The largest city in Western Australia and Australia’s fourth most populous, Perth rises out of the vast Western Australian desert like an oasis. Perth is one of the most isolated cities on earth — it’s closer to Jakarta that it is to Australia’s capital, Canberra. The city’s setting on the Swan River, and tucked between the Indian Ocean and the Darling Scarp, make for very scenic running options. Running in Perth centers around the 25 km of path along the river, numerous parks and “bush” paths (trails), and some lovely coastal running just to the west of the city. If you’d like to have an in-person guided running experience in Perth, we highly recommend our friends at Go! Running Tours.
The best places to run in Perth take advantage of the photogenic Swan River, including the popular Bridge-to-Bridge run. Routes along Claisebrook Cove and Matilda Bay are additional waterfront options. Two great parks for running are the centrally located Kings Park, and Bold Park/Reabold Hill, which is hillier and features spectacular views. We also love the loops around Lake Monger and Herdsman Lake A great destination run is the path along Cottesloe Beach. Some great trail running can be found in the Helena Valley, which options for more moderate or challenging loops. To get the heart rate up, be sure to run the stairs of Jacobs Ladder, near Kings Park.
Perth has a good system of buses, trains and ferries. There is also a ‘Free Transit Zone’ for the Perth CBD, which has four high-frequency CAT bus routes. A SmartRider card is required to use the trains. Not also that summer weather in Perth can be very hot and dry, so take the right precautions!
