Top Oz Tours offers a great range of Perth tours and experiences. You can browse the options here.
Whichever direction you choose to wander from Western Australia’s capital, you’ll find something truly special.
Golden beaches, rolling hills, verdant vineyards, dramatic deserts, and ancient forests await you. Even to the west in the endless expanse of the Indian Ocean, Rottnest Island is a dream day trip destination.
Not sure where to head first? Here’s a checklist of our top ten day trips from Perth.
Watch our video of ten top things to do in Perth:
Top 10 Things to Do in PERTH, Western Australia in 2026 | Ultimate Perth Travel Guide
👉👉👉 Support our channel and save on travel by joining our new Top Traveller Club: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIWPeSl1aL72F1NCuS4ePTQ/join 👈👈👈 Member benefits include early access to videos, a branded travel water bottle, and 10% off day and multi-day tour bookings worldwide! Browse day tours: https://topoztours.partner.viator.com Browse multi-day tours: https://topoztours.trips.tourradar.com Join today!
1. Fremantle
Located at the mouth of the shimmering Swan River (making a river cruise or ferry one of the easiest ways to get there), the port city of Fremantle — ‘Freo’ to the locals — offers a fabulous day out from Perth. Established in 1829 as a port for the fledgling capital further up river, Fremantle oozes historic gravitas from every pore. You’ll no doubt clock the Round House — Western Australia’s oldest surviving building (circa 1851) — and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Fremantle Prison, which dates back to the 1850s. It’s recognised as one of the most complete records of convict life in the country.
A century of history also awaits you at the lively Fremantle Markets, which are open Friday to Sunday. Wrap up your day of discovery with a sunset cocktail at Bathers Beach House or a local craft beer and live entertainment at popular Freo Social.
2. Pinnacles
Forget just getting out of Perth; a trip to the Pinnacles Desert in Nambung National Park — two hours’ drive north of the capital — will have you feeling like you’ve landed on a different planet! Punctuated by oddly-shaped limestone pillars, this golden landscape is both eerie and captivating — especially as the sun drops and the pillars cast long shadows over the rippled sand.
Combine this outing with some sandboarding at Lancelin. The crayfishing town is home to Western Australia’s biggest sand dunes and sliding down the pure white slopes is an exhilarating experience. Afterwards, head for the Lobster Shack beside the beach at nearby Cervantes to feast on the region’s best crays. You can also join an informative tour of the lobster processing plant.
3. Swan Valley
Situated just 25 minutes’ drive from the centre of Perth, the Swan Valley is a favoured short-break destination for locals and makes a great day trip option to boot. It’s the oldest wine region in Western Australia and is home to several of the state’s most awarded wineries (including Mandoon Estate and Sandalford). So, a spot of grape grazing is called for during your visit!
Foodies are also well catered for in this neck of the WA woods. The Valley’s rich soil and mild climate ensure the availability of fabulous fresh produce all year round. Buy direct from the region’s many farm-gates or stock up on gourmet goodies at outlets such as Lamont’s, Whistler’s Chocolate Company, and The House of Honey.
4. Mandurah
Sitting pretty 70 kilometres south of the city, Mandurah has a special place in the hearts of Perthites. Many have fond memories of carefree school holidays spent in this coastal enclave. Fantastic beaches, an estuary twice the size of Sydney Harbour, and the glittering waterways of the Peel-Harvey region are all part of the appeal. Surfing, boating, and general water sports are the main game here, and visitors even have the opportunity to swim with wild dolphins!
After all that excitement in the water, take some time to relax beside it on Mandurah’s redeveloped foreshore. Stroll along the boardwalk, picnic in the park, explore the vibrant cultural hub, or enjoy a meal at one of the many restaurants and bars. Leave time to scout out the Giants of Mandurah — five large-scale sculptures by Danish artist Thomas Dambo, which were designed to highlight the importance of protecting our natural world.
5. Perth Hills
The Darling Range — a string of low hills 45-minutes-or-so east of town by car — offers another chance to escape the confines of city life. The village of Kalamunda captures the essence of country life with its quaint pubs, bustling cafes, and engaging art galleries (such as the Zig Zag Cultural Centre). The town also stages a weekly farmers market in its central mall.
Nature lovers will enjoy the area’s national parks and many walking trails. There are more than forty hikes and biking routes to tackle, including the Railway Reserves Heritage Trail, Lesmurdie Falls Bush Walk, and a section of the nationally renowned Bibbulmun Track (a long-distance walk from Kalamunda to Albany). The gardens at Araluen Botanic Park and the scenic lookout at Mundaring Weir are also worth a visit.
