One of the things we love to do to get to know a new city is to walk around. Somehow this is a great way to get a better understanding of the city and its layout. So when we visit a new city one of the first things we do is look for a walking tour to orientate ourselves.
In Kuala Lumpur, we managed to find self-guided walking tours which are awesome because you’re not limited to specific hours and can follow along at your own pace. So when we headed to Perth of course we looked for something similar to get to know Perth.
We found the Perth Trails app with 5 tours (sometimes more, depending on the season) to get to know Perth. But during this search, I came across free walking tours organized by iCity. We decided to join the Orientation Tour that runs every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Orientation Tour
Right in the city center of Perth, you find the Perth City Visitor Kiosk. This is where all Free Guided City Tours start. It’s also where you’re able to get information about all there is to see and do in Perth. The Orientation Tour is ideal for City newcomers eager to explore Perth!
Local volunteers take you through the city for a 90-minute walk and tell a lot about the history of Perth. But they also tell you how to use the free buses that run in the city or how to use the trains. So it’s both practical and offers a ton of information and it’s a great way to get to know Perth.
Our guide is a local who’s lived in Perth her whole life. She has a great sense of humor and always made sure everybody was there before she started telling something. She also mentioned it’s okay to leave the tour at any point.
Forrest Place
We start at the heart of Perth. Forrest Place is a big square where all major festivities are celebrated. It used to be a wetland before they build the city. A reminder of that is visible in the water feature and the poem that’s written down across the square.
The buildings next to the square have been there since the beginning of Perth. They are quite impressive even though there is an H&M in them now. The story about the emblems of Australia and Great Britain leaves room for interpretation but we like the one where the builder was afraid he wasn’t going to get paid.
There is a huge statue as well, we’d seen that before because it’s bright green. It’s one of those statues that look like no effort was put into it but costs a lot of money. I was only joking when I guessed 1 million but that’s what it cost.
Yagan Square
We all know what happened in 2020 and how it’s affected the world. During this orientation tour, we saw a lot of buildings that are now empty because the shop/restaurant/café didn’t survive. Yagan Square is one of those places that got hit hard.
It’s shame because you can tell that this used to be a bustling place where people would hang out, eat something, drink something, or just chat among friends. The aesthetic of the building is beautiful and inviting.
Right across the road a new university is being built and everyone hopes that this will bring new life to Yagan Square as well. We could see why and hope we’ll get a different glimpse somewhere in the future.
Northbridge
We cross the Horseshoe Bridge, which was built so that the horse carriages could get to the trains easily. That’s why is a long slow-rising slope. By crossing this bridge you leave the city center and enter Northbridge.
Northbridge is a cultural hub with tons of restaurants, bars, cafes, and entertainment venues. It’s also home to Chinatown. According to our guide, it can get a bit unsafe after 10 pm due to people going out, but you don’t notice that during the day.
By the way, if you want to try awesome Portuguese tarts, this is where you need to go! There are a couple of museums here as well and some have free exhibits. And there is a communal garden at the rooftop of a parking garage where you’re allowed to pick whatever is growing at the moment.
Hay Street
Back to CBD and across the Horseshoe Bridge and now we head to Hay Street. You could do a lot of shopping but if you pay close attention there are a lot of beautiful buildings here as well. Unfortunately, a lot of them are empty now due to Covid.
If you’re a fan of street art you have to check out all the little alleyways. They are often beautifully decorated and you don’t really notice it from the main street.
Right in the middle of the street, there is a Swiss building. You see it from afar because it really stands out from the local buildings by its style. You can actually enter the alley through an arch and feel like you’ve somehow traveled to Switzerland.
Time for history
Perth used to get rid of a lot of its old buildings instead of keeping them intact and paying tribute to its history. Fortunately, some of them have been saved and now have a new function. We visit the building that used to be a prison where they show you what people went to jail for in the 1800s.
City hall is right here as well and it tells you the story of how Perth was founded. St. George’s Cathedral is huge and we don’t have time to go inside but it’s a beauty from the outside as well. Across the street is the Supreme Court of Western Australia.
We cross the street and go to Stirling Gardens where you have the chance to spot kangaroos. Not the real one, because the only place in Perth where you could see actual kangaroos is Heirrisson Island. Before they moved the Botanical Gardens to its current spot Stirling Garden was the botanical garden and it shows.
A great way to get to know Perth
The Orientation Tour by iCity lives up to its name and is a great way to kickstart your stay in Perth. You’ll get a little bit of everything which helps plan the rest of your stay. Even though the weather was a bit on and off we still learned a lot and had a great time.
The benefit of a guided tour is you get the information right then and there and you often get just a little bit extra that you might not find online. You’re able to ask questions and it’s a nice way to meet fellow travelers as well.
If you’re in Perth we highly recommend this Orientation Tour to get to know Perth. If you’re looking for a more in-depth tour, check out the website of VisitPerth.
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