Things to do in Perth this weekend

Perth's combination of brilliant Indian Ocean beaches, a compact and walkable city centre, and the Margaret River wine region within two hours' drive makes it one of Australia's great weekend cities. Here's how the locals maximise it.

Cottesloe Beach

Perth is defined by its beaches and Cottesloe is where the locals go. The long sandy stretch, the Indiana teahouse at the northern end, and the Indiana's sunset views have made this the most iconic beach in Western Australia. Arrive mid-morning, swim, have a long lunch, and let the afternoon take care of itself.

Kings Park

The 400-hectare Kings Park on the escarpment above the city is one of the world's largest inner-city parks and arguably the most beautiful. The botanic garden within the park houses more than 3,000 species of WA native plants; the State War Memorial and the Federation Walkway offer different perspectives on the city and Swan River below.

Fremantle

The port city 20 minutes south of Perth CBD is a destination in itself. The Fremantle Markets, the cappuccino strip, the Prison historic tour, and the Fishing Boat Harbour's fresh seafood restaurants combine to make a full day's outing that most people stretch into two.

Swan Valley

The Swan Valley — 30 minutes northeast of the city — is Perth's accessible wine region, home to established wineries, artisan cheese producers, the House of Honey, and the Margaret River Chocolate Company that has its northern outlet here. A Sunday afternoon in the valley is a perfect low-key alternative to the busy beaches.

The Perth Cultural Centre

The Art Gallery of WA, the WA Museum Boola Bardip, the State Library, and the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts cluster on the pedestrianised Cultural Centre between Northbridge and the city. Entry to most permanent collections is free. It's the best cultural kilometre in the state.

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