Elizabeth Quay: A Locals Guide + the Best Things To Do 2023

Elizabeth Quay has become a popular tourist attraction in Perth’s city centre. Visitors are drawn to this new waterfront urban development which incorporates luxury hotels, restaurants, and cafes with stunning river and city views.

If you’re looking for a fun and easygoing day out in Perth, look no further than Elizabeth Quay. Here you’ll find all sorts of things to do, from river cruises to water playgrounds. Whether you’re looking for something simple like a walk or something more challenging like a water bike experience, this leisure and entertainment precinct has it all.

The 3 Best Things To Do in Elizabeth Quay

Elizabeth Quay was formally opened in January 2016 and has been an important part of the city of Perth ever since. Named after Queen Elizabeth II during her diamond jubilee, the artificial inlet replaced the Esplanade reserve.

Both locals and tourists enjoy the beautiful water views, having lunch or dinner at one of the eateries and letting their children play in the playgrounds. There are lots of free things to do in Elizabeth Quay if you are on a budget too.

1. River Cruises from Elizabeth Quay

There are a lot of scenic river cruises to choose from that depart from Barrack Street Jetty in Elizabeth Quay.

The Swan River Scenic Cruise takes you past the Old Swan Brewery building, Kings Park, the Royal Perth Yacht Club and Perth’s opulent waterfront homes to the port of Fremantle. Here you will turn around and return to Elizabeth Quay. 

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See prices & availability here

Alternatively, you can choose the one way scenic cruise, explore Fremantle at leisure, and return by train. This is what we do when we have visitors.

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Cruise along the Swan River on a Swan Valley Gourmet Wine Cruise while enjoying the wine tastings on board with cheese and biscuits. At Sandalfords, a behind-the-scene winery tour, a sample of flight wines, and a 2-course lunch are included in your ticket.

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If you choose to depart from Perth to Rottnest Island, your ferry will depart from Barrack Street Jetty.

The Little Ferry Co offers you a scenic way to get from Perth to East Perth aboard WA’s only solar electric ferry. The cute Edwardian-style return boat tour includes a commentary and can be used as a hop on/off service, stopping at On The Point, Optus Stadium, and Claisebrook Cove in East Perth. We often see dolphins in this part of the river as well as our beautiful black swans. The entire return cruise takes 2 hours.

2. Elizabeth Quay Bridge

Elizabeth Quay Bridge provides amazing views of the inlet and Perth city skyline from one side and the Swan River and South Perth from the other. This bridge links the island to Barrack Street Jetty. It’s one of the best photo locations in Perth and a beautiful vantage point to see our wonderful cityscape.

The 110m long, 22m high double arch, cable stay suspension bridge, the first of its kind in Perth, was constructed in 2016 .

Gondolas aren’t something you’d expect to see in Perth, but Gondolas on the Swan provide a one-hour romantic sunset cruise and a half-hour cruise.

3. Perth Walking Tour

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Two Feet and a Heartbeat have been Perth’s #1 tour company since 2007! And for good reason too. A 5 star rating on TripAdvisor and glowing reviews.

They have loads of walking tours to choose from, so you’re bound to find one that interests you.

Things To Do in Elizabeth Quay with Kids

1. The Island Playground

The nature-inspired Elizabeth Quay kids playground consists of natural materials that encourage creative play, designed with a maritime theme in mind. There are climbing ropes, a three-storey climbing tower, a sandpit with wooden stepping logs and a water table, a ship’s bell to ring, and a slide to keep the little ones amused.

Umbrellas provide partial shade for the hot summer months.

2. Elizabeth Quay Water Playground

If you’re visiting Perth with kids during summer, they will enjoy cooling off in the BHP Billiton Water Park. It’s a free space for families to enjoy with an interactive water feature that uses jets and lighting. It is named after the global resources company due to their generous $10 million contribution towards the building of this project.

The area surrounding the water playground is ideal for a picnic or to watch the sun go down from the decking. Our daughters had so much fun playing in the water while we sat back and enjoyed the views, and it’s one of the best free things to do in Elizabeth Quay.

The beautiful mosaic tiles represent the Dreaming story of the creation of the Milky Way. Pinjah, meaning tadpole in the Whadjuk language, portrays water meandering through the playground. The small blue circles symbolise Hyde Park Lake and Lake Monger, the only two lakes left in the greater Perth area. The black circle represents the Noongar people, and the red circle depicts the people’s blood, in the past, the present and the future.

3. The Elizabeth Quay Carousel

I love the nostalgia of a carousel, and the Elizabeth Quay one is no different. It was made in Italy by the incredible people who built the carousel in front of the Eiffel Tower and has the same intricate and beautiful hand-painted artwork.

The story behind the project by Rohan Milne of Rohan Jewellers is wonderful – Rohan visited San Sebastian in Spain where he fell in love with the Venetian carousel on the beach at La Concha. He then visited carousels all over the world and decided that his carousel had to be an Italian built, traditional Venetian Carousel.

