PERTH SUMMER BUCKET LIST - TOP THINGS TO DO IN PERTH
Summer is heating up down under and whether you are a local to Perth or planning a stop over, there are plenty of activities to add to your bucket list. It's no secret that Australia has some of the best beaches in the world - and WA has some of the best beaches in Australia, so pack your togs and sunscreen as there is a summer of possibilities you need to check off before winter arrives.
Where To Stay | Holiday Inn Perth City Centre
Having a convenient location in the heart of the CBD is a great base to start your exploring. With Perth's major train station leading out to the far reaches of our city and the Barrack Street Jetty allowing you to jump on ferries and boats - you couldn't ask for a better spot to stay. Walking distance to everything is key to enjoying your summer as you may have heard, Australia can having some scorcher summers.
The Holiday Inn Perth City Centre is a hub in itself, with Ivy and Jack - their in house cafe by day and restaurant by night should satisfy all your cravings. We spent our breakfasts here in the morning and had one of the tastiest dinners we have ever had in Perth (no joke), but we will get back to that a bit later on.
Our king guest room was very spacious and stylish including all the amenities we could ask for. A Nespresso coffee machine, fast wireless internet and a guest area with arm chairs and a small table which was perfect for entertaining our friends on Sunday night. For a 4 and a half star hotel, the value more than pays for itself.
10 Things to do in Perth
So you have worked out where to stay, but what is there to do in Perth?
1. Take a Swan River Cruise
The Swan is a stunning river carving its way through the middle of the city of Perth before joining with the sea. One of the most unique ways to experiencing the Swan River is via a cruise. Captain Cook Cruises do a number of picturesque cruises along the river, but the one we would recommend is the Perth to Fremantle cruise. You can spend just over an hour seeing the sights of Perth from the boat before arriving in Fremantle to spend the afternoon.
2. Spend a day at Rottnest Island
Just 19 km off the coast of Perth City, lies the sunny island of Rottnest. Blessed with picturesque scenery, amazing marine life and some of the world's finest beaches and pristine bays - Rottnest is a must when visiting Perth!
How to get there?
Rottnest Island is only a short ferry ride from Fremantle, Perth City and Hillarys with Rottnest Express.
What to do when at Rottnest?
Join a free guided walking tour of the Island
Hire a bike and snorkel gear
Swim and relax by the stunning waters - there are 63 beaches and 20 bays to choose from
Snorkel at Little Salmon Bay and Parker Point
Join a 90 minute adventure cruise (November – April)
Climb the Wadjemup Lighthouse for incredible views of the entire island
3. Grab an Ice Cream at Elizabeth Quay
Elizabeth Quay is the spot where Perth City meets the Swan River. It has been newly developed and a great spot for families. There are playgrounds, a Water Park, public artwork, promenades, open spaces and new food and beverage outlets popping up every month.
Our favourite thing to do down there is grab an ice cream from Gusto Gelato and go for a walk along the bridge, it gives you fantastic views of the city and a great spot to watch the sunset.
4. See the Skyline & a Movie at Kings Park
If you are looking for the best location to see the city skyline and watch the sunset you need to visit Kings Park. Located on the western side of the city, it is made up of 400-hectares of bushland and nature. At the park's center is a 17-hectare Botanic Garden, containing over 2000 plant species indigenous to WA.
If you are visiting during the summer months we highly recommend you spend one night watching a movie at the Kings Park outdoor Moonlight Cinema.
5. Eat at Ivy & Jack
If you are looking for a spot to have dinner in the city you must try Ivy & Jack on Hay Street. It is located next door to the Holiday Inn and serves some of the tastiest food we have tried in the city!
We highly recommend ordering the squid and the mac and cheese balls as a starter, the salmon or seafood curry for your main and their chocolate tart for dessert - we are salivating just thinking about it!
6. Visit Hillarys Boat Harbour and Go Paddle Boarding
If you are a long time watcher of the vlogs you would know how much we LOVE Hillarys Boat Harbour. Packed with great shops, amazing food spots and located at a stunning harbour - it's just the perfect spot to hang out on an Aussie summer's day.
If you are looking for something a little unique to do while you're there why not try stand up paddle boarding ... at night! The guys over at WestSups are the first company in Australia offering night stand up paddleboarding tours. You simply hire a board (we recommend doing this at sunset) and as the sun begins to drop your board will light up, attracting all the little fishies right to your feet.
7. Watch the Sunset at Cottesloe Beach
If you are going to visit only one beach during a visit to Perth than it needs to be Perth's iconic Cottesloe Beach. It's one of the city's most popular spots for swimming, snorkelling, surfing and watching the stunning Perth sunsets over a refreshing beer or a chilled out dinner.
'The Cott', as known by the locals, can be reached by car, bus or train from Perth. Take the 15 minute drive from the city, hop on a Transperth bus, or jump on the Fremantle train line and enjoy the short 600 metre walk to the beach from Cottesloe station.
8. Spend a day at Penguin Island
Yep, Perth has there very own penguins! Located 45 minutes south of Perth and a five minute ferry ride across Shoalwater Bay, Penguin Island is one of our favourite spots. Our penguins are known as little penguins as they are the smallest species in the world.
Visitors can get up close to the penguins at the Discovery Centre where rangers host three daily penguin feedings. This is your best opportunity to see these little guys as they're shy and spend most daylight hours feeding at sea or hidden in their burrows.
During our last visit we did a sea kayak tour of the island and can not recommend it enough!
9. Grab a Burger from Short Order Burgers
If you are looking for a delicious spot for lunch we can't recommend Short Order Burgers enough. They simply do a great burger, plus they are located a 30 second walk away from the Holiday Inn - so we recommend grabbing it for take away and having a little hotel-room-picnic while watching the world go by from your hotel window.
10. Explore Historic Fremantle
A visit to Perth would not be complete without spending a day in historic Fremantle. This well preserved 19th century port streetscape is a Perth highlight. A day out in Fremantle is always full of artisanal food, handcrafted beers, great coffee and quirky boutiques.
Highlights for us would be the Fremantle Markets (open Friday to Sunday), Jac and the Bean for a great cup of coffee, Ohana Acai Bar to cool off on a summers day and a visit to one of the many micro-breweries in the area.
A big thank you to The Holiday Inn for supporting Flying the Nest and sponsoring our incredible trip stay in Perth City. Thanks to IHG for partnering with us on our stay and activities. Want to win $1,000 accommodation voucher for any Australian or New Zealand IHG property? Share what they've ticked off your bucket list this summer on Instagram and use the #summerpossibilities #IHG hashtag.