Western Australia's Gem: Perth

Filed in archive Cities on October 22, 2007

Perth stands alone on the Southwest coast of Australia. The big expanse of nothingness known as the outback stands between the Perth and most of Australia's population. Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra are all located on the Eastern edge of Aus'.

Perth does not feel like an isolated town, though. The beach and the low rolling hills of Australia's southwest sandwich a city full of culture and excitement (albeit excitement with the trademark Australian nonchalance).

Most of the action takes place in central Perth. Located on the banks of the Swan River, downtown Perth is full of shops, malls, restaurants, and entertainment venues.

Perth is, in fact, located 30 miles inland. Fremantle is the nearby port town. It has a historic feel largely absent in Perth,; old buildings and markets hearken back to colonial days. The oceanside is a great place to sample some "just-caught" seafood and watch the impressive waves of the Indian Ocean.

Perth is the hub for Western Australia. International flights from most Asian cities land there, as do domestic flights from the east coast.

So there you go: Sydney is a great place, but there is more to Australia. A lot more.