Seven Summer Experiences You’ll Love
Wednesday 21st December 2011 - 3:16pm
Looking for ways to make the most of those pristine days and balmy evenings? Then check out our guide to summer things to do in Perth!
1. Get into the festive(al) mood!
One of the best parts of summer in Perth is the many festivals, concerts and events around the city. In the northern parts of Perth, you can watch the adrenaline seekers competing in events such as Wave Sailing, Slalom and Marathon in the Lancelin Ocean Classic from 12–15 January 2012, and experience 15 different types of cider and market stalls at the Cider Festival at Mindarie Marina from 20–22 January 2012… and much more. To the south, the Fremantle Boat Show takes place over three days from 10–12 February and showcases the best on-water and on-land displays in the heart of Fremantle’s maritime precinct. See the annual Sculpture by the Sea exhibition, where local and international artists transform Perth’s beautiful Cottesloe Beach into a stunning sculpture park or enjoy one of the many theatre, dance, music film, visual arts and literature events at the http://www.perthfestival.com.au/ from 10 February – 4 March 2012.
2. Get to know our wildlife
With so many wonderful wildlife parks in Perth and surrounds, summer is the perfect time to spend a day getting to know the locals. Caversham Wildlife Park and Zoo in Whiteman Park has one of the largest collections of native fauna in Western Autsrlian. Located just 15km north-east of the Perth CBD at the entrance to the Swan Valley, you can also enjoy plenty of family activities at the park, including sheep shearing demonstrations, feeding the farm animals, get up close and personal with koalas, wombats and kangaroos, or just relax with a picnic in the beautiful grounds.
3. See Happy Feet in the flesh
Penguin Island is home to WA’s largest colony of Fairy Penguins, the smallest species of these animals in the world. Get up close and personal, learn about these cute critters and watch their feeding time at the Discovery Centre daily at 10:30am, 12:30pm and 2:30pm. The Penguin Express departs from Rockingham’s Mersey Point from 9am – 3pm and costs around $16.50 per person, which includes the viewing of Australian Sea Lions at Seal Island and a visit to Penguin Island to see the penguin feeding.
4. Experience the beauty of Kings Park
The jewel in the city’s crown, Kings Park is one of the largest inner city parks in the world. Located within a short walk of the CBD, it is a major attraction for visitors to Perth and locals alike. This stunning location overlooks the city and the silken blue waters of the Swan River. From high above, you can see the brilliantly coloured sails of boats on the river, the twinkling lights of the city, the distant Perth Hills and the endless blue skies for which Perth is so renowned. There’s plenty of things to do and see within the park, including the State War Memorial and the breathtaking views from theDNA Tower. Walk among the giants with the Federation Tree Top Walk, learn about the Aboriginal history of the park or simply enjoy a picnic or BBQ and the playgrounds around the grounds. For those with some energy to burn, the park holds free guided tours at 10am and 2pm. More information.
5. Take a day trip to Rottnest Island
Just a short ferry ride from Hillarys Boat Harbour, Fremantle or Perth City, sunny Rottnest is our very own island getaway. Blessed with a casual atmosphere, picturesque scenery, dazzling marine life and some of the world’s finest beaches and pristine bays, Rottnest Island is a place like no other. With virtually no cars on the island, bikes are the best way to get around. You can hire them on the island or bring your own to explore the many secluded bays and beautiful beaches. If riding isn’t your thing, you can also cruise around in an air-conditioned coach. The Visitor Centre is a great place to start your trip. Here, you can book guided tours around the island, dive tours and glass bottom boat rides to view the 135 species of tropical fish and 20 species of coral. To find out more about Rottnest Island, see the official website here.
6. Enjoy the beach
We’re lucky enough to live in a beautiful city with the best beaches in the whole world – so where better to spend a beautiful summer day? With the weather heating up and reports that 2011 will have the hottest summer in history, it’s especially important to be sun smart at this time of year. The only lobster at the Christmas table should be the one served with thousand island dressing and a wedge of lemon! For more tips on how to be “Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek and Slide” and be SunSmart this summer, click here to view the Cancer Council website
7. Ring the Queen’s Bells
Overlooking the scenic Swan River at the entrance to Barrack Street Jetty, sits the towering glass spire of The Bell Tower. Once of the largest musical instruments on Earth, The Bell Tower was custom built to house the 14th Centrury bells from the parish church of Buckingham Palace, London. Listening to the beautiful chimes of the bells every hours, or you can even have a go at ringing them bells yourself in one of their interactive demonstrations. The Bell Tower is open daily from 10am to 4pm with last entry at 3:45pm. For Christmas opening times, please visit the website.
Most importantly..
Enjoy our beautiful city – get outdoors, be active and have fun, the possibilities are endless!