10 Best Day Trips from Perth

Perth is surrounded by adventures out of the ordinary, I tell you what are the best excursions you can do from this city.
10 Best Day Trips from Perth

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Western Australia is home to coastal towns, wilderness parks, deserts, caves and villages. The good news is that these locations are easily accessible with a guided tour from Perth. It is one of the best things to do in the city during your stay in Oceania.

There is no shortage of fun around Perth, you can go wine tasting, discover the erosion zones of Western Australia, or stargaze in the Pinnacles Desert. Here is a list of the best excursions!

1. Visit the Pinnacles Desert on an excursion from Perth

Caversham Wildlife Park| ©Chrissy H
Caversham Wildlife Park| ©Chrissy H

The coastal towns north of Perth are a great plan as they offer exciting activities away from the tourist crowds. This excursion includes a tour of the desert, beaches and more than four parks located on the coast.

It will take you about three hours to get to your destination, but I promise it's worth it. Cervantes is a charming town northeast of Perth, characterized by its quiet beaches, desert activities and shipwreck history.

Some of the places you will be able to visit:

  • Caversham Wildlife Park: is a park that shelters around 200 species of Australian animals, such as koalas, kangaroos, marsupials, reptiles, mammals and birds. In this space you can interact and learn more about their care.
  • Nambung National Park: it is home to the Pinnacles Desert. In the surroundings you can go fishing, bird watching, kayaking or hiking, parachute jumping and more.
  • Pinnacles Desert: is a national reserve in Western Australia, famous for its limestone pinnacles. The dunes within the park were formed by the erosion of seashells.
  • Lobster Shack Cervantes WA: is a production plant where they process lobsters, you have the opportunity to enjoy an audio guide to tour it at your own pace.
  • Lancelin Beach: ideal for sandboarding, a sport that consists of surfing on the sand dunes of the beach.

This type of adventure will allow you to explore the wildlife of Western Australia. In fact, you can feed kangaroos, koalas and wombats.

Details of interest

  • Price: from 140 € per person. You have the option to dine on lobster prepared at Lobster Shack for around €25 extra.
  • Duration: about 12 hours.
  • Means of transportation: usually includes round trip transportation in a coach or a 4x4, both vehicles are comfortable and air-conditioned.

Book a Pinnacles Desert Tour from Perth

2. Escape to Margaret River on a tour from Perth.

Margaret River| ©Hugh Llewelyn
Margaret River| ©Hugh Llewelyn

The Margaret River is an area south of Perth, ideal for relaxing and making the most of your vacation. You will be able to travel for three days, visiting villages, wineries, caves and dreamy spots.

This type of excursion offers accommodation, lunch and breakfast, as well as entrance to the main attractions. Dinner is not included, but you can get to know cozy places around. For example, Bunkers Beach House is an ideal place to dine outdoors, while enjoying a menu according to the season.

Some of the places you can visit:

  • Mammoth Cave: it is one of the most impressive natural spectacles in Australia, as you can appreciate stones that reflect light. In addition, there are fossils of animals that lived in the area more than 46,000 years ago.
  • Featured Wood Museum and Gallery: you can learn about the transformation process of Australian wood, as well as see important exhibits of the region.
  • Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse: one of the tallest lighthouses in Australia, here you can learn about the history of the Aboriginal communities.
  • Mandurah: it is an area with a variety of coastal villages, I suggest you take the opportunity to visit them at your own pace.

Details of interest

  • Price: from 766 € per person.
  • Duration: approximately three days.
  • Means of transportation: you will travel in a comfortable bus.

Book a 3 day trip to Margaret River from Perth

3. Take an Aboriginal cultural tour of Wave Rock and York from Perth

Mulka's Cave| ©Alan & Flora Botting
Mulka's Cave| ©Alan & Flora Botting

The Aboriginal history of Western Australia is truly interesting. If you want to explore it in depth, I recommend taking a day trip into the wilderness.

It is also a great option to enjoy an Australian lunch, with typical dishes of the region. This type of experience makes the tour easier for you, since they have a professional guide.

Some of the places you can visit:

  • Wave Rock Wildlife Park: it is known for its multicolored granite hills and inselbergs. An inselberg is a natural monument in the shape of a wave, which stars in the landscape of several areas of Australia.
  • York: is a city surrounded by the Avon River, you can find emblematic buildings of great value. For example, the York Tower which was built in 1911.
  • Wildflower Shoppe: is a natural park where you can see emus, kangaroos, koalas, reptiles and birds. In this area you can also explore ancient artifacts, as well as wildflowers.
  • Mulka's Cave: is a hiking area, ideal for trekking. Here you can discover the aboriginal legend of the Mulka.

Details of interest

  • Price: from 140 € per person.
  • Duration: about 13 hours.
  • Means of transportation: includes round trip in an air-conditioned vehicle.

Book a tour to Wave Rock and York from Perth

4. Enjoy a gourmet wine cruise tour of the Swan Valley

Afternoon cruise| ©Alan & Flora Botting
Afternoon cruise| ©Alan & Flora Botting

From the Swan River you can get the best views of neighboring locations in Perth, all while relaxing and tasting local wines. It is an all-day experience, so I suggest you do it in summer and use sunscreen.

It is definitely a full excursion, with a boat equipped to have a good time. It is well worth it, as it is ranked as one of the best cruises in Peth.

In addition, you can make a visit to the Sandalford wineries, to learn about the process of making Australian wine.

Details of interest

  • Price: from 140 € per person.
  • Duration: about seven hours.
  • Means of transport: round-trip cruise.

