Perth, the sun-kissed capital of West Australia is known for the sunny weather and beautiful beaches. Unbeknownst to some, this cosmopolitan city has a lot more hidden gems beyond the exuberant coastline. Perth combines the best of nature and urban life, sprinkled with some historical and cultural appeal.
It’s time to visit this laid-back city and discover the one-of-a-kind attractions they have in store that you can’t find in another.
Quokka
Meet quokka, the happiest animal on the planet!
Quokkas belong to the macropod family, which also includes the kangaroos and wallabies. The only land mammal on Rottnest Island, the quokkas have attracted tourists from all over the world especially after the ‘quokka selfie’ trend hit the internet.
Since quokkas have little fear of humans, it’s not unusual for them to approach people first. For this reason, they always seem happy to pose for a selfie! However, visitors are sternly warned against feeding these quokkas, especially with “human food” as the food may cause infections and risk their health. At the same time, there’s also the risk of being bitten.
Credit: Pedro Szekely on Flickr
Rottnest Island sits just offshore from Perth and is accessible via ferries from Perth city or Fremantle. As the only place where quokkas can be found in a large number, the island receives about 500,000 visitors every year.
Pinnacles Desert
Made up of thousands of limestone pillars rising out of yellow sand dunes, each and every formation at Pinnacles Desert vary in shape and size. There have been many theories regarding how these limestone pillars were form, but one thing for sure is that the materials these dramatic formations contain came from seashells, and the oldest are about 30,000 years old.
The Pinnacles actually remained unknown to the wider public right until the area was gazetted in 1967 as a reserve. In 1994, the place was combined with two other adjacent reserves to form Nambung National Park, which derives its name from an indigenous Australian word ‘crooked’.
From Perth, it takes about a three hours drive to reach Nambung National Park and the admission is AUD12 per car including parking. Visit The Pinnacles at night for a spectacular stargazing experience.
Fremantle Markets
Credit: PurpleLorikeet on Flickr
No trip to Perth is complete without a stopover at Fremantle, and no trip to to Fremantle is complete with a visit to Fremantle Markets. With a Federation Romanesque design, this bustling public market that houses over 150 shops is the heart and soul of Fremantle, or Freo as locals call it, and the port city’s best landmark.
From fresh produce, local treats and coffee to homewares, crafts and arts, it’s almost like Fremantle Markets has everything under the sun. The market is divided into two sections: the Market Hall for merchants, craftspeople and fashion designers, and The Yard for the farmers, bakers and food retailers.
After all that shopping, don’t forget to have some authentic fish & chips at one of the restaurants here. Fremantle Markets are only open from Friday to Sunday and public holidays. Below is the opening hours:
Market Hall: 9 am – 6 pm
The Yard: 8 am – 6 pm
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