Western Australia’s largest museum features exhibits on natural history including a good selection of stuffed animals and a whale skeleton.
Western Australian Museum
Western Australian Cricket Museum
This sporting museum at the WACA Ground is a must for cricket fans.
Swan Bells
This impressive 82.5m copper and glass tower in Barrack Square is one of the world’s largest musical instruments. It houses a set of 18 bells, which includes 12 bells from St Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square, London that date from before the 14th century. The tower features galleries where you can see the bell ringers in action as well as observation decks that boast stunning city views.
Scitech Discovery Centre
This hands-on science museum features over 160 interactive exhibits. However, like many science museums, it is geared mostly toward kids.
Perth Mint
The Perth Mint was established as a branch of Britain’s Royal Mint in 1899 and continues to produce coins and gold bars. The impressive building on Hay Street features a museum with displays about the production of coins and gold bullion with exhibits that provide a unique insight into how money is made.
One of the Perth Mint’s highlights is the world’s largest and most valuable gold coin, which is valued at over $50 million and measures 80cm across (and 12cm deep) and is made of one tonne of pure gold.
Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA)
The Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts features exhibits of avant garde and contemporary visual and performing arts.
Parliament House
You can take a free tour of the Western Australian state parliament building that offers a crash course in Australian politics.
Kings Park
This large city park consists mostly of native bush and is an escape from the city with popular picnic areas and bike paths. There are good views of the city centre from the higher points in the park.
Art Gallery of Western Australia
The Art Gallery of Western Australia is Western Australia’s most important art museum. The gallery’s collection includes both Australian and international art.