Perth: Is this Australia’s hippest city?

For a long time, Perth had never really been on my radar.

Bewitched by other big cities in Australia that were faster to fly to, Perth quietly slid down the list of places to visit one day. Then a few years ago, I went over for work in Western Australia, spending a week in Perth, and my mind was blown.

So allow me to set the record straight. Perth is awesome. In fact, I think it might be Australia’s hippest city – move over Melbourne!

It’s got that cool, funky creative vibe that I crave in cities, with plenty of luxury travel options to keep visitors happy. Think great street art, an amazing foodie scene, with lots of events, and, oh yeah, did I mention the beaches? And perfect weather? Only a seven-hour direct flight away from New Zealand, it’s worth skipping the east and heading due west for an unforgettable trip to Perth.

At the end of last year, I had the chance to return to Western Australia down in Esperance and decided to once again stop over in Perth for a few days to relax and soak it all in.

For those looking for a little luxury, be sure to book in at the new QT Perth, right in the centre of the CBD. A designer haven, it’s a bit of a destination in and of itself, with fresh modern rooms mixed with industrial glamour, where black marble meets gold, and every corner is a perfect photo.

With an epic rooftop bar, never-ending views over Perth and an award-winning restaurant, Santini Grill, in-house, the QT is where you want to be in Perth for those who seek out cool luxury on their travels.

Perth is known for its mild weather and bluebird days. Boasting a Mediterranean climate, it screams holiday. And I’m happy to report that the foodie scene keeps up with the best of them. Sprawling along the Swan River, Perth has more trendy food spots to choose from than any other big Aussie city.

Synonymous with luxury is Wildflower, one of the best restaurants with views over the city that features a menu that follows the six indigenous Noongar seasons.

Fine dining in Perth doesn’t get more iconic than Rockpool Bar & Grill and their dry-aged Friesian rib-eye from a 60-month-old pasture-raised cow.

Perth also sits as the gateway to some of the best wineries this side of the equator, with Margaret River, one of the world’s great wine regions, less than an hour south of the city or even faster by helicopter.

And with great wine comes great chefs, and the family-run Leeuwin Estate’s tasting menu is a personal fave. Voyager Estate and Wills Domain are equally unforgettable.

You can’t come to Perth for the first time and not visit Rottnest Island. Less than 20km off the coastline, it’s a sparsely populated island with dozens of beaches and bays with some of the whitest sand in Australia smashing up against the beaches.

Skip the ferry, and you can fly over in a private helicopter with Corsaire Aviation for the perfect day of luxury under the sun with no one bothering you except for the adorable local quokkas wanting a selfie. And the views from above do the incredible island justice. Yes, the water really is that blue.

Perth is built on the banks of the Swan River, and King Street, right in the city centre, is home to the best shopping surrounded by heritage buildings. With the buzzy port town of Fremantle just half an hour from the city centre, Perth is the place to shop.

Vibrant and colourful, Freo, as dubbed by locals, is full of quirky street art, funky cafes and amazing outdoor dining, with an eclectic art scene. With beautifully preserved historic buildings, you can easily spend your time only in Fremantle and come home happy.

Perth represents modern Australia, with everything and more on offer for those looking for an opulent and unique holiday.

The writer’s trip was supported by QT Perth.

This story was produced as a part of an editorial partnership with Tourism Associates. Read more about our partnership content here.