There are tonnes of opportunities for Perth Adventures in and around the city. You don’t have to leave the city or drive too far to get your fix of action and adventure in Perth. Whether it be on or under the water, in the air or with your feet on the ground, you can choose from a range of tours or do it yourself adventure experiences in Perth. The Experience Perth region extends south to Mandurah, north to Lancelin and east to York and Northam. However you like to adventure, you are sure to be inspired to seek more adventure with these ideas for adventurous things to do in Perth.
Table of Contents
Perth Weather
No matter what the weather there’s an adventure to enjoy in Perth. Winter can be rainy, with frequent storms. Perth’s winter is pretty mild with no snow and the odd warm sunny day too. Day time temperatures in winter range between 14 – 20 degrees. This weather can be perfect for hiking and bike riding especially in destinations where there is water flowing and spectacular waterfalls. Conditions can even be good enough on some days to stand up paddle board, surf, snorkel or dive – you just may need to have yourself a nice thick wetsuit.
Spring is when the days start to warm up again and the wildflowers come out. Perth has several locations where amazing wildflowers can be see both close to the city and only a short drive away in Perth’s nature reserves and national parks. Spring days range from around 22 – 35 degrees and this is also great weather for hiking and bike riding while also getting a little warmer for stand up paddle boarding, surfing, snorkelling and diving.
In Summer things heat up a little and this is the best time for on and under the water adventures like snorkelling, diving, stand up paddle boarding, surfing, sailing, boating and marine wildlife tours. Temperatures range from around 34 – 45 degrees and temperatures above 40 can last for over a week at a time in the peak of summer.
Autumn brings a welcome relief from the hot summer days, the trees start to change colour and a little rain starts to return. Perfect for hiking, bike riding and the wind is a little more predictable for pleasant stand up paddle boarding, surfing, snorkelling and diving conditions. Daily temperatures range between around 18 – 28 degrees.
Perth Tourist Regions
Perth has six tourism precincts that include Perth City, Fremantle & Rottnest, Sunset Coast, Peel & Rockingham, Swan Valley & Darling Range and Avon Valley.
It may be Western Australia’s capital city but there is plenty of adventure to be had in Perth city and beyond. Adventure hot spots include Perth, Fremantle, Rockingham, Rottnest Island, Swan Valley, Lancelin, Mandurah, Jarrahdale and Dwellingup. Find snorkeling, hiking, diving, waterbike, sandboarding, stand up paddle boarding, high ropes course, bike riding, hot air ballooning adventures and more.
Perth Adventures
Perth Adventures On & Under The Water
Most on the water Perth adventures can be enjoyed all year round. If you check the weather and choose your days, you can pretty much adventure rain (maybe not hail) or shine! Make sure you are always water adventure ready with our Water Adventure Ready Essentials Checklist (tbd).
Beaches
Adventure or relax at one of Perth’s beautiful beaches. Enjoy swimming, snorkeling, stand up paddle boarding, walking along the beach or just lazing on the sand in the sun. Find the Always Adventure Ready list of the Best Perth Beaches here.
Cruises
Swan River & Swan Valley – The Swan River starts in Fremantle and extends east into the Swan Valley past Perth city. A Swan River Cruise is a great way to explore the sights of Perth from this beautiful waterway. You can enjoy scenic Swan River Lunch Tours, Dinner and Drinks Tours, Sunset & Twilight Tours, Swan Valley Winery Tours and Tours between Perth & Fremantle.
Fremantle – Add lunch on the water to your day out in Fremantle, while you cruise along the Swan River and take in the water front sights of historic Fremantle on a Fremantle Lunch Cruise.
Rockingham – explore the amazing marine life at Seal Island and Penguin Island just of the Rockingham Coast Line
Mandurah – Cruise the Mandurah estuary and canals and spot for dolphins on a guided tour or do it yourself on a self drive BBQ boat.
