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Perth

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About Perth
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The beach-side city of Perth in Western Australia is famous for its blue skies, stunning natural setting and friendly locals. With more hours of sunshine than any other Australian city, it is the place to enjoy the great outdoors. You can sail on the sparkling Swan River which runs through the city, visit one of the 19 metropolitan beaches or hop on the free central bus service to Kings Park for wild bushland.

A local’s favourite, Rottnest Island is just a 30 minute ferry ride from Fremantle. Except for a hop on hop off bus there are no vehicles here, so hire a bike to explore. Rottnest is perfect for snorkelling and whale watching. Also look out for the quokkas, a pint-sized and very cute marsupial found only in WA.

If all that swimming and cycling makes you hungry, you are in luck. Perth’s dining scene has exploded in recent years. Northbridge and Mt Lawley offer great value Asian restaurants and late night bars. For the freshest seafood, head to local institution Cicerello’s in Fremantle where families eat alfresco fish and chips overlooking the harbour. Finish off with a drink in the famous Little Creatures, a boutique brewery next door. Also look out for the free public BBQs at some of the beaches and at Kings Park, where locals gather for picnics on the weekend.

Visit Perth in January to see the city party on Australia Day (26th January) or in February when the Perth International Arts Festival takes over the streets. If you want to avoid the crowds, then visit during September when it’s cooler, quieter and you can see the world’s biggest collection of wildflowers at Kings Park.

And the good news is it is closer than you think – you can fly from the UK to Perth in around 18 hours – four hours less than the quickest flight to Sydney, making it the perfect place for an Australian getaway.

If you book a trip with Qantas Holidays before 31 August you can also get free flights within Western Australia. Choose between free flights to Broome, an exotic pearling town where the outback meets the ocean or Exmouth for access to the pristine Ningaloo Reef, which has just been given UNESCO World heritage listing. Visit www.qantasholidays.co.uk for more information.

Travel Tips

For great views of Perth’s cityscape visit Kings Park, one of the largest inner city parks in the world. Explore its botanical gardens on one of the free guided walks and stay nearby at The Richardson, Perth’s coolest hotel and celeb hangout (Beyoncé, Bob Dylan and Gwen Stefani have all occupied beds here).
Thanks to changes to the licensing laws, Perth’s nightlife is undergoing a renaissance with a wave of small restaurants and underground bars popping up in the laneways. Located just off King Street, in Perth’s CBD, you will find the city's best kept secret, Wolfe Lane. This late night lounge bar is known for its great cocktails. Or let the locals show you a selection of the newest places with a guided ‘Eat, Drink, Walk’ tour.
Delve into the city’s colonial history with a trip to Fremantle, Perth’s funky port. It is packed with heritage buildings and a fascinating maritime and convict history. Experience the darker side on a torch-lit tour of its World Heritage-listed prison, which was built in the 19th Century by the convicts it then housed. Or go at the weekend when The Fremantle Markets buzz with colourful exhibits, crafts and fresh food.
Western Australia is a magpie’s delight. A huge producer of pink diamonds, not to mention pearls and gold; jewellery is big here. So much so the City of Perth has created a Bling Trail, a walking tour which reveals the best of city’s diverse jewellery stores. The fashion crowd will love the stop at King’s Street, where local designers such as Ruth Tarvydas, Melanie Greensmith (Wheels & Dollbaby) and Zekka Design sit alongside international brands like Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Prada .
If you like wine, you’ll be in your element in the Swan Valley, Western Australia’s oldest wine growing region. Just 30 minutes east of Perth, the wineries are super-friendly and offer free tastings. There are also microbreweries, fine dining restaurants and food producers specialising in chocolate, olive oil and cheese so you won’t have to drink on an empty stomach.