Perth
A river city facing the Indian Ocean, with Kings Park above the towers, Fremantle at the river mouth and Rottnest a ferry ride offshore.
- Arrival
- Perth · PER
- To the city
- Perth Airport lies 12 km from the centre
- Private jets
- At Perth Airport
- Best time
- September to April
The city
The Swan River, then the open ocean.
Perth is built along the Swan River, with Elizabeth Quay at the water and Kings Park and its botanic garden on the heights above. Downriver, Fremantle keeps the look of an old port; out to sea, Rottnest Island is home to the quokka. Inland, the Swan Valley vineyards make an easy afternoon.
Perth has dry summers and wet winters. From September to April the rain falls away and the city lives outdoors, with dinner by the beach as the sun goes down into the Indian Ocean. Spring, from September to November, is also when whales pass the coast.
Arriving
Australia's western gateway.
Perth Airport, twelve kilometres from the centre, is the arrival for the city and for the whole of Western Australia.
- Bali 3 h 40
- Melbourne 3 h 50
- Singapore 5 h 25
- Johannesburg 11 h 00 long-range jet
- Riyadh 12 h 45 long-range jet
When to go
September to April.
Mediterranean, with long dry summers and rain concentrated between May and August. From December to March afternoons reach 28 to 31 °C under ten or eleven hours of sun. Plan a visit for September to April.
- 31° J 8
- 31° F 18
- 29° M 15
- 25° A 45
- 21° M 112
- 19° J 177
- 18° J 169
- 18° A 118
- 20° S 71
- 22° O 52
- 25° N 25
- 28° D 12
What to see and do
Days in and around Perth.
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Landmark
Kings Park
A park and botanic garden on the rise above the city, looking down over the towers to the river.
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Landmark
Rottnest Island
An island off the coast, reached by ferry, where the quokka is the resident everyone comes to see.
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Landmark
Fremantle
The port at the mouth of the Swan, with streets of heritage buildings and a working harbour.
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Culture
WA Museum Boola Bardip
Hassell and OMA wrapped the Old Gaol, Hackett Hall and other heritage buildings into this museum, opened in 2020 with eight permanent galleries on Western Australia.
Official site -
Culture
Art Gallery of Western Australia
Home of the State Art Collection, with Western Australian and First Nations work, the gallery opens daily and has a rooftop sculpture walk over the city.
Official site -
Opera & music
His Majesty's Theatre
Opened on Christmas Eve 1904, this Edwardian Baroque theatre of 1,263 seats is the base of West Australian Opera and West Australian Ballet.
Official site -
Food & wine
Swan Valley
Western Australia's oldest wine region, with more than 180 years of winemaking, sits about half an hour from the city along a 32 km loop drive.
Official site -
Racing & sport
Ascot Racecourse
Racing began beside the Swan River here in 1848, and the Saturday race days build up to the Railway Stakes in November and the Perth Cup at New Year.
Official site -
Golf
Lake Karrinyup Country Club
Alex Russell, Alister MacKenzie's Australian partner, designed this private club's course, which opened in 1930 and has hosted four Australian Opens.
Official site -
Wildlife
Whale Watching Perth
Humpback whales pass the coast on their migration, and this family operator runs daily morning tours out of Hillarys Boat Harbour during the season.
On the calendar
Dates to plan around.
Dates as published by the organisers. Runways, hotels and slots fill early around these weeks: the sooner we know, the more choice you have.
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February 2027 Dates to be confirmed
Sailing
Australia Sail Grand Prix
SailGP event in Perth for F50 foiling catamarans, listed for February on the league's preliminary 2027 calendar.
Perth
In 3 months
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1 Oct 2027
Rugby
Rugby World Cup opening match
Opening match of the men's Rugby World Cup 2027, Australia against Hong Kong China.
Perth Stadium
In 11 months
Where to stay
Heritage stone, river views and a resort at Burswood.
Shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these hotels.
- COMO The Treasury Forty-eight rooms in restored nineteenth-century state government buildings, with interiors by Kerry Hill and Wildflower on the roof.
- The Ritz-Carlton, Perth The hundredth Ritz-Carlton, a tower at the water's edge with an infinity pool over the river and the Songbird bar on the roof.
- The Westin Perth At the east end of the city centre, with a Bodhi spa and a heated infinity-edge pool.
- Pan Pacific Perth The largest number of luxury rooms and suites in the city centre, and a Peruvian kitchen among its restaurants.
- Parmelia Hilton Perth Recently renovated with a design drawn from Western Australia, and Samuels on Mill for local produce.
- Duxton Hotel Perth A grand lobby, an outdoor pool and the Firewater Grille, close to the river and the shops.
- Crown Towers Perth Tiered lagoon pools, a club floor on level fifteen and villas with a butler round the clock, about fifteen minutes' drive from the centre.
Where to dine
The best tables in town.
No MICHELIN guide covers Australia; tables from Gourmet Traveller's 2026 Perth guide.
- Gibney Gourmet Traveller, WA State Winner 2025 Contemporary $$$$ Marine Parade, Cottesloe
- Wildflower Gourmet Traveller 2026 Australian $$$$ COMO The Treasury
- Hearth Gourmet Traveller 2026 Australian $$$ The Ritz-Carlton, Elizabeth Quay
- Casa Gourmet Traveller 2026 Contemporary $$$ Oxford Street, Mount Hawthorn
- Oscar's in the Valley Gourmet Traveller 2026 Australian $$$ Herne Hill, Swan Valley
Elsewhere in Australia
More reasons to come.
- Sydney Bondi and the northern beaches, and a harbour crossed by ferry.
- Melbourne Coffee, theatre, and the Australian Open in January.
- Hamilton Island A resort island with its own airport, and Heart Reef a seaplane ride away.
- Port Douglas The Daintree to the north, and the outer reef an hour away by boat.
- Uluru Sacred to its Anangu owners, and the desert all around it.
Flying to Perth?
Choose how you arrive.
A Business or First Class seat on a scheduled airline, or an aircraft of your own. Tell us the date and how many are travelling, and we reply with one final price, our margin included.