Perth is the most isolated city in the world, situated all the way on the far western coast of Australia. The next closest major city is Adelaide, more than 2,000km away. It's the fourth-largest city in Australia (after Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane) and the capital of Western Australia.
I first visited Perth in 2019 and spent a week exploring the city; it's a great base to visit more of the state. I returned to Australia with my partner seven years later and we're currently living full-time in our campervan, a 2018 Mercedes Sprinter, and exploring Australia, with a plan of "driving the lap" (completing the entire perimeter of the country).
While many travelers come to Australia to see the east coast between Melbourne and Cairns, I can really recommend making the trip out west, especially if you want to cross the Nullarbor.
For over 45,000 years, the Whadjuk Nyoongar people have lived on this land, long before any Europeans arrived, calling it Boorloo.
The first Europeans to visit this land were the Dutch, but the first officially colony was established in 1829 by the British. The first colonial Governor was Captain James Stirling. Between 1850 and 1868, he was at the helm of the colony while more than 10,000 convicts were brought over from Britain to work the land and complete projects. This led to quick growth and development which saw Perth officially become a city in 1856.
→ Read the full history of Perth.
I first visited Perth in January 2019 on a solo backpacking trip and returned with my partner in our campervan in October and November 2025 and then again in April 2026 and updated the original post with all the new things we did from each visit. This post was first published on 28 January 2019; last updated 2 April 2026.
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Below is some useful information for preparing for your trip to Perth. In all cases, please be sure to check with the relevant local authorities for the latest and accurate information.
Language: The official language of Australia is English. In Perth, the traditional language of the Whadjuk Nyoongar people is Noogar.
→ Learn more about the language of the Whadjuk Nyoongar people.
Currency: The currency used in Australia is the Australian dollar, denoted as AUD $. I use a Wise account when I travel which allows me to have a single, free account with multiple currencies. I only have to pay once to convert my money in the app and then I can pay in AUD $!
→ Check the latest currency conversion between AUD $ and your local currency.
Data/WiFi: Before you arrive, I recommend purchasing an eSim on your phone so that you can access data the moment you land. eSims are much more convenient as it means you don't have to put a separate physical Sim into your phone. AirAlo offers great deals for eSims of various data sizes and time lengths with Optus.
→ Load an international eSim on your phone with AirAlo.
If you are visiting Australia long term, you might wish to put a physical Sim in your phone as AirAlo is geared more towards short term visitors on holiday. This way you can access a local phone plan. There are three main mobile phone network providers in Australia: Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. Telstra has the best coverage across the country whereas Optus and Vodafone are good within cities. I recommend Telstra as it means you have the best coverage while you travel around the country, especially in rural areas.
We travel with a Starlink in our campervan which enables us to have unlimited WiFi wherever we are, even in places without coverage.
Free WiFi is provided by the City of Perth throughout many areas of the CBD on the Perth WiFi network. Major shopping centres, cafes, restaurants and libraries also offer free WiFi.
Visa: All passport holders except New Zealand require a visa to visit Australia. All arrivals must fill out an Australian arrival card before landing.
→ Check which visa you need for Australia.
Time of year to visit: Australia can be visited all year-round. Perth, the capital city of Western Australia, can get very hot and busy in the summer, especially around school holidays, and cool in the winter months. I recommend visiting in spring (September-November) or autumn (March-May) for pleasant, sunny days.
Length of stay: I have spent about two weeks in Perth and the surrounding area across four visits. There is so much to do, especially counting the beaches to the south and the islands to visit.
By flight: The easiest way to get to Perth - the most isolated city in the world - is by flying, as it really cuts down on immense travel time across Australia. When I was in Australia in 2019, I flew from Melbourne to Perth, a direct flight of about four hours. We also flew out of Perth to head out to Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands, two island territories of Australia in the Indian Ocean.
