Perth Travel Guide

Perth at a glance

Perth sits on the Swan River on Australia's west coast, closer to Bali than to Sydney. It's the capital of Western Australia and the starting point for the long, empty west coast.

The city centre is compact and modern, with the river on one side and Kings Park, one of the largest inner-city parks in the world, on the hill above. Northbridge, just north of the centre, is the nightlife and backpacker district, with bars, cheap food and most of the hostels.

West of the city, a line of white-sand beaches runs along the Indian Ocean, from Cottesloe to Scarborough, with famous sunsets over the water.

Fremantle, at the mouth of the river, is Perth's port and a city in its own right, with 19th-century buildings, markets, breweries and a UNESCO-listed convict prison. Ferries run from Fremantle and Perth to Rottnest Island, home of the quokka.

Perth is relaxed, sunny and spread out, and quieter than the east coast. It's also a working hub, thanks to the mining industry, with good wages for travellers on working holiday visas.

Three or four days covers the city, Fremantle and Rottnest, and it's the base for road trips to Margaret River, the Pinnacles and the north-west coast.