If you’re planning a visit to Australia then there is a lot to think about – a lot of different places across this vast continent all competing for your attention, all with different selling points. If you had unlimited time (and money) you would of course do everything, see everything, experience everything. Ultimately you are going to have to make some choices – due to the huge distances between most of the key points of interest, there’s no way that you can try and cram everything into the one trip. One of the destinations that people often compromise on is Perth – the capital of the state of Western Australia. Perth is undeniably a long way from anywhere, but it is well worth making the effort to get there. Here are five reasons why:
The Weather
Perth has spectacular weather. Clear, dry, heat. Summers can be fairly intense, but even during the winter months the regulation wardrobe is shorts and t-shirts. This means that the city enthusiastically embraces an outdoor lifestyle – sport of every description and barbecues at any opportunity.
The Beaches
The coastal position delivers Perth access to some amazing beaches right on its doorstep. Cottlesloe is generally considered the local’s favourite but there are a number of great stretches of white sand to choose from. One thing to be slightly cautious of is the sharks. While you still have a much greater chance of meeting an untimely end driving a car, this stretch of coastline is regularly patrolled by Great White Sharks who aren’t very good at distinguishing between humans and seals.
The Wine
Perth has two major wine-growing regions on its doorstep – the Swan Valley and Margaret River. The Swan Valley is the closest and is generally best covered by taking a mini-bus day-tour from Perth, it’s always sensible to have someone to drive you around as you sample the offerings from each winery. The red wine is generally a bit lighter and peppery (the Shiraz from this region is particularly good) and the whites are nice and fresh and crisp.
The Food and the Markets
Perth has some top-drawer restaurants that really showcase the fresh local produce that is available. There are some great local markets that celebrate everything that this region has to offer. The Fremantle markets are huge and a big tourist drawer, while locals tend to favour the smaller markets such as the monthly “Upmarket” craft market that is held at the University of Western Australia each month.
The Island
Rottnest Island is a fairly unique little place – just a short ferry ride from Perth. This is a car free island so everyone cycles around to the various beaches and accommodation options. This is also the place to see Quokkas – possibly the cutest marsupial that you'll find in Australia.
There is a huge amount to see and do in this part of the world. If you can stretch your itinerary and your budget just a little bit further then you should definitely try and include this city in your expedition to Australia.
This article was written by Gareth originally published on www.etravelblog.com. Read the original here.
