Top 10 Things to do in Perth

Perth; where it all began for me. Its an unusual starting point for a backpacker - many choose to fly straight to Sydney to Melbourne to begin their adventures. Well I had other plans and booked to Perth so I could kick off my Australian adventures doing the trip I was most-looking forward to doing - up the West Coast.

I was based in Perth for around 5-6 weeks "settling in" - if you don't plan to work in Perth, this is too long to stay here I will admit. I do feel bad for Perth, I loved it there but it gets such negative feedback purely because its so far away.

The city is so modern and a great hub for activity. Do bear in mind, it is one of the most expensive cities in Australia to live in because of the high cost of living from all the mining money. If you're looking for a great hostel then look no further than Billabong Backpackers. I stayed there for the full 5 weeks and loved it; great dorm, free breakfast, massive kitchen, a pool and a ton of activities.

Perth is pretty wide-spread so you may have to rely on public transport to get around. I ignored and pretty much walked 20,000+ steps on the daily exploring. If you do want to use the bus, there is a free service; the CAT bus, within the CBD which can take you to all the main city destinations. If you're looking to go further afield to the outer suburbs you'll have to pay to use the buses or trains.

Perth was a great introduction to Australia for me and these are just some of the favourite things to do while I was there:

Get a Quokka Selfie on Rottnest Island

I like to do research and months before coming to Australia I had looked into things to do in and around Perth and I stumbled across the "Quokka Selfie" phenomenon. It was then added to the top of my bucket list. Rottnest Island can be reached by ferry leaving either Fremantle or Perth City, North Fremantle or Hillary's Boat Harbour. The easiest and most popular way to explore the island is hiring a bike - cycle your way around the island and stop at all the pretty beaches and great snorkelling sites. Stop and say hi to the native Quokkas and bag yourself your very own #quokkaselfie. I literally want to move to Rottnest Island and live amongst the Quokkas - they are just the happiest little critters.

Spend the Day in Freo

Fremantle is just an hours train ride away from Perth and makes for a great day or night out. Spend the day exploring the great cafes and restaurants and stores. There is such a cute bookstore - Elizabeth's and you can have a "Blind date with a book" - they wrap up the book and just write what its about. Take a visit to the Fremantle Prison, or if you're fancying a beer, where better than visit one of the best micro-breweries in Australia; Little Creatures. One of my personal favourites things in Fremantle HAS to be the famous Fremantle Markets! Open Friday, Saturdays & Sundays these makes are bursting with some of the best & creative local food! A visit would not be complete without having a famous Roo-Tea & a Muffle! They also have a "wildlife zoo" at the markets open 12-2pm where you can get your pictures taken with snakes & koalas.

Become a Foodie at the Markets

Its no secret that I love markets; I do go on about them alot and any new place I visit I will always try to seek them out. One of my latest obsessions after visiting Perth was the Food Markets. The perfect excuse to indulge and eat waaaay more food than you're supposed to. But you have to right, how else are you going to try everything! I have already touched on the amazing food found at Fremantle Markets. Another that I literally went to every week was the Twilight Hawkers Market every Friday from 4:30pm - 9:30pm at Forrest Place in the CBD. Must try are the donuts & cookies & hibiscus lemonade from Top Dup Donuts; BBQ pulled pork po-boys from Ragin Cajun & the Chicken Tagine from Shak Shuka.

Another great market is the Night Noodle Market held at Elizabeth Quay, providing the most mouth-watering food from Korea, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese and many more. Faves include Waffle on a Stick, N2, & Hoy Pinoy!

Visit Kings Park & the Botanical Gardens

Sat high on Mount Eliza overlooking Perth is the beautiful Kings Park. It is the perfect city-escape and you can spend the entire day getting lost in these gardens. You can get the free CAT bus up (or be cray and walk like I did) from the city centre. The views from here are some of my favourite in Perth and the way the light shimmers on all the buildings is just magical. You can see for miles and soak up the Swan River and the Darling Ranges. Fun fact: It is the largest inner-city park in the entire world! You go Perth! One of my favourite sections in the gardens is the walking across the Lotterywest Federation Glass Bridge - it is part of the Law Walk and a nice 45 minute loop.

Catch Some Sun & Surf at the Beach

Perth is home to some fantastic beaches - just a short train or ferry ride away you can be sitting in the sand (well, maybe put a towel down - no one likes a sandy bum!) topping up your tan, or enjoying some water sports. The most popular has to be Cottesloe and its definitely my favourite. Further up the coast you will find the nudist beach Swanbourne & the most popular for its surf; Scarborough.

Have Yourself a Sunday Sesh

You may or may not be familiar with the Aussie tradition of the "Sunday Session" - getting together with your finest friends and spending the day in drinking in the sunshine at your favourites bars. Won't lie - Perth know how to have a Sunday Sesh! Some of my favourites bars were in Northbridge & Cottesloe and without a doubt the winner is the Cottesloe Hotel.

Watch the Sun Disappear into the Indian Ocean

From Perth and frankly all along the Western Australia coast you are treated to the best sunsets in the world. Gaze as the sun dips into the Indian Ocean and fills the sky with the most magical colours. Some of my favourites spots in Perth were from Elizabeth Quay & Cottesloe Beach.

Get Blotto on a Wine Tour in the Swan Valley

Just a stone throws away from Perth City is the Swan Valley wine region. Home to some fabulous wineries and a place you get get merry throughout the day hopping from bottle to bottle. Self-drive (no drunk drivers though please) or organise through a wine tour so everyone can enjoy the day tasting the wines!

Get Up Close & Personal With Wildlife

Just outside Perth you will find the delight that is Caversham Wildlife Park. Its takes about an hour to self-drive or if you're relying on public transport, maybe a little longer. The easiest way I found to get there from Perth was catching a train to Bassendean & then switching to a bus from Bassendean to Ellenbrook (no. 955 or 956). Make sure you tell the driver you are going to Caversham and get off at Whiteman Park. From here it is a bit of a walk through the park to the entrance but you're surrounded by wild kangaroos. At the park you can get close to kangaroos, koalas and wombats and its a fun day out of the city. If its a little far to get to, there is the alternative of Perth Zoo just across the Swan River. You can take the ferry from Elizabeth Quay.

Explore Elizabeth Quay & The Bell Tower

One of my favourite parts of the city is around Elizabeth Quay & The Bell Tower. It reminds me of Docklands in Melbourne - a really beautiful built up area showing off the pretty skyscrapers in the sun. Catch a ferry from the Quay and explore the Swan River. From the water you get the most perfect view of the city skyline.