PERTH AWAITS YOU

With the Swan River (Derbarl Yerrigan) running through its heart, Perth is a destination like no other, glowing with diversity and dreamlike experiences that will ignite the soul and stimulate connection with the land and life all around you.

Throughout Perth, the sun radiates gloriously by day while collection of beaches and bays.

For extravagant long-lunches, fine wine and family-friendly days out, the Swan Valley to Perth City’s east is renowned; with the Perth Hills nearby offering artisan produce and nature escapes with rustic charm.

The long stretch of glimmering Sunset Coast to the west offers an invigorating sanctuary to cool

PUBLISHER Vanguard Publishing

EDITOR Tori Wilson tori@vanguardpublishing.com.au

DESIGNER Cally Browning

PHOTOGRAPHY

Chad Gerber, City of Fremantle, City of Perth, City of Rockingham, City of Swan, Denzil Heeger, Elle Borgward, FORM, Rottnest Island Authority, Russell Ord Photography, Sarah Coote, Shire of Murray, Tourism Australia, Tourism Western Australia, Visit Mandurah

PRINTED BY Vanguard Press city lights and shimmering stars illuminate the clear skies by night. Perhaps the most dazzling time of all is dusk, when otherworldly sunsets splash across the horizon, over the ocean to the west.

Dive in and find vibrant, urban life through the cultural and contemporary spaces of Perth City and the eclectic and artsy Fremantle further south — both brimming with unique boutiques, lively music scenes, small bars and refined restaurants.

A short ferry-ride away, Rottnest Island off Perth’s coast is a place to slow down and sink into a different frame of mind — with incredible coastal scenes featuring distinctive flora and fauna, and mesmerising marine experiences across its off amid summer heat. While to the east in the Avon Valley, rolling hills and sweeping countryside transform into lush fields of colourful blooms following winter rains, and vibrant towns brimming with history and heritage beckon you to come explore.

Venture further south to Rockingham, Mandurah and the Peel region where you’ll find aquatic havens blessed with beautiful beaches and waterways to swim, surf, kayak and cruise. The opportunities for both family time and adrenaline inducing activities here are endless.

Whether you select just a few destinations to discover or choose to explore them all, Perth will leave you starstruck and inspired.

Experiences Top

EXPLORE THE BEST OF PERTH’S RICH AND INSPIRING ATTRACTIONS, FROM NATURE ESCAPES TO VIBRANT CULTURAL GEMS.

1 KINGS PARK AND BOTANIC GARDEN

Take a stroll through Kings Park and its beautiful Botanic Garden full of native blooms.

2 SWAN RIVER CRUISE

Glide across the river on a Swan River cruise and enjoy the spectacular scenery.

3 WINE TASTING IN THE SWAN VALLEY

Sample artisan spirits, wines and beers on a tour within the award-winning wine region of the Swan Valley.

4 ABORIGINAL CULTURAL TOUR

Embark on an immersive Aboriginal cultural tour and learn of ancient Aboriginal customs and how to connect with Country.

5 QUOKKAS

Spot Western Australia’s favourite marsupial — the quokka, on Rottnest Island.

6 OCEAN SUNSETS

Watch a golden sunset from the beach, in the only Australian state where the sun dips behind the horizon across the Indian Ocean.

7 HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHT

Admire lush rolling hills and sweeping countryside as you float over the Avon Valley in a hot air balloon at sunrise.

8 THE BIBBULMUN TRACK

Hike a section of the inspiring Bibbulmun Track, an internationally-acclaimed hiking trail.

9 CAVERSHAM WILDLIFE PARK

Meet wombats, koalas and furry friends at the family-friendly Caversham Wildlife Park.

10 WONDERFUL WILDFLOWERS

Admire blooming wildflowers, including everlastings and orchids, sweeping through the Perth Hills and Avon Valley during spring.

11 FREMANTLE PRISON

Take a chilling tour and chance a ghost sighting at the historic Fremantle Prison.

12 SWIM WITH DOLPHINS

Swim with wild dolphins in the waters of Rockingham, where aquatic adventure abounds.

13 CYCLING ROTTNEST

Hire a bike and explore the beautiful beaches and bays of Rottnest Island.

14 MATAGARUP ZIP + CLIMB

Up your adrenaline by climbing Perth’s landmark Matagarup Bridge and zip down to the banks of the Swan River at up to 75km/hr.

