Outdoors · Perth · Australia
7 best outdoor things to do in Perth
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Chris Olszewski, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Cottesloe Beach and Perth Zoo. Together the 7 picks below take roughly 19–24 hours across 6 areas; 3 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 7
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 19–24 hours
- Areas
- Kings Park, Cottesloe and South Perth
Outdoors in Perth
Park · Kings Park
1.Kings Park and Botanic Garden
Watch sunset from the State War Memorial lookout, where the city lights come on across the river.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
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Beach · Cottesloe
2.Cottesloe Beach
Swim in the morning before the afternoon sea breeze — the 'Fremantle Doctor' — roughens the water.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Couples
- Kids
- Outdoors
Zoo · South Perth
3.Perth Zoo
Take the ferry from Elizabeth Quay to Mends Street and walk up; it turns the trip into a mini river cruise.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Aquarium · Hillarys
4.AQWA – Aquarium of Western Australia
Spend the rest of the afternoon on the calm, protected beach inside Hillarys Boat Harbour.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Experience · Swan Valley
5.Swan Valley
Take a tour or a river-and-wine cruise rather than driving between cellar doors.
- Time needed
- Half to full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Food
- Couples
- Outdoors
Zoo · Swan Valley
6.Caversham Wildlife Park
Combine it with a Swan Valley lunch; the park is a short drive from the wineries.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Beach · Scarborough
7.Scarborough Beach
Swim between the flags; the surf can be strong and rips are common.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Active
- Outdoors
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Kings Park | Kings Park and Botanic Garden | Half a day |
| Cottesloe | Cottesloe Beach | Half a day |
| South Perth | Perth Zoo | 3 hours |
| Hillarys | AQWA – Aquarium of Western Australia | 2 hours |
| Swan Valley | Swan Valley and Caversham Wildlife Park | Half to full day + 2–3 hours |
| Scarborough | Scarborough Beach | Half a day |
Booking and timing
Of these 7, 3 free, 4 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Kings Park and Botanic Garden; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 7 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Kings Park): Kings Park and Botanic Garden, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Cottesloe): Cottesloe Beach, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (South Perth): Perth Zoo, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Hillarys): AQWA – Aquarium of Western Australia, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 5 (Swan Valley): Swan Valley, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 6 (Swan Valley): Caversham Wildlife Park, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 7 (Scarborough): Scarborough Beach, at least 3 hours.
The best months to be outside
- January: highs of 31°C (88°F), about 1 rainy days, busy crowds. Hot, dry and sunny with sea breezes most afternoons; heatwaves are possible.
- December: highs of 29°C (84°F), about 2 rainy days, busy crowds. Hot and sunny with long evenings; Christmas holidays begin and Rottnest books out.
- February: highs of 32°C (90°F), about 1 rainy days, moderate crowds. Often the hottest month, with very little rain and the warmest sea.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Cottesloe — Upmarket beach suburb of Norfolk pines, the Indiana pavilion and Indian Ocean sunsets
- Scarborough — Surf beach with a redeveloped foreshore, pool and high-rise hotels
More of Perth
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Perth?
Kings Park and Botanic Garden. About 400 hectares of bushland, lawns and botanic garden on Mount Eliza overlook the CBD and the Swan River.
+Which of these are free in Perth?
Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Cottesloe Beach and Scarborough Beach.