From Perth Airport, it's just a 20-minute drive into the city; Uber is a popular choice here. You can also hop on bus 290 or 291 or the Airport Line train straight from the airport to CBD in under half an hour.
Flying out of Perth
By car: If you're driving across the country - as we are in our campervan in 2025-26 - then you can also get to Perth with your own wheels. To get from Sydney across to Perth, you'll cross the Nullarbor, a ~1200km wild stretch across southern Australia.
→ Check out my complete guide to driving across the Nullarbor!
Parking is limited within the city but we found it easier than other big cities in Australia. Another plus? There are no toll roads in Perth or Western Australia, unlike in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.
Driving the Nullarbor across southern Australia
By bus: There are no national bus lines that cross the country to Perth, it's just too remote. However, Integrity Coachlines offers a great bus network from Perth to towns and main destinations across Western Australia.
Flixbus, the bright green low-cost European bus carrier, launched in Australia on the east coast at the end of 2025. They don't yet head out west to Perth, but they might soon, so keep an eye on that as a future option!
By train: Indian Pacific, a luxury rail company, offers a train service between Sydney, Adelaide and Perth. The three-night service could be a fabulous way to cross the country in style.
On foot: Although holding the title of the world's most isolated city, once you're actually inside Perth, you'll find the city is very walkable and welcoming. I guess being so far away from everything else makes the city itself quite close and connected!
You might want to join one of many different types of walking tours of Perth, depending on what you're interested in. Walking tours are a great way to learn more about a city from a local.
By public transport: To reach the beaches or get elsewhere in the city, such as down to popular Fremantle or Rockingham, Perth is well-connected with buses, trains and ferries operated by Transperth.
By car: Of course you can drive yourself around.
→ If you don't have your own car, you can rent one in Perth.
By Uber: Uber is readily available throughout Perth.
By guided tour: There are countless guided tours of all sorts in Perth available, no matter what you're interested in, including city tours, winery tours, bike tours, hot air balloon flights, train rides, scenic flights, whale watching, hiking trips and food tours.
Hostel: When I visited Perth back in 2019, I was backpacking around the country and staying in hostels. I spent my first three nights at the Shiralee Backpackers Hostel which was cheap, had great wi-fi and a free (simply) breakfast. The rooms are pretty small though and when I stayed in 2019, there were no personal lockers to lock your stuff up.
I spent my last three nights at Hostel G which, in 2019, was brand new and clean with comfy beds, but had no kitchen and an uninviting atmosphere; I would not recommend staying here.
→ Check the latest reviews and book a hostel in Perth on Hostel World.
The Shiralee Backpackers Hostel
Camping: When we came back in 2025, we were traveling around the country in our campervan and so did not actually stay in Perth for most of our visit. We did a couple of nights of free camping just outside the city.
We are driving "the lap" around Australia, exploring the country in our campervan. As with the rest of Australia, Western Australia permits freedom camping on designated sites. These sites can vary greatly; some offer a variety of facilities such as toilets, trash bins, picnic tables, outdoor cooking stations and others have none of this and might simply be a pull-out on the side of the road.
The best way to find legal freedom camping spots is to use an app. We use Wikicamps Australia, a cheap app that has every single amenity listed (both free and paid) that you might need on the road. This includes things like where to fill up fresh water, where to dump grey water, where to empty toilets, where to stay, gas stations, information points and also has suggestions for things to do as you go.
→ Download the Wikicamps Australia app.
We used Wikicamps to find both our free camping spots in Perth: Jarrahdale and Pinjarra.
Free camping in Pinjarra
Hotel: We had an early flight to Christmas Island in mid-November and had put our van in storage the night before our flight and so needed a hotel to stay at.
I remember sitting in my Salzburg flat one hot July day scrolling through Instagram when I came across a viral post about Jack, a toy doggo who’d been left behind at the Holiday Inn. I kept up with his story as the hotel employees tried unsuccessfully to find his owners, instead formally adopting and employing Jack as the hotel’s very own mascot and his adorable little face just melts my heart every time I see an update. So of course, when we booked our trip to Australia, I knew getting to meet Jack in real life was just a non-negotiable. The rooms and service were excellent and the location is perfect, right at Elizabeth Quay, so even without Jack, it was a great choice.
