Perth is the kind of city that makes a strong first impression.

Western Australia’s capital feels relaxed without being sleepy, sophisticated without being overwhelming, and close enough to beaches, parks, restaurants and cultural experiences that you can fit a surprising amount into a single day.

And for South Island travellers, getting there is about to become considerably easier.

Jetstar will begin direct seasonal flights between Christchurch and Perth on 27 October 2026, operating three times a week until 27 March 2027. Air New Zealand will follow on 30 November, with its own direct service running three times a week until 7 May 2027.

During the period when both airlines are operating, travellers will have up to six direct Christchurch to Perth flights a week.

Christchurch Airport says Jetstar will provide about 29,700 seats on the route during the 2026 and 2027 summer season, while Air New Zealand will provide about 28,850. That gives Christchurch travellers about 58,550 seats across the two new services. Christchurch Airport

Jetstar will use Airbus A321LR aircraft on its service, flying from Christchurch on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Air New Zealand will fly on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays using Boeing 787 9 aircraft, including its newly refurbished cabins.

So what can you actually do when you arrive?

I recently spent time in Perth and discovered that you do not need to travel far to start seeing some of the city’s best attractions.

I stayed at the InterContinental Perth City Centre on Hay Street, right in the middle of the CBD. Its central location makes it particularly useful if you only have a few days, with restaurants, shopping, entertainment and many of the city’s attractions within easy reach.

From there, we headed into the city with Oh Hey WA. One of Perth’s surprises is what you find between the bigger buildings. Laneways that could easily be missed are filled with enormous murals, sculptures, street art, cafes and small bars. Oh Hey WA specialises in walking tours through these parts of the city, including tours dedicated to Perth’s street art and hidden laneways.  It is a side of Perth that rewards walking rather than simply driving from attraction to attraction.

By lunchtime we were at Elizabeth Quay, the waterfront precinct on the Swan River. The area has restaurants, bars, public art and promenades, while ferries and cruises leave from nearby for destinations including Fremantle, the Swan Valley and Rottnest Island.

We stopped for lunch at The Island, which quite literally sits on its own island at Elizabeth Quay.

The venue includes a restaurant, garden bar, pizzeria and its own microbrewery, surrounded by water and city views.

The atmosphere is relaxed, the setting is hard to beat and it is exactly the sort of place that makes you realise Perth is a city where spending time outdoors comes naturally.

Later, Perth Luxury Tours collected us for the trip to Kings Park and Botanic Garden. Kings Park is extraordinary in scale.

It covers about 400 hectares, making it one of the world’s largest inner city parks. About two thirds of it is protected bushland, while the Western Australian Botanic Garden contains more than 3,000 species of Western Australian flora.

From the park you get sweeping views across the Swan River and Perth skyline, but there is much more to the place than the view.

We met Steven Jacobs from In Culture Tours, a Whadjuk man who leads cultural experiences exploring Noongar history, stories and traditional uses of native plants. His Kings Park experience includes native plants traditionally used for purposes including medicine, along with stories about the cultural connection to the land.  It gives visitors an entirely different perspective on a place that might otherwise simply be regarded as a beautiful park.

After a full day exploring, we returned to central Perth for dinner at Stories in Yagan Square. Stories is an enormous hospitality precinct spread across five levels, with restaurants, bars, a rooftop venue, beer garden and other spaces right between the Perth CBD and Northbridge.

And that was only day one.

If Perth has been sitting on your list of places to visit, this could be a very good time to finally go.