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Things to see in Perth

Attractions

Rottnest Island

Rottnest Island is a little slice of Mediterranean heaven located less than 20km (12 miles) off the coast of Perth. Known for its white sandy beaches, clear waters and secluded bays, Rotto (as it's affectionately known) is perfect for a day trip or a weekend away. The car-free nature reserve is also home to a colony of quokkas (an Australian native marsupial). Ferries go from Barrack Street Jetty, Hillarys Boat Harbour, or Fremantle. Overnight accommodation is available.

Address: , Rottnest Island, Perth,
Telephone: +61 8 9432 9111.
Opening times:

Daily 24 hours.

Website: http://www.rottnestisland.com
Admission Fees:

Ferries tickets to the island start from A$67 for adults. Students, seniors, and children can get discounted tickets. There is also an admission fee of A$18 for adults and A$6.50 for children.

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No

Kings Park & Botanic Garden

Lined by towering gum trees, the entrance of Kings Park leads to the State War Memorial commemorating ANZACs killed in WWII, before presenting impressive views of the city and Swan River. Kings Park is a tranquil escape in the heart of Perth and covers 400 hectares (990 acres) of Mount Eliza. The park is crisscrossed by walking trails and bicycle paths and has free guided walks available daily. The West Australian Botanic Garden here is also worth your time. There's a restaurant, café, Aboriginal art gallery and children's playground here too and during the summer, the park hosts open-air film screenings, plays and concerts.

Address: Kings Park, Fraser Avenue, West Perth, 6005
Telephone: +61 8 9480 3600.
Opening times:

Daily 24 hours.

Website: http://www.kingspark.com.au
Admission Fees:

No

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No

Perth Zoo

Perth's small but popular zoo has been open every day since 1898. It boasts an Australian Bushwalk, Rainforest Retreat and African Savannah among other interesting exhibits where visitors can observe native animals in their natural habitat. Daily keeper talks allow you to get up close and personal with animals, so don't miss meeting a numbat, Western Australia's own marsupial emblem. You'll need half a day to visit the Zoo in full.

Address: South Perth, 20 Labouchere Road, South Perth, 6151
Telephone: +61 8 9474 0444.
Opening times:

Daily 0900-1700.

Website: http://www.perthzoo.wa.gov.au
Admission Fees:

Yes

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No

Bell Tower

Perth's postmodern celebration of Australia's Bicentenary in 1988, the Bell Tower, is located at the foot of Barrack Street, on the Swan River Foreshore. Home to the Swan Bells, the 80m (260ft) tower is a unique design resulting from an architectural competition. It houses the 18 historic bells from St Martin-in-the-Fields - a gift to Perth from the City of London for Australia's Bicentenary. Visitors can go up the tower, while the surrounding development contains shops, restaurants, cafés, a pub, a tourist information centre, cruise boat offices and docks. You can hear the bells ring Thu-Sun from 1200-1300.

Address: Swan River, Barrack Square, Riverside Drive, Perth, 6831
Telephone: +61 8 6210 0444.
Opening times:

Daily 1000-1545.

Website: http://www.thebelltower.com.au
Admission Fees:

Yes

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No

Art Gallery of Western Australia

Perth's premier gallery has a permanent collection of Australian and international art and one of the finest collections of Aboriginal art in the world. The gallery is also the venue for major national and international touring exhibitions. Frequent guided tours are free, though bookings are required.

Address: Northbridge, James Street, Perth, 6000
Telephone: +61 8 9492 6622.
Opening times:

Wed-Mon 1000-1700.

Website: http://www.artgallery.wa.gov.au
Admission Fees:

No

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No

His Majesty's Theatre

Short-sighted policies may have seen the demolition of many of Australia's old theatres but the Maj (as it's affectionately known) still stands in all its Edwardian glory. Thought to be the only existing theatre of its era in Australia, His Majesty's Theatre features a magnificent staircase, a domed, three-tiered auditorium and opulent foyers. A venue for plays, opera, musicals, concerts and dance, the theatre is home to the West Australian Ballet, the West Australian Opera and the Museum of Performing Arts (MOPA), which has a collection of performing arts memorabilia. Booking is essential for tours.

Address: Perth City, 825 Hay Street, Perth, 6000
Telephone: +61 8 9265 0900.
Opening times:

Tues-Thu 1000-1600 (tours).

Website: http://www.ptt.wa.gov.au/venues/his-majestys-theatre
Admission Fees:

Yes

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No

Perth Mint

If you've ever wondered what your weight is worth in gold, you can use the special scales at Perth Mint to find out. A well-preserved remnant of the gold rush era, Perth's Mint is over 100 years old and offers a range of activities and experiences. Visitors can see A$225,000 pure gold bars being poured, and are invited to touch them. The museum also holds the world's largest permanent gold bar exhibition. You can also mint your own personalised medallions and witness the production of gold, silver and platinum coins. Join a guided tour of the mint to make the most of your visit.

Address: Perth City, 310 Hay Street, Perth, 6004
Telephone: +61 8 9421 7376.
Opening times:

Daily 0900-1700.

