Perth is the capital of Western Australia and has a population of about 1.6 million people, more than two-thirds of WA’s population. Including the suburbs, this makes Perth the fourth largest city in all of Australia. Perth is also known as the ‘City of Light’, because the astronauts in the space shuttle Friendship 7, orbiting above in 1962, could actually see the streetlights and the light from people’s houses from the shuttle.
The Perth City centre is located on the Swan River, and it is here you can do your shopping if you are in need of a good shopping spree. A bit south of Perth and downriver you will find the old port of Fremantle, which is now a very popular and vibrant place with markets, cafés, all kinds of entertainment, bars and some great eateries – although the markets are generally only open on weekends. Fremantle is also the heartland of a rich musical culture in the west, with bands such as the John Butler Trio emerging from Fremantle.
If you want to explore the nightlife in Perth, then the Northbridge district is where you will find a buzzing nightlife with a wide range of nightclubs, bars, pubs and all kinds of interesting places – even the streets have their own party.
If you are interested in a more relaxing environment, or just need a few days off then you should consider Rottnest Island, approx. 18kms from Fremantle. It is a very popular place to relax and has some beautiful surroundings, including some tunnels and gun batteries that survive from the Second World War. Rottnest Island is virtually car-free – bikes are the most common transport – and is home to unique wildlife including the Quokka, a type of very small Kangaroo. Rottnest Island is easily accessible via ferries from Perth or Fremantle. Without leaving the city though you can also go to the white sandy beaches of the Perth Sunset Coast to swim or surf on a nice warm day.
On the other hand, if you are into bushwalking or hiking in the beautiful nature then this is also possible in Perth. In the Perth Hills you can walk around in the hills and valleys and see the impressive sight of the sprawling Perth city centre down before you. On a hiking trip you may come across some of the many old vineyards that are still open for business. Perth has about 40-50 vineyards close by, many of which are still run by the families that started them many years ago.
The summers in Perth are generally very hot and dry (December-March) but occasional rain is not out of the question. The winters are wet and a bit milder, and between May and September the harder rainfalls occur.
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