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Perth Tours And Holidays
Perth is the only major city in Western Australia and is the location
for the headquarters of most of the mining companies that are such an
important part of Western Australia's prosperity.
The city is located in the south west corner of the state, and about
85% of the state population live in this region. The city straddles
the picturesque Swan River and is a particularly attractive city
that enjoys a fine Mediterranean climate, great beaches nearby and a
unhurried lifestyle.
This
part of Western Australia is an area
renowned for its wildflower displays and several unusual rock formations. It
is the part of the state that has many historical sites and
townships.
The south west
region has a reputation for producing fine wines, especially in the
Margaret River area which is renowned for having some of the best
surfing conditions in Australia.
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Things To See & Do In And Around Perth
Perth
sits along the banks
the picturesque Swan River, a favoured spot for
the black swans that are the state emblem. Perth has retained much of its
country town charm which makes a pleasant change from the hustle and bustle
of the eastern seaboard cities. Many of the civic
buildings in the city were built by the early convicts and still stand proudly amongst the
modern skyscrapers.
The city combines a Mediterranean climate with a
relaxed sidewalk cafe lifestyle. The
Swan River, nearby beaches and easy ocean access all contribute to the
popularity of water based leisure activities. Sitting on high ground
across the river from the city centre is
Kings Park which
provides a good vantage
point. The park is set in landscaped Botanic Gardens which showcase
unique local flora.
Northbridge
is the city's restaurant precinct, just a few minutes
stroll from the CBD. One of Australia's finest casino and entertainment
venues is the Burswood Entertainment Complex which has a great setting
overlooking the river and city.
Many of the city's
historic buildings are restored, convict-built originals.
The Cloisters and Central Government Buildings, the Deanery, Perth Mint, Government House,
Perth Town Hall and the Palace Hotel are some of the better known examples.
A excellent reminder of times past is the restored
Old Flour Mill and a fine example of the early colonial architecture is Tranby
House on the Swan River. Woodbridge House is a restored Victorian brick
mansion overlooking the river at Guildford.
To learn more about this
region, pay a visit to the Perth Cultural Centre, especially the gallery of
Aboriginal history, and the
Art Gallery of
Western Australia. One of Australia's most hands-on science
discovery centres is The Scitech
Discovery Centre.
Enjoy a swim at Scarborough and Cottesloe,
two Perth beaches that front the Indian Ocean. Have a relaxing day out with
a
river cruise up the Swan into the Swan Valley winegrowing area. There are several cruise operators offering Swan River
cruises as well as a variety of adventure cruises.
Rottnest Island is a popular
tour spot offshore from Perth and noted for its pristine beaches and coastal
waters. The island was originally a prison site and many of the original
prison buildings still remain. Cruise over the reefs and wrecks that dot the
island in glass bottom
boats. There are bus tours and guided walks of the island, but bicycles are
the preferred mode of transport.
Fremantle
was
once a separate town, acting as the port for Perth. In recent times,
Perth's urban sprawl to the south has connected the two towns. The America's Cup yacht races of 1987
resulted in a rejuvenation of
Fremantle
that saw many of the historic sites and buildings being restored or
renovated.
The Maritime Museum has
interesting exhibits from the shipwreck of the Batavia. The Fremantle Prison
is an imposing landmark with reminders of the regional history. A colourful
attraction is the Fremantle Markets where buskers usually perform.
Fremantle and Perth
have several whale watch cruise operations during the season which is
usually October-November. Rockingham is a
popular resort and Penguin Island is home to a colony of Fairy
penguins. Viewing is via cruises departing from Shoalwater Bay.
North Coast
- The countryside to the north of Perth quickly becomes the
semi-desert typical of much of the state. Some excellent limestone caves and
an Aboriginal Heritage trail are features of the
Yanchep National Park. Cervantes lies further to the north and is
better known for the nearby Pinnacle Rocks in
Nambung National Park.
These unique limestone pillars range in height up to 5 metres.
Wildflower Country
- Route 95 north from Perth leads to
New Norcia, a popular centre in the Western Australia's spring wildflower region.
Tours and visits are available to the Benedictine Mission with its classic
Spanish architecture. The wildflower region
extends much further north taking in the townships of Dalwallinu, Morawa and
Mullewa although the latter two are closer to Geraldton than to Perth.
South Coast
-
Mandurah is a popular beach and holiday resort, just a little over an hour south of Perth, where dolphins are often
seen in the estuary. This is a good fishing and prawning area. The historic
township of
Pinjarra is just down the road on the Murray River. Steam engine buffs can ride the
Hotham
Valley Railway which passes through the town.
Northam
is
the major town of the Avon Valley, to the north east of Perth
and an area that appealed to many early settlers. Historic buildings
still exist in
Northam such as the old railway station and nearby Buckland House, one
of the finest grand home in the state. The valley is a wildflower
destination and the Avon River is a popular canoe site.
Several historic
convict-built buildings can be seen in nearby
Toodyay, including
the still operating O'Connors Mill. The town of
York has preserved its English origins and is one of Western Australia's highlights with the
whole town being classified by the National
Trust. Many festivals are held in York and an excellent vintage
car museum is considered to be Australia's finest.
Wheatlands
is an area that flanks the Great Eastern Highway to the east
and extends south towards the coastal fringes at Albany. Like much of the
south west area of the state, most of this region has
winter and spring wildflowers Merredin is the major town of the area
and houses its museum in a renovated period railway station.
Hyden is a short distance from
the unique, 15 metres high Wave Rock.
Several lesser known rock formations and caves exist in the area,
some of which are Aboriginal rock art sites. Narrogin is another of the major
towns of the wheatlands.
It has a railway heritage museum and nearby Dryandra Forest has the only remaining section of eucalypt forest that once covered the region.
Things To See & Do In And Around Perth