Boorloo – located on the traditional lands of the Whadjuk Noongar people
This was our first trip back to Perth since 2011, and she wasn’t too cheerful to see us – raining on and off for the 24 hours we were there, pre-Ningaloo adventure. But we did get a lovely sunset at the QT Perth Rooftop Bar and an excellent night’s sleep. The CBD is like a large country town and driving in from the airport felt like a Sunday afternoon, not a Tuesday lunch time.
Post-Ningaloo, we stayed another 3 nights at the QT Perth to enjoy the city, this time in an executive king room – great colour palate and extra room. The QT can’t be beat for location – across the street from a shopping mall and halfway between the Treasury building and the Railway station/ Art Gallery. There is a welcoming vibe in the foyer, comfortable and well-designed rooms and a top floor bar that has magnificent views of the city.
OH HEY WA
On a rainy winter morning in Perth CBD, we were sheltering under the umbrella at the base of the Perth Digital Tower in Yagan Square. Alex from ‘Oh Hey WA‘ bounded up to us with the most sincere and effervescent smile and warm energy that we knew we were in for a good tour. Her open sincerity and enthusiasm for the stories she told totally made the tour. It was great to learn about the First Nations and geographical history of this place, and how that is being honoured in the artworks and contemporary architecture of the city. We darted into ‘activated laneways’ with their vibrant murals and explored arcades with tiny interesting and tiny shops owned and operated by locals…and great coffee! I highly recommend this company for a fun and informative tour of this lovely and very walkable city.
ART GALLERY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Spent a wonderful couple of hours in the Art Gallery of Western Australia. Not a huge gallery, but the curators have made outstanding choices. Very impressed by ‘Pulse 2024’ the WA version of NSW’s Art Express – the best of the Year 12 VA works from last year’s graduating cohort. Loved the ‘Balancing Act’ exhibition of the work of First Nations’ artists from the state collection.
WILDFLOWER
Indulged in a special birthday lunch at the best restaurant in Perth – Wildflower. We immersed ourselves in a 6-course degustation and were taken care of by the charming, knowledgeable and professional Cedric. It was one of the best dining experiences we’ve ever had.
ALFRED’S PIZZERIA
Alfred’s Pizzeria was recommended by Alex from ‘Oh, Hey WA’, and we were so grateful for the recommendation. The entrance door is a painted red telephone box that opens at 3pm and leads down to a tiny space that is a bar that also serves fresh pizza made to order. We were the first customers in there at 4:30pm, which was great as it allowed us to chat to the charming and knowledgeable Ben behind the bar who was happy to talk all things whisky. We went with a 12-year cask strength 2023 Bunnahabhain that was not on the menu, but he knew it would work for us…and it did! John had his with ice, I had mine with water. We sat on that for a while and enjoyed the whole vibe of the place, eclectic décor and a nostalgic playlist for my generation (which still speaks to those younger) playing in the background.
Before we left, we ordered a pizza to take away. We sought advice from our barman when I was torn between chilli and truffle oil as my ‘addition’ to the pizza to match the bottle of red we had bought earlier (a shiraz aged in sherry casks) – he suggested the truffle oil. Excellent choice! Would recommend staying longer – the place got busy as we were leaving, and everyone had smiles on their faces.
This won’t be our last visit to Australia’s western state’s capital, and we look forward to next time.
LINKED POSTS: The overview account of our North West Cape adventure can be found here. The detailed account of our stay at Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef Safari Camp can be found here.
Click on any image below to view as gallery
-
- The State Buildings Stirling Gardens, Perth, Western Australia
-
- Bell Tower, Perth, Western Australia
-
- Kangaroo sculpture, Yagan Square, Perth, Western Australia
-
- Stained glass windows of St George’s Cathedral, Perth, Western Australia
-
- Interior St George’s Cathedral, Perth, Western Australia
-
- “Percy Buttons’ Aspiration”, Hay Street Mall, Perth, Western Australia
-
- “Grow Your Own” sculpture by James Angus, Forrest Place, Perth, Western Australia
-
- Yagan Square, Perth, Western Australia
-
- Exterior Art Gallery of Western Australia
-
- Heirloom beetroot with dandelion, sorghum, davidson plum at Wildflower Restaurant, Perth, Western Australia
-
- View from Wildflower Restaurant, Perth, Western Australia
-
- View over the twin basins to the bed at QT Perth, Western Australia
-
- View into the bathroom at the QT Perth, Western Australia
-
- Executive King room, QT Perth, Western Australia
-
- The red telephone box door entry to Alfred’s Pizzeria, Perth, Western Australia
-
- Underground bar at Alfred’s Pizzeria, Perth, Western Australia
-
- Cool decor at Alfred’s Pizzeria, Perth, Western Australia
-
- Huge choice at the bar at Alfred’s Pizzeria, Perth, Western Australia
-
- Corner table at Alfred’s Pizzeria, Perth, Western Australia
-
- Line caught fish with dessert lime, kohlrabi and Warrigal green at Wildflower Restaurant, Perth, Western Australia
-
- Interior Wildflower Restaurant, Perth, Western Australia
-
- Sailing ice cream – wattleseed and grand marnier – at Wildflower Restaurant, Perth, Western Australia
-
- Spirit celebrations at Wildflower Restaurant, Perth, Western Australia
-
- Happy Birthday wishes at Wildflower Restaurant, Perth, Western Australia
-
- Denmark truffles at Wildflower Restaurant, Perth, Western Australia
-
- Brett Whiteley’s ‘The American Dream, AGWA
-
- Perth skyline from the roof of the AGWA
-
- Section of Brett Whiteley’s ‘The American Dream, AGWA
-
- Tracy Moffat Exhibition, AGWA
-
- Art Gallery of Western Australia
Pingback: Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia – bontaks travels