Perth Sights

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• The Perth Cultural Centre is located adjacent to the Perth Train Station and Northbridge. It is the hub of cultural activity in Perth, including the art gallery, the museum, the State Library and the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts. CAT buses stop regularly; the Blue CAT Stops 7 and 15 both service the Cultural Centre, as well as Yellow 24, Red 31 and the Perth Train Station.

• The newly-added Wheel of Excellence is a 13-minute Ferris wheel ride overlooking Perth city and the Swan River. Admission is $15 for adults and $10 for children under 12.

Biking trail in King's Park.

• Kings Park is a large and lush park that is full to the brim with native flora and fauna. Located to the South-Western side of the city centre, Kings Park provides a fantastic view over the city (especially at night). The modest yet striking War Memorial can be found here. To get here, take either bus #37 (weekdays) or #39 (weekends) from St Georges Terrace. Also 39 on Sundays (Kings Park is located within the Free Transit Zone if you are traveling from within the city centre).

• The Red Bull Air Race redbullairrace.com is held in Perth annually in early November. It is the Final of the season and the event determines the overall winner of the competition. Thousands of spectators pack the Swan River foreshore as planes fly at low altitude (just metres above the water!) at speeds reaching well over 300kmp/h). After the race, there is an air show in which the pilots can perform some airborne trickery. Potential spectators should be warned that it is a very busy event: parking will be a enormous problem (with some locals going to extreme lengths to get spaces) and public transport sparse.

• Fremantle about 20km south-west of Perth's city centre is the original port town of Fremantle. Even today, the port still supports a major maritime industry. Despite the fact that Fremantle is a part of Greater Perth, it is still considered by many to be a city all its own as back in the old days; Perth and Fremantle were separate colonies. Small enough to walk around in, Fremantle boasts attractions that include; the Maritime Museum, the Fremantle markets (located on South Terrace, amongst the cappuccino strip), the E-Shed markets (located near the Fremantle wharf), the Little Creatures brewpub, the Fremantle Gaol (after dark "Ghost Tours" are worthwhile) and South Beach. Why not hire a moped to complete the very European feel of this humble yet wonderful port city? It is worth noting that the locals call Fremantle affectionately 'Freo'.

• Hillarys Boat Harbour www.sorrentoquay.com.au can be found within Perth's northern suburbs (just a thirty minute car ride). Here you can swim all day in the ocean; be warned however that the water is full of seaweed. There is a small water park called The Great Escape, for those who need to keep the kids entertained! The Aquarium of Western Australia www.aqwa.com.au (Aqwa) is located at Hillarys as well. Aqwa features an underwater observatory that takes the shape of a tunnel. It is possible to get up-close and personal with sharks, stingrays and a huge variety of marine life. (Bus 456 from Greenwood station will get you to Hillarys during daylight hours on weekends.

• Perth Mint www.perthmint.com.au is the nation's oldest operating mint and one of the oldest mints in the world. Even today it still produces coins and gold bullion from its original premises. You can buy and sell gold, jewellery and souvenirs, see the mint in operation and watch molten gold being poured to create gold bars. (Walk from City Centre along Hay Street east or catch the red CAT).

• Perth Zoo www.perthzoo.com.au has been open since 1898 and has an excellent reputation with both tourists and locals alike. Free guided tours are provided at 11AM and 1:30PM each day. Thirty-six animal fact files, featuring some of Perth Zoo's most popular species, are available for you to download free before your visit to Perth Zoo www.perthzoo.wa.gov.au/Visit-the-Zoo/Talking-Zoo. Buses 30, 31 and 34 provide a quick and easy means by which to get to the zoo however if you do feel like a good walk, take the Transperth ferry from the bottom of Barrack St. Once at Mends St, head up the hill to the first major road (Labouchere Rd), turn left and cross at the next available set of traffic lights. The zoo is a bit further up-hill, but it is well worth the walk for those who prefer to keep active. On the way back from the zoo and heading back to the jetty, there are plenty of pubs, cafes and restaurants at which you can stop in for a bite, including the Oyster Bar and Cocoa's (which are located right on the riverfront).