When I visited Perth back in 2019, I was backpacking around the country and staying and cooking in hostels.
It was a nice change to come back in 2025 and get to try some of Perth's food scene. As we are in our campervan, parking and driving in the CBD is pretty tricky, so most of the places we ate at are just outside the downtown core.
Brunch at COFFIX
Brunch at Laika Coffee
Asian fusion lunch at Tao Cafe
Indian dinner at Saffron Curry House
Across multiple visits, I have explored much of Perth's CBD as well as trips to the nearby beaches and islands. Here is everything I've done across all my trips to Perth, plus all my suggestions for day trips:
Wander around Elizabeth Quay
Elizabeth Quay, named for Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, sits on the Perth waterfront in the middle of the business district (CBD). You can walk along the water and enjoy the small cafés along the boardwalk.
Photographed from above at King's Park
Stroll through John Oldham Park
Nestled along the freeway in the middle of town is a secret oasis full of birds, greenery and even a tumbling waterfall. Stroll through here on your way from town to King's Park for a relief from the heat.
Take in the view from Kings Park and Botanic Garden
Kings Park and Botanic Garden is a 400-hectare garden with panoramic views over Perth. Detailed plaques line the walkways which cross ponds, high bridges and beautiful plant beds. Spend time wandering the gardens, visiting the discovery centre, exploring the galleries and enjoying the outdoors.
You can reach Kings Park from the city by climbing the Kokoda Track. Kokoda Tracks are dotted around Australia in remembrance of the fighting on Papua (then an Australian territory, today the country of Papua New Guinea). The original Kokoda Track where the battles were fought can be hiked outside of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. In Perth, the steep steps up the Kokoda Track lead to the State War Memorial and panoramic views over Perth.
Watch sunset from the Island
Plopped in the middle of Elizabeth Quay is a cute little island, the perfect spot to perch and watch the sun go down over the harbour. I also watched the Australia Day fireworks from here in 2019!
Bonus: Go to a concert!
We actually mostly visited Perth the second time in 2025 because we had tickets to see James Blunt in concert at the RAC Arena. We both agree it was one of the most fun concerts we've been to!
→ Check out what concerts are playing during your trip to Perth.
→ Check out the reel I made about driving across Australia to watch the James Blunt concert in Perth!
Penguin Island
Penguin Island is the largest and only island you can visit in Shoalwater Islands Marine Park. Up to 30 types of birds have been spotted on the island including the massive pelican and, if you're lucky, the adorable little penguin, the smallest variety of the penguin family. There's a 2km boardwalk loop that will take you all around the beautiful bird sanctuary.
Cottesloe Beach
I spent a sunny January Saturday on the beaches in South Perth near Fremantle. Take the train to Victoria Street from where you can walk all the way along the stunning coastline with pure white sand and gorgeous blue water all the way up to North Cottesloe. Cottesloe Beach is the busiest and most popular as it has the most seaweed-free beach. If you want to walk the whole way, you can grab a train back to Perth from Grant Street.
Rottnest Island
Rottnest Island is probably the most famous day trip from Perth. You can take a ferry from Fremantle out to the pristine island with stunning beaches, home to the adorable quokka with its big cheeky grin, perfect for selfies.
Mandurah
Mandurah is Western Australia's second largest city, situated about an hour south of Perth. While there are plenty of attractions in the city, I can highly recommend a visit to Ocean Marina for delicious Indian food and for a chance to spot the city's resident dolphins!
Lake Clifton
Lake Clifton is near Mandurah, just over an hour south of Perth. The lake is important as it is home to the world's oldest living organisms, the thrombolites, which look like large rocks living in the shallows of the lake.
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Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.
