With its inviting riverbanks, sun-dappled coastlines, and easy rhythm of life, Perth is far more than a stopover city – it’s the soulful start to any Western Australian dream. From riverside rambles to quayside toasts and whimsical architectural surprises, Perth blends nature, culture, and comfort in ways that quietly astonish.

Perth may be the jumping-off point for all sorts of Western Australian adventures, but as I recently found, it holds a magic all its own – a city kissed by the sun, framed by water, and lit by golden afternoons that seem to last just a little longer. There’s an ineffable quality here that’s honestly a bit hard to capture in words… an ease that settles over you, whether you’re watching pelicans skim across Matilda Bay or strolling through Kings Park with its wildflowers and war memorials. As the tourism brochures might say, you’re not just walking in a city – you’re walking on a dream, breezily reconnecting with a slower rhythm of life, one that rewards stillness and surprise in equal measure.

Among those surprises? Our own time in Perth was completely unbroken by clouds; I don’t think we actually saw any clouds of note during our entire trip in Western Australia (or just ‘WA’ to those in the know), but for some reason, it really stood out in Perth, with the city’s skyline and river views always backgrounded by a flawlessly sapphire sky. We got lucky, for sure, but more than a few locals assured us that in WA, the sky is almost always just a bit more blue. After a solid week spent there, I wouldn’t be inclined to argue!

Sitting far away from anything else on Australia’s remote western edge, Perth has always blazed its own trail. Once thought of as the country’s ‘most isolated capital,’ it’s grown into a thriving urban centre that blends modern vitality with a laid-back, sun-soaked lifestyle to collectively create an enchanting, wondrous city. In recent decades, Perth has shed its reputation as a sleepy outpost and matured into a polished capital with a confident identity – buoyed by a steady economic boom driven largely by the state’s resource-rich hinterland. Western Australia’s vast mining wealth may have built the city, but it’s Perth’s riverside beauty, beaches, and vibrant cultural energy that continue to bring visitors back. For me, it was my first time exploring the state, and it was such a dream destination, I was already planning my next visit before we even left!

As the capital of Western Australia – a sprawling state that accounts for nearly one-third of the country’s entire landmass – Perth plays an outsized role in national economic life, yet it feels markedly more unhurried than its eastern counterparts. This almost magical balance is part of the city’s appeal: you’ll find clean, modern infrastructure and bustling business districts, of course, but also uncrowded public spaces, easy-going locals, and a deep connection to nature. With the sparkling Swan River winding through its heart and the Indian Ocean lapping at its doorstep, Perth enjoys a rare combination of urban convenience and natural splendour.

It must be said, too, that for a first-time visitor like me, the sheer breadth the Swan River reaches in parts as it flows through the city – over 2 km wide in some areas – makes it look more like a vast estuary than a mere river. Indeed, the waterway boasts its own named bays and inlets, and you’d be well-forgiven as you stand in certain parts of the city looking out over the river if you thought you were on the seashore.

KINGS PARK AND MATILDA BAY

Among Perth’s most impressive features are its numerous parks, gardens, and open spaces. One of particular note is Kings Park, which at just under 1,000 acres (about 400 hectares) is among the largest inner-city parks in the world. Perched above the river on Mount Eliza just to the southwest of the city centre, it offers panoramic views of the city skyline and waterway below. It’s not only a great photo stop – it’s a beautiful natural space with native botanical gardens, walking trails, and memorials that honour the state’s military history.

We thoroughly enjoyed exploring even a small part of this expansive park, taking in the scenery, appreciating the natural way in which much of the park has been left (about two-thirds has been preserved as native bushland), and spotting numerous bird species. Just below the park, the Elizabeth Quay precinct has emerged as a lively riverfront development, with public art, waterfront dining, and scenic walking paths connecting the city with the river in a way that’s both functional and picturesque.

This was a most enjoyable late afternoon stroll, and I frequently found myself casting an envious eye towards the beautiful condos fronting the water, thinking what extraordinary views those residents must have. This special part of the city invites exploration and discovery, and it was an absolute treat to just slow down here and soak up the unique riverfront vibes.

While in this fascinating part of the city, we stayed at the Wonil Hotel, a lovely boutique property that’s part of the Handwritten Collection from Accor. It’s quite new, perfectly located by both Matilda Bay and the University of Western Australia, and it delivers a modern, contemporary sensibility that’s most enticing and enjoyable. The unusual name of the hotel refers to the native peppermint tree that grows here along the banks of the bay and the Swan River that feeds it. Aboriginal people used this tree in their traditional medicines, and that the hotel now carries the name underscores the many ancient stories that this area has to tell. All we had to do was ask!

CITY CENTRE DELIGHTS

Beyond the city itself, Perth also serves as a natural launchpad for greater adventures. Its well-connected airport, relaxed pace, and proximity to some of Western Australia’s most renowned regions make it the perfect base – more on that to come. But within the city limits, visitors can hop between sophisticated galleries, rooftop bars, beaches like Cottesloe or Scarborough, and character-filled suburban neighbourhoods like Fremantle and Subiaco.

