Perth Australia

World-class Perth

This far-flung town on the west coast of Australia is often overlooked as a tourist hotspot and exciting destination to visit. Perth is severely underrated, as it boasts history and attractions enough to excite any traveller, whether local or from abroad. Perth was, in trend with other major Australian cities, a British colony that due to its location on the beautiful Swan River was imaginatively entitled the Swan River Colony. The central metropolitan area of the Colony was entitled Perth in honour of the then Secretary of State for the Colonies, George Murray who was born in Perth Scotland, and this name grew to subsume the colony as the city grew. However, this Perth isn’t entirely reminiscent of its Scottish namesake, enjoying generally much nice weather and better local wine.

The local wineries and nearby vineyards make this a very appealing reason to visit the city. Wine tastings are available and day trips are highly recommended. Lists of vineyards and package deals involving wine tasting trips are available from good tour guide operators. Furthermore, wine tastings organised within the city are always incredibly fun and a great way to make friends. Bond over a Western Australian shiraz and find someone new to share the visitor experience with, which is what a visit to Australia is all about.

Appropriately, the restaurants available in the city match the excellent wine (or at least serve fantastic food to match the wine) and are at a world-class level. Clarke’s of North Beach is much recommended, as is Friends, Yu Restaurant and George St Bistro. A wide range of cuisines are available, reflecting the ethnic melting pot that Australia generally is. Italian, Greek, Turkish, Thai, Chinese, Spanish, Japanese, fusion and even Australian – the difficulty lies in what to choose next.

An alternative option is the Swan River, which is an excellent setting to combine a delicious meal and wine. A cruise up and down the river is well worth the cost, as the scenery along the river is indescribably beautiful, and is an experience not found in any other part of the world. The Swan River is the area’s main body of water and features highly in Aboriginal spirituality and colonial history. Take in the city skyline, spot the famous black swans the river is named for, and really see the green countryside surrounding the metropolitan area. At its widest parts, the Swan River could almost be considered a lake, and activities such as windsurfing and jet-skiing are very popular.

The nearby national parks are also a must-see. Kalamunda, Yanchep and Beelu are favourites, as is Korung and Nambung. Each a short distance outside the city, these national parks preserve important land and highlight the variances of the Australian climate. Wander under the tree canopy and spot the species which flourish in a forest ecosystem. Guided tours are informative and entertaining, and the pictures will be worth thousands of words. Perth is much underrated, so discover this city and make some fantastic memories.