This summer, Destination Perth is showcasing the best things to do, see, taste, and experience, a little differently. Instead of telling you what’s hot, they’re relying on recommendations from the Perth-fect experts — the locals.
You can have your say by using the #SeePerth hashtag when posting to Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Scroll down to see how you can win big just for sharing your summer memories.
To kick things off, we’ve rounded up some of the best seasonal activities across the Perth region, from Rottnest Island to the Bickley Valley, Lancelin to Mandurah.
For The Family
Have an animal meet and greet
Get up close and personal with bunnies, goats, and the alpacas, Fifi and Trixie, at The Swan Valley Cuddly Animal Farm. Take part in the daily bottle feedings, jump on the bouncy castle, and ride on a train or tractor around the farm. It’s the perfect place for some wholesome family fun.
Make the short drive out to Caversham Wildlife Park for more cute animals.
There, you can learn to crack a whip in the farm show, milk a cow, and watch sheep shearing, or meet and hold emblematic Australian animals like kangaroos, koalas, and wombats.
Slow down to island time
Spend some time with the happiest animals in the world, quokkas, on Wadjemup / Rottnest Island. While there, it would be remiss not to swim at one of the 63 secluded beaches.
In between dips, fill your day with activities like a historical guided tour or a sightseeing tour on the hop-on-hop-off bus. The best way to see the island — and burn off that big Frankie’s lunch — is by bike. Bring your own across on the ferry, or hire some from Pedal and Flipper.
The ferries across to the island depart from Perth City, Hillarys, and Fremantle, the first arriving on the island at 8.00 am and the last leaving at 6.30 pm.
Spend just the day there or turn it into a little vacation. There are plenty of accommodation options available for any budget.
For The Adventurer
Sail high in the sky
Be surrounded by still as you soar more than 135 metres above the Fremantle skyline on a parasailing experience.
You’ll be jet-boated out to a platform for a parachute and harness fitting (solo, tandem, or triple) before being launched into the sky behind the boat. From such a height, the view of the Indian Ocean and the mainland is unparalleled. It’s the perfect way to really #SeePerth.
Make a day out of it with a parasailing and jet boat thrill ride package or a parasailing and fish and chips package from Cicerello’s.
Experience a free fall
Plummet towards the middle of the Perth CBD in a 60-second free fall with Skydive Australia — the only skydiving company with a drop zone right in the heart of the city. Enjoy aerial views of the Swan River, Kings Park, and the Swan Coastal Plain on your gentle descent with a parachute deployed. They also have a drop site in Rockingham.
If you fancy landing on Rottnest Island, book in with Skydive Geronimo. After a 20-minute scenic flight over the island — where you’ll have some of the best views of the water and the coastline below — you’ll jump out of the plane attached to your instructor, landing on the sands of either Salmon Bay, Thomson Bay, or Bickley Bay.
#SeePerth and go flying
Get a birdseye view of Destination Perth on a private helicopter flight with Corsaire Aviation.
Their scenic helicopter rides depart from Crown Towers, Hillarys Boat Harbour, and Jandakot Airport, taking you over Perth city, the brilliantly blue coastline, and our offshore islands. As if seeing Perth from above wasn’t unique enough, they also offer full-day tours combining the scenic flight with 18-holes of golf, a winery lunch, or a day trip to Wadjemup / Rottnest Island.
Can’t get enough of the flying feeling? You, too, can learn to fly a helicopter with a package of private flight lessons.
Ride some waves
You’ll be well on your way to learning to hang ten with a lesson or two with the team from Scarborough Beach Surf School.
Learn the mechanics of paddling into a wave and getting yourself up on the board on dry land before heading out into the surf to put the theory into practice. The knowledgeable instructors will have you standing in no time, even if for just a split second before you fall back into the waves.
If you’ve graduated past the beginner level, intermediate and advanced courses are available, too.
For The Nature Lover
Spend some time in parklands
Kings Park is one of the largest inner-city parks in the world — larger even than New York’s Central Park — and showcases a remarkable collection of WA’s flora. Take a wander through the Western Australian Botanic Garden to see more than 3,000 species of native and endemic plants, including the critically endangered silky eremophila.
On your way to the gardens, stop to snap a photo (and hashtag #SeePerth) of the sweeping views of the city skyline, the Swan and Canning Rivers, and the Darling Ranges to the east. They make the perfect backdrop for a picnic, with plenty of grassed areas to throw down your rug just off Fraser Avenue.
