No matter if you are a Perth resident or you are visiting the city for a vacation, there are many free activities that you can do.
Go commune with the local sea creatures as you go snorkelling or even kayaking. Besides the water-based activities in the Indian Ocean and other nearby beaches, you can explore one of Perth’s national parks to go on hiking trails yourself or with your four-legged friend on a pet-friendly trail.
Find out more of what you can do with these 20 top free things to do in Perth.
1. Get to Know the Local Sea Creatures
With 10 coastal islands, 4 Rottnest islands, and 9 inland islands in the Perth area, there is so much aquatic life to explore.
Visit the colony of 250 penguins at Penguin Island. The island is 45 minutes away from Perth and another 5-minute ferry ride to arrive at the island. You can also see dolphins and sea lions depending on the type of event you attend.
While possibly snorkelling at Marmion Marine Park, which is considered a diver and a snorkeller’s paradise, you can see the sea turtles in their safely conserved and protected humble abode.
2. Visit a Local National Park
There are seven national parks are located within 2 hours of Perth which you can explore by going mountain biking, hiking, camping, and more!
Kalamunda National Park in Piesse Brook, Western Australia measures 375 hectares with many nature activities such as bushwalking, bird watching, and wildflower watching. If you want to go horseback riding, there may be an extra fee imposed, but it’s an option if you have the funds.
Explore the Swan View Tunnel at John Forrest National Park or stop by Crystal Cave at Yanchep National Park, which is the only cave that is open to the general public throughout Perth.
3. Take Your Dog Out
If no one else is available to go on an adventure in Perth with you, take your four-legged friend along with you. There are dog beaches and dog-friendly walking trails that you and Fido can explore all for free in Perth.
Noble Falls Walk Trail in Gidgegannup and the Kwinana Loop Trail are 2 of the best dog-friendly walking trails.
Quinns Rocks Dog Beach and Hillarys Dog Beach are the top 2 dog beaches near Perth.
No matter if you want to go on a walk or catch a swim with your furry friend, you will be spending quality time with him or her and that’s all that matters.
4. Go Kayaking
Ascot Water, Narrows Bridge, and Deepwater Point all have one thing in common: you can go kayaking on these waters in Perth.
Ascot Water is the top kayaking destination for novice kayakers. If you travel the canals, you can get a view of dolphins swimming nearby. As you navigate Riverside Gardens and travel to Garvey Park going eastward, you will see many beautiful houses and the boardwalk life nearby.
You can travel Narrows Bridge and arrive at Elizabeth Quay’s footbridge in no time at all. Kayaking at Deepwater Point allows you to see beautiful views of the city buildings nearby.
5. Visit Farmers Markets
Kyilla Community Farmers’ Market offers many different stands that serve prepared meals, fresh fruit, and even delicious fudge. Even if you do not taste the food fare because of a limited budget, just looking at the beautiful produce available for sale will help you to appreciate the work that was put into growing the crops.
Stirling Farmers’ Market is open for four hours every Sunday whether rain or shine. Nine general stallholders are there every weekend, but you can find out the full list of stalls available on their Facebook page that’s updated weekly.
6. Embark on a Snorkelling Adventure
Mettams Pool, Point Peron, Burns Beach are the top 3 places to go snorkelling around Perth.
Mettams Pool is located in Trigg and is great for novice snorkellers of any age because it is only 2 meters in depth. An all-natural rock pool, you can see many different types of fish during your snorkelling adventure.
Point Peron is located in Rockingham at the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park. You can see spider crabs, sea urchins, and even different colors of sea sponges when you go snorkelling at Point Peron, which are also home to dolphins, sea lions, and penguins.
While Burns Beach is small itself, its reef is super large and home to the famous Dhufish.
7. Go to a Free Outdoor Waterpark Playground
During the summertime, you and the family will enjoy the many outdoor waterpark playgrounds that are open to the public for free.
Rainbow Park has 15 different water attractions such as fountains, splash pad, bubble jet, spray guns, and so much more!
Kwinana Adventure Playground has a variety of sprays, jets, and other water functions for a fun time. Two pelicans have water coming out of their beaks.
Kingsway Regional Playground makes you feel like you are in a tropical paradise with palm trees in its attraction and a tipping bucket that kids will love!
8. Visit a Local Museum
You can visit the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA) to gain access to free exhibitions and discussions with artists. Sitting on the homelands of the Whadjuk Nyoongar People, this art museum pays homage to them and respects their heritage.
The Nostalgia Box is unique because it’s a video game museum located in Perth. It is the only video game museum located throughout Australia. With over 100 different video game consoles on display for viewing, you can also enjoy their interactive gaming area. If you have a gift voucher for a birthday or holiday from a family member or friend, this will be virtually-no pun intended-a free experience!
9. Go Hiking
If you love to stretch your legs and get a breath of fresh, grab your gear and go on a hike!
Hiking from Sullivan Rock to Mount Cooke and the Eagle View Trail are two of the best-hiking destinations.
