Highlights of Perth - 8 Days

Highlights

• Discover the best of Perth with a buffet sunset cruise and coffee culture tour
• Take a day trip to the Pinnacles Desert, home to surreal limestone formations
• Meet cute and fluffy quokkas as you bike around Rottnest Island
• Taste award-winning wines and visit an ancient cave in the Margaret River region
• Use free time to explore deeper, go shopping, or laze on Cottesloe Beach

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Perth, Swan River Dinner Cruise

G'day, and welcome to Perth, Australia's sunniest capital city! A private driver will transfer you from the airport to your hotel. Australia's largest state, Western Australia, is famous for long days of sunshine and diverse landscapes and climates. Its main city Perth is a laid-back destination that effortlessly blends urban cool with raw natural beauty. Drop your bags and venture out to the famous Kings Park and Botanic Garden, one of the largest inner-city parks in the world. Here you can take in panoramic views of the city skyline and get your bearings.

Later, wander down to the port, where you'll embark on a dinner cruise on Perth's picturesque Swan River. Sit back, relax, and enjoy a hot buffet dinner as you take in views of the city skyline from the water. Over 2.5 hours, you'll watch day turn to night while enjoying complimentary drinks and an unlimited feast that includes fresh seafood and gourmet desserts. There'll be a live DJ and entertainment on board, so have a boogie to celebrate your first day in Australia.

Day 2: Morning Coffee Culture & Art Tour, Free Afternoon

Kickstart your day with a caffeine-fueled adventure. This lively two-hour tour blends Perth's coffee culture with art and history. Wander down Wolf Lane to see the best street art and murals, then explore the city's art, sculpture, and architecture. Your guide will share quirky tales from Perth's past as you pass by Cathedral Square, the old General Post Office, Land Titles Office, and Treasury Buildings. Uncover hidden gems in Hibernian Place, Stirling Gardens, and Government House, and traverse the old theater district, home to His Majesty's Theatre and the Cultural Centre.

The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore Perth at your leisure. You could continue discovering culture within the Cultural Centre or the Art Gallery of Western Australia, where you can admire a diverse collection of contemporary and Indigenous artworks. Seek out retail therapy at King Street, where high-end labels and boutiques await, or shop at the Hay and Murray Street malls for local and global brands. Or head to picturesque Cottesloe Beach, where golden sands and crystal-clear waters lie a stone's throw from the CBD (Central Business District). This is one of the best places to watch the sun set into the ocean.

Day 3: Afternoon & Evening Day Trip to The Pinnacles & Stargazing Tour

The Pinnacles, thousands of limestone pillars scattered across Nambung National Park, are about a two-hour drive north of Perth. Formed about 30,000 years ago, each pillar stands as high as 16 feet (5 m), creating an otherworldly landscape from a science fiction movie. In the early afternoon, a guide will take you north of the city to Yanchep National Park, where you'll meet local kangaroos, a koala colony, and wildlife of the woodlands and wetlands. 

Day 4: Explore Rottnest Island by Bike

Begin your day with a ferry ride to Rottnest Island, a tranquil paradise located 11 miles (18 km) off the coast of Perth. With its 63 sandy beaches and 20 picturesque bays, this car-free island offers the perfect escape. Upon arrival, rent a bicycle and embark on a scenic 2.5-mile (4 km) ride through the island's heart to Oliver Hill, where you can explore underground tunnels and admire historic artillery. Take in the sweeping views, and make sure to visit the mesmerizing salt lakes.

As you continue your cycling adventure, keep an eye out for diverse birdlife and the adorable quokkas, the island's beloved native marsupials that have gained fame on Instagram. Pedal north for 2 miles (3.3 km) to Little Parakeet Bay, where you can cool off in crystal-clear waters. Enjoy a relaxed seafood lunch at Geordie's Café and Art Gallery, savoring the flavors of the ocean. This afternoon you could choose to follow the snorkel trail at Parker Point or explore various shipwreck sites for an underwater adventure. Just don't miss your return ferry back to the mainland!

Day 5: Full-Day Wave Rock & Aboriginal Cultural Tour

Today's big day trip takes you out of the city and through Western Australia's wheat belt to Hyden—home of Wave Rock, one of Australia's most incredible natural landforms and estimated to be 2,700 million years old. Heading east, your driver and guide will take you deep into farming country. Pause for morning tea in historic York, the first township founded in the Avon Valley, then continue past the agricultural towns of Corrigin and Kondinin. Gain a glimpse of Australian country life when you read heartfelt notes at the infamous Dog Cemetery, a shrine to man's best friend.

Day 6: Full-Day Margaret River Excursion

The Margaret River region is a haven for nature lovers and wine enthusiasts. Here you can explore world-class wineries, pristine coastline, mysterious caves, and lush forests. Today's big 13.5-hour day trip takes you south, past coastal towns and farmland, to the iconic Busselton Jetty, the longest timber jetty in the southern hemisphere. Pause for morning tea, then visit Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet. Drop into one of Margaret River's oldest breweries for a gourmet and local lunch platter with complimentary beer and cider tastings.

Afterward, pass through Boranup Forest to see the enormous karri trees before reaching a famous winery to taste the best award-winning wines while learning about the local production. Switch gears from gourmet to adventure when you discover Mammoth Cave, a natural chamber that reveals ancient fossils of long-extinct Australian megafauna. Finally, pause at the township of Margaret River to stroll along the main street before your return to Perth. En route, your driver will stop at a local restaurant in case you'd like to have dinner.

Day 7: Free Day in Perth

Today is yours to explore as you like. After a few big day trips, you might just wish to spend the day relaxing at picturesque Cottesloe Beach, but if you don't like to sit still, you have plenty of options. The downtown of Perth is home to cool laneways and arcades, so join a 2.5-hour walking tour and discover the pedestrian-friendly malls, ornate arcades, trendy laneways, back streets, and dirty alleys with an entertaining guide who will share the answer to pressing questions, such as why Perth is called Perth. End at a hip local bar where the first drink is on your guide.

Alternatively, venture south to Fremantle—Perth's hip, historical cousin. This port area close to the city is filled with heritage buildings, cafés, street art, and amazing stories. Join a local guide for a two-hour walking tour that uncovers tales of convicts and culture with a coffee in hand. Hear stories about prisoner escapes, convict antics, and the expulsion of Indigenous peoples to Rottnest Island. Find out why almost 10,000 men were transported from Great Britain and Ireland and how they built their own prisons and helped shape the future of Western Australia.

Day 8: Depart Perth

It's your final morning in Perth. Do as the locals do and go for breakfast or brunch at a trendy café before taking a private transfer to the airport in time for your flight home or to an onward destination. Safe travels!

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