Discovering the best of what Perth has to offer, from its icons, arts and cultural history, couldn’t be easier with the abundance of tours to choose from. Guided tours offer a convenient way to encounter the authenticity of Western Australia, requiring minimal effort and the chance to come together with like-minded travellers. This, paired with the convenience and enjoyability of riding in a Perth tour bus make your experience of the city even more memorable, with no worries about travelling from point A to point B — it is all taken care of.
From a wine-lovers voyage in the Swan Valley, to delving into the wonders of marine life and soft, barefoot beaches of Rottnest Island, we’ve collated the top tours in Perth so you can venture on your journey of discovery as soon as you arrive. Unravel the endless beauty that awaits in Perth.
Paradise of Rottnest Island
Rottnest Island is situated just off the coast of Western Australia, an idyllic playground a short ferry ride away from the mainland offering a different side to the city of Perth entirely. Its car-free environment means that an organised tour is one of the best ways to explore.
Known as Perth’s favourite day-trip destination, most tours to Rottnest Island include round-trip transportation and ferry transfers that leave from either Perth or Fremantle. With some variations, from historic and wildlife-focused to a sightseeing bus tour of the island including Wadjemup Lighthouse, Henrietta Rocks and Kingstown Barracks, “Rotto”, as it’s affectionately referred to by the locals, is a treasure chest of enjoyment.
With many tours to Rottnest Island, there is some allocated time where you are free to enjoy the island for yourself until it’s time to catch the ferry back to Perth. Lose yourself along one of the 63 beaches or bays or try a spot of snorkelling or paddleboarding. These tours ensure you have the best possible experience of this magical island.
The Iconic Pinnacles Desert
This iconic, other-worldly landscape can be found approximately 200km north of Perth within Nambung National Park on Australia’s Coral Coast, and is famed for its natural limestone formations dating back to 25,000-30,000 years ago. This surreal desert setting attracts thousands of visitors every year, exposing them to the natural and cultural significance that is held here.
The majority of Pinnacles tours combine a discovery of the wildlife and natural attractions of Western Australia, a guided walk through the magical Pinnacles Desert and an adrenaline-inducing ride through the sand dunes of Lancelin on a sandboarding and four-wheel drive adventure. Many of the tours to the Pinnacles also include a stop-off at Yanchep National Park where you’ll be able to explore the bushland and keep an eye out for koalas and kangaroos.
Some tours of the Pinnacles also include a trip to Caversham Wildlife Park where you can encounter koalas and other native animals. Aboard a Perth tour bus, our operators will be there to navigate and guide you on every step of your journey.
For a delightfully romantic experience, a Sunset Pinnacles tour will make your night truly special. Admire the stunning sunset over the unique rock formations and perhaps do a spot of stargazing to complete your day. Some tours even include a magical dinner under the stars amidst the mystical Pinnacles.
Food & Wine
Arguably the best kind of tour there is, you really cannot get better than a food and wine excursion in Western Australia. Swan Valley is a true wine-lovers paradise, offering the chance to indulge and sample over 40 wineries, as well as try some gastronomically excellent foods. It is a must-try! Brush up on your knowledge regarding the details of each grape variety and if you’re lucky, enjoy a gourmet lunch at one of the wineries.
Ideal for a celebration, these tours allow you to savour local foods, liqueurs, chocolates and cheeses and many also include beer tastings at several microbreweries. Guided by passionate hosts, you’ll leave feeling just as excited about all of the wonderful culinary delights you’ve just encountered. If that doesn’t satisfy your tastebuds, we’re not sure what will.
A lesser-known wine/cider tour, but equally as brilliant is Australia’s Bickley Valley, boasting boutique wineries and a ciderhouse serving delectable lunch platters and cider tastings amid beautiful orchard views. Ideal for small groups, Bickley Valley offers the perfect combination of country and city life. Somewhat of a hidden gem, this valley is situated just outside of Perth but offers an enviable food and drink scene and of course the first urban Perth whiskey distillery. Cider, wine and whiskey; there’s truly something for everyone to love! Most tours include lunch so you don’t have to worry about drinking the extensive array of wine, whiskey and cider on an empty stomach and you certainly won’t have to worry about getting yourself home, as you hop back on board the tour bus which will return you safely and fully satisfied.
For the explorers and wildlife seekers
Perth is known for many different things, one of those being its beautiful national parks and unique wildlife encounters. Its biodiversity is awe-inspiring, with many tours allowing you to get up close and personal with the wildlife in their natural habitat. Embrace Australia’s outback culture at Caversham Wildlife Park, introduce yourself to Australia’s largest colony of penguins on Penguin Island, and go on a cruise to spot some friendly bottle-nosed dolphins.
The wildlife tours on offer in Australia cover a wonderful selection of activities so you can choose the one that has the best variety you’re interested in trying.
Tour Fremantle and enjoy a dolphin cruise of Mandurah and watch as the dolphins play, show off and chase the boat. As you cruise past Mandurah, you’ll be able to drink in the views of the majestic homes on the banks of the estuary. Most of these tours include a chocolate tasting from the famous chocolate store and a purchase of your choosing.
In Fremantle, admire the penguins in their natural habitat and explore the wonders of the town, from its historic sites and viewpoints to its bustling markets. From here you’ll be able to explore the island at your own leisure, visiting the Penguin Discovery Centre for the penguin feeding show. Most tours offer the chance to explore the rest of Fremantle island, with its fabulous artisanal food, handcrafted beers and lively music, arts and festival scene.
History-lovers tours
The history of Perth is both fascinating and significant, helping to shape the city into the thriving environment it is today. From the historical port city of Fremantle to the incredible lookout over Henrietta rocks, the historical landmarks to enjoy here are one-of-a-kind. One of the most popular tours is the historical Fremantle tour which takes guests past the majestic Swan River and the Bell Tower. The main attractions of these tours is the breathtaking bird’s eye view of Fremantle from the war memorial located on Monument hill, 43 metres above sea level and housed on 11-acres of public reserve. Surrounded by beautiful rose gardens and lawns, you are offered 360-degree views of Fremantle, overlooking the harbour and Garden Island. This trip is best experienced as a half-day tour and it is recommended to remain in Fremantle once the tour is finished to seize the opportunity to browse the local markets and indulge at the many restaurants and cafes.
Not to be missed is the tour from Perth to Rottnest Island which allows guests to enjoy a train ride to Oliver Hill and be guided on a tour of the tunnel system and guns that form an important part of Rottnest’s military history. Many of these tours also provide you with some knowledge regarding the Aboriginal Noongar people so you can leave feeling particularly clued up on the storied history of Western Australia.
For both history and art lovers alike, a tour to Benedictine New Norcia is certainly recommended. The town is Australia’s only monastic town and the tours reveal the wonders of different styles; Baroque, Gothic, Byzantine, Italian and Renaissance. Admire the rare form of art, sgraffito, that graces the church walls as well as a range of conventional religious icons and paintings. After exploring the other historic buildings and structures, this is a tour that history buffs will remember for a long time to come.
As you can see, the ways to explore Australia’s sunniest capital are truly endless, but a packaged tour aboard a Perth bus make that experience all the more enjoyable, hassle-free and affordable. Cast aside your worries of getting from point A to point B as that is all completely taken care of, in a luxury, air-conditioned bus led by friendly and caring hosts.
If you’d like to organise your next Perth tour with Bust-A-Move, leave the organisation and planning up to us and trust that you will have an experience like no other.
