Where:

Perth,

Western Australia, Australia

Last Visited:

It is Clare's home town, and Rob also lived here for over 10 years. Becasue of it's mild winter and hot summer, it is a good place to visit all year round.

Why Go:

A large but slow and pretty city on the Swan River and by the ocean.

Highlights:

• Beaches: Cottesloe and City Beach are our favourites. Beautiful sunsets and clean white sand. Don't expect great surf though. You would have to head south to Margaret River way for that.
• Weather: long hot summers, mild winters.
• Fremantle: great port city of pubs and shopping, and the famous Fremantle Markets
• Kings Park: a great place to get an overview of the city and have a picnic. Enjoy the view of the city both during the day and at night.
• Daytrips:
• Rottnest Island: It is only a short ferry ride to Rottnest Island for swimming and snorkling at secluded beaches and quiet drinks at the Quokka Arms Hotel.
• Margaret River: Tall trees, wineries and surf beaches
• New Norcia: Heritage-listed monastery town
• CAT buses: this city has a great free bus service around the city centre and around Fremantle, which is great for hopping on and off while looking around these areas

Lowlights:

• If you go to the beach, be prepared for the wind to pick up in the afternoon.

Eating & Drinking:

• Northbridge is the place to go for its cafe strip and high density of pubs.
• Great pubs to visit for a cooling ale are: the Queens and Cottesloe (the cott). The Sunday sessions are the best in Australia - enjoy a drink in a beer garden on a Sunday afternoon after spending the day at the beach.

Other things you should know about:

• Perth is considered the most isolated city in the world.
• The river running through the city and linking it to the sea is the Swan.
• The Black Swan is the city's symbol

More information:

• see photos of Perth
• Perth Airport Guide