The Subiaco Night Market, are Perth’s most talked-about weekly event, and one that’s now back in full swing. Here’s everything you need to know before you go.
Food: Over 40 rotating food vendors each week. New to this season’s line-up:
Cha Pang – WA’s only dedicated Thai pancake roll specialist, straight from Bangkok street food tradition
Celtic Cravings – Perth’s only Irish-inspired food trailer, serving spice bags, chicken fillet rolls and curry cheese chips
Piadina Nonna Pina – Hand charred Romagna-style Italian flatbreads with prosciutto, mozzarella and slow-cooked beef
MatchérieXO – Hand-whisked Japanese matcha and hojicha
Emotional Support Cookies – Loaded, molten centre cookies
Drinks: Local gin distillery Spirit of Little Things returns with botanical cocktails and local brews, a good spot for a golden hour aperitif.
Community & Entertainment: “Meet Your Street” lets locals nominate their street for a reserved long table so neighbours can gather together. Expect surprise weekly performances, jazz, cabaret, opera, accordion, and open-air movies.
Shopping: A rotating line up of artisan stalls selling coastal-inspired homewares, small-batch candles, and locally made dog-friendly treats, it’s a dog-friendly event overall.
Getting There
Market Square Park sits right next to Subiaco Train Station on the Fremantle Line, making the train the easiest way in, no parking stress, no driving after a cocktail at the gin bar. See our PerthTrainsGuide for timetables and current fares (Transperth’s flat Go Anywhere Fare — $2.80 with SmartRider, $3.50 cash/contactless, applies network-wide as of 2026). If you’re coming from further out, check our PerthTransportationGuide and BusRoutes for connections into Subiaco.
Make a Night of It: Mural Walk + Market Combo
For visitors who want more than just the market, Oh Hey WA runs a guided evening walking tour that finishes right at the Subi Night Market, the Subilicious Family FUNdowner. It’s a relaxed, family-friendly walk through Subiaco’s street art and murals, finishing with a taster of the market’s food stalls and entertainment.
Price: From $10 AUD per person
Duration: Approx. 2 hours
Starts: Intersection of Forrest Walk & Rokeby Road, Subiaco
Finishes: Market Square Park, in time for the Night Market
It’s a great option if you’re visiting Perth and want context on Subiaco’s street art scene before diving into the market itself, or simply a nice way to build an evening out of it with kids.
Perth is a city best explored on foot, their are laneways full of street art, colonial-era arcades, a riverside promenade, and a food and bar scene that rewards wandering. Whether you’re after history, hidden bars, or a completely private experience, here are the Best Walking Tours in Perth for 2026.
1. The ULTIMATE Perth Walking Tour (Discover: History, Art, Local Insights + More!)
Run by Oh Hey WA, this is one of Perth’s most popular and highly-rated walking tours, with 516 reviews, a 5.0 average, and a “Recommended by 100% of travellers” badge. It’s an easy-going 3-hour walk through the city, covering roughly 3–4km at a relaxed pace, aimed at giving first-time visitors a genuine feel for Perth beyond what’s in a guidebook.
Price: From $72 AUD per person (discounted rates for kids)
Meeting point: Perth Digital Tower, Yagan Square (corner of Wellington & William St)
Best for: First-time visitors wanting an orientation walk at the start of their trip
2. Perth Hidden Gems Private Walking Tour with a Local
A fully customisable private walk shaped around your interests, riverside views at Elizabeth Quay, the quieter paths of Kings Park, or Northbridge’s creative laneways. You will fill out a short questionnaire before the tour, so your guide can build the route around what actually interests you.
Best for: Couples, families or small groups wanting a private, tailored experience
2. Perth’s True Crime Tour
A 1h45m guided walk through real crime sites across the city, solved and unsolved cases, notorious figures, and the darker history hiding behind Perth’s quiet streets and buildings.
Best for: History buffs after something a bit darker than the standard city tour
3. Perth City, Laneways and Hidden Gems Photographic Walk
A 4-hour walk led by a professional photographer through Perth’s lesser-known laneways, teaching composition and camera skills (smartphone or full-frame) while exploring photogenic corners most locals overlook.
Best for: Photography enthusiasts, beginners and hobbyists alike
4. Female Trailblazers: Self-Guided Women’s History Tour of Perth
A flexible, app-guided walking trail (1–4 hours) honouring the women who shaped Perth and Australian history, pioneering educators, entrepreneurs, artists and politicians, with audio narration and archival photos unlocked at each stop.