Website: http://www.perthmint.com.au
Admission Fees:

Yes

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No

Western Australian Museum

Housed in a complex containing some of Perth's oldest buildings, the Western Australian Museum specialises in natural history, with mammal, bird, dinosaur, marine and butterfly displays. The Aboriginal Gallery is outstanding, as is the museum's collection of meteorites, while the 25m (82ft) skeleton of a blue whale is another highlight. The Land and People exhibit, which brings to life Western Australian history from prehistoric times to present day, is also popular.

Address: James Street, Perth Cultural Centre, Perth, 6000
Telephone: +61 8 9212 3700.
Opening times:

Daily 0930-1700.

Website: http://www.museum.wa.gov.au
Admission Fees:

Yes

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No

Scitech Discovery Centre

Science meets showbiz at this glitzy attraction featuring over 160 hands-on exhibits covering such topics as electricity, magnetism and acoustics. Horizon - The Planetarium is a spectacular indoor theatre that presents high-tech, multimedia shows about stars, planets and other celestial bodies on a dome screen. New exhibits are introduced every six months.

Address: West Perth, City West Centre, Corner of Sutherland Street and Railway Parade, West Perth, 6005
Telephone: +61 8 9215 0700.
Opening times:

Mon-Fri 0930-1600, Sat-Sun 1000-1700.

Website: http://www.scitech.org.au
Admission Fees:

Yes

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No

AQWA - The Aquarium of Western Australia

This impressive aquarium boasts a wealth of fascinating marine life. Visitors can explore 12,000km (7,456 miles) of Western Australia's coastline in just a few hundred metres before they enter the Dangerzone – an area where they can safely see some of the deadliest and strangest marine creatures in the world. The aquarium's 98m (328ft) glass tunnel is the largest in Australia and sea creatures can even be touched at the interactive Discovery Pool. Diving and snorkelling with sharks is also available here, as is reef-walking.

Address: Hillarys, Hillarys Boat Harbour, 91 Southside Drive, Perth, 6025
Telephone: +61 8 9447 7500.
Opening times:

Daily 1000-1700.

Website: http://www.aqwa.com.au
Admission Fees:

Yes

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No

Tourist Offices

Western Australian Visitors Centre

Address: Perth City, 55 William Street, Perth, 6000
Telephone: +61 8 9483 1111.
Opening times:

Mon-Fri 0900-1730, Sat 0900-1630, Sun 1100-1630.

Website: http://www.wavisitorcentre.com

For expert advice on the best things to see and do in Perth, and elsewhere in Western Australia, drop in at the Western Australian Visitors Centre. The helpful staff here can also book tours and accommodation.

There is also a City of Perth Information Kiosk (tel: +61 8 9461 3444) in the Murray Street Mall near Forrest Place where i-City volunteers help visitors with information and answer questions about the city. It is open Mon-Thurs 0930-1630, Fri 0930-2000, Sat and Sun 0930-1630.

Tourist passes

There are multiple sightseeing passes available for discounts on activities around Perth and other parts of Western Australia. Sightseeing Pass Western Australia (www.sightseeingpassaustralia.com) has deals on hotels and cruises in addition to food and drink, museums, aquariums, and day tours. Tourist Pass (www.vacationpass.com/perth-sightseeing-pass) offers four different attraction passes that include a variety of half-day and day trips and transportation to the Perth Airport.

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Featured Hotels

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The Great Southern Hotel

This hotel is located in Northbridge, the main cultural and entertainment neighbourhood in Perth, and a short walk from the city centre. The mid-size, affordable hotel features 94 rooms, a no frills restaurant and late-night bar.

Royal Hotel

Located right in central Perth this quirky hotel offers comfortable accommodation with a reasonable price tag. Perhaps the best part of Royal Hotel Perth is its location steps from transportation stops and close to major shopping malls boutiques art galleries theatres cinemas and other local attractions.

West Beach Lagoon

Leisure travellers will get bang for their buck in the self-contained one-or two-bedroom apartment at West Beach Lagoon, located off Scarborough Beach on Perth's Sunset Coast. The resort offers a spa, waterslide, and beautiful scenery, with Perth's city centre only a car ride away.

Hotel Northbridge

Hotel Northbridge is a comfortable boutique Perth hotel in a renovated old Australian pub with wide verandas. The studio-style rooms have a large double corner spa in every room. Stylish and with great service and an award-winning restaurant, the hotel is a very convenient place to stay as it is located just minutes from Perth's city centre and the Northbridge cultural district.

Miss Maud Swedish Hotel

Miss Maud Swedish Hotel is a slice of Sweden in the middle of Perth. A boutique family hotel, it has a charm and character all of its own, and guests are made to feel welcome and appreciated. The rooms are cosy and comfortable, and the ground floor restaurant serves a hearty Swedish smorgasbord, including free breakfast for hotel guests.

Rendezvous Observation City Hotel

Situated right on Scarborough Beach, Rendezvous Observation City Hotel offers panoramic ocean views of the Indian Ocean. There are 333 guest rooms (including six suites), two restaurants and four bars, a heated tropical lagoon pool and spa, a health club, steam room and tennis courts. Perth city centre is only 15 minutes away but you'll feel a million miles away.