Whether you fancy fish and chips on the beach, dining on King Street or a picnic in the park, Perth has enchanting views to match its new-found vibrancy. This is Australia’s hidden gem of a city – oft forgotten about by the East Coast residents, but fast being discovered by international tourists as a must-see destination on their Australian vacation.

To fully appreciate Perth’s recent transformation, a rental car is essential. Hiring a car at the airport is an easy choice when exploring the city and its surroundings for a few days.

Hire a car from Perth Airport and explore sunny WA

Perth sits along the Swan River and has an average of 3,000 hours of sunshine every year – think about that the next time you’re sitting inside on a rainy day. On top of Perth's sunny skies and equally sunny personality, this city’s revived art and food scene in combination with its stunning parks and outdoor settings provides travellers with a refreshing experience. Take a stroll through King’s park and explore the treetop walk, Indigenous Heritage Tour, or Lotterywest Federation walkway. Drive over to Elizabeth Quay, home to various art exhibitions, good eats, and colourful markets – a perfect one-stop-shop for activities across all ages and interests.

Unearth eclectic shops in Northbridge (this is also a vibrant pocket for evening drinks and the nightlife scene) or take a quick drive down to Fremantle for thought provoking art displays, local markets, historic charm, and the Little Creatures Brewery.

If you’re keen for a fun night out, there are few better places to start than the heritage-listed Astor Theatre. This quaint venue is a stalwart of the Perth entertainment scene, and frequently hosts international acts as diverse as heavy-metal to charming folk balladeers to stand-up comedians. And when you’re done with the show, there are plenty of great bars in the area to keep your night going.  One of the trendiest new venues the city has to offer is Helvetica Bar, a cocktail joint with an interior décor and clientele as understatedly chic as the font it’s named for. 

If you fancy a bite to eat, Perth has plenty to offer on that front as well. If it’s a late-night snack you’re after then you can’t go further than Alfred’s Kitchen, a Perth institution that has been slinging road-side burgers at all hours of the night since its opening in 1946. However, if your palette is somewhat more refined, there’s high-end dining a plenty in this city as well. Give Wildflower a try for its sophisticated modern-Australian menu and its rooftop décor and you won’t be disappointed.

Of course, we can’t forget the beaches, and Perth is certainly not lacking in kilometres of stunning seashore. Port Beach is great for families, and Cottesloe is a popular hub for swimming, snorkelling, and soaking up the sun. Scarborough Beach is known for its exceptional surf and Leighton beach is a dog lover’s paradise.

Other recommended areas for exploration include Matilda Bay, Trigg Beach, Sorrento Quay, South Perth Foreshore, and Fraser Avenue Lookout.

Explore Perth's natural delights in your rental car from Perth Airport

Perth is central to some of Australia’s greatest natural beauties, so rent a car, hit the road, and go explore the pristine regional surrounds of Perth.

Three hours south sits the much-loved Margaret River region, known for delicious wines and quality food, plus the added bonus of white-sand beaches situated nearby. If you’d like to watch some adrenaline junkies in action, Margaret River is also world-famous in the big-wave surfing community for some of the world’s largest swells. Get the time of year and the weather conditions right, and you might see some daredevils barrelling down 30 metre waves for fun at spots like Cow Bombie. 

Swan Valley is another renowned location for great wine and food. Just an hour outside of the city, Swan Valley’s food and wine trail is 32km long, winding through 150 wineries and breweries. Happy trails indeed!

Why not hop on the ferry from Perth to Rottnest Island and explore a remote paradise unlike any other. Grab a photo with a cute marsupial, the friendly quokka, or explore over 80 beaches the island has to offer. Another option is to drive to the Pinnacles Desert to take in the grandeur of its limestone structures or to explore Rockingham & Penguin Island to immerse yourself in marine life, diving, kayaking, and more.

Keen to learn more? Check out our destination guides  on Perth’s best bars, shops, cuisine, beaches, and more, as well as our recommendations for the neighbouring Western Australia regions. Hire a car from Perth Airport today!