#SeePerth’s marine life
Point Peron is an ideal place for relaxing and swimming at the southern end of Cockburn Sound and is surrounded by the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park. The crystal clear waters are perfect for snorkelers and divers to admire the darting fish and crustaceans below.
Boaters can launch just nearby for a day out on the water. Buzz about between the islands, and you’ll likely spot dolphins and some playful seals. Cap off an ocean-filled day off by watching the sunset over the ocean.
Join a night sky tour
Spot nebulas, the rings of Saturn, and all your favourite constellations with the help of the volunteer team and collection of telescopes at WA’s oldest observatory, Perth Observatory. Before setting your eye on the sky, you’ll head on a guided tour through the on-site museum to see historical instruments, a meteorite exhibit, and photos of space.
For The Foodie
Cruise through the Valley
The oldest wine region in Western Australia, the Swan Valley has earned itself a reputation among food and wine lovers, not least because it’s home to more than 40 world-class wineries, six distilleries, and many breweries and cider houses.
Visit Olive Farm Wines to sample some of the fortifieds the region is famous for, stay for lunch at Sitella Winery and Restaurant, or chill out in the Funk 2.0 beer garden and listen to live music.
Discover different cuisines in Fremantle
The port city of Fremantle is more than just its maritime history. It’s also a cultural hub, abuzz with pubs, small bars, cafes, and restaurants. Fremantle’s multicultural mix is apparent in its dining scene, with strong Italian representation, plenty of Asian and Indian diners, and daring modern fusion restaurants to test the palate.
Order an espresso and sit alfresco on the ‘Cappuccino Strip’ or check out one of the many micro-breweries and distilleries that have popped up around town. Republic of Fremantle is the city’s first and only gin distillery. Pop in for their brand of martini and a cheese board at the bar, or spend a few hours distilling your very own take-home bottle.
For the luxury-lover
Head to a retreat
Located in the Perth Hills, the adults-only Amaroo Retreat is the perfect place to relax and unwind from the stresses of everyday life.
Owner Kirstin Westerman aims to provide a getaway where guests can completely rejuvenate their minds, bodies, and spirits. Treat yourself to a sumptuous massage and facial package at the spa before ending the day with a semi-fine dining experience at the onsite restaurant, The Lounge. Keep the blissful day going just a little longer, retiring for a restful sleep in one of the eight luxury chalets.
Wine and dine on the water
Feast on a seven-course seafood degustation and sip Howard Park’s award-winning sparkling while cruising the Tiffany blue waters around Wadjemup / Rottnest Island.
Setting out from Thomson Bay, the first stop of the four-hour Rottnest Cruises Luxe Island Seafood Cruise is at a row of crayfish pots, where guests can try their hand at pulling in lunch. The catch is the centrepiece of celebrated chef Tony Howell’s menu, served alongside oysters, scallops, and tender Fremantle octopus.
In between courses, guests are welcome to swim off the back of the 67-foot cruiser or soak up the sun on the top deck.
Set Sail
Set sail around Walyalup / Fremantle, Wadjemup / Rottnest Island, and Carnac Island on the banana-yellow Capella catamaran.
Owned by Charter 1, it’s Perth’s largest commercial sailing catamaran — and most identifiable — capable of accommodating groups of up to 38. All you and your friends have to do is turn up, as the vessel is equipped with everything you need for a fun day out; snorkelling gear, kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, and, most importantly, friendly crew members.
Charters are fully customisable, so if you’re not ready to let the fun end after just a day, consider going for a multi-day hire. The boat sleeps ten overnight comfortably.
#SeePerth competition
You’ll automatically go in the running for a weekly giveaway of fantastic prizes – think trips to Rottnest Island, a gin walking tour, and a tandem skydive — just by using the #SeePerth hashtag when posting to Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
At the end of the season, the major prize of a five-night stay at Quality Resort Sorrento Beach will be drawn.
The top 10 submissions to the hashtag will go to a public vote, the winner being the one to receive the most votes. Increase your chances of winning by submitting multiple entries.
Learn more about Destination Perth’s weekly giveaways and read T&Cs here.
This article was sponsored by Destination Perth. All thoughts and opinions are the writer’s own
Know all the best things to do in Perth this summer with So Perth
Lead image: images_by_boyd (IG)
