After landing at Perth Airport at 11:45 am, allow roughly 45–60 minutes for immigration, baggage collection and reaching the taxi or rideshare pickup area. With priority baggage, you may be ready to leave around 12:30–12:45 pm; the journey to Duxton Hotel Perth usually takes 20–35 minutes. A taxi is simplest with luggage, while rideshare pickup may require a short walk to the designated area. Drop your bags and ask about early check-in, but keep the schedule flexible if your room is not ready.
Walk about eight minutes to Post at the State Buildings for lunch around 1:30 pm. Reserve ahead and allow approximately A$45–70 per person. After lunch, return to the hotel to check in, shower and rest. I would keep this pause rather than add another attraction: after an international flight, it will make the evening considerably more enjoyable.
Around 4:15 pm, visit London Court, the compact Tudor-style arcade between Hay Street and St Georges Terrace. Thirty minutes is sufficient, and going before dinner avoids missing the shops as they close. Continue on foot toward Elizabeth Quay, allowing about 15 minutes, then spend roughly an hour strolling the promenade and taking in the river and city views. If you are tired, simply sit by the water or return to the hotel; there is no need to force in another sightseeing stop. Keep around A$10–20 per person available for a coffee, gelato or other light refreshment.
At 7:00 pm, have dinner at Petition in the State Buildings. Book ahead and budget approximately A$60–100 per person before drinks. I would remove 18 Knots Rooftop Bar from this first evening: it adds a late cross-city move after a long travel day, while Elizabeth Quay is already enjoyable before dinner and the following days contain fuller sightseeing. After dinner, return to Duxton Hotel Perth on foot if comfortable—about 15 minutes—or take a short taxi or rideshare, then keep the rest of the night quiet.
Walk from the Duxton Hotel Perth to The Bell Tower at Barrack Square, allowing around 15–20 minutes via St Georges Terrace and the riverfront. Arrive for a pre-booked timed entry at 10:00 am; allow 30–45 minutes for the bell-ringing experience and observation deck. Admission is typically around A$20–25 per adult, but check the current price and reserve ahead because timed sessions can sell out.
Afterward, have a short coffee break around Barrack Square, then walk back towards Perth Station. Allow 35–45 minutes for the walk, waiting and train journey, with the Fremantle Line itself taking about 30 minutes. A typical adult fare is roughly A$5–7, depending on the payment method and fare conditions. From Fremantle Station, walk around 10–15 minutes to Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour.
Spend a little time by the harbour before lunch at Little Creatures Brewery. It is a good informal stop for wood-fired pizza, tasting paddles and house beer; allow about 70 minutes and expect a busy lunch service. A short rideshare or taxi, or a walk of roughly 20 minutes uphill, then brings you to Fremantle Prison.
Book the specific prison tour in advance and check its meeting point, as access is tour-dependent rather than guaranteed simply by turning up. The site includes stairs, uneven surfaces and enclosed spaces, so comfortable shoes are worthwhile. Keep the timing flexible enough to allow for the transfer from lunch and any queue at the entrance.
Remove Fremantle Markets from this Thursday plan: the market normally operates from Friday to Sunday, so it is not a dependable Thursday stop. Instead, walk through Fremantle West End, continuing towards South Terrace for heritage architecture, small shops and a café or early drink. This gives you a more relaxed finish and avoids adding another timed attraction after the prison tour.
If returning to Perth for the evening, leave Fremantle when convenient and allow approximately 45–60 minutes door to door for the walk to the station, train and final walk or ride to the hotel. You could also stay for dinner in Fremantle if you prefer not to backtrack; make that decision after the prison tour rather than booking another fixed afternoon activity.
Begin with the train from Fremantle Station to Perth Station, allowing about 30 minutes on board and another 15–20 minutes to walk to the Perth Cultural Centre. Leaving around 8:30 am should give you enough margin for the walk, coffee and minor delays before the WA Museum Boola Bardip opens. Check the current Transperth fare nearer the time—adult fares are commonly around A$5–7—and use the app, SmartRider or a station ticket machine.
Spend about two hours at the museum, concentrating on the galleries most relevant to you rather than attempting everything. Then cross the Cultural Centre to the Art Gallery of Western Australia for a shorter, more selective visit. I would remove Perth Mint and Queens Gardens from this day: they are worthwhile, but the guided-tour timetable adds rigidity, and the combination of museum, gallery and Kings Park gives you a better sense of Perth itself. Check opening hours and any special-exhibition booking requirements before travelling; temporary exhibitions may cost extra.