Diving
There are plenty of top class diving spots in Perth. The best dive spots located at Marmion Marine Park, Rottnest Island, Shoalwater Islands Marine Park, West Coast Dive Park Rockingham and the Coogee Maritime Trail. Find more information on the best dive locations, sites and wreck dives at www.destinationperth.com.au.
Jet skiing
Explore Cockburn Sound and Garden Island and look for dolphins on a jet ski tour complete with your own tour guide on a Perth Jet Ski Tour.
Kayaking
Kayaking Perth is another on the water adventure you can enjoy all year round both in the Swan River and on the ocean. You can head out on one of the many kayak paddle trails around Perth yourself or with friends or book yourself on one of these kayak tours.
Pedal Boarding
It’s not stand up paddleboarding and it’s not a water bike. Pedal Boarding is somewhere in between with a board you stand up on as you push the pedals up and down. You can propel yourself through the water.as fast or as slow as you like. Point Walter Swans on the Swan hire pedal boards, seasonally during the warmer months in both half hour and one hour time allocations. Rottnest Island Aqua Play Rottnest hire pedal boards from North Thomson Bay, seasonally during the warmer months for one our time allocations.
Snorkelling
Snorkelling in Perth is more popular and better enjoyed during the warmer months of Spring and Summer, with lots of amazing snorkelling locations found along Perth’s coastline and further out by boat. Perth also has several easily accessible guided snorkel trails with underwater artworks and plaques to follow. These include the Marmion Dive and Snorkel Trail, Coogee Maritime Trail, Little Salmon Bay and Parker Point Trails Rottnest Island and the Cape Peron Snorkel Trail Rockingham. Another favourite, that also makes a great day trip destination is Yanchep Lagoon. It’s not unusual in Perth to experience a seal or dolphin encounter while you are snorkelling too.
Rottnest Island is also a hot snorkeling destination with many popular snorkeling spots on the island including Henrietta Rocks, Little Salmon Bay, Parakeet Bay, Parker Point and Little Armstrong Bay.
Stand Up Paddle Boarding
Stand Up Paddle Boarding Perth is something you can pretty much do all year round whether you like to paddle the calm waters of the Swan River or Canning River or take on the waves in the ocean. You may even like to SUP to your favourite cafe and back at one of these SUP and Cup stand up paddle boarding experiences. Don’t have a board? Why not hire one!
Swim with Dolphins
Perth is the perfect place to enjoy a swim with dolphins experience with Western Australia ranking as one of the best places in the world for dolphin encounters. Find out where you can enjoy a Swim wtih Dolphins Perth experience here.
Water bikes
Water Bikes are a super fun way to enjoy some time on the water all year round in Perth. They are very stable, so you don’t need to get wet during your water bike experience (unless it’s raiing of course), which means you can literally take in the sights of Perth by water bike all year round. Find out where you can hire water bikes or get yourself on a water bike tour in Perth in South Perth, Matilda Bay Crawley and Rottnest Island here.
Whale Watching
Humpback Whales can be viewed off the Perth coastline during September – December each year as they migrate back from the Kimberley Region to Antartica. You can often see them in the distance from the coastline, but if you want to get up closer, getting on a Whale Watching Tour from Hillarys, Perth, Rottnest Island or Fremantle is the go. You can also see elusive Blue Whales from March to May in the Perth Canyon, located 30 nautical miles off the coast.
Perth Adventures on Land
Perth hosts a huge range of land based adventures whether it enjoyed on foot, by bike, e-scooter, 4WD or other vehicle, there’s adventure to be had all year round in Perth.
Bike Trails
There is a large network of Perth cycle trails and dual use pathways throughout the city and beyond. There are also bike friendly bush trails as well as established mountain bike (MTB) trails and pump and jump tracks. Here are some Perth Bike Trails I have enjoyed – Deep Water Point to Applecross Jetty, Whitfords Nodes Hillarys to Burns Beach and Aduro Park Mountain Bike Park Eglinton.
