Perth isn’t famous for its street photography, or even its lively lifestyle. The fact is that the most isolated city on earth is also one of the most relaxed, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t unique and wonderful moments to capture with your camera. If you know where to look, you’ll find a bounty of exciting events, locations and landscapes– The CBD alone has a promenade that feels like Miami, an old-london style market, and the city’s classic chinatown. So whether you’re a tourist or a local looking to capture the lifestyle, here’s some of the best spots to do it. 

Key Locations for Street Photography in Perth

1. Fremantle

If you’ve got a stopover in Perth, and just enough time to visit one spot, make it Fremantle. It’s got beaches, bustling markets, a lush park with tall pine trees, and a ferris wheel. The port city is also the cultural hub for Perth, with historical landmarks and heritage buildings giving it a unique and colourful architectural landscape. If you stop by on a Friday or the weekend, the Fremantle Markets will be open and packed to the rafters with people trying the varied cuisine. The other key spots are the Round House, Bather’s Beach, the Success Boat Harbour, and the ferris wheel. 

2. Scarborough Beach

One of the most popular spots to swim, relax, or dance is also quite easily access by public transport. Scarborough beach also boasts a busy night life and weekly sunset markets too. Along with an impressive skate park, a climbing wall, and a basketball court, the beach is always packed with things to see and photo opportunities. If you have the chance to plan ahead, check out the events going on at Scarborough beach for the week, you might luck out and have something extra exciting there like the Brazilian Beach Carnivale.

3. Cottesloe Beach

On a warm day, Cottesloe can compete with Bondi for hustle and bustle. It’s also one of the city’s most beautiful suburbs, with lush vegetation and elegantly designed houses all around. The Indiana teahouse is an icon of Perth life, and if you follow the path along past the jetty you’ll find cliffs and rock pools too. If you’re lucky enough to visit during the yearly Sculptures by the Sea event, you’ll also be treated to an art exhibit all along the beach.

4. Northbridge

The city’s nightlife district is home to chinatown, art and music venues, bars, and nightclubs. There are laneways to explore, murals to find, and plenty of people bustling around. It’s where you’ll want to go if you want to capture the nightlife of Perth– after 11pm the clubs fill up and everyone’s out having fun. But it’s plenty busy during the day, and if you stop by on a sunday morning you’ll be able to catch the Perth Trading Post too for some thrift fashion.

5. King’s Park

Ask a Perth local and King’s Park is probably the first place you’ll be told to visit. It’s got a gorgeous view of the city skyline, war memorials, and endless nature walks. People are always out having picnics, enjoying the cafes, or just wandering around. And if you want to catch the sun rising behind the city, you’ll want to visit at dawn.

6. The CBD

The Perth Central Business District isn’t the hub of bustling and jostling that that other cities are. Even during a work day, it’s only pleasantly packed. To make the most of a photo walk in the city, you’ll want to either plan around local events, or use the architecture to your advantage.

For the hotspots, you’ll want to try Forrest Place, Hay Street, and Elizabeth Quay. There’s also London Court has gorgeous architecture, along with a cute ice cream story and various tchotchkes for sale. For a rare view, climb one of the staircases on the right and left of the path to see the lane from above. 

7. Victoria Park

Vic Park has some of the best restaurants in Perth– great hot pot for one– and it’s also a hub for some of the best brunches too. With its main road and small stores, it has the vibe of a small Australian town, but thankfully, it’s not as quiet as one. All along Albany highway are photography opportunities, and if you walk towards the city you’ll reach the foreshore’s lovely parks and walking paths.

8. Hyde Park

On any given morning, Hyde Park will be humming with people power walking, drinking coffee, and enjoying the scenery. Even during summer, it’s a park packed with lush vegetation and wildlife. Nearby are a few coffee shops that always have a line out the door, and a few streets away is Mt Lawley and its own strip of restaurants and stores.

After a little wandering, maybe a sip of hot java at one of the cafes, you’ll likely have a nice collection of photos to take home with you. The question of what to do with your photos is always a slippery one–do you post them, print them, maybe even make some custom lapel pins of the and wear them about? Editing them is another game in itself, but with a touch of design to your photos– like fun text or cute patterns– you could elevate your photos into something unique. A souvenir, a gift, maybe even a merch set to sell at a local arts fair. Who knows? Mixed media is in, after all, isn’t it?

The Ultimate Perth City Photo Walk

To give you a path to follow (or get sidetracked along), here’s how you explore the hotspots:

1. Start Elizabeth Quay.
2. Follow the path along to the Bell Tower, and check out the palm tree promenade.
3. Walk through the Supreme Court Gardens to London Court. 
4. Visit Forrest Place and the iconic cactus statue. 
5. Travel through Yagan Square to Northbridge. 
6. Have lunch/dinner in Chinatown, or visit the WA Museum and art galleries. 

Street Photography Tips for Perth

Plan Your Trip Around Transit

Perth is a spread-out city. For reference, Singapore is 734 square kilometres, while Perth is over 6,300 wide. You might be able to walk from the CBD to Northbridge, or down to the Quay, but after that you need to take the ferry across the river, the bus to Victoria Park, or the train to Leederville. The TransPerth system runs across all of these, so you can buy tickets as you need, or buy a SmartRider to tag on and off with from one of the many outlets.

Plan Ahead & Stick to the Hotspots

Unless you want to spend more time doing landscape and wildlife photography, you’ll want to stick to the busiest parts of Perth. Just a few streets away from the city centre, you’ll start seeing empty streets and realise how small the population really is. There are certainly some hidden gems– like Queen’s Park and the Claisebrook Cove– but you’ll want to plan your spots ahead or you’ll end up birdwatching. 

Slip, Slop, Slap

Even during spring and autumn, Perth can be a hot city. If you’re walking around it for extended periods, you’ll want to slip on some sun protective clothing, slop on sunscreen, and slap on a hat. You’ll also want to keep hydrated, as it’s not uncommon to get sunstroke without realising it.

Perthlings & Street Photography

Perth isn’t much of a cultural hub, and there aren’t half the influencers doing interviews, or photographers doing portraits that other cities have. So, Perthians are far more camera shy than a NYC or Bangkok local. a street photographer with a big camera tends to stand out. That said, Perthians tend to be a pleasant and polite bunch, happy to have a chat or pose for a photo. If you’re walking around taking snaps, a smile and an acknowledgement is all you need. 

Final Words

There’s a lot more to the lifestyle of the “City of Lights” than most tourists realise. Beyond the natural splendour of its beaches, wineries, ancient landmarks, and the great southwest, the city has exciting cultural festivals, weekly events, and music gigs too. A few more include the footy at Optus Stadium, the Fremantle Thrift Markets, and the many morning events held at the beaches. Check them out!