Perth

Perth, the capital of Western Australia, is the fourth most populous city in the country.  It is an oasis of green between the jewelled blue tones of the Indian and Southern Oceans and the reds and browns of the desert and plains.

Speaking of a green oasis, Kings Park is the world's largest inner-city park - even bigger than famous Central Park in New York City!  At just over 4 square kilometers and located next to the Perth CBD, there's no reason to get that 'enclosed big city' feeling.

Perth

One of the most important things to keep in mind when planning a trip that includes a visit to Perth is the relative isolation.  You will need to pay attention to the distances and travel times between points of interest.  Perth is actually closer to Singapore than it is to Sydney!  Click on the link to get a better idea of the general area, not just the city surrounds.

A must-see destination is Rottnest Island, located just off the coast from Fremantle.  It's a major tourist attraction, so you'll definitely want to book your hotel in advance.  You'll probably hear the locals refer to it as 'Rotto'.  You know us Aussies, we love to shorten the names for everything!  The best way to get there is by ferry from either Fremantle or Perth.  There's plenty to keep you busy on the island.  It's one of the few areas where you can find a quokka.  For those not in the know, a quokka is a small, mostly nocturnal marsupial.  It looks like a cross between a wallaby and a rat (which is how the island got its name - it means Rat Nest in Dutch).

Quokka

Diving is another reason to visit the island and there's even a snorkel trail to follow at Parker Point.  I highly recommend a glass bottom boat tour to see some of the shipwrecks in the area.  Cycling enthusiasts will also love this place, as that is the most common mode of transport (there are no hire cars on the island).

Back on the mainland, wine connoisseurs will want to travel southwest to the Margaret River wine region.  You won't be disappointed by the coastal scenery on the way.  There are plenty of hotels in Margaret River so that you can spend a few days enjoying the vineyards and surrounds.

Margaret River Vineyard

Have a look at the Perth Activities and Tours page on our website to get more details on different types of full day and multi-day trips that are available.

If you have the time, continue southeast to Albany, a historic port city surrounded by national park lands.  From here you are truly looking towards the bottom of the earth, as there's nothing between you and Antarctica.

There are a lot of other places to see if using Perth as your 'jumping off point' so to speak, but I'll cover those in another post.

I hope you get a chance to discover this great, isolated gem of a destination.