Book a Swan Valley cruise from Perth

5. Join a food tour of the Swan Valley from Perth

Swan Valley| ©Alan & Flora Botting
Swan Valley| ©Alan & Flora Botting

Swan Valley, also known as the Swan Valley, is a wine region bordering the Swan River. If you want to venture out on one of the best food tours from Perth, I suggest adding this tour to your itinerary.

Specifically, it is located between the suburb of Guildford and Bells Rapids Park. This tour usually includes a full tasting of Western Australian food and wine. In addition, you can stroll through the vineyards, while taking a break from the hustle and bustle of the big cities.

For this adventure it is important to bring a passport, as passports are often required at some tourist sites. While strolling around, you can enjoy a cup of tea, a cheese board or a glass of wine. There are also chocolate samples from the region, as well as live entertainment on weekends.

I suggest you coordinate this Swan Valley tour from September to December to take advantage of the warm weather.

Details of interest

  • Price: from 87 € per person.
  • Duration: approximately seven hours.
  • Transportation: usually includes round-trip transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.

6. Go stargazing at sunset in the Pinnacles desert

Pinnacles Desert| ©dylan_odonnell
Pinnacles Desert| ©dylan_odonnell

If you enjoy evening plans and want to explore Perth's surroundings, this tour is perfect for you. It will take you to learn about the medicinal plants used by the Australian Aborigines. In addition, during the whale watching season, you will be able to observe an unrepeatable spectacle.

It is an ideal plan for a romantic getaway, as you will have the option to dine at a barbecue under the stars. There is a telescope to explore in depth the mysteries of the universe. The best part is that such activities are guided by a local guide.

Additionally, you can sandboard on the beach dunes, as well as stroll through the Nilgen Lookout wildflower preserve. You can also explore Hangover Bay, which belonged to aboriginal tribes.

Details of interest

  • Price: from 106 € per person.
  • Duration: approximately nine hours.
  • Means of transportation: includes round-trip transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.

Book an excursion to the Pinnacles desert for stargazing

7. Book a wine, beer and chocolate tasting tour in Swan Valley

Wine tasting| ©Mark Pegrum
Wine tasting| ©Mark Pegrum

A wine tasting tour is the best way to enrich your palate in Swan Valley. It is an experience that requires smart casual attire, as you will walk through the best areas of this location.

In addition, you can taste cheese, chocolate and local beers, as well as participate in a wine tasting. It is ideal for people who enjoy gastronomic tours, as it brings together the best proposals of the Swan Valley.

During the tour you will have the opportunity to visit a microbrewery, a craft brewery and a brewery.

Details of interest

  • Price: from 60 € per person.
  • Duration: about eight hours.
  • Means of transportation: includes transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle.

8. Experience an excursion to Rottnest Island

Rottnest Island| ©Pedro Szekely
Rottnest Island| ©Pedro Szekely

Rottnest Island is a hidden wonder in Western Australia, here you can find quokkas or enjoy whale watching. It is famous for its traffic-free roads, as cars are not allowed.

You can choose the transport that suits your needs, most take you by :::link|text=ferry to Rottnest Island from Perth|element=sc-154-4777:::. Upon arrival you can choose a tour bus tour or a bike ride.

Details of interest

  • Price: from €78 per person.
  • Duration: between eight hours and one day, depending on the type of tour you choose.
  • Means of transport: the transfer from Perth is by ferry, but you can go on your own by car.

Book a ferry tour to Rottnest Island

9. Explore Exmouth and Pinnacles Monkey Mia Ningaloo Reef

Pinnacles Monkey Mia Ningaloo Reef| ©don
Pinnacles Monkey Mia Ningaloo Reef| ©don

If you plan to spend several weeks in Perth, you may be interested in a 7-day tour of the surrounding area. You can enjoy guided walks as well as lunch by the sea. There are also other activities that may cost extra, such as spotting manta rays, snorkeling, swimming with sharks or taking a cruise.

During this tour you will be able to:

  • Stroll through the limestone rocks and dunes of the Pinnacles Desert.
  • Swim with the dolphins at Monkey Mia.
  • Take advantage of the submarine trips at Ningaloo, which is Australia's largest coral reef.

Details of interest

  • Price: from 976 ¤ per person.
  • Duration: about 7 days.
  • Means of transportation: round trip transfer included.

Book a 7 day tour to Exmouth from Perth

10. Go skydiving on a tour to Rockingham from Perth.

Skydiving| ©sandy
Skydiving| ©sandy

To get out of your comfort zone, all you need to do is head to Rockingham. It is a city forty minutes away from Perth, where you can enjoy striking landscapes. Besides, the purpose of this excursion is to skydive at 4,000 meters high.

The adventure takes place on the beach, so you will have a panoramic view of the city. Keep in mind that, the free fall takes 60 seconds, it is not an activity suitable for people with heart problems.

Details of interest

  • Price: from 258 € per person.
  • Duration: approximately four hours.
  • Transportation: does not include transfers to the skydiving point.

Reviews from other travellers

4.6
· 7289 Reviews
  • E
    E. M.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    An incredible excursion, the landscapes and wildlife are unique, seeing the quokkas up close was the best! Totally recommended.
  • B
    B. N.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    The excursion to this island was amazing, seeing the quokkas up close really made the trip worthwhile!
  • E
    E. O.
    4
    (0 Reviews)
    I loved visiting this island, I saw quokkas for the first time. It was an unforgettable adventure with my family.
  • X
    X. G.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    I loved the excursion to Rottnest Island, it was super nice. The kangaroos are amazing, I highly recommend it.
  • N
    N.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    It couldn't be better.