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We were up bright and early making the most of our first full day in Perth, Western Australia.  With bright blue skies and soaring temperatures we started the day at Elizabeth Quay, just a short walk from our accommodation.

This vibrant waterfront destination is located on the edge of the Swan River and was opened in 2016.  The quay boasts numerous bars and restaurants and is the starting point for Swan River cruises, ferries and boat trips to Rottnest Island.

A striking dual arched pedestrian and cyclist bridge spans the inlet from which we admired the impressive 360 degree views across the river and of the Perth central business district skyline.

Not far from Elizabeth Quay on Barrack Square stands The Bell Tower, home of the Swan Bells.  Perth’s Bell Tower has become a city icon as it contains 12 bells from the famous St. Martin-in-the-Field church in London’s Trafalgar Square.  The bells hang in a specially built state of the art 82.5m high copper and glass bell tower.

We’d pre-arranged tickets for the Bell Tower Experience Tour, standard entrance $22 (£11.50).  This began with a detailed talk about the bells and how the 14th century bells came to find their way from London to Western Australia.  The bell tower is also home to the oldest bell in Australia which was first cast around 1550 in Reading, England.  By the first half of the 20th century it had become cracked and was replaced by a new bell in 1933.  It was then on display in the church before it was given on permanent loan to the Perth Bell Tower.

We were then escorted into the bell ringing room where we learnt lots of fascinating facts about the bells and the techniques for ringing them.  We were even invited to have a go at bell ringing ourselves.  Being the smallest in our group I was allocated the lightest bell and clinging onto the fluffy, woollen part at the end known as the ‘Sally’ I pulled as hard as I could.

Not only did I make a resounding ding, but also the weight of the rope lifted my feet off the ground!  After getting accustomed to single rings we then all tried together to create a peal.  It was great fun and although I’ve been into numerous bell ringing rooms up church towers before I’d never had an opportunity to try it for myself.  We were even presented with certificates of our accomplishment.

Afterwards, we took the lift upstairs to view the actual bells we’d been ringing and then continued upwards to the Level 6 observation deck which offered panoramic aerial views of both the river and city.

Next on our itinerary after our obligatory morning coffee stop was to the Government House Gardens which are free to visit but only open Tuesday-Thursday between 12.00-2.00 p.m.  These beautiful gardens contain a mixture of native and introduced plants including a nearly 200 year old olive tree, a beautiful rose garden and numerous trees planted over the years by members of the Royal Family.

At one side of the gardens lie Government House which was completed in 1864 and during that time has served as the office of the Governor of Western Australia.  Currently in residence is the 32nd Governor, Kerry Sanderson who is the first woman to hold this position.

Close by stands the Supreme Court Gardens which opened in 1845 firstly as a botanical garden.  This garden is equally beautiful with its expansive lawns, well tendered flower beds and shady trees under which we spotted office workers enjoying their picnic lunches.

Whilst visiting the garden we took the opportunity of exploring the city’s original courthouse which was built in 1836 and is located next to the Supreme Court building.  The old courthouse has been restored to its original state and houses a small museum which is free to visit.  The Old Courthouse Law Museum was the first court building to be constructed in Perth.

I’m so glad we took the time to look inside as we enjoyed our visit very much even sitting on the Bench where the judge would have presided over the affairs of the court.  Other rooms contain interpretative displays and artefacts taking us on a journey through Western Australia’s legal history.

Next, we popped into the Museum of Perth which is also free to visit and although quite small covering only one room, this was interesting as it chronicles the social history of the city.

Shopping and a spot of lunch followed with a stroll along to London Court, a 1937 shopping arcade encapsulating Tudor England.

This open roofed arcade connects St. George’s Terrace with Hay Street Mall and contains an assortment of cafes, chocolatiers and small stores.  At one end, an ornamental clock chimes on the quarter of each hour whilst four knights circle in the window above when the clock strikes.

Refreshed after our late lunch we continued onto yet another of the city’s free museums, this one being the Fire and Emergency Services Heritage Centre, housed in the original Perth central fire station which was constructed in 1899.

The museum is run by volunteers and over two floors showcases vintage fire engines, equipment and uniforms as well as documenting the history of WA’s fire brigade.

St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Cathedral located in Victoria Square was just steps away so we visited there next.  The official title is the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Completed in 1865, this magnificent church has since undergone numerous additions, the latest being in 2009 with a stunning new curved interior extension blending in with the existing building beautifully.

We’d spent the day viewing much of what Perth city centre had to offer but there was still one more museum on our list of ‘must sees’ so with just over an hour before closing time we hot footed it along to the Perth Cultural Centre in order to visit the Western Australia Museum Boola Bardip, standard admission $15 AUD (£7.85).

Boola Bardip means ‘many stories’ with its exhibitions exploring the history and diversity of the people of Western Australia woven through stories and cultural heritage.

Among the museum’s 8 permanent galleries are many rare artefacts including the country’s largest whale skeleton and Australia’s oldest grape vine.  The ‘Connections’ gallery explores W.A. as a multi-cultural state as it is home to the largest overseas born population in the country.

On our way back to the hotel we walked past the impressive Perth Railway Station on Wellington Street into which we had arrived the previous evening from the airport.

Just across the road from there lies Forrest Place, a large pedestrianised square with seating and public artwork.  One side of the square is lined with a shopping mall whilst on the other stands the historic General Post Office and Commonwealth Bank buildings.

After a little rest back at our hotel we headed back to Elizabeth Quay and enjoyed a relaxing meal at The Island sitting outdoors by the water’s edge overlooking the Swan River.

As our visit to Perth took place in late November we then enjoyed following the Rio Tinto Christmas Lights Trail where we saw over 20 amazing light installations as well as projections onto some of the city centre’s famous buildings.

The one I’ve featured is the Anglican St, George’s Cathedral, designed in Gothic Revival Style.  A concert was taking place indoors so we couldn’t go in but did manage to catch a glance of its beautiful interior through the glass doorway.

Feeling tired but happy we returned to the hotel for a good night’s sleep before more adventures awaited us on the following days to Fremantle, Rottnest Island and to the Swan Valley. If you don’t have your own car to explore further afield, a good option is using King Mini Bus charter company as they offer local Perth and Swan Valley Tours.

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