Destination Profile - Perth, Western Australia
Perth is a vibrant and modern city pleasantly sited on the Swan and Canning rivers, with the cerulean Indian Ocean to the west and the ancient Darling Ranges to the east. Perth claims to be the sunniest state capital in Australia, though more striking is its isolation from the rest of the country (Perth is closer to Singapore than to Sydney). It has a population of 1.3 million.
The city centre, with its concrete and glass skyscrapers, dominates a site which has the potential, with its picturesque riverside location, to be stunning. Away from this cluttered rectangle of commerce and public service, there is indeed a beautiful city, enhanced by the Indian Ocean beaches, the hillside hideaways, romantic Fremantle, cosmopolitan Subiaco and the select, comfortable suburbs which fringe the Swan River.
The river, which borders the city centre to the south and east, links Perth to its port, Fremantle. The western end of Perth rises to the pleasant Kings Park, which overlooks the city, then extends to cosmopolitan Subiaco. Further west, suburbs extend as far as Scarborough and Cottesloe beaches on the Indian Ocean. The railway line bounds the city centre on the northern side, with Northbridge immediately north of the line.
Check out the superb views from Kings Park, the lungs of the city centre. The park includes a 17 hectare Botanic Garden and a section of natural bushland, which represents Perth as it was before the European settlers arrived. In spring, there's a cultivated display of Western Australia's famed wild flowers.
The site that is now Perth had been occupied by groups of the Nyoongar tribe for thousands of years. They, and their ancestors, can be traced back some 40,000 years (verified by discoveries of stone implements near the Swan Bridge).
This destination is part of the Western Wedge Safari Australian Adventure.
Australian Tours
Other Tours and Info