Bus Tours
The Hop On Hop Off Tour on the Perth Explorer is a super fun way to see Perth city. Feel the wind in your hair on this open roof double decker bus. You can stay on board the whole way around or turn your tour inot a full day Perth city adventure when you Hop On and Hop Off at serveral Perth attractions and tourist hot spots such as Kings Park, the Perth Mint, Bell Tower.
Camping
Find places to camp in and around Perth at www.findacamp.com.au. If you want to hire a camper trailer for your next camping adventure, find where you can hire a camper trailer in Perth here.
Check out these popular Perth region camping destinations –
Camping in Dwellingup
E Scooters
Electric scooters are fast becoming the coolest, funnest, most adventurous and environmentally friendly way to get around and explore Perth. E Scooters are currently available for hire from Scarborough, Rockingham and Perth city (Rottnest Island e scooter hire may be coming soon too). Find out all you need to know about hiring an e-scooter in Perth here.
Hiking Trails
There are walking and hiking trails literally all over Perth, from coastal suburban art trails to isolated nature packed bush walks in the Hills and everything in between. You can find Walk & Hike Trails around Perth at a distance and difficulty to suit your adventurous desires. Here are several Perth Walk & Hike Trails I have enjoyed –
- Craigie Bushland Quenda Walk
- Whistlepipe Gully Walk Trail Kalamunda
- Bells Falls Loop Trail Swan Valley
- Numbat Trail Paruna Wildlife Park Gidgegannup
- Cottesloe Coastal Walk
- Hillarys Beach Park Walk Trails
- South Perth Foreshore Round River Walk
- Kuljak Island Walk Trail Ascot
National Parks
Perth has several National Parks just a short drive from the city with a range of wildlife, waterfall, cave and nature experiences. Perfect for a day of adventure in nature or for somewhere to picnic and relax. Find a list of National Parks in Perth here.
Quad Bikes
Quad bikes are a great way to explore areas that are difficult to access by foot or by 4WD plus they are fun and easy to ride. No license necessary. There are two locations for quad bike hire Perth, Pinjar Motorcycle Area and Quad Bike Hire Lancelin.
Road Trips
Do you love making the journey just as much an adventure as the destination? Well here are some Perth Road Trip Adventures for some fun and adventurous pit stops on the way to where you are going.
Perth to Albany
Perth to Exmouth
Perth to Kalbarri
Perth to The Pinnacles
Perth to Lancelin
Perth to Jurien Bay
Perth to Northam
Sandboarding
If it’s a sandboarding in Perth adventure you are after, Lancelin in the place to do it. Rolling white sand dunes as long as the eye can see and you don’t need to have your own sandboard. Sandboard hire is available all year round in Lancelin or maybe pair it with a Lancelin Sand Dune Tour or Quad Bike hire. Read more about Sandboarding in Lancelin here.
Waterfalls
Perth has several waterfalls that locals and visitors alike flock to in winter and early spring. Find waterfalls in and around Perth here, some are within an hours drive of the city.
Wildflowers
September – November is wildflower season in Perth. Some local Perth wildflower hotspots include Kings Park, Bold Park Floreat, Wireless Hill Ardross, Piney Lakes Winthrop and Whiteman Park. You can also find wildflower trails and wildflower self drive itineraries at www.destinationperth.com.au. If you would prefer to jump on a tour and have someone take you to the best wildflowers in and around the Perth region, book a Perth Wildflower Season Day Trip Tour.
Find the Best 5 Places to See Amazing Wildflowers In Perth (Without Leaving The City) here!
Perth Adventures By Air
Perth is pretty amazing on the ground, but wait until you see it from the air. There are plenty of scenic in the air land, coastline and ocean adventures to enjoy right across Perth.
Hot Air Ballooning
Head to Northam, get up before sunrise and climb aboard a hot air balloon to see the picturesque Avon Valley from the air with a delicious post tour breakfast.