6. Rottnest Island
Rottnest Island lies 19 kilometres off the WA coast and its population of cute-as-pie quokkas (a species of macropod marsupial) are billed as the happiest animals on earth (not hard to believe, given the number of photos on Instagram of what look like smiles on their furry little faces). Mind you, anyone living on this piece of paradise would be in a pretty good mood. Think impossibly white sandy beaches and water of the bluest blue. Doing a day trip to the island is a balmy breeze, thanks to the Rottnest Express fast ferry service that departs daily from Perth’s Barrack Street Jetty. Once you get there, enjoy some towel time on your choice of beach, explore by pedal power, delve into the island’s chequered past (it serves as an Aboriginal prison for close to century) at Wadjemup Museum, and of course, snap a quokka selfie!
7. York
What do classic tearooms, haunted hospitals, and revved-up motorcycle festivals all have in common? You’ll find them all in York — an hour-and-a-half’s drive east of Perth. Established in 1831, this is the oldest inland settlement in Western Australia and possibly one of the best preserved 19th century towns in Australia. There are many beautifully maintained period buildings to admire, including Town Hall, the Courthouse Complex, the Residency Museum, and Old York Hospital (rumoured to be haunted by the ghosts of patients past!).
York hosts a wide range of community events, including two major annual festivals: York Festival and York Motorcycle Festival. Check the region’s online calendar to find out what’s happening in town at the time of your visit.
8. Margaret River
Three hours’ drive south of Perth, but well worth the extended journey, is Margaret River. Internationally renowned as a wine region, Margaret River is also home to characterful country towns, pristine beaches, tranquil forests and woodlands, and a mind-blowing artisanal food scene. Book for lunch at an award-winning winery like Leeuwin Estate, Vasse Felix, or my personal favourite — Amelia Park (the cellar door and restaurant are both stunning). Afterwards, indulge in a sweet treat from Simmo’s Ice Creamery, Temper Temper, or The Margaret River Chocolate Company.
The region’s natural beauty is another of its big drawcards for daytrippers. Walk a section of the Cape to Cape Track (which follows the coast between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin), cycle some of the Wadandi Track, book a surfing lesson, or hire a kayak and paddle along the region’s namesake waterway.
9. Valley of the Giants
Located just over 400 kilometres from Perth in Western Australia’s South West region, the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk is an internationally-acclaimed nature-based tourist attraction. Plenty of visitors choose to do it on a day trip from the WA capital, so keen are they to see the magnificent tingle trees that give the area its name. The name ‘tingle’ — believed to be derived from an Aboriginal word — includes several varieties of ancient eucalypts. Tingles can grow to a mighty height of 50-metres-plus.
On arrival at the Treetop Walk, you’ll have the opportunity to stroll along a 40-metre-high, 600-metre-long metal walkway and admire the forest canopy from this lofty vantage. There’s also a walking trail that meanders through the forest at ground level. Leave time to pop into the excellent Wilderness Discovery Centre to find information on wildlife species that live in the area (including quokkas!). Oh, and if you feel like a bit of fun, check out the car in the hollow of a tree. It’s a great photo opportunity!
10. Wave Rock
Wave Rock is another of regional Western Australia’s natural wonders that’s doable as a day trip from Perth. This fascinating ancient geological rock formation, which is believed to be around 2,500 million years old, rises 15 metres above the surrounding outback plain. It looks like a surfer’s perfect wave, literally frozen in time. Getting to Wave Rock from the city takes around four hours by car. You’ll pass through small rural communities and past fields of wheat and vibrant yellow canola. The plains of farmland seem to stretch to infinity beneath the endless blue sky. If you happen to be travelling in wildflower season (September and October), expect to see the landscape carpeted in colour.
Need to hire a car?
Ace Rent a Car offers car hire from Perth Airport, which means you’ll have the convenience of a vehicle from the moment you land in the Western Australia capital.
This post was published thanks to Ace Rent a Car.
Browse our range of Perth tours and experiences here. We offer a Best Price Guarantee.
Do you have any suggestions to add to our list of the best day trips from Perth? We would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below.
Cover image: Tourism Western Australia/Jean Leggat. Additional images: Bigstock
About the writer
Bonita Grima is a Perth-based freelance travel writer with a background in television and radio production. She believes that travel has the power to challenge, inspire, and educate us, and encourage empathy by providing a window into the worlds of others. When not working on a story, you’ll find Bonita at the beach, on a hiking trail, drinking great coffee, discovering what’s new around town, and dreaming up her next big adventure!
About the writer
Adam Ford is editor of Top Oz Tours & Travel Ideas, and a travel TV presenter, writer, blogger, and photographer. He has travelled extensively through Europe, Asia, North America, Africa, and the Middle East. Adam worked as a travel consultant for a number of years with Flight Centre before taking up the opportunity to travel the world himself as host of the TV series Tour the World on Network Ten. He loves to experience everything a new destination has to offer and is equally at home in a five-star Palazzo in Pisa or a home-stay in Hanoi.
