The best day trips from Perth in 2026 are Rottnest Island for quokkas and bays, Fremantle for history and markets, the Swan Valley for wine, the Pinnacles Desert in Nambung National Park, Yanchep National Park for koalas and caves, and Mandurah for dolphins and canals.
Perth's day trips range from a short train ride (Fremantle) and a ferry (Rottnest) to a two-and-a-half-hour drive north to the Pinnacles. Margaret River is better as an overnight trip, about three hours south. In summer, start early to beat the heat and the afternoon sea breeze. See also our best attractions in Perth.
Car-free bays, snorkelling and quokkas, a ferry ride away.
Rottnest Island has more than 60 beaches and 20 bays, and is home to the quokka. Ferries run from Barrack Street Jetty in Perth, Fremantle and Hillarys.
Hire a bike and ride between the Basin, Little Salmon Bay and Parker Point.
Good to know: Take the earliest ferry for the calmest water and fewest people.
Rottnest Island WA 6161
A historic port town with a convict prison, markets and cafés.
Fremantle, 30 minutes by train, has Fremantle Prison, the Fremantle Markets (Friday to Sunday), the WA Maritime Museum, Bathers Beach and a strip of cafés on South Terrace.
Finish with fish and chips at the Fishing Boat Harbour.
Good to know: Visit Friday to Sunday, when the markets are open.
Fremantle WA 6160
Wineries, breweries and chocolate 25 minutes from the city.
The Swan Valley is Western Australia's oldest wine region, with cellar doors, breweries, distilleries, chocolate and cheese makers along a food and wine trail.
Take a river cruise from Perth or a tour if you plan to taste.
Good to know: Cruise up the river and take a coach back for the full experience.
Swan Valley Visitor Centre, Cnr Meadow & Swan Sts, Guildford WA 6055
Thousands of limestone spires rising from yellow sand.
The Pinnacles are thousands of limestone pillars standing in a yellow sand desert in Nambung National Park, about two and a half hours north of Perth. A scenic drive and walking trails wind among them, and the Discovery Centre explains how they formed.
Stop at Lancelin's white sand dunes for sandboarding on the way.
Good to know: Stay for sunset, when the pillars glow and cast long shadows.
Pinnacles Dr, Cervantes WA 6511
Koalas, caves and bushland 45 minutes north.
Yanchep National Park has a koala boardwalk, the limestone Crystal Cave (with guided tours), lakes, kangaroos and walking trails.
It makes an easy half-day with children.
Good to know: Book the Crystal Cave tour on arrival.
Indian Ocean Dr, Yanchep WA 6035
Dolphins, canals and crabbing an hour south by train.
Mandurah, about an hour south by train, is built around an estuary and canals where dolphins are often seen. Take a dolphin and canal cruise, and look for the giant wooden sculptures hidden in the area's forests.
In summer, locals go crabbing for blue swimmer crabs in the estuary.
Good to know: Take a canal cruise for the best chance of seeing dolphins.
Mandurah WA 6210
Waterfalls and bush walks in the Perth Hills.
John Forrest National Park, about 30 minutes east, has walking trails, waterfalls in winter and spring, and an old railway tunnel on the Railway Reserve Heritage Trail.
Combine it with the cafés and wineries of the Perth Hills.
Good to know: Visit in winter or spring, when the waterfalls are flowing.
Park Rd, Hovea WA 6071
Australia's only monastic town, two hours north.
New Norcia is a Benedictine monastery town founded in 1846, with Spanish-style buildings, a museum and art gallery, and a bakery famous for its bread and nut cake.
Guided town tours show inside buildings otherwise closed to visitors.
Good to know: Take the guided town tour to see inside the monastery buildings.
Great Northern Hwy, New Norcia WA 6509
Rottnest Island, by ferry from Perth, Fremantle or Hillarys, for car-free bays, snorkelling and quokkas. Hire a bike on the island.
About two and a half hours' drive north, in Nambung National Park near Cervantes. Combine them with Lancelin's sand dunes on the way.
It's about three hours each way, so it's a very long day. Stay at least one night to enjoy the wineries, beaches and caves.
Yanchep National Park, about 45 minutes north, has a koala boardwalk, plus Crystal Cave and walking trails. Caversham Wildlife Park in the Swan Valley also has koalas.
Fremantle (train), Rottnest Island (ferry), Mandurah (train) and the Swan Valley (river cruise or tour).