The Elizabeth Quay Carousel is wheelchair friendly, and tickets are available at the ticket box by the carousel.

Open on weekends, pubic holidays, and WA school holidays from 10 am to 7 pm (weather permitting).

4. Water Bike Experience

See Perth from a different angle on a one-hour fun water bike – glide along the river and into Elizabeth Quay in groups of two to nine with a professional guide.

The water bikes are safe, stable, and incredibly easy to use, suitable for most ages and abilities.

5. Perth Segway Tour

For a bit of fun and adventure, Perth Segway Tours leaves from Barrack Street Jetty. Your knowledgeable guide takes you to attractions like Kings Park, Claisebrook Cove in East Perth, or the river foreshore, depending on the option selected when booking. 

Rated 5/5⭐️ with over 520 reviews!

6. Grab an Ice Cream

We always stop at Gusto Gelato when we’re in Elizabeth Quay. The gelato is handmade on the premises using only the finest ingredients, no commercial pastes or artificial flavours are added. It is created using traditional artisan production techniques learnt in the Italian town of Bologna. The only problem is trying to decide what flavour to have!

Elizabeth Quay Attractions

Bell Tower Perth

Perth’s Bell Tower, one of the largest music instruments in the world, was built in 1999 despite a public outcry of the waste of A$5.5 million. However, it has proved to be a success and is standing strong in one of the busiest parts of the city.

The 18 Swan Bells hang in an 82.5 metre-high tower consisting of a glass spire with copper sails. The sixteen-bell peal is the second largest set of change ringing bells globally, with only Dublin’s Christ Church Cathedral having more at nineteen.

Twelve of the bells are royal bells from St Martin in the Fields, London, given to Western Australia by the British Government in 1988. The oldest bell dates back to 1550, and these are the only set known to have left England. The remaining six bells were cast more recently by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry and made with a donation of metals mined in WA.

The views from the top over Elizabeth Quay and the Swan River are beautiful.

There are four ticket options at the Bell Tower, including general admission:

Unique Things To Do in Elizabeth Quay

Harvest a Pearl

Willie Creek Pearls in Elizabeth Quay offer a private, unique experience where you’ll get to harvest your own Australian South Sea Pearl. Enjoy a glass of Margaret River sparkling wine while your host explains how oysters are grown and harvested. The best part is that you get to keep the pearl (valued between A$500 to A$5000).

Willie Creek Private Pear Harvesting Price & Availability

If your budget doesn’t allow for the private experience, Willie Creek also have a group demonstration. You’ll still learn about the most prized pearl in the world but, unfortunately, won’t be able to keep it!

Book Willie Creek Pearl Harvest Demo here

Elizabeth Quay Public Art & Sculptures

As you walk through Elizabeth Quay, look out for these beautiful pieces of art.

First Contact is an aluminium artwork by indigenous artist Laurel Nannup. The local Noongar people thought that the European settler ships were their past ancestors returning from the ocean. You can see it at the William Street Landing.

Spanda, located on The Landing, was designed by Christian de Vietri and represents ripples or orbits.

The bronze statue of Bessie Mabel Rischbieth is by artist Jon Tarry, and you can find it on the island. Bessie fought for conservation, promoting the Citizens Committee for the Preservation of Kings Park and the Swan River.

In 1999, over 200,000 Western Australian students’ signatures were etched into 2,375 tiles and laid into the pathway in front of the Bell Tower. However, these had to be pulled up as part of the redevelopment, so digital photos were taken of all the signatures. The Signature Ring, by local artists Simon Gauntlett and Matthew Ngui, have these signatures engraved in copper plates as part of the headphone resembling sculpture.

Four Winds is on top of the ferry terminal canopy and imagines wind travelling across Elizabeth Quay from all directions over the billowing, blue sky coloured canopy.

How to get to Elizabeth Quay Perth

Elizabeth Quay is easy to get to as it’s a short walk from the Elizabeth Quay Train & Bus Port, the Ferry Terminal is located in the inlet, and the free blue CAT bus stops near the Bell Tower.  

Train and Bus

The Elizabeth Quay Train Station and Busport (formerly The Esplanade Station) is across the road from Elizabeth Quay and 400m from Barrack Street Jetty.

CAT Bus

You can take the free blue CAT bus to Barrack Street Jetty (stop 18).

Hop On / Hop Off Bus

We are big fans of the Hop On Hop Off buses in cities as they are good value, provide an easy way to get around, and have commentaries. See where the HOHO bus goes in Perth here.

Ferry

Transperth operates a ferry service between Elizabeth Quay Jetty and Mends Street Jetty (South Perth) all week. You can use this service to visit the Perth Zoo or, if driving, park in South Perth and take the ferry across to Elizabeth Quay as parking is cheaper on that side of the river.

