My husband did not need to ask me twice to come to Perth in Western Australia. He was visiting for work. I’ve never been to this city which boasts that is the most isolated capital city in the world. Perth’s CBD is bounded by the beautiful Swan River to the south and east and is a modern, vibrant city filled with parks and art with heaps of fabulous day trips to do.
We stayed centrally, by the river at the Ritz Carlton Hotel and I found it to be the perfect base for me to explore all the city had to offer. The only trouble was the cyclone which had been swirling off the Queensland coast had followed us and was now expected to make landfall not far from Perth. This curtailed my plans of river cruises and a trip to Rottnest Island to see the cute Quokka. This was a real shame as the boats all left from the end of our street and would have been so easy for me to access.
Day One was spent in the air. Perth is about five hours away from Brisbane by plane. When we arrived it was windy but I persevered with my sightseeing and took a long walk along the Swan River, enjoying the many art installations, sights of hundreds of Corella and the lovely restaurant and cafe scene along Elizabeth Quay. After checking out the Bell Tower I enjoyed a great coffee before getting ready to explore the Perth nightlife.
First stop was 18 Knots Rooftop Bar, a lively space located on Level 18 of Doubletree, Hilton. Views over Perth as the sun set were amazing as I sipped a blue – hued Serendipity cocktail made with gin and calvados. Dinner was at Chinese restaurant, Lantern where we enjoyed appetisers and some sizzling stir fries. After a long day of travel we enjoyed a dream filled sleep in our extra comfy room.
Day Two dawned with a little less wind but still unstable conditions. I set off for a yummy brunch at the West Australian Rowing Club, right on the banks of the Swan River. It was delicious and sustained me for my walk along the river and the nearby bridge. Being flat Perth is a very walkable city. We were expecting it to be hot but it was really mild.
Heading to the city centre it was easy to see that Perth is a Mecca for shoppers with David Jones and Myer, as well as all our favourite luxury brands including Dior and Gucci. After walking my legs off and firing up the credit card I headed back for a coffee and a read before heading out to explore another rooftop bar in our hotel. Up by the pool you find Songbird with indoor and outdoor seating and a great view over Elizabeth Quay and beyond. After a refreshing gin and tonic I headed down to Thai restaurant, Six Senses while hubby headed to a work function at Little Creatures. Six Senses was pumping and I was lucky to nab the last table in this voluminous restaurant. Enjoying one of the best green chicken curries I have ever head I watched influencers filming and being filmed and a mouth watering array of banquet dishes being delivered to the table next door, this included a whole baked fish. A must do if you are a fan of Thai food.
Day Three was rainy as the cyclone had hit further up the coast. Boats were moored and after a wonderful brunch nearby I hopped on a hop on/ hop off bus to see the sights of Perth. I enjoyed sitting in comfort as the rain fell down and visiting the sprawling Kings Park, Perth Mint, WACA, Crown Towers Casino and other well known sites. It’s a great way to get to know a city. Hopping off in the CBD at the end of the tour I searched for souvenirs and whiled away the afternoon at the wonderful Boffin Books. A copy of M. L. Stedman’s – A Far Flung Life came home with me.
The dinners were just getting better and better and we loved visiting the 6 Head Steakhouse where my hubby enjoyed his WA steak while I loved my order of Veal Milanese. We strolled around admiring the lights of Perth before a nightcap at Hearth Bar in the Ritz.
After another restful sleep we headed out to our new favourite cafe by the water, The Western Australia Rowing Club, for brunch and a leisurely read of the papers. Walking the city we took in the sights before heading to the lovely Art Gallery of Western Australia where we enjoyed seeing works by Frederick McCubbin, Anne Wallace and a colourful exhibition sharing the work of Paola Pivi.
For our last evening in WA we decided to try the flavours of the state in the ritzy Hearth Restaurant. It was our best meal of the trip with a range of local produce beautifully prepared. A real highlight of the trip! Service, food and wine was top notch.
Sadly we soon had to head home again but I am already looking forward to another extended stay in this inviting state with its friendly locals, delicious food and coffee, art, parks and shopping. Hopefully next time we can visit the wine regions, beaches and finally snap my selfie with a Quokka.
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