Perth - Splendid Isolation
By Richard Moore
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Perth's closest major city,
Adeliade in South Australia,
is some 2700 km away
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One of the most remote cities in the world is Perth, the
capital of Western Australia. It's closest major cities are:
2700 kilometres from Adelaide
4250 kilometres from Darwin
3760 kilometres from Hobart
3905 kilometres from Canberra
3438 kilometres from Melbourne
4127 kilometres from Sydney
4357 kilometres from Brisbane
But isolated as it is, Perth is one of those great cities
that offer style and sophistication, fast access to glorious
beaches, plus some of Australia's most exciting and interesting
desert landscapes are within easy reach.
Perth is in the south-west of WA and is home to almost 1.5
million people who come from a variety of backgrounds. There
are Australians, Britons, South Africans, Indians, Italians
and Malaysians, who all add their own cultural flavour to
the city.
The nightlife is vibrant and Perth boasts some terrific dining
opportunities including the City
of Lights Dinner Cruise and the Swan
River Wine Cruise.
It is an outdoors city blessed by superb weather and while
summers can get very hot - with temperatures regularly in
the high 30 degrees and low 40 degrees Celcius - it is perfect
weather for cricket, boating or the beach.
In Perth's mild winters the sports of choice are Australian
Rules football (AFL) - the locals teams being West Coast (the
Eagles) and Fremantle (the Dockers) - and there is a new Super
14 rugby team based there as of the 2006 season.
Perth is built on the banks of the Swan River, which gives
a natural pathway inland to winemaking areas of the Swan Valley,
or takes you down to the Indian Ocean and the beautiful historic
port city of Fremantle.
The hills and forests of the Swan Valley are something to
behold with beautiful waterfalls, rock formations and giant
trees to gaze at. They are accessible by both car and river
boat and there are superb bush walking opportunities available.
There are wineries galore - boasting some of Australia's
finest drops (click
here for Web Wombat's wine reviews) - and plenty of small
places to stay overnight and get a real feel for Western Australia.
They include farmstays, bed and breakfast accommodation and
chalets.
On the coast at Fremantle you can wander around one of the
best-preserved old ports in the world. Enjoy more good food
and wine, or take yourself off to the spectacular Rottnest
Island.
Rottnest Island is only half an hour from Fremantle by ferry
and boasts superb diving, swimming, fishing, boating or just
sheer relaxation. It also happens to be home to the very cute
little mammal the quokka. A trip to Rottnest is a must-do
when you are in Western Australia, though steer clear of the
region over the new year period, as that's when the teenaged
Schoolies head there.
Back in Perth if you want time to relax with spectacular
views of the city and the Swan River then pack a picnic lunch
- or take along some fresh meat and use some of the available
barbeques - and head for Kings Park. It covers 400 hectares
and in its environs are the Botanic Gardens, home to 1700
native species, and kilometres of bushland walks.
From Perth you can also head out to the Margaret
River and its superb wineries - a personal thumbs up from
this fellow as to the quality of the wines they produce. If
you are more adventurous then consider taking in some of the
2.5 million square kilometres of the rest of WA and its breathtaking
natural beauty.
There are the Pinnacles, Monkey Mia and its famous dolphins,
the Giant Karri trees near Albany, coastal cruises with dolphins
and the unbelievable Wave Rock, which looks like the perfect
ride for a surfer frozen in rock.
Western Australia is a tourist's dream holiday.
Things to Do in Perth and Western Australia:
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