Beaches
To get to most of the beaches (eg Cottesloe, North Cottesloe, Swanbourne, Scarborough, City Beach) you need to go to the city and take a bus or train from there. There are also beaches (South Beach and Port Beach) near Fremantle and you can catch a bus there from our nearest train station.
Biking
There are many bike paths in Perth and a pleasant bike ride close to us takes you around the Canning River foreshore. You can also cycle into the city on the bike path that runs along the Swan River.
Shopping and restaurants
There is a small shopping centre 5 minutes walk from our home with ATM, groceries, postal facilities, fruit and vegetable, pharmacy, newsagent, butcher shop, cafés and a liquor store. There are also several cafés, casual dining, take-away food outlets and two taverns nearby. We have a big shopping centre close by, which has a large supermarket, specialty stores and a range of casual dining, cafés and fast food outlets.
Garden City in Booragoon and Carousel in Cannington, are the two closest suburban shopping malls. Just across Canning Bridge in Mt Pleasant there is a Super IGA grocery store and banking facilities. Further along Canning Highway in the Risley Street shopping area you will find more cafés, banks and other specialty stores.
Sport and exercise facilities
There are many sporting facilities in Perth. The Wesley Sports Club on Angelo Street in South Perth has a 50-metre heated pool and gym. If you play golf, Collier Park is a public golf course in nearby Karawarra. We do have some exercise equipment.
Playing tourist
Perth & Fremantle (Freo)
There are many sights in and around Perth including Kings Park, the Bell Tower, the Zoo, Perth Mint, the WA Art Gallery, WA museum, State Library, the Aquarium of WA (Hillary’s Boat Harbour), Adventure World (Bibra Lake) and of course many beautiful beaches. You can take a river cruise to Fremantle.
There are many things to see and do in Fremantle including Fremantle Prison, historical sights, the Markets, Fishing Boat Harbour and the Cappuccino strip.
A short ferry trip from Perth or Fremantle is Rottnest Island, which is a must. Ride a bike (rent or bring your own) around the island or catch the local bus (no cars allowed). Visit the lighthouses and old forts, spot the Quokkas (native to WA) or find a quiet beach in a sheltered bay to enjoy swimming and snorkelling.
Make your first stop at Tourism WA at Forrest Place in the city. There you will find information on Perth and all regions of Western Australia.
Vineyards
The Swan Valley vineyards are about a 30-40 minute drive from us. Other attractions include Whiteman Park (wildlife), the Margaret River Chocolate Factory, microbrewery, ice creamery, fruit stalls and cafés. Some of the wineries have casual dining or restaurants. You can take a wine cruise that leaves from the city and stops at a number of wineries.
Known as Perth's natural and cultural meeting place, Yanchep National Park is one of the state's oldest National parks. Yanchep is 50kms north of Perth, about a 45-minute drive. Enjoy BBQ and picnic facilities, scenic walk trails, koalas, kangaroos and an abundance of other native animals and plants. Take a tour of Crystal Cave or experience Aboriginal culture (subject to availability).
Down south
The Margaret River region, which boasts many fine wineries, restaurants, chocolate and candy factories, cheese factories, galleries and craft shops, beaches, caves and forests, is about three hours south of Perth. The Great Southern region, based around Albany and Denmark, has beautiful coastline as well as wineries and other attractions.
The Tree Top Walk near Walpole in the Karri forests is a popular tourist attraction. Manjimup and Pemberton areas are known for their forest products and wines. The Gloucester Tree at Pemberton has a former bushfire lookout perched in its top. There's only one way to get to the lookout - by hand and foot up the pegs that have been stuck into the side of the tree. All the way, 61 metres up - and back down.
To the north & northeast
There is much to see north of Perth with some possible day trips including Cervantes and the Pinnacles, wildflowers in springtime and New Norcia and its Benedictine monastery. Geraldton, Kalbarri, Monkey Mia and Exmouth need more time and planning. The Kimberleys, Broome and Kununurra are even further.
Going east
York, the oldest inland town in WA, is at the centre of the Avon Valley, 100kms east of Perth. In addition to York's historic buildings and museums, the Avon Valley is a wheat and sheep farming area based around the towns of Beverly, York, Northam and Toodjay. A further 600kms east is the historic gold mining town of Kalgoorlie. You can travel by train and continue all the way to Sydney!
Note!
Western Australia is a very large state (1/3 of Australia) and distances are huge.
Give yourself plenty of time to explore it all and be well prepared on long trips.