Sullivan Rock to Mount Cooke is an 8-hour hike for more advanced hikers where you can celebrate your long expedition by camping at Mount Cooke.
The Eagle View Trail at John Forrest National Park will take about 5-6 hours to hike depending on how many breaks you take. If you do it during the best times of September to December, you will get to simultaneously do some wildflower spotting along the way.
10. Take a Wildflower Spotting Journey
Speaking of wildflowers, you can go wildflower spotting while you are hiking, bushwalking, or enjoying other activities throughout Perth. There are over 12,000 species of wildflowers alone throughout West Australia.
The best time to go wildflower spotting is in September when most species are at their peak full bloom. The blooming season begins in June and blossoms in beauty throughout the months leading to its full bloom in September. Almost two-thirds of the species can only be found in Western Australia and nowhere else in the world.
11. Ride Your Bike
You can ride your bike almost anywhere throughout Perth because of the 7 national parks located nearby Perth and the overall suburban layout of the city that makes it an awesome place to get some cardio exercise and fresh air.
Bring your protective gear and jump on your bike to explore Kings Park, Windan Bridge Loop, Herdsman Lake, Cottesloe Beach, and other nearby parks. In that order, RAC ranks these areas as the top 4 places for families to have a fun bike ride together.
12. Go on a Free Guided Walking Tour
What better way to learn about the history and surroundings of Perth than to go on a free self-guided walking tour around the different landmarks? Whether you want to have a water adventure at the Swan River, visit seaside restaurants, or grab a souvenir from a local gift shop, you will be educated on where to go for all of your needs during your trip to Perth.
13. Surf’s Up!
As long as you have a surfboard in your possession, you will not need to spend any money for a surfboard rental when you decide to catch the waves at local beaches.
Cottesloe Beach – yes, we know this beach has come up a lot in this list but it’s also the top area to go surfing but we can’t help but mention this one here. The best time to surf there is during the winter and fall when other beaches are usually windier. Who says you can’t surf while it’s cold out?
14. Go Paddleboarding
With such clear ocean waters throughout Perth, you can grab your paddleboard, family, and/or friends and have a fun day at the beach. Whether you go stand-up paddleboarding or coast the waves on your stomach, it’s a great way to cool off, exercise to stay healthy, and generally stretch your legs.
Swan River, Scarborough Beach, Cottesloe Beach, and Rottnest Island amongst other areas are great places for you and your friends and family to enjoy an afternoon paddleboarding adventure in Perth.
15. Spend a Day at Kings Park
Kings Park is home to the beautiful Botanic Garden. Take a stroll through the park, admire the Botanic Garden, have a picnic lunch at one of the nearby tables, and continue your stroll to view some of the plant species nearby. Local gardeners and horticulturists look after this area to be sure that it is safe.
Did you know that 25% of Western Australia’s plant life grows in King Park and the Botanic Garden alone? That’s 3,000 species right there with a total of 8,000 species throughout Western Australia.
16. See the Sights at Elizabeth Quay
Elizabeth Quay is a part of Perth’s business district which is at the heart of where you can explore plentiful businesses. The iconic bridge is great for tourists to take pictures of the area for keepsakes and to watch the cruise ships sail by as you watch in awe. You can even see the Swan River near Elizabeth Quay.
17. Visit Swan River
Speaking of the Swan River, it’s a great place to take a walk or even go with family or friends to have a picnic. If you prefer kayaking, you can do that as well! Watch the nearby wildlife that passes by, too!
18. Gaze at the Stars
The Pinnacles Desert in Nambung, Pelham Reserve in Toodyay, and Scitech Planetarium are the best places to go stargazing.
Of course, the Scitech Planetarium will give you that serenity feel one gets by looking at the cosmos no matter what time of day you visit. You can enjoy the loveliness of gazing at stars without bugs flying around.
However, visiting Pinnacles Desert and Pelham Reserve will give you more of a naturalistic feel of truly stargazing in Perth during nightfall.
The Pinnacles Desert is within a distant location from the city of Perth so that you can easily see the starry night sky. Pelham Reserve is nearby the town center and surrounding farmland which makes for a beautiful surrounding backdrop as you gaze at the night sky.
19. Watch the Sunset at the Indian Ocean
Who doesn’t love watching the sunset? Before you go see the sunset near the Indian Ocean while you are in Perth, you can take the 2-hour drive on Indian Ocean Drive for a scenic view unlike any other of the local Green Head, Cervantes, Jurien Bay, and other nearby coastal cities along the way before you reach the end to watch the sunset.
Plan your journey for at least 3-4 hours before sunset so you can ride along the entirety of Indian Ocean Drive even if there is some traffic and still be able to gaze at the sunset at the end.
20. Go Volcano Climbing (Not Real, Of Course)
We are talking about Belmont’s Faulkner Park where there is a volcano-shaped playground that your children will love to climb! Complete with swings and seesaws, flying foxes, turtles, and crocodiles, your kids will love this colorful and interactive attraction.
In Conclusion
Even if you are on a strict budget during your visit to Perth, there are plenty of sights and adventures that you can experience for free. You just need to know where to look.