Planning a Perth itinerary that actually fits everything in? This Perth 3 day trip covers the city’s culture, natural beauty, beaches, Indigenous wildlife, and wine country (all in just three days), if you plan it right. It’s built for travellers who want to see the very best of Perth without wasting a morning figuring out where to go next. It’s ambitious, it’s full, and it covers everything from river cruises to quokka selfies to a gold pour at the Mint. Here’s exactly how to do it.
Day 1 – City & River Highlights
Morning: Start at Kings Park & Botanic Garden, one of the largest inner-city parks in the world and the single best introduction to Perth. Walk up to the Fraser Avenue Lookout for picturesque views over the Swan River and back towards the CBD skyline. While you’re there, take some time to wander through the native gardens, home to thousands of Western Australian plant species.
Late Morning: Walk down to the Elizabeth Quay foreshore for coffee and a riverside stroll. Cross the Elizabeth Quay Bridge and admire the Spanda sculpture, one of the city’s more striking public artworks, before continuing along the water.
Afternoon: Take a Swan River cruise to Fremantle, enjoying commentary and city views along the way. It’s a relaxed way to see Perth from the water rather than the pavement, and it drops you right into Fremantle’s historic port area. Browse our Best sightseeing tours for Perth to compare cruise options and book ahead, especially in peak season.
Evening: Explore Fremantle’s historic streets, have dinner at one of its lively breweries or restaurants, and visit the Fremantle Markets if it’s a weekend. Our Fremantle Markets guide, covers opening days, what to buy, and where to eat nearby if you want to plan the stop properly.
Morning: Catch a ferry from Perth or Fremantle to Rottnest Island (“Rotto”). Hire a bike to explore its stunning bays and beaches, and don’t miss a selfie with a smiling quokka — Rottnest is home to the largest and most accessible quokka population in Western Australia. If you want the full etiquette rundown before you go (including what’s legal and what isn’t), read our Complete Quokka Selfie Guide first. For ferry times, routes, and tour options, see my Rottnest Island tourspage.
Afternoon: Swim, snorkel, or relax at The Basin or Pinky Beach before returning on the ferry. Both are covered in more depth, along with the island’s other bays, in our guide to the Best things to do on Rottnest Island.
Evening: Stop at Cottesloe Beach on the way back for fish and chips by the water and one of Perth’s famous Indian Ocean sunsets. Cottesloe is one of several standout stretches of sand covered in our Perth Beaches Guide, worth a look if you want to fit in a second beach later in your trip.
Morning: Visit Perth Zoo in South Perth to see native wildlife in naturalistic habitats. Alternatively, head north to AQWA (Aquarium of Western Australia)at Hillary’s to explore WA’s marine life, from reef sharks to a walk-through underwater tunnel.
Afternoon: Take a trip to the Swan Valley wine region, about 30 minutes from the city, for wine tastings, craft beer, and gourmet food experiences. It’s Western Australia’s oldest wine region and easily covered in half a day. Compare guided options on our Swan Valley Tours, or check Where to Stay in the Swan Valley, if you’d rather extend your trip and stay overnight among the vineyards.
Late Afternoon: Return to Perth and stop at the Perth Mint to watch a gold pour and learn about WA’s gold rush history — one of the more unique free-to-browse attractions in the city, in my PerthAttractionsGuide.
Evening: Finish your trip with dinner at Elizabeth Quay or one of the riverside restaurants overlooking the city lights. See my Restaurants list of Perth’s Best Spots, for options with a river or skyline view.
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Where to Stay for This Itinerary
Since this itinerary is based around the CBD, Elizabeth Quay, and easy access to Fremantle and the ferry terminals, staying centrally will save you the most time. Our AccommodationPerth guide breaks down the best areas, and guides can help you book something within walking distance of Day 1’s route.
Is 3 days enough time in Perth? Yes, if you plan it tightly. A well-paced Perth 3 day trip like this one covers the CBD, Fremantle, Rottnest Island, beaches, wildlife, and Swan Valley wine country in three full days, though it does mean starting early each morning.
What’s the best Perth itinerary for first-time visitors? A good Perth itinerary balances the city centre, the coast, and at least one day trip. This one splits those across three days: Day 1 for the CBD and Fremantle, Day 2 for Rottnest Island and beaches, and Day 3 for wildlife and Swan Valley wine country.
Do I need to book Rottnest Island ferries in advance? Yes, especially in peak season (December – April), when ferries and bike hire can sell out. Booking ahead also secures your preferred departure time.
Can I fit in the Swan Valley and Rottnest Island in the same trip? Yes, this itinerary places them on different days (Day 2 and Day 3) specifically so you’re not rushing between the coast and the wine region on the same day.
What’s the best way to get around for this itinerary? A mix of walking, ferries, and a rental car (or tour transfers) for Swan Valley works best. See my PerthTransportationInformation for full details on buses, trains, and car hire.