Scenic Flights
See the Perth’s beautiful inland, coastline and ocean from the air, or perhaps escape Perth for the day on a flight to another Western Australian destination. A Perth scenic flight can get you there and back within the same day.
- Fly to the Abroholos Islands (just off the coast of Geraldton) for a snorkel and return the same day on an Abroholos Islands Scenic Flight & Snorkelling Day Trip Adventure
- Fly over the Swan River, Perth City and Kings Park then see Rottnest from the air before you land for a half day stop over before returning over Fremantle on a Perth and Rottnest Scenic Flight with Half Day Rottnest Stop Over or fly over to Rottnest and catch the ferry back with a Rottnest Scenic Flight and Ferry Return
- Fly to Rottnest Island by Seaplane then swap your wings for your sea legs as you board a Rottnest Cruise vessel for a seafood banquet, canapes and local wines and beers on a Rottnest Island Seaplane and Seafood Experience
- Fly to the Pinnacles and land for a ground tour of one of WA’s most popular nature attractions on a Pinnacles Desert Scenic Flight and Ground Tour
- Experience the infamous Golden Outback’s Wave Rock and enjoy morning tea before returning to Perth on a Wave Rock Half Day Air & Ground Tour
- Do both the Pinnacles and Wave Rock in the same day with a Wave Rock and Pinnacles Air and Ground Tour or the Pinnacles, Wave Rock and Rottnest in the same day with a Wave Rock, Pinnacles and Rottnest Air and Ground Tour
- Fly to Monkey Mia for a dolphine experience and return the same day on a Monkey Mia Dolphins and Shark Bay Air Tour
- Leave the car behind and fly to a Margaret River winery for lunch and be back the same day with a Flight to Leeuwin Winery for Lunch
Adrenaline Action Perth Adventures
Heights
Book in for an adrenaline rush rooftop experience at Perth’s Optus Stadium. The Vertigo Rooftop Experince literally takes you to the edge, fully harnessed with no handrail and 360 degree views of Optus Stadium, the Swan River and Perth city. If you fancy getting up high for the views without the full edge experience book a HALO Rooftop Tour instead.
Snorkel or Dive with the Sharks at AQWA
You are guaranteed to encounter sharks when you Snorkel with the Sharks at the Aquarium of WA (AQWA). Snorkel with a small group and a qualified PADI diver. See stingrays, turtles and a big variety of fish in the warm waters of the aquarium at AQWA. If you want to get up a little closer and you are open water dive qualified, book yourself in for a Dive with the Sharks at AQWA. Or perhaps snorkelling and diving is a little too up close for you, so why not try the Glass Bottom Boat & Entry at AQWA instead. Snorkel, dive and glass bottom boat tours run all year round and both tours include admission to AQWA too.
Sky Diving
It doesn’t get much more adrenaline pumping that sky diving. In Perth you can sky dive over the Shoalwater Marine Park (near Rockingham) and Rottnest Island. Or have a go at indoor sky diving to practice before the real thing or to give sky diving a go if you aren’t quite ready to take the leap out of a plane just yet.
Trees Obstacle Courses
Climb and zip your way through the treetops at Treetops Adventure in Yanchep National Park. You’ll be all harnessed up and given a full safety briefing before you make your way through the elevated obstacle courses that get harder as you progress. These high ropes courses not just test your strength, but your agility and problem solving skills as you work your body and mind harder to figure out how to conquer them. There are also Trees Obstacle Courses a short drive out of the Perth region at Treetops Adventure Dwellingup and Forest Adventures Busselton.
Zip Lining
You are never too old to enjoy a Perth Zipline Adventure! From the city to the forest, during the day or under twilight, there are exhilarating zipline experiences both within the Perth region and just a short drive away.
Accommodation
Looking for more adventure outside of Perth? Check out our Western Australia Adventures for more inspiration, plus we’d love for you to share your Perth adventure experiences with us in the comments below.