Some destinations ask you to choose: city or coast, culture or wilderness. Western Australia asks why choose at all? Perth mornings begin over coffee beside the Swan River, afternoons unfold on powder-soft beaches, and evenings bring seafood and champagne beneath an Indian Ocean sunset. "Cricket provides a strong cultural connection between Australia and India," says Roger Cook MLA, Premier of Western Australia. He was in India recently to promote the destination and build stronger connect. He also announced Indian Festival of Perth in November, saying: "The festival will showcase more than 30 films across Indian and South Asian languages”. Here's why Perth belongs on your travel list.
There is something deliciously effortless about Perth. The city has all the polish expected of a contemporary Australian capital, yet nature is never relegated to the background. Start beside the water at Elizabeth Quay, where striking architecture, riverfront restaurants and rooftop venues create an elegant introduction to the city. Wander towards the cultural precinct and WA Museum Boola Bardip, or escape upwards into Kings Park and Botanic Garden. At 400 hectares, this remarkable green sanctuary overlooks the city skyline and Swan River while showcasing more than 3,000 species of Western Australian flora.
For a change of pace, head to Fremantle, less than 30 minutes from central Perth. Heritage architecture, century-old markets, small bars, breweries, seafood and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Fremantle Prison give ‘Freo’ its distinctive personality.
Now if you are in the capital city, adventure does not require an expedition. A short ferry ride delivers you to Wadjemup, commonly called Rottnest Island, where 63 beaches, 20 bays and famously friendly quokkas await. Cars disappear, bicycles become the preferred transport, and the day finds its own rhythm: cycle, swim, snorkel, lunch, repeat. The arrival of The Lodge Wadjemup in 2025 adds another reason not to hurry back to the mainland and have fun experiences like kayaking or snorkelling, and Rottnest becomes more than a day trip — it becomes a chance to temporarily disconnect from almost everything.
Back on the mainland, Perth is surrounded by equally enticing escapes. Cruise Mandurah’s waterways, venture underground into the caves of Yanchep National Park, rise above the Avon Valley in a hot-air balloon or journey north towards the otherworldly Pinnacles.
How mesmerising it is to see a humpback whale turn over and water jumping above her size. Western Australia’s Coral Coast is part of an annual migration that sees around 45,000 whales migrating. Between July and November, these ocean giants travel along the coast, with whale-watching experiences operating from Exmouth, Coral Bay, Kalbarri and Geraldton. At Ningaloo Reef, travellers can go one step further: it remains the only destination in Western Australia offering guided swims with humpback whales.
An award-winning festival and Australia’s leading wine festival will be running from 19–22 November 2026. Pair’d Margaret River Region returns, bringing more than 40 wine-led experiences to beaches, vineyards, forests and caves. Expect museum wines and Michelin-starred culinary collaborations, fire-led feasts and dinners beneath the stars.