If there’s one photo that sums up a trip to Perth, it’s a quokkaselfie. These small, smiling marsupials have become one of the most searched animals in Australian tourism, and almost all of them live in one place: Rottnest Island, just off the coast of Perth. This guide covers exactly where to find quokkas, how to take a great (and legal) selfie, and how to plan the rest of your day on the island.
What Is a Quokka?
A quokka is a small marsupial, roughly the size of a domestic cat, related to kangaroos and wallabies. They’re best known for their rounded faces and upturned mouths, which make them look like they’re constantly smiling, earning them the nickname “the world’s happiest animal.” Quokkas are naturally curious and have little fear of humans, which is why they’ll often approach visitors on their own.
While quokkas can technically be found in a few isolated pockets of south-west WesternAustralia, Rottnest Island is home to the largest and most accessible population by far, with an estimated 10,000–12,000 quokkas living on the island.
Where to See Quokkas: Rottnest Island
RottnestIsland(“Rotto” to locals) sits about 18 kilometres off the coast of Fremantle and is reachable by a 25–90minute ferry ride, depending on which departure point you choose.
Quokkas are found across the island, but visitors most reliably spot them around:
The Settlement — the main hub near the ferry terminal, where quokkas are most habituated to people
Pinky Beach — a short walk from the Settlement, often with quokkas resting in the shade nearby
Geordie Bay and Longreach Bay — quieter spots with fewer crowds
Bike paths across the island — quokkas often appear along the island’s cycling trails, especially in shaded, grassy areas
Quokkas are most active in the late afternoon and early evening, when temperatures cool down. During the heat of the day, they tend to shelter in shade and can be harder to spot. If you’d like a fuller picture of the island beyond quokka-spotting, our guide to the best things to do on Rottnest Island covers the beaches, snorkelling spots, and lighthouse walks worth adding to your day.
The Rules: How to Take a Quokka Selfie the Right Way
QuokkaSelfies are hugely popular, but there are important rules designed to protect the animals:
Never touch, feed, or pick up a quokka. It is illegal under Western Australian law and can result in significant fines. Handling quokkas can also make them sick, since human food and contact can transmit bacteria harmful to them.
Let the quokka approach you, not the other way around. Crouch down slowly at a distance, hold your phone or camera ready, and wait.
Keep noise and sudden movements to a minimum. Quokkas are curious but easily startled by loud groups.
Never use flash photography directly at a quokka.
Respect a quokka that shows no interest. Not every quokka wants to be in your photo — don’t chase or corner one for a shot.
Rangers do patrol popular areas, and fines for touching or feeding wildlife on RottnestIsland are enforced.
My Tips for the Best Quokka Selfie
Get low. Crouching or sitting brings your camera to the quokka’s eye level and produces a far better photo than shooting downward.
Visit early morning or late afternoon, both for better light and more active quokkas.
Bring a phone rather than relying only on a camera with a flash — quokkas tend to react less to phone cameras.
Be patient. The best quokka encounters happen when you sit quietly near a shaded, grassy patch and let the animals go about their day.
Check the island’s designated “no feeding, no touching” signage in busy zones, since ranger patrols are more frequent there.
Planning Your Day: Getting to Rottnest Island
Ferries to Rottnest Island depart from several points, including Fremantle, Hillarys Boat Harbour, and Perth’s Barrack Street Jetty (seasonal). Fremantle is the shortest and most frequent crossing, typically around 25–30 minutes — and if you’re departing from there, it’s worth building in time beforehand for our Fremantle Markets Guide, since the markets are only a short walk from the ferry terminal.
Most visitors explore the island by bike, which can be hired near the Settlement, since Rottnest Island is largely car-free. A day trip is enough time to see the main quokka hotspots, visit a beach or two, and explore the Settlement, but visitors who want to slow down and explore further bays often choose to stay overnight. If you’d rather have the route planned for you, browse our full range of Rottnest Island Tours, including guided cycling and wildlife-focused options.
Quokkas can be seen year-round, but conditions vary by season:
Spring and autumn (Sep–Nov, Mar–May): Mild weather, comfortable cycling conditions, and active quokkas — generally the best all-round time to visit.
Summer (Dec–Feb): Hot conditions can push quokkas into deeper shade during the day, so early morning or late afternoon visits work best.
Winter (Jun–Aug): Cooler and quieter, with fewer crowds, though some ferry schedules are reduced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to touch a quokka? Yes. Touching, patting, or feeding a quokka is illegal on Rottnest Island and can result in a fine.
Where is the best place to see quokkas? The area around the Settlement and Pinky Beach on Rottnest Island offers the most reliable sightings, since quokkas there are more accustomed to visitors.
