With it’s Mediterranean climate, relaxing lifestyle and country atmosphere , the city of Perth will delight you. A variety of water sports are on offer as the city is situated on the delightful Swan River ( the Black Swan is the State emblem ) and in addition it’s close to the beaches of Scarborough, Cottesloe and the popular resort of Rockingham. Try a river cruise to the Swan Valley winegrowing region or an sign up for an adventure cruise – there are several cruise operators to choose from.
A Perth car rental provides a great way to see Perth and the surrounding areas. There are some great accommodation choices and Perth hotels, while fewer in number, are on a par with the accommodation found in the eastern states.
There are numerous sidewalk cafes and restaurants in the Northbridge area and there’s no shortage of entertainment at the popular Burswwod Entertainment Centre.Great views of the city can be seen from the landscaped botanic gardens at Kings Park which boasts a great variety of local flora.
Visitors taking an historic tour of the city will delight in many of the convict-built buildings which still stand today – the Perth Town Hall, the Perth Mint and Government House to name a few. These restored buildings stand proudly alongside the many skyscrapers of more recent years. For a cultural experience, visit the Perth Cultural Centre, the Art Gallery of Western Australia, the gallery of Aboriginal History and for a those interested in science there is the Scitech Discovery Centre.
Other examples of colonial architecture can be found in the restored buildings of The Old Flour Mill, Tranby House and Woodbridge House in Guildford.
Underwater World offers you the opportunity to see the local marine life and you will be able to see a variety of Australian wildlife by visiting the Perth Zoo
In recent years, Perth has expanded to such a degree that Fremantle, the port for Perth, is now almost incorporated into the city of Perth. Prior to the America’s Cup yacht races of 1987, many areas and historic buildings were remodelled and lovingly restored, and today sidewalk cafes and restaurants abound providing a exhilirating multinational atmosphere. Visit the Fremantle Markets, visit the Maritime Museum with its intriguing exhibits , and discover some of the history of this area at the Fremantle History Museum and the Fremantle Prison. All offer interesting reminders of the history of this region.
If you are visiting this area during the months of October and November, you will delight in a whale watch cruise available from either Perth or Fremantle and if you want to view the colony of fairy penquins on Penquin Island, you will need to take a boat trip from Shoalwater Bay.
A favourite local attraction is Rottnest Island situated just off the coast of Perth. The island boasts over 60 beaches with some of excellent scuba diving and snorkelling spots. Surfing is another sport enjoyed by many people on the island Rottnest Island is home of the pint-sized kanagaroo, the quokka and the island bears its name as the indigenous marsupial was originally mistakenly described as a large rat. Hire a bike or take a guided tour round the island and learn about its history.
Further north from Perth, you will find plenty of wildfowers in the Spring. Visit the towns of New Norcia, Dalwallinu, Morawa and Mullew, the latter two being a bit further afield, nearer to Geraldton.There are some excellent parks in the area too, including Yanchep National Park and Nambung National Park andboth of these parks have excellent limestone formationsA bit further north you can visit the restored flour mill in the Berkshire Valley as well as the farming centre of Moora. Many historic buildings such as Buckland House can be found at Northam, north east of Perth as well as a delightful showing of wildflowers in the Spring. .
In addition, the town hosts the annual Avon Descent event for canoeist and whitewater rafting enthusiasts. The towns of Brookton, Beverley, York and Toodyay all situated on the banks of the river. Most of these towns have historic convict-built buildings and York, whichboasts a National Trust vintage car museum and hosts some of the popular States fesitivals.
Further south , there is Mandurah, a great holiday beach resort as well as being popular spot for good fishing and prawning. Enjoy a steam enging ride on the Hotham Valley Railway which departs from the historic town of Pinjarr on the Murray River .
The Wheatlands of Western Australia commence at the Great Eastern Highway in the east and extend southwards to the coastal fringes of Albany . This area delights visitors with its abundance of wildflowers in the spring. Merredin is the major centre of the area and the renovated railway station is a popular attraction . Rock formations, caves and Aboriginal rock art can be found around this area and the town of Hyden is only a few kilometres from the one of Australia’s famous landforms, Wave Rock. Take the time for visit Narrogin with its interesting heritage railway museum and the last section of a eucalypt forest which once covered the area, can be seen at the nature conservation and wildlife refuge area of Dryandra Woodland.