The 7 Best Things To Do In Perth This September
Anna Christensen is a freelance writer who writes about travel,…
Winter hibernation is officially over, and it’s time to venture out into the world again. Need convincing? Whether you’re visiting or a local, this list of things to do in Perth this September will have you wriggling out of your trackies ASAP.
#1 Have a carafe of wine at new bar Strange Company
It was about time Freo got some decent nightlife and new bar Strange Company, with its plush décor, fancy finger good, and extensive drinks list, gets three massive ticks. You’ll probably need to get your reading glasses out to see the drinks menu – there’s that much crammed onto it – but it’s worth it with delicious drops from WA and beyond, plus loads of local goodness on tap. Think beers from Feral Brewery, Last Drop, Eagle Bay, and Nail Ale, and a selection of tap wines from Margaret River’s Swings & Roundabouts – which are available to drink from carafes. But possibly the best draw card is the food, designed and made by chef Ricky Mandozzi, who cut his teeth on Melbourne restaurants MoDiva and Taxi Dining Room. The modern Aussie tapas is bloody good – particularly the octopus ceviche, marinated in white wine and vinegar for a fortnight.
#2 Catch Star Slinger at Jack Rabbit Slims
The newest venture from the trio behind promotions company/media site/record label Pilerats is sending Perth into a spin. Not only does it look cool, with street art on the walls, vintage pinball machines, and a cozy upstairs lounge, Jack Rabbits Slims has an epic space for live bands – with an 8 by 3.4m stage and a state-of-the-art sound system. Producer Star Slinger is set to put on an awesome show with trippy beats reverberating through the venue. Hunger kicking in after too much dancing? Migrate through the door to a ’50s style diner with retro booths and knick-knacks on the wall. There is a seriously awesome (and gluttonous) fries menu to mop up your transgressions, plus alcoholic milkshakes if want to keep on partying.
#3 Go camping at Wave Rock Weekender in Hyden
This boutique music festival is little known but very worth getting acquainted with – as well as a solid line-up of genre-defying acts, Wave Rock Weekender has cheap drinks, food trucks doling out delicious feeds, and an old bus that screens indie films. Pitch a tent and get ready for a weekend of glorious escapism from September 25 – 27. Plus, it has the best-looking setting of any festival we’ve seen. Its namesake landmark is a towering 270 million- year-old rock formation that looks exactly like the surf – or Justin Bieber’s hair – and the massive salt lake pool is the perfect spot to dip in and shake off your hangover.
RELATED: AUSTRALIA’S SURFING OBSESSION ALSO EXTENDS TO ITS ROCK FORMATIONS
#4 Watch the Italian Film Festival
Italians are good at a lot of things. Cured meats. Flattery. Pizza. And yep, films are another item they can add to their collective life CV. The Lavazza Italian Film Festival kicks off on September 24, with God Willing (Se Dio Vuole) a hilarious comedy about an atheist surgeon, a dysfunctional family and a charming priest, for which director Edoardo Falcone took out an Italian version of an Oscar for. Other highlights: sleek crime thriller Perez, classic rom-com What a Surprise, and The Academy Award-nominated The Conformist.
#5 Check out swanky new bar Door 49
This new bar opened in true VIP style in August, with elaborate keys sent to select households by Uber Black Chauffeurs by way of invitation. La de da! The sophisticated rooftop bar is already a hit with the fashion set, with its decorative walls, vertical garden, pendant lights and decorative detailing, but don’t be surprised if you haven’t heard of it yet. It’s all about exclusivity, so there’s zilch decent info online (they don’t even have a Facey page!) but you can find it on King Street at number – yep, you guessed it.
#6 Take a weekend trip to Margaret River for a brewery hop
September 1 marks the official start of spring, so ring it in with beers in the sunshine on a trip down south. God knows there’s no shortage of breweries down there, so get ready to do some serious sipping. A few you might want to add to your itinerary: Colonial Brewing Co, Bootleg Brewery, Eagle Bay Brewing Co, Cheeky Monkey, Cowaramup Brewing, Bush Shack Brewery, and Duckstein. Also, new joint The Beer Farm is slated to open some time this month so keep an eye out. If you’re a music fan, time it accordingly to catch a gig at the same time. We recommend seeing The Rubens, who’ll play September 18 at Settler’s Tavern. Or, if you’d rather save all your cash for the brews, check out alt-country local legends Kill Devil Hills’ free show at Clancy’s Fish Pub Dunsborough on Sunday 13.
#7 Take the ferry to Rottnest Island for Rottofest
It’s adults only, but you’ll feel like a big kid again at this weekend comedy festival. After all, the island will be teeming with raucous comedians (including triple i’s Matt Okine, Sami Shah, Fiona O’Loughlin and Dave Callan), rowdy electro acts (Art vs Science, Jackie Onassis, Coin Banks) and cute quokkas (to take selfies with, duh). Best bit of Rottofest? There’s no such thing as designated drivers, because everything’s within walking distance. Oh, and if you’ve got a thing for the Venga Boys, Backstreet Boys or Frankie Goes to Hollywood – come on, don’t pretend – get tickets to Tomás Ford’s Crap Music Rave Party at the Rottnest Picture Hall to dance the night away.
(Lead image: Wave Rock Weekender)
Anna Christensen is a freelance writer who writes about travel, health, food, culture, and the arts for Broadsheet, Experience Collectors, Scoop, Women’s Health, and more. She loves that she can add activities like gorging on burgers and drinking cocktails to her CV (though her liver’s not quite as chuffed).