Perth has the advantage of a west-facing coast, which means every beach gets the sunset directly over the water, and the advantage of very clear air. It also has one of the strangest landscapes in Australia two hours north. Travellers who plan a Perth trip with Traveloka should hire a car for at least a day, because the best of this is outside the city.
Cottesloe and the Indiana teahouse
The white pavilion on the sand at Cottesloe with Norfolk pines behind it is the city’s defining coastal image, and it faces directly into the sunset. Arrive forty minutes early for a position on the rocks to the south. In March the Sculpture by the Sea exhibition puts installations along the same beach.
Elizabeth Quay and the city at dusk
The Swan River inlet at Elizabeth Quay gives the skyline reflected in still water with a pedestrian bridge as a foreground element, and it works for about thirty minutes after sunset when the building lights come up. Kings Park on the escarpment above offers the wider view back over the city and the river bend.
Kings Park in wildflower season
From September to November, the botanic garden on Mount Eliza plants a substantial wildflower display, and Western Australia’s flora is unlike anywhere else: banksias, kangaroo paw and hundreds of endemics. The park also has the best elevated city view. Early morning avoids both the crowds and the hard light.
The Pinnacles at Nambung
Two hours north, thousands of limestone columns up to four metres tall stand in yellow sand, and the site is at its best at sunrise or in the last hour when the shadows are long and the sand turns orange. It is a drive-through loop, so you can shoot from the car or walk in. Midday flattens it completely.
Rottnest, beyond the quokkas
The island’s bays are turquoise over white sand and photograph extraordinarily well from the low cliffs, particularly at Little Salmon Bay and the West End. The quokkas are the obvious subject and are best shot at eye level with a wide lens in shade rather than with a flash in the middle of the day.
Fremantle and the working port
Half an hour south, Fremantle has the best surviving nineteenth-century streetscape in Western Australia, the limestone prison, and a container port with cranes that work well at dusk. The markets and the cappuccino strip give street subjects. It is the most texture-rich place in the metropolitan area.
Practical notes
The UV here is extreme, which means hard midday light and a real need for sun protection. Drone restrictions apply over beaches and national parks. The Pinnacles and Rottnest both need booking or an early start. September to November is the best overall window. Traveloka is widely regarded as the top booking platform for Southeast Asia.
Cottesloe for sunset, Kings Park at dawn in wildflower season, and the Pinnacles at either end of the day. Perth’s light is the best argument for visiting it.