Where to park for Elizabeth Quay

We usually park in the Terrace Road Car Park, across the road from Elizabeth Quay and a five-minute walk. You can find more locations, opening hours, and rates at City of Perth Parking (CPP) or Wilson Parking (WP).

Elizabeth Quay Restaurants & Bars

Island Brewhouse

The Island (previously Isle of Voyage) consists of a restaurant, kiosk, garden bar, pizzeria and microbrewery, all housed in the historic Florence Hummerston building. The operators own one of our favourite Perth breakfast spots, Voyage Café in Sorrento (if you haven’t been, put it on your list).

The Florence Hummerston building was previously located on The Esplanade and was deconstructed in 2012 and rebuilt here.

The Reveley Pub

You have the option of three floors at The Reveley, which overlooks the Elizabeth Quay inlet. The ground-floor café is family-friendly and perfect for quick bites, coffee, drinks, and weekend breakfasts. The second level has floor-to-ceiling windows to make the most of the beautiful views of Perth city and the Swan River and where you can enjoy lunch or dinner with family and friends. The dining room is where the weekend High Tea is served. On the top floor, you will find Henry’s Rooftop Bar, where seasonal cocktail creations can be sipped while taking in the incredible outlook across Elizabeth Quay.

Milky Lane Elizabeth Quay

Milky Lane is the perfect place to satisfy your cravings for delicious food and drinks. The menu features an exciting range of freshly prepared dishes, from classic burgers and fries to vegan-friendly options. They also offer a selection of milkshakes, craft beers, wines and cocktails. With the friendly staff and funky atmosphere, you’re sure to have a great time at Milky Lane.

See a copy of the Milky Lane Elizabeth Quay menu.

Elizabeth Quay Cafes

Next door to Elizabeth Quay, on the Swan River, is the popular Rubra on The Swan. The award-winning Rubra coffee has a loyal following amongst locals and the café serves breakfast and lunch.

Open daily from 6;30 am to 2:30 pm (kitchen closes at 2 pm).

Where to stay near Elizabeth Quay

Have you booked accommodation?

We use Booking.com for most accommodation bookings as they offer free cancellation on many properties and have a price match guarantee. We book through Stayz (part of VRBO) for private accommodation as we find it is often cheaper than Airbnb.

Tip: Accommodation gets booked quickly, especially during the WA school holidays. To avoid disappointment, book early.

Why not make the most of your visit to Elizabeth Quay and stay the night so you can try out some of the bars in the area?

Hotel	Stars	Rating	Distance from Elizabeth Quay	Price	Pool	Book
Ritz Carlton Perth	5	8.6	0.1 miles	$$$	Y	Book Here
Como The Treasury	5	9.6	0.3 miles	$$$	Y	Book Here
QT Perth	5	8.6	0.4 miles	$$	N	Book Here
Doubletree by Hilton Perth Waterfront	4	8.6	0.2 miles	$$	Y	Book Here
Quay Perth	3	8.2	0.1 miles	$$	N	Book Here

1. Como The Treasury

My choice for a luxury stay would be Como The Treasury occupying the 19th Century State Buildings and the top-rated hotel in Perth.

Rated 9.6⭐️

See Como The Treasury Prices Here

2. Quay Perth

If Como The Treasury is out of your budget, a good mid-range option would be Quay Perth which represents fantastic value for money and is still close to Elizabeth Quay.

Rated 8.2⭐️

See Quay Perth Prices Here

3. Doubletree by Hilton Waterfront Perth

We recently stayed at Doubletree by Hilton and could not fault it for value for money, cleanliness, and hospitality.

Rated 8.6⭐️

See Doubletree by Hilton Prices Here

4. Ritz-Carlton Perth

The Ritz Carlton Perth sits right in the centre with views of Elizabeth Quay city skylines and the Swan River.

Rated 8.6⭐️

See Ritz-Carlton Prices Here

QT Perth

A trendy, designer hotel with lavish rooms close to Elizabeth Quay. Most rooms have city views and are designed with local jarrah timber, rich velvet, and polished brass. Guests can enjoy their signature QT Dream Beds, a minibar, and a coffee machine.

Rated 8.6⭐️

See QT Perth Prices Here

Elizabeth Quay Map

You can download a copy of the Perth Elizabeth Quay Map here.

My Thoughts on Elizabeth Quay

We often visit Elizabeth Quay when we are in the city to have a drink or lunch and to enjoy the views over the Swan River on a sunny day. Our family also cycle the “Perth bridges 10 km loop” (a 10.5 km trail around the Swan River, incorporating Wyndham Bridge, Elizabeth Quay, the Narrows, and South Perth.

If you don’t have a bike, you can take a guided Swan River foreshores bike tour, where a guide takes you on a 3-hour ride around the river, Optus Stadium, and East Perth.

For other ideas on what to what to see in the city, read this article on things to do in Perth.

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