Perth destination guide
Perth (Boorloo) is the capital of Western Australia, which Tourism Australia describes as the largest state. Its sights include Kings Park (Kaarta Koomba) and Fremantle Prison in Fremantle (Walyalup), and day trips run to Wadjemup / Rottnest Island, the Swan Valley wine region and the Pinnacles in Nambung National Park.
Direct flights recorded from Perth Airport (PER) reach Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Darwin, Canberra and Hobart, and towns across Western Australia, among them Broome, Kununurra, Exmouth and Esperance. By rail, Journey Beyond's Indian Pacific runs between Perth, Adelaide and Sydney.
What to see and do in Perth
Kings Park and Botanic Garden
Kings Park is run by the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority and holds the Western Australian Botanic Garden, which displays the state's flora. The park has bushland walk trails, gardens, cafes and children's play areas, and the authority lists it as open daily. As of October 2026, volunteer guides lead "Discover Kings Park" walks every day from outside Aspects of Kings Park.
The Everlasting Kings Park Festival celebrates Western Australia's wildflowers. The 2026 festival ran from Friday 18 September to Sunday 4 October.
Fremantle Prison
The prison's tours page lists the Convict Prison Tour, Behind Bars Tour, True Crime Tour, Tunnels Tour and Torchlight Tour, each to book or enquire about online. The site also has a Visitor Centre in the former Contact Visits Area, with artefacts, footage and panels, a Convict Depot with an interactive convict database, and limited luggage storage.
As of October 2026, the prison's visitor page gives its hours as 9am to 5pm, seven days a week (later on Wednesday and Friday evenings), and it is closed on Good Friday and Christmas Day. The World Heritage List's Australian Convict Sites property, inscribed in 2010, takes in Fremantle, and the prison's operator describes it as Western Australia's only World Heritage listed building.
Perth Festival and FRINGE WORLD
The organisers give the 2027 dates as 20 January to 14 February for FRINGE WORLD and 5 to 28 February for Perth Festival.
When to go to Perth
For wildflowers, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) says the vegetation in Nambung National Park flowers from August to October. On the ferry to Rottnest, the Rottnest Island Authority says humpback and southern right whales can be spotted, particularly in the winter and spring migration season.
Tourism Western Australia calls Perth Australia's sunniest capital and gives the city an average maximum summer temperature of 29 degrees Celsius, with February generally the hottest month. The Bureau of Meteorology defines Australia's summer as December to February, autumn as March to May, winter as June to August and spring as September to November.
Western Australia does not observe daylight saving.
Flying to and from Perth
Perth Airport (PER) is the city's airport, and Transperth runs train and bus services between the airport and the city, with trains on its Airport Line. Tourism Western Australia says private shuttle bus companies also run from the domestic and international airports to points in the city, and a terminal transfer bus runs between the terminals.
Quarantine on arrival in Western Australia
Western Australia's Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) says quarantine risk material must be declared to a Quarantine Inspector on arrival in Western Australia, and that anyone in doubt about an item can declare it or put it in one of the bins available at the airport. Bags may be checked by inspectors with sniffer dogs at the baggage carousel. DPIRD's page on what you can bring into Western Australia lists the fruit and vegetables that are permitted, and honey is prohibited unless certified on a Health Certificate.
Direct flights recorded from Perth Airport
Direct domestic flights recorded from Perth Airport include the places below, with the airlines recorded on each route.
| Destination | Airlines recorded |
|---|---|
| Adelaide | Jetstar, Qantas, Virgin Australia |
| Albany | Rex |
| Alice Springs | Airnorth |
| Brisbane | Jetstar, Qantas, Virgin Australia |
| Broome | Qantas, Airnorth, Virgin Australia |
| Cairns | Jetstar, Airnorth |
| Canberra | Qantas |
| Carnarvon | Rex |
| Darwin | Qantas, Airnorth, Virgin Australia |
| Esperance | Rex |
| Exmouth | Qantas |
| Geraldton | Qantas |
| Gold Coast | Jetstar |
| Hobart | Qantas, Virgin Australia |
| Kalgoorlie | Qantas, Alliance Airlines, Virgin Australia |
| Karratha | Qantas, Virgin Australia |
| Kununurra | Airnorth, Virgin Australia |
| Melbourne | Jetstar, Qantas, Virgin Australia |
| Monkey Mia | Rex |
| Newcastle | Qantas |
| Newman | Qantas, Virgin Australia |
| Onslow | Qantas, Virgin Australia |
| Paraburdoo | Qantas |
| Port Hedland | Qantas, Virgin Australia |
| Sydney | Jetstar, Qantas, Virgin Australia |
Getting around Perth
Transperth runs Perth's buses, trains and ferries, and its train lines include the Airport, Armadale, Ellenbrook, Fremantle, Mandurah, Midland, Thornlie-Cockburn and Yanchep lines. Tourism Western Australia says that in the city centre and nearby areas, Central Area Transit (CAT) buses include the Blue, Red, Green, Yellow and Purple lines, and names Kings Park, Elizabeth Quay and Matagarup Bridge among their stops. Transperth ferries cross the Swan River between Elizabeth Quay and South Perth in around 10 minutes.
