Perth & Fremantle Holidays

Where are Perth & Fremantle?
The state capital of Western Australia and the country’s fourth largest city, Perth is set along the estuary of the Swan River close to where it flows into the sea in the country’s south-west. Its metropolitan district, which stretches north and south along the coast as well as inland, is home to just over 2 million people, more than three-quarters of the state’s population. This area includes Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River, whose sheltered harbour contains one of the country’s busiest ports. Perth is well connected by air to other Australian cities and various international destinations, while the transcontinental railway is a memorable way to reach Adelaide and Sydney.

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Beaches
Lapped by the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, Perth’s superfine beaches are among its main attractions. One of the nearest to the centre, and the most iconic, is Cottesloe; terraced lawns lead down to the pristine sand and sea, and there are plenty of inviting places for anything from a beachside breakfast to sunset cocktails. Scarborough Beach is breezier in all senses of the word. It has excellent surfing breaks, along with afternoon winds for kitesurfers, and a lively but laidback dining scene that’s a hit with a younger crowd. In Freemantle, Bathers Beach offers wonderfully calm swimming with a dash of history and culture on the doorstep.

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Parks
Covering almost a thousand acres in central Perth, Kings Park is one of the best-loved green spaces in a place not short of them. Within it is the Botanic Garden, where you can discover an extraordinary array of often rare endemic plant species – the banksias are particularly fascinating – while the canopy walkway provides close-ups of blossoms and birds. The whole park is full of viewpoints offering sweeping vistas of the Swan River, the skyscraper-pierced skyline and the hazy Darling Ranges in the east, while quiet trails lead through protected native bushland.

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Rottnest Island
Rottnest Island is an hour and a half by ferry. The island is one of Perth’s biggest draws for its 63 beaches and underwater world that includes 13 shipwrecks. A protected A-Class Reserve, Rottnest is a practically car-free island getaway for both tourists and locals who come to cycle, walk, snorkel and, of course, visit the adorably chubby-cheeked marsupials that live there – quokkas.

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Aboriginal history
Learn about the life of the Noongar people who lived in this area for thousands of years before the arrival of the settlers. In Kings Park – a ceremonial site – you can discover its natural landscapes in the company of an Aboriginal guide with an encyclopedic knowledge of medicinal and bush-tucker plants. There are walks through the city centre where you can learn the ancient names of long-established meeting grounds and nighttime tours where you’ll hear Dreamtime stories about how the Earth was created.

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Arts & culture
Upbeat and varied, Perth’s cultural scene truly offers something for all tastes, from fans of contemporary street art to aficionados of history. The Art Gallery of Western Australia – part of the Perth Cultural Centre – is crammed with paintings and sculptures, including works by Aboriginal and Torres Straits artists. There are museums where you can explore sailing ships and submarines, listen to Dreamtime stories or learn about the past of a much-loved theatre. When it comes to the performing arts, there’s a lively music scene, comedy venues of all shapes and sizes, and highly regarded ballet and contemporary dance companies.

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Food & drink
While Sydney and Melbourne continue to battle for the title of Australia’s top foodie destination, Perth has been quietly developing its own deliciously varied dining scene. Local ingredients have a starring role: think superb seafood from the Indian Ocean paired with seasonal produce such as asparagus, macadamias and pomegranates from the Swan Valley. It’s a natural bounty that has helped inspire a generation of young chefs with roots from around the world, so you’ll find a dizzying array of culinary influences at play everywhere from hip food courts and quiet neighbourhood eateries to sleek fine-dining restaurants. As for the wines, the Swan Valley has more than 40 world-class wineries producing particularly impressive sparkling varieties.

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Getting around
Perth’s easy-to-use public transport system comprises trains, ferries and buses, including the very useful free Central Area Transit bus service whose various routes loop their way through the centre stopping at major attractions and shopping areas. If you want to stretch your legs, the tree-lined streets make walking a pleasure and there’s also an extensive and well-signposted network of cycle-only and shared paths. If you want to get out on to the water, various companies offer sightseeing cruises up and/or down the Swan River that focus on wildlife, Aboriginal history or wine, while public ferries whisk travellers from central Perth or Fremantle across to Rottnest Island.

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