It's well known that Perth is the world's most isolated city.
With a yawning gap of 2,700 kilometers between it and its nearest big city, Adelaide, traveling to the West Australian capital is no mean feat.
Here's what you can expect to find when you get there.
Capital Culture
Situated on the banks of the Swan River, Perth also embraces many European sensibilities.
The city has a few independent movie theaters, small clusters of local shops, and a preponderance of coffee bars with a relaxed atmosphere.
Start in the heart of the city center.
A great place to people watch, some inner suburbs, such as Northbridge, house some of Perth's most exclusive restaurants and vibrant nightlife.
If you seek an education, why not take a trip to the award-winning Perth Mint, where you can witness liquid gold overflowing into special casts and view Australia's most extensive collection of natural gold nuggets.
By that time, you're probably in the mood for a great coffee.
Travel 30 minutes south of Perth to Fremantle and its famous ‘Cappuccino Strip.'
It is only a hop and a skip to the Fremantle Prison, the WA Maritime Museum, and the Fremantle Arts Centre.
Exploring Outer Perth
Beach bums united! Perth has some beautiful beaches that touch the cool turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean.
Scarborough Beach is well-known for having some of the whitest sand in the world.
While Rottnest Island is home to some spectacular sunsets and off-shore fishing spots.
Take a tour of the WW2 tunnels for a bit of history – these were used for storage and now are mostly empty.
On the modern front, the Aquarium of Western Australia is a great way to learn more about the ocean – there's even an underwater observatory tunnel.
Related: Where to Go for Australia's Finest Wine
Margaret River
The Margaret River is a bit further down the road (3 hrs one way) but is Western Australia's wine country and worth a couple of days if you have the time.
Closer to town, Swan Valley (in the Hills) is home to locally owned-and-loved Houghton Wines.
Getting There
Hiring a campervan in Perth is a popular mode of travel for travelers – particularly one-way drives and then flying home.
Why? Because it allows you to visit sites en route that are incredibly remote, such as Uluru and Alice Springs, as well as some of the many remote national parks in Western Australia.
One of the best known is the Nullarbor Plain, which offers a stark view of the country's diverse geography. There's also Wave Rock, located near Hyden.
Most caravan parks are on the edge of town, but nearly all of them are on major bus routes, so you can park and get settled.
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This post was brought to you by Britz.
Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking and Feastio. He's been to 66 countries and lived in Colombia and Peru. Read the full story of how he became a travel blogger.
Planning a trip? Go Backpacking recommends:
- G Adventures for small group tours.
- Hostelworld for booking hostels.
ken Murika
Friday 4th of October 2013
I also do appreciate the Perth Zoo where you can almost see every animal from around the globe, from giraffes and elephants from African Savana to tigers from India, you literally walk around the world's flora and fauna