Train and ferry fares must be bought before you travel, while bus fares can be paid as you board. Transperth accepts cash tickets, contactless Visa and Mastercard payments and its SmartRider card, and has InfoCentres at Airport Central Station, Elizabeth Quay Bus Station, Perth Busport, Perth Station and Perth Underground Station.
Side trips from Perth
Wadjemup / Rottnest Island
Ferries to the island are run by SeaLink Rottnest, Rottnest Fast Ferries and Rottnest Express, from Northport at Rous Head in North Fremantle, B Shed at Victoria Quay in Fremantle, Barrack Street Jetty in the city centre and Hillarys Boat Harbour. The Rottnest Island Authority gives the crossing as approximately 25 minutes from Fremantle, 45 minutes from Hillarys Boat Harbour or 90 minutes from Barrack Street Jetty, and asks passengers to arrive at the terminal at least 30 minutes before departure. It recommends booking, particularly in the peak summer periods, and says timetables vary with the season and weather.
In October 2025 the authority's practical tips said there was no pharmacy on the island (the General Stores sold non-prescription medicines, and there was a Nursing Post at Thomson Bay) and that drinking water was limited outside the main settlement. They also told visitors never to feed or touch wildlife, and said that all visitors riding a bicycle must wear helmets.
Fremantle (Walyalup)
Tourism Western Australia puts Fremantle a 30-minute shuttle bus or train ride from Perth, and Transperth's Fremantle line runs there. The town has Fremantle Prison, and some Rottnest ferries leave from B Shed at Victoria Quay. The same page says Fremantle features on world cruise itineraries from November to February.
Swan Valley
Tourism Western Australia calls the Swan Valley the state's oldest wine region and puts it a 30-minute drive from the Perth city centre, with a 32-kilometre loop drive past cellar doors, breweries, distilleries, galleries and produce stalls. Its page lists tasting tours by river cruise, kayak, bus, limousine or horse-drawn wagon, and also lists the Maalinup Aboriginal Gallery, which it describes as Aboriginal owned and operated, and Caversham Wildlife Park inside Whiteman Park.
Nambung National Park and the Pinnacles
DBCA describes Nambung National Park, with the Pinnacles Desert and Lake Thetis, as within a couple of hours' drive of Perth. Lake Thetis has stromatolites and a loop trail with a boardwalk, the park's wildflowers are out from August to October, and dogs are not allowed in the park.
Perth travel questions
How do I get from Perth Airport to the city?
Transperth's Airport Line runs trains between Perth Airport and the city, and Transperth buses serve the airport too. Tourism Western Australia says private shuttle bus companies run from the domestic and international airports to points in the city.
Does Perth observe daylight saving?
No. Western Australia does not observe daylight saving.
How long is the ferry from Perth to Rottnest Island?
The Rottnest Island Authority gives the crossing as approximately 90 minutes from Barrack Street Jetty in Perth's city centre, 45 minutes from Hillarys Boat Harbour or 25 minutes from Fremantle. It recommends booking, particularly in the peak summer periods.
When is wildflower season near Perth?
DBCA says the vegetation in Nambung National Park, a couple of hours' drive from Perth, flowers from August to October. In Perth itself, the 2026 Everlasting Kings Park Festival ran from 18 September to 4 October.
Can I bring fruit into Western Australia on a flight to Perth?
DPIRD lists the fruit and vegetables that are permitted, and they must be free of sprouting green growth, soil, pests and disease. It says quarantine risk material must be declared to a Quarantine Inspector on arrival in Western Australia, and anyone in doubt about an item can declare it or put it in one of the bins at the airport. Honey is prohibited unless certified on a Health Certificate.