• Burswood Entertainment Complex www.burswood.com.au: Situated amongst some of the most valuable real estate in all of Australia is this all-in-one entertainment precinct. The casino offers all games, the theatre provides a venue for some of the best touring productions while the Burswood Dome is a 20,000 capacity arena that regularly hosts tennis tournaments and international concerts. Also included within the complex are a number of bars and pubs including Paddy Hannan's (named after the first person to strike gold in West Australia) and the infamous nightclub The Eve (previously the Ruby Room). Take the Thornlie line (platform 4) from the central station, McIver or Claisebrook (platform 2).

• Claisebrook Cove www.claisebrookcove.com.au/claisebrook: is a major urban redevelopment area on the Swan River, on the fringe of the city centre. Spend an hour or so wandering about the brightly coloured, modern and strikingly unusual architecture before you wind down with a meal and a hot or cold bevy. Views of the city centre from the footbridge that runs above the cove are particularly stunning at night. (Take the yellow CAT to the Haig Park Circle stop during daylight hours or take the Midland, Armadale or Thorline line to Claisebrook transfer station which is located within the Free Transit Zone).

Swan Bells Tower

• The Swan Bells www.swanbells.com.au is a bell tower located at the foot of Barrack Street, near the ferry wharf. The bells are from the church of St Martin-in-the-Field in London, and were a gift from the London to the people of Perth. The bell tower has a modern design, and is somewhat controversially regarded by locals. It costs $11/$7 to enter the tower, and you get a view over the river and city. You can look around the outside of the tower, and hear the bells at noon. It is a nice part of town, surrounded by park and next to the river.

• Mundaring Weir www.westernaustralia.com/en/Pages/Attraction.aspx?pid=9002014 A historic feature of the Perth landscape, the Mundaring Weir was completed in 1903 and was designed by the famous engineer C.Y. O'Connor (who also responsible for the Fremantle Harbour and the Kalgoorlie water pipeline). Visitors may walk over or around the Weir and the surrounds have picnic areas featuring public barbecues. There is also a museum nearby which documents the history of the Weir and the Pipeline project. The Mundaring Weir Hotel is also a historic landmark and offers good food, accommodation and often live (usually classical) music. The Weir is a relatively short drive from the Mundaring townsite and it provides an ideal gateway into Perth's scenic hills.

• Whiteman Park; located in the Northern outskirts of the city, Whiteman Park is an amazing national park and wildlife sanctuary. Kids can pet the Kangaroos and other wildlife and the grownups can enjoy the railway, railway museum and loads more. Perth features an abundance of similar wildlife parks which are spread around the outskirts of the metropolitan area.

• Australian Rules Football: Perth, like Melbourne, is mad for its footy! Every weekend between (roughly) March and August, Subiaco fills to near-capacity with either West Coast Eagles or Fremantle Dockers supporters. Why not choose whose colours you like best and join in the fun? As the Eagles are the more popular and successful side in the Australian Football League (A.F.L., games are likely to sell out well in advance, so it is best to buy your tickets a couple of weeks before the scheduled fixture (Ticketek offer a pick-up service as the venue). Aussie rules football might be hard to understand at first, but it is quite exciting.

• Other sports: While Aussie rules is clearly the biggest game in town, other professional sports have a presence in Perth:
  • Perth Glory – If like most of the world you prefer association football (known by locals as "soccer") and find Australian Rules football too boring or confusing, Perth Glory Footbal Club compete in the A-League, Australia's top level of football. The season runs from August to February, with the possibility of a finals series (aka playoffs) running into March. They have a sister club, Perth Glory W-League, that competes in the women's W-League. Both teams play at Perth Oval, also known as Members Equity Stadium due to a sponsorship deal. The stadium is a 10 minute walk from Northbridge, or a 3 minute walk from Claisebrook Train Station.
  • Western Warriors – Play cricket in all three of Australia's main domestic competitions—the Sheffield Shield ("first-class"; matches run for four days), the Ford Ranger Cup (one-day cricket; matches last about 8 hours), and the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash (matches last about 3 hours). Home ground is the WACA.
  • Western Force – Rugby union team in the Super 14, involving teams from Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Season runs from February to late May. Formerly played at Subiaco, but moving to the Perth Oval for the 2010 season.
  • Perth Wildcats – Play in the National Basketball League.
  • Perth Lynx – Play in the Women's National Basketball League.