Globe trotter and style director Louise Hilsz travels home to her city of birth in Perth, Western Australia. She discovered sophisticated dining options, luxurious hotels, and a city with constant sunshine at 40 degrees. This week-long stay helped fill her cup, visiting family and enjoying everyday blue skies and warm azure sea. Read on to learn more about one of her favourite holiday destinations - Perth.
How to get there
Unfortunately, as of March, Air New Zealand has stopped their seven-hour direct flight from Auckland to Perth, so break up your trip with a shopping stop in Sydney or Melbourne. Expect to spend the day travelling west, as it’s a long haul (ten hours with a stopover flying direct). When you arrive, adjust your clock. Depending on daylight saving, there is a time difference of four to five hours.
Where to stay
Regarding holidays, Booking.com believes this year Kiwis want to make the most of their vacation budget opting for one or two longer vacations instead of several short breaks. This makes Perth the ideal destination, as you will want to stay at least a week to get the best value for the time and money spent travelling to get there.
First, The Vibe in Subiaco is a great option for a more extended stay. I booked a seven-night stay through Booking.com and unlocked Genius Level with their rewards system, which got me a better deal. Subiaco is super central, located right on the train line, so it’s easy to get around if you don’t hire a car. The Vibe features a rooftop pool and restaurant, The Storehouse; expect panoramic views across the city; it’s an ideal spot to catch the sunset.
On the flip side, two in five (38 per cent) of Kiwis admit they plan to be more indulgent in their spending habits while on vacation this year - me included. This is no surprise when many are making up for years of lockdowns. While 30 per cent plan to spend lavishly to ensure they maximise their trip and make every experience worth the visit. If you want the best on offer, check out COMO The Treasury. It’s housed in a stunning building from the mid-19th Century; COMO The Treasury is wonderfully located in CBD. Guests can enjoy a swim in the indoor pool, dine at one of two restaurants or enjoy a massage at the heavenly spa.
things to do
Perth CBD is a beautiful city with heritage buildings on every street corner. Littered with street art and luxury shopping from the likes of Gucci, Channel, Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co, it’s a place to spend a full day. Head to King St, and you will find hidden laneways with fabulous restaurants and secret street bars. You will also find the big name department stores, including David Jones and Myer.
Louise Hilsz in Perth’s CBD
Famous for its stunning white sandy beaches Cottesloe, Scarborough, or City Beach , you will find plenty of beach action from all-day sunshine to surf and seaside dining. In the evening, a must is to enjoy fish chips on the sand to catch the stunning sunset. Head further along the coast, and you will discover Fremantle. Made famous by the 1983 America's Cup race, it’s now known for its crafty food markets, Fremantle Prison (take the eventing tour super spooky) and eateries. Just near the markets is a fantastic restaurant Emily Taylor, Emily Taylor brings a unique Asian twist to the best and freshest West Australian produce has to offer. Rich, colourful, authentic tastes of Asia cuisine blended with Fremantle's colonial heritage. If you love truffles, make a trip to Stonebarn at the markets. Produced in Manjimup, Western Australia, they offer all kinds of truffle delights from fresh oils, butter and dressings. Fremantle is also home to the famous brewery, a former crocodile farm on the water's edge in Fremantle Little Creatures and Gage Roads; perfect bars to escape the heat for a cold beverage..
roTtnest island
A must-visit and only a 30-minute ferry ride from Fremantle, you will discover Rottnest Island. Famous for its laid-back atmosphere and breathtakingly beautiful beaches. This is where the locals head to swim, surf, snorkel, fish and relax. Surrounded by coral reefs and shipwrecks, diving and snorkelling are out-of-this-world. With no residents living on the island, and a convenient hop-on-hop off the bus, you can discover the entire island and take in the crystal clear waters of this gorgeous oasis. A protected nature reserve, it's home to the Quokka, a small wallaby-like marsupial. The ferry terminal is where you will find a selection of hotels, shops and restaurants - my pick is Isola, an Italian restaurant and bar on the water.
Getting off the grid
There is a selection of accommodations at Rottnest that meet the eco-travel demand. From luxe-y hotels to camouflaged cabins, campfire cuisine and compasses; for going off-grid, this will never be more sought after than now in 2023, says Booking.com. Over half of Kiwis (57 per cent) are looking for ‘off-grid’ style vacations to escape reality, and three in ten (32 per cent) want to switch off and experience life with only the bare necessities. Kiwis are also keen to use travel in 2023 as an opportunity to learn survival skills (56 per cent), including how to source clean water (40 per cent), light a fire from scratch (32 per cent), forage for food in the wild (26 per cent) and even prep for an apocalypse (29 per cent).
Expect to see more eco-friendly, earthly stays springing up to accommodate burnt-out city dwellers searching for off-the-grid simplicity and accommodations offering guests guidance on how to be more self-sufficient. However, off-grid in 2023 won’t necessarily mean roughing it. There is a common perception for Kiwis that this means giving up luxuries (60 percent). However, there is a strong desire to combine the two, with close to half (45 per cent) only considering travelling ‘off-grid’ if it can be at a more indulgent stay. Stay at Discovery Rottnest Island for the perfect off-grid style vacation.
Style director Louise Hilsz stayed in Perth, Western Australia, thanks to Booking.com
We visit NZ's capital city.