Top 10 Free Things to Do in Perth

Located only 25 minutes outside of the city, the Swan Valley consists of over 20 wineries and distilleries, as well as heritage and bike trails. There are trains and buses (which students get a discount on) that travel to the valley multiple times a day, where you can either book a tour or grab a bike to hit all of the free wine tastings in the area.

Little Creatures Brewery, located in Fremantle, is based in a former crocodile farm in the harbor on the water’s edge. The brewery offers free tours of the brewery at 1pm, 2pm and 3pm, so it would be rude not to go and enjoy a few samples beforehand.

A newer development in the last few years, Elizabeth Quay is a river-walk area filled with cafes, restaurants, and public artwork. Elizabeth Quay officially opened in 2016, with the vision to return the city’s focus to the stunning Swan River. Since then, it has become a hot spot for visitors who seek a relaxing afternoon stroll or bike ride along the water.

Located in the heart of the Quay is a non-profit Indian cuisine restaurant, Annalakshmi, where you pay what you think the meal is worth. What an awesome concept, especially if you’re on a budget (but don’t be leaving without paying a dime).

Perth is home to scores of cultural institutions, with heaps of galleries, museums, and educational institutions to visit right in the heart of the city. The best part is, a lot of them are free to enter, including the Art Gallery of Western Australia, which has the biggest aboriginal art exhibition in the country.

There are also markets, an urban orchard where you can learn about sustainable gardening, and free WiFi.

Northbridge Piazza is a communal outdoor grass space in the city, which offers anyone and everyone the access to free movies on an outdoor LED screen, as well as live music and a variety of exhibitions. There’s also free yoga and Tai Chi classes in the mornings. So, grab some popcorn and enjoy a movie on the beanbag chairs, or grab your yoga mat and enjoy some free fitness classes.

Perth has 19 white sand beaches surrounding its city and suburbs, so what better way to spend your day without spending a dime than soaking up the sun or taking a dip in the ocean? The city soaks up more sunny days than any other capital city in Australia, with an average of 3,000 hours of sunlight per year.

Have a sausage sizzle at Cottesloe Beach (Perth’s most popular beach) on the free-to-use BBQs, or catch a sunset later in the day: the West Coast is the only place in Australia where the sun sets over the ocean.

Perth is home to some truly spectacular coastline, with a 14-kilometer cycleway that ventures along the array of stunning beaches. Grab your bike or go for a jog along the Sunset Coast cycleway and you’ll see such highlights as Marmion Marine Park for a snorkel, Hillarys Marina where you can stop for lunch or a quick coffee, and Mullaloo Beach which is ideal for a mid-journey dip.