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What to See in Perth: 14 Cool Things to Do on an Australia City Break

Find out what to see in Perth and Fremantle on a long weekend visit to Western Australia. Learn about things to do on a weekend city break in Perth.
What is there to see in Perth at the far reaches of Western Australia

We had come all the way from Europe to Sydney and rationalized: Perth is on the way home (kind of ...), let's spend the weekend there before flying back to Dublin to see what this part of Australia is all about. 

Perth is about a five hour flight from Sydney and reminded me of flying from New York to San Francisco or Los Angeles in the U.S. Read about Perth points of interest embodied in 14 experiences that we enjoyed on our visit to Western Australia.
Fremantle Things to Do: Explore the architecture on the high street like this church spire

1. Explore Perth's CBD

Perth is a wealthy city centered on mining and petroleum industries. The central business district (CBD) features an impressive array of glass skyscrapers shining in the perpetual sun. 
What to see in Perth - Central Business District (CBD)

2. Perth's Sidewalk Cyclists

We were walking around Perth's CBD on a Saturday morning and immediately noticed a large number of cyclists coming up the sidewalk. 

They seemed to have been out for a morning ride and were on their way to a cafe for a coffee and chat. A number of the riders smiled and waved at us as we went past. I liked Perth's vibe already!
What to see in Perth - Cyclists on the Sidewalk

3. Fremantle Things to Do: Walk the High Street

In contrast to Perth, Fremantle, just a 45 minute train ride away feels like the wild west. Short two story buildings that wouldn't look out of place on Gold Rush-era San Francisco's Barbary Coast Trail lined the high street. Visiting Freo was like taking a step back in time.
Fremantle Things to Do: Check out the high street. Collage of architecture

4. Fremantle Things to Do: Weekend Markets

Freo is known for a variety of weekend markets. We browsed stall after stall featuring food and drink (e.g., an unbelievable array of coffee beans), arts and crafts, and even live music. The Fremantle markets were well worth the visit.
Fremantle Things to Do: Freo Weekend Markets

5. The Shipwreck Galleries at Fremantle

Why visit Perth? The fascinating Shipwreck Galleries in Fremantle made the weekend city break worth it in and of itself. The museum featured the 1629 recovered wreck of the Batavia with a backdrop of mutiny and massacre added to the story. 

We bought an absolutely fascinating book about the mayhem that ensued after the ship sunk called Batavia's Graveyard
Collage of pictures from the Shipwreck Galleries in Fremantle Western Australia

6. Fremantle Harbour Walk

Walking along the harbour in Fremantle is a relaxing, almost zen, experience. We enjoyed the sunshine while checking out the colorful ships in port. Looking into the crystal clear water, we saw hundreds of tiny jellyfish floating past.
Fremantle Things to Do - Harbour Walk

7. Sweeping Views from Kings Park and the Western Australian Botanic Garden

Kings Park and the Western Australian Botanic Garden in Perth is an ideal place to watch the sunset. We enjoyed sweeping views of the Perth skyline as the sun slowly dipped below the horizon.
What to see in Perth: Views of the Skyline from Kings Park and the Western Australian Botanic Gardens

8. Perth Wildlife in the Park

The Western Australian Botanic Garden also features ample wildlife and beautiful flowers. We spotted a fox (considered a pest locally but still beautiful) and a cheeky kookaburra, a large member of the kingfisher family. 

This particular kookaburra was stalking a couple having a sunset picnic in the park. Before they knew what had happened the bird had swooped in and nabbed some of the crackers they were eating with their cheese and wine! They really are beautiful birds (and clearly stealthy!)
What to see in Perth: Kookaburras, Foxes, and flowers at the Western Australian Botanic Gardens

9. A Vietnamese Odyssey in Perth

When in Perth, definitely give Vietnamese cuisine a try. There are a number of Vietnamese restaurants just a short walk from the train station.
What to Eat in Perth: Vietnamese Lychee Drink

10. Take A Riverside Walk in Perth

We particularly enjoyed walking along the Swan River in Perth. You get beautiful skyline views, can easily spot squawking parrots frolicking in the park, and can check out the Bell Tower, a thoroughly modern structure containing 18 historic bells (some are hundreds of years old).
Collage of pictures from the Riverside walking path along the Swan River in Perth

SIDEWALK SAFARI SPOTLIGHT: Australia is full of surprises. Looking for other city break ideas in Australia? Why not:

11. Gaze Out Across the Indian Ocean from Perth

The air in Perth is some of the freshest in the world. There is no significant land mass to the west until you get to the coast of Africa! Looking out over the Indian Ocean in Perth, it feels like you're staring into infinity.
Perth points of interest - Views of the Indian Ocean

12. Fremantle Container Port

The ocean views may feel infinite, but the world is clearly a small place in the end. We watched as enormous container ships made their way into port delivering goods from around the world.
Fremantle things to do: the container port

13. Western Australia's Street Art

We really enjoyed the street art in Perth and surrounding areas like Fremantle. We'd round a bend and bam! walk right into a stunning work. 
What to see in Perth: street art

14. Perth's World Class Beaches 

A final highlight of our visit to Perth was a drive along the coast to see some of Western Australia's best beaches. Even if you're not up for a swim (we definitely weren't as the surf was a bit rough and we're not strong swimmers), you can hike along the trails that connect the beaches. 

Make sure to stay on the path though. There were signs warning of the presence of snakes. 
Perth and Fremantle points of interest: World Class Beaches
Overall, Perth proved to be a welcome diversion on the way home to Europe after a business trip in Sydney. We even managed to squeeze in a road trip from Perth to Margaret River

Because we'd come all this way, it would have been a travesty not to take a few days of vacation to explore Western Australia. We always make the most of our business trips by building in some time for fun and hope you adopt this philosophy too!

Getting to Perth from Europe

What's the best way to get to Perth from Europe? Fly from Dublin via Dubai on Emirates Airlines

Since the flight is a super long haul, consider flying in style in Emirates Business Class or splurge on a First Class ticket on Emirates via Dubai.

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What To See in Perth: Highlights from a Trip to Australia's Wild West #WesternAustralia #Australia #Fremantle

What to see in Perth and Fremantle
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Sidewalk Safari | Part-time Travel Blog: What to See in Perth: 14 Cool Things to Do on an Australia City Break
What to See in Perth: 14 Cool Things to Do on an Australia City Break
Find out what to see in Perth and Fremantle on a long weekend visit to Western Australia. Learn about things to do on a weekend city break in Perth.
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