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Perth Travel Guide

Travel Guides: Perth

General Information

Perth

Most of the two million people who live in Western Australia reside in the sophisticated and scenic state capital. Perth grew on the banks of the Swan River, named after the Scottish city of the same name, and was proclaimed by Queen Victoria as a city in 1856. The discovery of gold in Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie, to the east of the city, in the 1890s led to a dramatic rise in its population and an economic boom. Another boom followed in the 1960s with the mining profits of iron ore and nickel.

Today the city is characterised by numerous waterways, green parks and a compact central business district. There is plenty to occupy visitors in Perth, from touring the city by tram or bus, enjoying watersports on the Swan River or just sipping a glass of the famous local wine in a riverside or beachside restaurant. Perth has more restaurants per capita than any other Australian city. Not far from the city is Western Australia's oldest wine-growing region, Swan Valley, which welcomes tourists to visit the many award-winning family-owned wineries, which offer alfresco and restaurant meals and cellar tastings.

Perth is also the site of the world's oldest operating mint, and boasts several museums and art galleries, historic buildings, a casino and a good variety of shopping opportunities. Last, but not least, the city offers more than 50 miles (80km) of white sandy beaches in close proximity. Among the most popular are Cottesloe and Scarborough.

The northern part of Western Australia is known as the Kimberley region, one of the world's last great wilderness areas that is three times the size of England, but home to only about 25,000 people. Its remote and rugged landscape characterised by ancient gorges is spectacular. In the Purnululu National Park visitors are drawn to marvel at thousands of huge beehive-shaped mounds striped in orange and black sandstone that rise from the earth and are known as 'the Bungle Bungle'. Another breathtaking site is the Geikie Gorge, bordered by sheer yellow, orange and grey rock walls, which have been shaped by the waters of the Fitzroy River. The main coastal town is Broome, famous for its pearling industry. Visitors can relax on the soft sands of Cable Beach, which extends for 15 miles (24km) and swim in clear turquoise waters. Further north along the coastline there are more attractive white sandy beaches at the Buccaneer Archipelago.

Getting Around

Perth has a very efficient and convenient public transport system called Transperth, which operates buses, trains and ferries. Passengers can hop from one to the other on a single ticket, and obtain information on all the services at booths set up for this purpose at strategic points like Plaza Arcade, the railway station and bus stations. Buses in the central area are free (CAT), covering three routes, while suburban bus services and trains link to the outer districts day and night, buses running till 11.30pm and trains until 2am (later in summer). Ferries cross the Swan River between the Barrack Street jetty and Mends Street jetty, sailing between 6.45am and 7.15pm each day, and later on weekends. Fares are based on zones and tickets can be bought from newsagents and vending machines. Metered taxis can be hailed in the street in Perth, found at taxi ranks or booked by telephone. All major car hire companies are represented in Perth and driving in the city poses no problems. Cycling is a popular way to get around, too, and there are designated cycle routes.

Activites

Monkey Mia Resort,Perth
At this remarkable resort, situated near the town of Denham about 525 miles (830km) north of Perth in the Shark Bay Heritage area, visitors have the opportunity to interact and hand-feed the local wild dolphins who visit the shore each day. Several bottlenose dolphins regularly visit the beach at Monkey Mia, sometimes up to three times a day, while others who are less tame wait just offshore. Visitors are encouraged to enter the water to gently touch and feed the dolphins, under the watchful eye of local rangers who advise on how best to approach and handle the animals without causing them stress. Monkey Mia also has a Dolphin Information Centre, and offers good bathing at Shell Beach, unique in that it has a four-mile (6km) stretch of tiny white shells stacked up to 33ft (10m) deep. Some of the buildings in the nearby seaside town of Denham are built out of shells from this beach.

Admission:
Entry to Monkey Mia Reserve: A$6 (adult); A$2 (children)

Opening time:
Dolphin Information Centre open daily

Karijini National Park,Perth
Karijini is the second largest national park in Western Australia, situated in the Pilbara region. It features breathtaking gorges, crystal clear rock pools, waterfalls and stunning scenery. A system of walking trails designed for hikers of various levels of fitness, from beginner to experienced, have been laid out. There are picnic and camping areas and a visitor information centre with interactive natural and cultural displays. The park boasts 50 varieties of Acacia, Eucalypts and Melaeluca in its gorges, 133 types of bird and 92 species of amphibians and reptiles can be seen, not to mention the dingoes. It is situated about 900 miles (1,435km) north of Perth on the Great Northern Highway. Tours operate from Tom Price, Port Hedland, Karratha and Auski.

Admission:
A$10 per vehicle

Opening time:
Open daily. The visitor centre is open 9am to 4pm daily

Wildflower Region,Perth
The mid-west section of Western Australia is known as the wildflower region, particularly between late July and early September after the seasonal rains, when the spectacular fields of yellow, pink and white everlasting daisies emerge. The most popular site for wildflower viewing is the Kalbarri National Park, which boasts 800 species of flowering shrubs. The park is 370 miles (590km) north of Perth near the mid-west town of Geraldton and can be accessed by car from the North West Coastal Highway. World-renowned botanists, photographers and film-makers visit the region for the flowers, particularly around the Eneabba and Arrowsmith River areas. The mid-west is also rich in history and offers visitors a variety of outback experiences and coastal activities.

Admission:
Kalbarri National Park: A$10

Goldfields,Perth
The Goldfields to the east of Perth is a region steeped in history and legend, where visitors can see relics of the gold rush and the mines that have made the area famous. It is possible to tour the Super Pit, Australia's biggest open-cut-mine, which is an impressive sight at more than 853ft (260m) deep, one mile (2km) wide and two miles (4km) long. The Super Pit can be found at the edge of the city of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. It forms part of the 'Golden Mile', reputedly the richest square mile of gold-bearing earth in the world. The total amount of gold recovered from the Super Pit between 1989 and 1999 was incredibly over five million ounces (142-million grams), and the total is still growing. From the lookout near the Pit visitors can watch trucks carry rock up to the refinery from the bottom of the pit, and sometimes witness carefully controlled mine blastings.

Admission:
Admission to the Super Pit viewing platform is free

Opening time:
Super Pit open daily 7am to 9pm

Margaret River,Perth
Southwest of Perth, the Margaret River Region is an area characterised by dairy farms and wineries set within a picturesque landscape, and is Western Australia's most popular holiday destination. The area was initially discovered by surfers, but now holidaymakers head here by the thousand for the tranquil atmosphere, clean beaches and excellent restaurants, often attached to wineries. The area also has more galleries, craft studios and potteries than in the rest of the state put together. Margaret River is also well known for its 350 caves; four of the best are open to visitors and feature extraordinary formations.

Fremantle,Perth
Despite having been absorbed into Perth's urban sprawl, Fremantle, popularly known as 'Freo', retains its own strong identity and is a popular destination for day-trippers from Perth. Its harbour was built in 1903 by CY O'Connor, who also constructed the Goldfields pipeline before killing himself on a beach near Fremantle. A bronze statue in CY O'Connor's honour stands in front of the Fremantle Port Authority. The harbour has been substantially revamped in recent years and is now filled with outdoor bars and restaurants and has a laid-back, arty character. In 1987 the port was the site of Australia's unsuccessful defence of the America's Cup yachting trophy.