Perth Mini Guide
Perth in Western Australia is one of the world’s most isolated cities with no other communities for miles around. About one and a half million people live in Perth which is situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Australian desert on the banks of the Swan River. The river meets the ocean at Freemantle which is Perth’s harbour and a lively and bustling place to visit with bars, restaurants cafes and a maritime museum. Locals may refer to this area as ‘Freo’.
With miles of uncluttered beaches stretching along the Western Australian coast, Perth is a great base from which to get out into the wilderness and explore. Unlike other parts of Australia there are no tolls, and with a good road system, driving around is a pleasant and hassle free experience. One activity which is definitely recommended is to go wine tasting in Swan Valley which has excellent vineyards but remember to spit it out if you are the designated driver! Trips out into the desert are becoming more popular now as travellers yearn to see the weird rock formations and beautiful colours of the geographical masterpiece.
Flying in you will arrive at Perth International Airport and the main company to fly from there is Qantas. Other airlines include Tiger Airways, Virgin Blue, Jetstar and the regional airlines Skywest and QantasLink. The airport has three terminals and as you come out of arrivals you will see car hire representatives who can meet you and show you to your car. Driving is on the left side of the road in Australia.
Why not use car hire at Perth airport to take a wine tour of the wonderful vineyards which surround this Western Australian city? The nearest other Australian city to Perth is
Adelaide, though it is more than 2,500 kilometres away which might put you off making a road trip.
A good place from which to get a view of the city of Perth in its entirety is Kings Park which is to the south west of the city centre. There you can enjoy a peaceful nature walk and see much of Australia’s indigenous wildlife. Another place to see animals is at Perth Zoo which is well laid out and a fun place for kids to visit.
Culture vultures should head to the Perth cultural centre which has art galleries and museums including the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts. One fun festival to see in November is the Red Bull air race when members of the public make flying contraptions and see who can launch themselves the furthest across the Swan River. Arrive in good time to find a space as this gets packed.
Perth is one of the remotest cities on earth and has had plenty of room to expand into Western Australia. It’s a beautiful city with lots to see and do and its size means that a hire car is almost essential to see all there is around the city.
From the Black Swans that are the symbol of the state to the cricket ground where the Aussies have won so many matches, a car will get you there comfortably and cheaply. Hiring a car in the city can cost from only £85 for a week.