Kings Park and Perth on your own: a practical first day
Updated October 28, 2026 · 3 min read
Kings Park is not an out-of-town excursion. It sits about 1.5 km from Perth’s central business district, admission is free and city buses run into the park. The useful question is how to combine it with the centre without spending the day doubling back.
Start high, finish by the river
Take the 935 or Blue CAT bus into Kings Park and begin around Fraser Avenue, the State War Memorial and the Western Australian Botanic Garden. The park is open around the clock, but individual facilities and walks have their own times. Free volunteer-led walks run daily; check the current programme rather than building your day around an old timetable.
Allow time to walk. The river and skyline views are close to the main precinct, while May Drive Parkland and other family areas lie farther away. A family playground day and a compact first-city overview are therefore different plans.
Return towards the centre for Elizabeth Quay, the riverfront and the arcades around the central streets. This creates one direction of travel instead of climbing to the park after a long city walk. In hot weather, put Kings Park early and leave indoor stops for the middle of the day.
Is the sightseeing bus worth it?
The Perth hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus offers 24- or 48-hour tickets and includes Kings Park on its route. It earns its price for travellers who want commentary, have limited walking stamina or plan several dispersed stops. It adds less for someone content with the free city bus and a focused walking route.
For most first-time visitors, one morning in Kings Park followed by central Perth is enough structure. Do not attempt to cover every park precinct and every city attraction in one day. Choose the botanic garden and views, then let the riverfront form the second half.
