This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).
Until fairly recently, Perth seemed to exist inside its own bubble — around 2,000 miles west of Sydney and one of the world’s most isolated cities, the capital of Western Australia appeared largely indifferent to the rest of the country. The past decade, however, has seen untold millions spent boosting the city’s reputation as Australia’s under-the-radar hotspot, accompanied by an unprecedented hotel boom, with 45 new properties opening their doors to guests. Position yourself in the shiny centre or boho Fremantle to access the city’s desirable neighbourhoods, from hipster Leederville to grungy Northbridge and beachy Cottesloe.
Best for: skyline views
Hundreds of shards of broken pottery line the foyer of the world’s 100th Ritz-Carlton hotel, which opened in 2019. Crafted into an art installation, the ceramic pieces were retrieved during excavations to create Elizabeth Quay. The waterfront precinct frames the Swan River, reimagining land that once served as a gathering place for Aboriginal people in pre-colonial times. Nowadays, it’s neon-lit in myriad colours, making for captivating evening strolls. Soak up the views from the 18-floor hotel at its rooftop Songbird Bar & Lounge, Hearth Lounge and illuminated, quay-facing pool. Rooms: From A$529 (£275).
Best for: heritage
True story: a ghostbuster was engaged to clear any lingering spirits from these heritage terrace houses, which once accommodated the warders of nearby Fremantle Prison. Don’t let that deter you, because the boutique rooms — in duck-egg blue or dusty rose — couldn’t feel more peaceful. They blend restored timber boards with luxury bed linen and copper piping that creates linear sculptures along thick limestone walls, which date back to 1851. There’s no need to incur the wrath of any remaining spectral warders by stealing the mini bar contents or breakfast pastries — all are complimentary — while a bustling Asian dumpling den downstairs will deliver to your cocoon with the tap of a QR code. Next door is Fremantle Markets, selling everything from fashion to local produce. Rooms: From A$299 (£155).
Best for: quokka-spotting
If grinning marsupials aren’t enough to get you to Rottnest Island, perhaps this plush retreat will be. The visionaries behind the first luxury accommodation ever to open on the quokka-dotted nature reserve took 13 years to achieve their goal — obstacles such as a 12-mile ocean channel and a global pandemic had to be surmounted before Samphire could slot its A$30m (£15.8m) of bone-hued elegance into Rottnest’s landscape. Named after a native succulent, the ocean-facing resort — 30 minutes by ferry from the mainland — has 80 rooms surrounding two lagoon-style pools. With numerous beachfront drinking and dining options — in minimalist, understated surrounds — it’s almost too easy not to explore the rest of the island, with guided walks, e-bikes and a Wadjemup Aboriginal tour available. Rooms: From A$249 (£129).
Best for: cool couples
Cockatoo wallpaper? Check. Snakeskin elevators? Check. Lashings of black? Check. Personality seeps from the surfaces at QT Perth, creating an atmosphere that’s opulent, grown-up and seductive. Nods to Western Australia are given throughout: in the guest rooms, it’s metal artwork nodding to the local mining sector, native wildlife on the wallpaper and jewel tones in luxe fabrics inspired by the diamonds found in the north. QT’s 18th-floor rooftop bar is decked out in the colours of the state’s Kimberley region. Rusty-red and turquoise hues — evoking the rocks and ocean — contrast with surrounding skyscrapers, so close you could almost touch them. On the first floor is Santini Grill, one of the city’s best Italian restaurants. Rooms: From A$314 (£163).
Best for: flashpackers
The floor-to-ceiling windows at this posh pad might make you forget you’re in a hostel. Taking up one-and-a-half floors of a skyscraper in central Perth, the private rooms here have high ceilings, black-steel bed frames, pine shelving and vinyl floorboards. Each also has air conditioning and an en suite bathroom. In the polished concrete communal zones, there’s a cinema screen with cushioned terrace seating, a cafe serving breakfast basics and a games hub with an old-school Pac-Man table. Rooms: From A$129 (£67).
Best for: affordable chic
If fashion, architecture and design books are your thing, you may never leave Tribe. Big, shiny hardbacks are stacked around the idiosyncratic cafe-bar-lounge, which is dotted with sassy statement furniture — poodle-fluffy plush chairs, an electric-blue sofa resembling pillowy clam lips, gleaming gold accents and neon strips. It’s great value, too — doing away with minibar, concierge and porter delivers lean rates. Rooms are compact with clever design features and floor-to-ceiling windows. Rooms: From A$179 (£93).
Best for: neighbourhood vibes
Six friends imagined they were contestants on a reality TV renovation competition when they took over this seaside pub, sitting pretty on the eclectic South Fremantle cafe strip. Each took charge of the decor of a single guest room. As a result, no two are the same. Some sport beds with canopy frames, others have historic fireplaces or curios from the owners’ homes. The ‘Elephant Suite’ is particularly coveted for its giant mural of nuzzling pachyderms, painted by local artist Anya Brock. With light flooding through sash windows and stylish decor, it feels homely, a sense carried into the bar downstairs. The watering hole is a hub for a colourful cast of regulars, including musicians, tradesmen and artists. Rooms: From A$155 (£81).
Best for: luxury wellness
Red cedar saunas are attached to the three rooms that make up this adults-only retreat, tucked away in Perth’s wine region, the Swan Valley. Fittingly, the recently opened, standalone Wine Barrel room resembles a huge wooden cask, twinned with a barrel-shaped sauna. The lofty space and its countryside views contrast with a slew of smart features, including automatic blinds. An outdoor hot tub, private golf cart and nearby spa with flotation pod round out the experience. Rooms: From A$445 (£231).
Best for: design-lovers
Playfulness is at Alex’s core, via a record player here, a velvet love seat there and all manner of designer knick-knacks. The boutique haven is as craft-led as its founders, the original owners of Fremantle’s world-renowned Little Creatures brewery. The six-storey building — set in Perth Cultural Centre — is perfectly placed for exploring the Art Gallery of Western Australia, WA Museum Boola Bardip and the State Theatre Centre of WA. Inside, a focus on communal zones, from the artful mezzanine to the skyline-wrapped rooftop, gives guests reason to linger. The minimalist rooms are petite yet fun: double-glazed, glass-encased showers cheekily look out onto the outside world (electric modesty blinds optional). Bonus touches include Alex’s attached restaurant, Shadow Wine Bar, and noon checkout. Rooms: From A$270 (£140).
Best for: subtle elegance
Being located on Point Zero — the centre point of the city, from which all distances to Perth are measured — is an element of this five-star hotel’s story that’s almost forgotten once you step inside. Constructed in the 1890s to house the state’s Treasury Buildings and original General Post Office, today’s iteration brings a palpable sense of refined luxury to the city centre. The hotel is home to 48 voluminous guest rooms — no two alike — four top-notch restaurants, an indoor pool overlooking historic rooftops, a day spa, private library and, on the public floor, a collection of boutique shops that range from florist to tailor to chocolate maker. For understated wow factor, there’s nowhere better. Rooms: From A$895 (£465).
Published in the September 2024 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK).
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