Perth Review

Those of us living on the east coast of Australia used to refer to Perth as “Dullsville”. But no more! The capital of Western Australia is booming. Huge inflows of cash from the fast expanding mining sector are being spent and the city has come to life with an expansion of restaurants, shops and nightlife.

This money has a downside. Perth is very expensive.

Every time we inspect Perth, the sun shines. It does rain, but odds are you will have blue skies. In winter, this makes for a pleasant day. In the summer, it can be very hot but, being a dry heat, it is more bearable than the humidity of many parts of eastern Australia.

A favourite of ours is to rent bikes and cycle along the Swan River. Cycling tracks cover many kilometres; all flat and easy riding. Add a hill by riding up to Kings Park and be rewarded with a superb view of Perth below. Carry on through Subiaco, a pretty inner suburb, where there are still a few early 20th century buildings. You can even cycle on to Fremantle.

Not into cycling? Then a boat trip down the Swan River takes you to Fremantle, or “Freo” as it is known to the locals. Enjoy the harbour front and the popular Little Creatures micro brewery. Trains connect easily back to the city.

Another favourite is to visit Rottnest Island, just a ferry ride away from Perth or Fremantle. This is an island without cars and, again, bikes are the way to go, but if you’re a non-cyclist, then there is a bus that goes around the island. Great beaches, excellent view points and, cap it all off, there are many cafés and bars where the ferry docks.

If you have more time, then drive south to the Margaret River, famous for its wines. On the way south, call in at Rockingham, where you can swim with the dolphins.

Perth Airport is 16 kilometres east of the city and, at the moment, is a bit of a mess as it’s being upgraded. Take a taxi or the Perth Airport Connect that will take you directly to your accommodation.