Do I need to book a tour to see quokkas? No — quokkas can be seen independently by taking the ferry and exploring on foot or by bike. A guided tour can be useful if you want route planning and commentary included; see our Rottnest Island tours page for options.
How long should I spend on Rottnest Island? A day trip is enough to see quokkas and the main sights, but an overnight stay allows more time to explore quieter bays and increases your chances of a quokka encounter without crowds. Our best things to do on Rottnest Island guide has a fuller breakdown for longer stays.
Discover the best Perth city tours for first-time visitors, travellers and locals returning home after being away, including all the sightseeing, walking tours, cruises and Segway experiences in Perth, Western Australia.
History, Culture & Heritage Walking Tour of Perth A 3-hour guided walk from Yagan Square to Barrack Square covering Perth’s street art, heritage architecture, laneways and local history, one of Perth’s highest-rated tours (5.0 stars, 500+ reviews). Ideal as a first-day activity to get orientated.
Perth City of Lights Dinner Cruise A 2.5–3 hour evening cruise along the Swan River, taking in Perth’s illuminated skyline over a hot and cold buffet dinner, with local WA wines and live entertainment on board. Runs Friday and Saturday evenings (November–March) and Saturdays only through the cooler months, departing Barrack Street Jetty at 7:00pm.
Perth Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour A double-decker bus looping past 15 stops including Kings Park, the Bell Tower, Optus Stadium, Elizabeth Quay and Northbridge, with multilingual commentary. Choose a 24- or 48-hour pass and hop off wherever takes your interest, a relaxed way to see the city without driving or parking.
Perth Segway Tour A fun, slightly different way to cover ground along the riverside and city precincts, good for travellers wanting some novelty and fun, alongside the sightseeing.
This tour covers a guided city tour (Parliament House, Kings Park, the Swan River), historic Fremantle with its markets and Cappuccino Strip, and the Swan Valley wine region, including wine and food tasting plus kangaroos and koalas at Caversham Wildlife Park. Hotel pickup/drop-off, live commentary and an air-conditioned vehicle are included. Tour cost is from AUD $290 per person.
A Perth City Tours are one of the best first-day activities for visitors to Western Australia. It helps you understand the city quickly, reduces planning stress and makes it easier to decide which places you want to explore next. Some experiences focus on history and heritage, while others are designed around river cruising, night-time dining or light adventure.
We’re here to help you discover everything exciting, interesting, fun, relaxing
and engaging, about Australia’s most vibrant city. Join us to start exploring now!
There’s so much to see and do in this beautiful city. What are you looking for?
Accommodation
Perth boast a wide range of accommodation options, suitable for all travellers and all budgets. This includes luxury international hotel chains, bed and breakfasts, budget backpackers rooms, and everything in between.
If you’re visiting Perth and want to find the right place to rest your head at night, check out our Perth Accommodation guide now.
Perth has more attractions for all ages than you could ever experience to in one trip. Scitech, St Mary’s Cathedral, Fraser Avenue Lookout, and many more adventures await when you step into the playground.
If you’re planning your trip to Perth and aren’t sure how best to spend your time, check out our guide now.
Perth is blessed with some of the worlds most beautiful beaches. From world renowned surf breaks to Australia’s whitest sands — we have it all.
If you plan on enjoying some of these world-class natural wonderlands, then the best place to start is our guide to Perth’s beaches. Click below to get started.
If you’re coming to visit our beautiful city, you’re going to need somewhere nice to stay. Luckily, Perth has a wide variety of places to rest your head and stow your bags — enough to accommodate every traveller with every budget.
To see all the beautiful places you can stay in Perth, check out our comprehensive accommodation guide by clicking the button below.
Perth is blessed with a huge range of both natural and man-made world-class attractions to ensure your visit is exciting and fun. The biggest challenge you’re likely to face is choosing which ones to do on this trip!
To make the choice easier for you, we’ve made a comprehensive guide to some of the beset things Perth has to offer. Check it out by clicking below.
The Subiaco Night Market, are Perth’s most talked-about weekly event, and one that’s now back in full swing. Here’s everything you need to know before you go. Quick Facts Season 5th of September 2026 – 8th of May… Read More
Perth is a city best explored on foot, their are laneways full of street art, colonial-era arcades, a riverside promenade, and a food and bar scene that rewards wandering. Whether you’re after history, hidden bars, or a completely… Read More
Planning a Perth itinerary that actually fits everything in? This Perth 3 day trip covers the city’s culture, natural beauty, beaches, Indigenous wildlife, and wine country (all in just three days), if you plan it right. It’s built… Read More
