Perth: a Picturesque City in Western Australia

The land-down-under had been divided into several states: Tasmania (which is a separate island south of the main land), Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, North Australia, South Australia, and Western Australia.

Each of these states offer unique attractions both man-made and natural, and hospitable and accommodating people. Each is definitely worth visiting.

After visiting a few cities on the eastern area of Australia (Sydney and Melbourne), we now travel to Western Australia.

Perth at night (1)

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Western Australia is high lightened in red (2)

Here is a brief overview on Western Australia:

Western Australia is also known as “Sandgroper” by the natives. It occupies a total area of 2,645,615 square kilometers which makes it the largest region in Australia. Despite the size there are roughly 2.5 million citizens, which comprise 11% of the total population, living here. The capital of the region is Perth.

PERTH

Perth central business district (3)

Perth is a beautiful place to be in. It has a lot to offer such as a perfect weekend at the beach, detox time by the river and adjacent parks, and bonding experiences at man-made amenities within the city. So take a glass of wine and let your mind take you to a breathtaking place.

WHAT TO DO

RELAX AND THE ENDLESS STRIP OF BEACHES

Australia has a lot of beaches but none compares to the beaches in Perth. There are around 19 pristine beaches which tourists could choose from. Tourists would love to sunbath and have a tan on the beach or go surfing on the waves. Whatever they chose to do, they would definitely have a good time. Two of the most famous beaches are Cottesloe and Scarborough.

Cottesloe Beach (4)

Scarborough Beach (5)

TAKE A BREATHER ALONG THE RIVER

The most famous river in Perth is the Swan River that could be found in the southwestern area. It is a nice and relaxing place to enjoy a picnic with the family. The river and the adjacent plains are home to different species of plants and animals. The most popular bird species in the area are the Black Swans which was the origin of the river’s name.

Swan River (6)

STROLL ALONG THE PARK

Another picturesque attraction of Perth are the parks. On the west side of the city one could find Kings Park. The park occupies a total land area of 4.06 square kilometers, which includes grasslands, botanical gardens, and bushland.

The park also offers a good view of the Swan River. The park is home to 300 plants varieties and 80 bird species.

Important landmarks within the park are the State War Memorial, the Royal Kings Park Tennis club, a reservoir, Honour Avenue – a line of plaques were placed in honor for those who died in World War I and World War II, Fraser Avenue, Bali Memorial, Edith Cowan Clock, a Botanic Garden, DNA Tower, Aboriginal Art Gallery, Synergy Parkland, and Ivey Watson Playground.

Walkways were constructed to serve as pathways to different parts of the park.

Kings Park War Memorial (7)

Fraser Avenue

Synergy Parkland

There is also a month long celebration at the park known as Kings Park Festival.

TOUR AND GET A GLIMPSE OF PERTH’S ART AND HISTORY

No tour to a city is complete without taking a tour and a glimpse to the museums and art galleries. 

Luckily, there are a number of museums and galleries located at Perth Cultural Centre.

At this area one could find cultural establishments such as the Art Gallery of Western Australia, Western Australian Museum, State Library of Western Australia, State Records Office, State Theatre Centre of Western Australia, and Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA).

TAKE A CITY TOUR

Perth is as a beautiful city with towering buildings and skyscrapers. Atop the building is a beautiful view of the city. A few of the prominent buildings in Perth are Central Park Tower – the tallest building in the city, BankWest Tower, Council House, Stirling Gardens, Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre – a convention center that caters to 5000 people, and Swan Bells – these are a set of twelve historic and six modern bells all encased in a copper and glass campanile.

BankWest Tower, AMP Building, and Central Park (8)

Council House (9)

Perth Convention Centre (10)

Swan Bells

Other buildings worth noticing include The Barrack’s Arch – a historic building that once served as the house the retired Enrolled Pensioner Force, Perth Town Hall – a town hall built by convicts, and Perth Mint – the oldest operating mint.

Barrack’s Arch (11)

Aside from these towering buildings, there is also an outdoor area called Northbridge Piazza. This plaza is used during performances, exhibitions, festivals, various events, and cultural activities.

VISIT ANIMALS AT PERTH ZOO

For those visiting the city with children, your trip would be incomplete without a visit to Perth Zoo. The zoo occupies 41 acres and was established in 1898. In the year 2011 there are more than 150 different species nurtured inside the zoo. There is also a botanical collection with the premises.

The zoo is mainly divided into three zones: Australian Walkabout, Asian Rainforest, and African Savannah. As much as possible, living condition in the zoo mimics their natural habitat.

SIDE TRIP TOUR TO FREMANTLE

Fremantle is a city port in Western Australia under governance of Perth. It is famous for being the major entry point to the whole Western Australia. But Fremantle is also known for its historical buildings that date back to the 19th century. A few notable buildings include the Round House, Fremantle Prison – a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Fremantle Arts Centre, and Fremantle Markets.

Round House (12)

Fremantle Prison

High Street Fremantle (13)

High Street Fremantle (14)

http://laurenceourac.com/perth-a-picturesque-city-in-western-australia/ 

REFERENCES:
http://www.westernaustralia.com/us/Destination/Perth/9009624
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/australia/western-australia/perth/things-to-do/top-things-to-do-in-perth
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/australia/western-australia
http://www.tourism.wa.gov.au/Pages/welcome_to_tourism_western_australia.aspx
http://www.westernaustralia.com/en/Things_to_See_and_Do/top_10/Pages/Top_10_Family_Attractions.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_Perth
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perth

IMAGES:
1. Francescorenna. Perth at night viewed from Kings Park. November 2013. Commons.wikimedia.org. Photograph. March 1, 2015.
2. TUBS. Location of state in Australia. October 2011. Commons.wikimedia.org. Photograph. March 1, 2015.
3. JJ Harrison. Perth CBD. March 2012. Commons.wikimedia.org. Photograph. March 1, 2015.
4. Souffreau, Bram. Cottesloe Beach. January 2007. Commons.wikimedia.org. Photograph. March 1, 2015.
5. Cookaa. Scarborough Beach. March 2003. Commons.wikimedia.org. Photograph. March 1, 2015.
6. Nachoman. Swan River. November 2005. Commons.wikimedia.org. Photograph. March 1, 2015.
7. Mark. Kings Park War Memorial. April 2007. Commons.wikimedia.org. Photograph. March 1, 2015.
8. Titcombe. BankWest Tower, AMP Building, and Central Park. September 2005. Commons.wikimedia.org. Photograph. March 1, 2015.
9. IgnorantArmies. Perth Council House. August 2012. Commons.wikimedia.org. Photograph. March 1, 2015.
10. Nachoman. Perth Convention Centre. November 2004. Commons.wikimedia.org. Photograph. March 1, 2015.
11. Goberine. Barrack’s Arch. April 2004. Commons.wikimedia.org. Photograph. March 1, 2015.
12. Magnus Manske. Round House. January 2005. Commons.wikimedia.org. Photograph. March 1, 2015.
13. Ames, Mitch. High Street Fremantle. November 2009. Commons.wikimedia.org. Photograph. March 1, 2015.
14. HappyWaldo. High Street Fremantle. November 2009. Commons.wikimedia.org. Photograph. March 1, 2015.