While exploring the city centre, we also enjoyed nipping into Songbird, a characterful bar located in the Ritz-Carlton, Perth, which along with tasty bites, creative cocktails, and outstanding service, offers sweeping views of the Swan River, the Port of Perth (along with the beautiful Elizabeth Quay Bridge), and the downtown city skyline. We can easily recommend this delightful bar to anyone who fancies a tipple with a view.

After our time at the Wonil, on one of the widest expanses of the Swan River just southwest of the city proper, we shifted to the city centre, where we checked in to the Novotel on Murray Street, giving us breezy, walking-distance access to shopping, sightseeing, and plenty of restaurants and bars. We also loved that the hotel offered complimentary water taps in the lobby lounge for refilling the in-room glass bottles – in ambient, chilled, and sparkling variants!

In our exploration of the area around the Novotel, among the most unexpected delights was London Court, a quirky Tudor-era pedestrian arcade that looks like it’s been lifted out of some Arthurian fantasy dreamscape. Boutiques, cafés, ornate clocks, unusual shops and kiosks, and plenty of kitsch all feature here, and it’s surely one of Perth’s most beloved architectural oddities.

Built in 1937 by wealthy gold miner Claude de Bernales, London Court was designed to resemble an Elizabethan streetscape, with Gothic arches, wrought-iron balconies, quaint shopfronts, and exposed timber framing. Think of it as a whimsical mash-up of medieval England and old-school romanticism – all carefully staged for a city that was just beginning to embrace its own brand of sophistication at the time.

On the exterior façades of the arcade, you’ll find statues of Sir Walter Raleigh and Dick Whittington, and inside, there’s a working clock that chimes on the hour, complete with jousting knights circling above (no kidding, look closely). Think of it as if Malaysia’s Colmar Tropicale were plopped into the heart of Kuala Lumpur. That’s London Court in Perth: it’s cheesy, nostalgic, and completely out of step with the otherwise modern city around it – but that’s precisely why it’s so memorable.

Perhaps unlike the French-themed village in the hills of Malaysia, however, Perth’s London Court continues to thrive, many years after its inception. Today, the arcade is home to a mix of cafés, souvenir shops, jewellers, and boutique retailers, and remains a popular spot for tourists and photographers. It may not be historically authentic, but it undeniably delivers a theatrical nod to old-world Europe – right in the sun-drenched centre of Perth.

A DREAM DESTINATION

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Perth, and feel that it’s a wildly underrated destination for travellers in Malaysia. For starters, it’s in the same time zone. And more importantly, it’s a fairly short plane ride away. You can leave KL in the morning and easily be enjoying a strikingly different city, culture, and landscape by mid-afternoon, literally going (culturally at least) from the East to the West in a little over five hours – all while never leaving your home time zone!

For me, much of Perth’s appeal lies in its contrasts: the serenity of the beautiful Swan River brushing up against sleek glass towers, the Elizabethan storybook charm of London Court set amid modern shopping centres, and the buzz of rooftop bars overlooking sun-bleached parklands. You feel the space here, not just physically, but almost spiritually. Though Perth boasts a population of some 2.2 million, it’s a city that breathes accessibility; a place that invites you to unwind, explore, and connect. Whether you’re catching an amber-streaked sunset over Cottesloe Beach or chatting with a local over a flat white in Fremantle, Perth doesn’t just welcome you, it draws you in.

After our visit, I feel that Perth is genuinely a dream holiday destination all on its own. But for those with a bit more time, the Western Australian capital truly shines as the gateway to the world-class wine estates of Swan Valley, the stunning coastal drives of the Margaret River region, and the wild natural beauty of WA’s vast interior. I think it’s safe to call Perth a city that rewards exploration, whether you stay close or push further afield. We did both, and after our time in Perth, hired a Star RV campervan so we could move on to the next part of the journey in comfort, and set out for nearby Swan Valley and many other points beyond.

But that’s a whole other story!

TRAVEL FILE

Getting There
AirAsia recently partnered with Tourism Western Australia as part of their “Walking on a Dream” tourism campaign, and they offer value-for-money flights from Kuala Lumpur to Perth, having recently increased their number of daily flights, with both non-stop and one-stop (Bali) options offered currently. The flight is about 5.5 hours.

Best Time to Visit
Perth is a fabulous year-round destination, but the shoulder seasons are particularly appealing, offering plenty of sunshine, fewer crowds, and pleasant temperatures (usually 20-28°C) – particularly important if you are planning to explore beyond the city. In Western Australia, the shoulder seasons are September-November (Aussie spring) and March to May (autumn).

Contacts
Tourism Western Australia
Kings Park and Botanic Garden
Wonil Hotel
Novotel Perth Murray Street
Songbird Bar
Star RV