8 Unusual Things to Do in Perth You've Never Heard Of

Everyone goes to Rottnest. Everyone gets the quokka photo. Everyone watches the sun go down at Cottesloe with a cold one in hand. And fair enough; these are all brilliant ways to spend an afternoon. But where do you go in Perth when you’re looking for something a little more unique, 0r maybe when you’ve exhausted the main sites? Here are 8 unusual things to do in Perth. This is what the city looks like when you go a little deeper.

Perth Beyond the Beaches

Perth is one of the most isolated cities on earth. It’s closer to Singapore than it is to Sydney, and its isolation truly makes it something of its own. This sprawling Western Australian city has had to build its own culture, its own food scene, its own sense of humour, largely on its own.

The result is a place with a lot more going on than most visitors ever realise!

Most people spend about three days, hit the highlights, and leave thinking they’ve seen it. But if you’ve ever been to Perth, you’ll know that they haven’t! Beneath the beaches and the blue skies there are convict tunnels you can navigate by boat, an underwater shipwreck twenty-five metres from the shore, and a desert two hours north where you can eat a barbecue dinner under the Milky Way. There are also entire neighbourhoods the tourists don’t reach, plus rooftop cinemas, and quiz nights that locals take very seriously indeed.

Unusual Things to Do in Perth

This isn’t a list for first-timers. In this article, we go a little deeper, showing you some unusual things to do in Perth that you might not have heard of quite yet.

1. Snorkel the Omeo Wreck, Coogee Beach

Just 25 metres off Coogee Beach, the Omeo is Perth’s most accessible shipwreck; an iron steamship that ran aground here in 1905 and has been slowly settling into the sand ever since. It’s now one of Perth’s best snorkelling spots!

Grab a mask and fins and you can swim straight out from the shore to explore its rusted hull, now home to schools of fish, blue manna crabs, and the occasional passing dolphin. The Omeo also the centrepiece of the Coogee Maritime Trail, with underwater sculptures and artificial reef structures guiding you along the way, making it as much an art trail as a dive site.

More on that one next!

2. The Coogee Maritime Trail

The Coogee Maritime Trail is a self-guided underwater trail that stretches along the coastline from the Omeo wreck, taking snorkellers and divers past more than 55 artificial reef structures and underwater sculptures.

Expect to find replica cannons, reef pyramids, a swim-through sculpture, and even a few quirky finds like a mystery railway wheel, all set among a thriving marine habitat of fish, crabs, and even the occasional seal. This rare combination of maritime history, marine conservation, and public art is accessible straight from the beach with nothing more than a mask and snorkel!

3. Fremantle Prison Tunnel Tour

Did you know that twenty metres below the renowned Fremantle Prison lies a kilometre-long network of tunnels, dug by hand by prisoners in the 1850s? It’s now open to the public on the Tunnels Tour!

After clipping into a safety ladder and descending underground, you walk through the drier sections before boarding a replica convict punt to paddle through the flooded passageways, past well shafts, timber supports, and pickaxe marks left in the rock. There are no maps or landmarks down there, which makes the whole experience feel pretty disorienting in an exciting way!

This truly is a part of local history. Bookings are essential, and it’s worth knowing this one isn’t for the claustrophobic or anyone uneasy on ladders!

4. Tour the HMAS Ovens submarine

On Fremantle’s historic World War Two submarine slipway sits the HMAS Ovens, an Oberon-class Cold War vessel that served in the Australian Navy for 26 years before being decommissioned in 1995. Guided tours, often led by retired submariners, take you through the tight passageways and control rooms exactly as they were left, giving a real sense of what life at sea was like for the crews who served aboard her.

Groups are small and booking ahead is worthwhile, especially on weekends and during school holidays. By the way, it’s worth being prepared for narrow hatches and low headroom throughout!

5. Leederville

Now for a little less wild adventure, and more relaxing weekend vibes.

Only three kilometres from the CBD, Leederville is where a lot of Perth locals spend their weekends, wandering the Oxford Street strip past street murals, independent boutiques, and record stores before settling in for coffee or tapas.

The Art Deco Luna Cinema anchors the corner of Oxford and Vincent, screening art-house films and cult classics in an intimate, retro setting that’s been part of the neighbourhood for decades.

In the evenings, small bars and restaurants take over, from long-running favourites like Duende to newer openings serving everything from Hokkaido-style ramen to modern share plates, and the whole strip has a tight-knit, walkable feel that’s rare in Australian cities. A stroll to nearby Lake Monger rounds things off nicely, with a lap of the water and a gelato in hand the perfect way to close out the afternoon.

6. Northbridge Rooftop Movies

Six floors up on top of a Roe Street car park, Rooftop Movies has been Perth’s go-to open-air cinema since it launched in 2012 with a sold-out screening of The Big Lebowski.

Doors open at 6pm, giving you time to grab a pizza and a drink and sink into a bean bag before the film starts at 8, with the city skyline lighting up behind the screen as the sun goes down. The lineup runs from blockbusters and new releases to cult classics and cheesy throwbacks, and the season sometimes throws in DJ sets, live comedy, or rooftop yoga alongside the films.

Just keep in mind that this one only runs through the warmer months, from around October to April, so time your visit accordingly.

7. Yanchep Lagoon and National Park

Yanchep National Park packs kangaroos, koalas, and 570 caves into one stretch of the Swan Coastal Plain. A koala colony has lived here since 1938, and the wheelchair-accessible boardwalk lets you get close to them lounging in the eucalypts, while western grey kangaroos are easy to spot lazing on the lawns at dawn or dusk.

Underground, Crystal Cave is open for guided tours and is the only show cave in the Perth region, formed over thousands of years and hung with limestone formations, while nearby Yanchep Lagoon offers a very different kind of exploring, with a curved reef just off the beach creating calm, clear water that’s perfect for snorkelling and safe swimming with kids.

Round it out with a walk through Boomerang Gorge, lunch at the historic Yanchep Inn, or, if you’re feeling brave, a high-ropes course through the treetops.

8. Quiz nights

Perth takes its trivia seriously, and most neighbourhood pubs have a regular quiz night with a loyal following.

Quizmeisters’ Thursday session, cheekily titled “The World’s Least Shit Pub Trivia,” is one of the most popular in the city, known for its buzzing atmosphere and decent cash prizes. Expect fierce team rivalries, cheap parmi specials, and questions ranging from pop culture to genuinely obscure general knowledge.

Check out some more pub quizzes here!

Where to stay in Perth

Conveniently located just minutes from Perth Airport, Sanno Marracoonda Airport Hotel offers comfortable accommodation with complimentary airport transfers, making arrivals and departures effortless. With spacious rooms, an on-site restaurant and bar, and easy access to Perth’s city centre, this one’s a practical choice for both business and leisure travellers.

Otherwise, combining comfort with a convenient location, Great Eastern Motor Lodge provides easy access to both Perth Airport and the CBD. Guests can enjoy spacious accommodation, an outdoor swimming pool, on-site dining, and a complimentary airport shuttle, also making it an ideal base for exploring Perth or catching an early flight.