5 Experiences in Perth
Isolation is not something new for Perth. While this laidback city is far away from the rest of Australia in terms of distance (to give you a better idea, a flight to Sydney takes roughly four hours), there is no lack of things to do in and around the place itself. From the fish-shaped island of car-free Rottnest, where you can find cute mini-marsupials called quokkas, to exploring sacred limestone rocks in the desert, here are five perth-fect adventures to get your pulse racing in Perth.
The cool thing about Perth is that you do not have to physically get out of the city to get a taste of real adventure. Head to the northern coastal suburb of Hillarys and make your way to the Aquarium of Western Australia. Here, you can snorkel at the 40-metre-long Shipwreck Coast aquarium, three million litres of pure underwater world magic. A PADI-qualified divemaster will accompany you as you check out a living reef while you mingle with grey-nurse sharks, smooth stingrays, loggerhead turtles, and over 70 species of sea life.
To many living in hectic, crowded, urban city centres, where your lungs get assaulted by car fumes daily and finding a seat on the subway is nigh on impossible, taking a breath of fresh air in nature is pure bliss. Thankfully for Perth citizens and those of you visiting the city, getting in touch with nature is ridiculously easy. All you need to do is hop on a ferry to car-free Rottnest Island, cycle around its rugged paths, chill out at one of the 63 pristine beaches, and meet quokkas, cute critters tailor-made by nature to pose for selfies. Do a quick Google search. You’ll see why.
Koalas and sandboarding in a desert – the match you never knew you needed. With these two activities, you’re in for a real treat and a day of fun. Meet kangaroos and koalas at Caversham Wildlife Park, and afterward, pick up some knowledge of the local lobster industry with a tour around a plant at Cervantes. End your trip with a guided walk at the ethereal, alien-like landscape of The Pinnacles, mysterious limestone formations spiritually significant to the Aboriginal people, before sandboarding through the massive dunes of Lancelin.
Driving on a regular highway can be stressful, especially with drivers that don’t signal. But there’s one particular highway that’ll calm your nerves instead of giving you high blood pressure, and that’s Western Australia’s humpback highway. This spectacular route sees majestic whales migrating from the feeding grounds of Antarctica to the warmer waters of Perth’s coast. Check out these gentle giants with a marine biologist as you whale-watch on a state-of-the-art vessel, listening to their enchanting songs on a hydrophone, a device that detects ocean sounds.
It says a lot about Perth that even being indoors can give you a somewhat outdoorsy experience. Case in point: there’s a glass-bottom boat ride at the Aquarium of Western Australia. While you’ll physically be riding a boat in a building, prepare to be mesmerised by a dazzling array of stunning sea life, from ancient turtles to rare sea dragons, with expert commentary by a friendly guide providing you with valuable nuggets of information along the way. Besides, wouldn’t it be cool getting in touch with nature without actually getting wet? Talk about convenience here.