15 THOMAS DAMBO’S GIANTS OF MANDURAH EXHIBITION

Marvel at the giant, wooden sculptures studded throughout Mandurah’s outdoors.

16 FREMANTLE MARKETS

Experience the tastes, smells and sounds of Fremantle Markets and shop for unique souvenirs and trinkets.

17 WHALE WATCHING

Watch majestic whales migrate along Perth’s coastline with tours departing from Fremantle and Hillarys in season.

18 THE OZONE AT OPTUS STADIUM

Explore the state-of-the-art Optus Stadium on one of THE OZONE’s breathtaking experiences — choose the HALO Rooftop, VERTIGO, or Stadium Tour.

19 DOLPHIN SCENIC CRUISE

Watch dolphins in the wild on a Dolphin Cruise in Mandurah, renowned for its luxury cruises and glimmering waterways.

20 SCULPTURE BY THE SEA

Admire sculptural art at Cottesloe’s annual outdoor beachside exhibition.

IMMERSE IN DREAMTIME STORIES, EXPLORE A DIFFERENT WAY OF LIFE AND REFLECT ON OUR PAST AND PRESENT ON AN INSPIRATIONAL ABORIGINAL CULTURAL TOUR LED BY A NOONGAR GUIDE.

Flowing through the heart of Perth City (Boorloo), the Swan River (Derbarl Yerrigan) has forever been at the core of life in this beautiful and bountiful destination, well before modern streetscapes and contemporary buildings came to be. According to Noongar Dreamtime, the Waugul (giant rainbow serpent) wove its way through the land and carved out the sacred Derbarl Yerrigan at the beginning of creation, giving life to all around. Being a primary food source for the Whadjuk Noongar people of the Boorloo plains, less than 200 years ago, the river’s banks were lined with paperbark trees and fish, frogs, turtles and crustaceans abounded. Men hunted with great skill in spearing while women gathered turtle eggs, roots, wild onions and potatoes along the riverfront. Connected to a network of 11 lakes, known collectively as Boorloo Bilya (Perth Waters), Derbarl Yerrigan was the central, sacred element and spiritual home of the Whadjuk Noongar people and a connection point for life in Boorloo. The rich swampland tracks of Boorloo Bilya, trodden for thousands of years by Noongar people, have over time been transformed into Perth’s urban cityscape, where the river remains a fundamental element and lifegiving asset to the area. There is an endless fountain of knowledge to learn from the traditional owners of this land. Learn about Noongar culture, connection to Country, history, Dreamtime stories and Aboriginal art from one of the many inspiring and educational Aboriginal tour guides within Perth, offering a diverse mix of authentic and immersive experiences accessible to all.

In Perth City, Mervyn Abraham of Warrang-Bridil (meaning ‘enlighten to acknowledge’) will take you on an inspirational and educational tour. Learn of Noongar language and traditional Aboriginal lifestyle, while identifying the positive cultural influence in the development of the Optus Stadium Precinct and Matagarup Bridge along the way.

In Mandurah, slow down on an overnight camping tour with Goolamwiin to truly experience the ways of local Aboriginal culture and connection to Country. An authentic Welcome to Country, immersive walking tour, bushfoods tasting, Noongar language session, interactive artefacts experience, and a campfire dinner with Dreamtime stories under the stars are all part of the journey; with an artist workshop and traditional performance optional. Hosted by Noongar woman Kerry Stack and Noongar man Trevor Stack, expect everlasting memories from this enriching experience.

The Six Noongar Seasons

The Aboriginal six-season calendar varies for different groups throughout the state and across Australia, acting as an extrememly important guide for what nature is doing at every stage of the year. By listening to the seasons, learning how to live safely, sustainably, and respectfully in relation to the land, animals, and plant cycles, Aboriginal culture ensures the natural preservation of ecosystems.

Look to Wardandi Bibbulmun woman Dale Tilbrook to discover the incredible breadth of bush tucker foods found across the Swan Valley, or the intricacies of Aboriginal dot painting. Wander through her bush garden at the Maalinup Aboriginal Gallery in Henley Brook and learn how to add bursts of flavour to your cooking with native plants like lemon myrtle, native finger limes and quandong. The healing properties of various bush medicines and how to work sustainability with the Noongar six seasons are another specialty of Dale.