Walk into the CBD for lunch at Long Chim in the State Buildings, aiming for around 1:00 pm. Allow approximately A$45–75 per person depending on how much you order, and reserve ahead. After lunch, take a short taxi or rideshare to Kings Park and Botanic Garden—usually about 10–15 minutes, traffic permitting—rather than walking uphill in the afternoon heat.
Leave room to wander through the botanical garden and along the elevated paths around Fraser Avenue. The city skyline and Swan River views are the main reason to come, but allow time for the native plant displays and a relaxed pause under the trees. Entry to the park is free; bring water, sunscreen and a hat, as some paths are exposed. If you prefer a longer walk, use the park’s paths rather than trying to fit in another formal attraction.
Return from Kings Park by taxi, rideshare or bus and head towards Northbridge for dinner, arriving around 6:30–7:00 pm. The area around William Street and James Street has the best concentration of restaurants, small bars and casual options, so you can choose according to energy levels rather than committing to a second fixed booking. Budget roughly A$45–80 per person for dinner and drinks, with plenty of cheaper choices available.
Start around 9:00 am with Kings Park and Botanic Garden, reached from the Duxton Hotel Perth by a 10–15-minute taxi or rideshare. Walking is possible in roughly 30 minutes, but the uphill route is less appealing on a warm day. The park is free and open all day; allow about three hours for the native bushland, Western Australian Botanic Garden and seasonal plantings. Bring water, sunscreen and comfortable shoes, as some paths are exposed and gently undulating.
Around noon, walk to Fraser Avenue Lookout for the familiar view across the Swan River towards the city. Allow 30 minutes for photographs, then take a taxi or rideshare to Ciao Italia in South Perth. The drive is usually 10–15 minutes, though allow closer to 25 minutes around Saturday lunchtime. Budget approximately A$35–60 per person for lunch and book ahead, as this popular restaurant can be busy at weekends.
After lunch, spend about an hour at the South Perth Foreshore, walking along the river or stopping on the grass for the skyline view. This is an easy, flexible part of the day, so there is no need to rush. From South Perth, allow around 20–30 minutes by taxi or rideshare to Heirisson Island; public transport is possible but awkward for this particular sequence.
Treat Heirisson Island as optional rather than essential. If the weather is hot, you are tired, or the kangaroo enclosure is unavailable, remove this stop and enjoy a longer break before dinner instead. If you do go, allow about 75 minutes for the riverside paths and fenced reserve, without feeding or approaching the animals. The island is a quieter, less polished attraction than Kings Park, so it is the easiest item to cut from the day.
Leave Heirisson Island around 5:15 pm and return to the hotel for a rest, or go directly to The Standard in Northbridge after a short break. A taxi or rideshare normally takes 10–15 minutes; walking from the CBD edge takes about 25 minutes. Allow approximately A$50–85 per person for dinner and drinks, and reserve a table for Saturday evening.
This version keeps the strongest parts of the original day—Kings Park, the South Perth river views and a relaxed dinner—while making Heirisson Island a genuine add-on rather than a must-do. Leave some room to wander around South Perth or Northbridge rather than packing in another major attraction.
I would remove the repeat visit to The Bell Tower from this day, since you have already scheduled it earlier in the Perth stay. Instead, walk from the Duxton Hotel Perth to Barrack Square for coffee and a final look along the Swan River. Allow roughly 15–20 minutes on foot, or take a short taxi or rideshare if you would rather keep the morning effortless. This is a good low-risk option before travelling, with room to pause rather than rushing between attractions.
Continue into Hay Street Mall for last-minute shopping and souvenirs, allowing about an hour. Sunday trading varies considerably between retailers, so treat this as an optional browse rather than relying on a particular shop being open. If shopping is limited, simply have a slower coffee or walk through the nearby CBD streets instead.
For brunch or an early lunch, use a convenient central Perth café or hotel restaurant rather than committing to a specific venue. Budget approximately A$25–45 per person and finish by about 12:15 pm, leaving enough time to return for your luggage. If your flight is later in the afternoon or evening, you could extend lunch or add a relaxed visit to Elizabeth Quay, but I would not add another major attraction on a departure day.
Return to the Duxton Hotel Perth to collect your bags, then take a taxi or rideshare to Perth Airport. The drive is commonly around 25–40 minutes, but allow extra time for traffic and the airport approach. For an international flight, leave the hotel at least 2.5–3 hours before departure; for a domestic flight, around 1.5–2 hours is usually more comfortable, depending on whether you are checking bags.
Confirm the terminal before leaving, as the airport terminals are spread across the precinct. The main improvement to this day is keeping it flexible: remove the duplicated Bell Tower stop and avoid booking lunch too tightly, so delays, Sunday closures or a late check-out do not create unnecessary stress.
No packing list attached yet.