Six hidden highlights of Perth most visitors miss

You’ve seen Kings Park, made a splash at Cottesloe Beach and had the almost-obligatory selfie with a quokka; now it’s time to see what else there is to do in Perth.

Adopt quokka qualities; stay curious and hop to the next adventure with these six experiences that will make you rival Western Australia’s grinning mascot.

Cabaret Cave Yoga

Stretch out underground at the Cabaret Cave.

Combine life in the underground and stretch muscles with a truly unique yoga session. Down in the depths of Yanchep National Park is Cabaret Cave. The former 1930s secret dinner venue for Perth’s elite remains a private affair as the city’s only events cavern. Instead of flexing forks, flex on all fours with the Hike Collective’s Cabaret Cave Yoga. The 45-minute yoga session is suited for beginners and those not afraid of being in the depths of the earth. Post yogi session, enjoy the sensory overload on a small hike through the park’s jarrah and tuart woodlands, visiting Boomerang Gorge and Loch Mcness. Really feel at peace with spotting a koala in its natural habitat before enjoying a cold-pressed juice. Now that’s how to namaste.
See hikecollective.com.au/st_tour/cabaret-cave

Leederville

Streetside socialising is Leederville’s backbone.Credit: Leederville Connect

One train stop from Perth Station is the vibrant and hip neighbourhood Leederville. Streetside socialising is Leederville’s backbone. It is known for its fusion of swanky and kitsch restaurants, bars, old-fashioned pubs, vibrant street art and arthouse cinema. Many venues along the heritage strip Oxford Street offer outdoor seating to revel in the buzzing atmosphere of this lively inner-city pocket. Walk down the hidden laneway, Electric Lane, to enter the all-day culinary pleasure garden and yard bar, Servo. The multi-level venue offers bottomless afternoons on Saturdays if you want to engage in a local pastime. For another gastronomic escape, head to the Vietnamese street eats institution Bun-Mee for a wallet-friendly bite.
See destinationperth.com.au

Barefaced Stories

Storytime isn’t just for little ones; grown-ups can open their minds at Perth’s much-loved modern storytelling event, Barefaced Stories. One night each month, selected storytellers take the stage to voice their unwritten life tales. Expect hearts on sleeves as each engaging, raw, and brutally honest story highlights how chaotic humans can be – whether it be a funny, tear-jerking or hide-behind-a-door embarrassing chapter in one’s life. Each event follows a theme, such as ‘OK Bloomer’ and ‘Hot Mess’, so you know it’s not your average bedtime story.
See barefaced.com.au

Hyde Park and Chu Bakery

The Moreton Bay Figs of Hyde Park.Credit: Alamy

Take part in a low-key weekend ritual. Visit the bakery, then head to the park. But not just any inner-city bakery or park. Corner store Chu Bakery is a cult favourite among pastry enthusiasts, known for its light, delicious and ’gram-worthy carb creations. It’s not uncommon to see a line snaked around the William Street store, but the wait is worth it. Expand the waistline with twice-baked croissants, baguettes, and innovative fares like mushroom truffle Danishes and passionfruit chilli doughnuts, to name a few. Once loaded with baked goods, walk across the street to Hyde Park.

A gazetted public space since 1897, the park and its pathways are beautifully ornate with Port Jackson and Moreton Bay Figs, jacaranda, pine, and plane trees. Sit on a bench by one of the two ponds, watch the local wildlife (black swans, ‘bin’ birds out in the wild) and enjoy your freshly baked treat.
See instagram.com/chubakery

Hidden DeTours

Let the fun times be-gin! Go on a bar-hopping tour with only one spirit on the menu – gin. Hidden DeTours runs three-hour-plus gin walking tours around Perth, visiting three ‘mystery’ bars for a guided tasting. At each stop, you’ll have three gin tasters, with neat, mixed with tonic/soda or cocktail on the menu. Nibbles at the start and end of the tour are included to align the stomach with all that gin-drinking. (Do the maths; that’s nine gin tastings throughout the night, folks!). The tour also weaves the history of gin and Perth’s scandalous past, making it a unique cultural night out – and a somewhat naughty one at that!
See hiddendetours.com.au

Chinatown and Astral Weeks

Discover Perth’s most bustling laneways in Northbridge’s Chinatown. Enter through the time-warp food court, Old Shanghai or walk under the red gate along Roe Street to experience a pocket of Asia.

Outdoor seating aligns the few narrow streets, with aromas wafting in the air and smoke billowing from sizzling plates from late-night Chinese restaurant institutions, Billy Lee’s or Uncle Billy’s. Servings are generous, with both restaurants providing a well-oiled cure for partygoers until 4am on weekends.

From bellies being full to something more soulful in this humming village is the record bar, Astral Weeks. Inspired by listening bars in Japan, the dimly lit, minimalistic loft bar serves high-quality wines alongside a mixing deck spun by staff or guest selectors. Good wine, good tunes; now that’s a vibe.
See astral-weeks.com.au