 100 consoles, representing the evolution--and sometimes revolution--that occurred from the 1970s through the 2000s. Go behind the scenes of your favorite games and consoles, learning about the work that went into them, and how they established a foundation for the consoles of today. Play a plethora of classic video games, replaying games from your childhood or making entirely new discoveries. Play a round of Pong, challenge a friend to a high score in Space Invaders, or blast through levels of Super Mario Bros, Sonic the Hedgehog, Alex Kidd, and Crash Bandicoot. This is merely scratching the surface. Relive your childhood, discover gaming's sometimes secret history, and plant appreciation for old-school gaming in a younger generation.

Equally appealing to both tourists and locals, Fremantle Markets remains one of the finest shopping destinations in Western Australia. Bringing together over a century of history and heritage, the markets now host over 150 stalls run by craftspeople, vegetable growers, food producers, fashion designers, and merchants. Look for the fresh produce section to stock up on tasty treats and snacks, or head straight for the food court to have your fill of globally popular street specialties.Snoop around Fremantle Markets to buy indigenous souvenirs like boomerangs and didgeridoos. Explore the 150 vibrant shops and discover why the market was listed in the Register of Heritage Places. Built in 1897, the market is lined with small shops selling crafts in the indoor hall and fresh produce in outdoor yard. Walk past street performers and enter the market through the ornate stone arches. The rough washed limestone of the walls and the high iron roof add to the charm. A walk at the market is a good way to spend a rainy day since it is covered. Try the kangaroo jerky.

Top Gun Tours is breathing new energy into the West Australian tourism industry with fun-filled tours through the beautiful Swan Valley.

Let yourself be taken on a unique journey, with specialised tours of only the finest hand-picked wineries and boutique breweries. Each of our tours also includes a mouth-watering two-course lunch.

Our tasty selection of tours will tantalise your taste buds as we showcase the Valley’s premium wines and beers, complemented by delicious cheeses, fresh olives, handmade chocolates, wine-infused sorbet, and other gourmet goodies and surprises along the way.

Meet some of Western Australia's furry residents at Caversham Wildlife Park, a family-ran sanctuary sheltering many species of indigenous creatures. Be sure to stick around for penguin feeding, a daily activity that thrills kids and adults. A farmyard petting zoo provides further photo opps for the whole family.