Perth.

Perth has all the essential ingredients for a great holiday.

Yes, Perth, the capital of Western Australia, is a place where the beaches are clean and uncrowded, the weather is delightful and the sunsets are spectacular.

The City Centre is located twenty Kilometres inland of the Indian Ocean on the West Coast of Australia.

Situated on the banks of the Swan River, this is a place where you can get active and enjoy the sunshine, a place where natural parklands and beach lifestyle make it one of the country's most beautiful cities.

Much of the city was originally built using convict labour and this can still be seen today in some of the city's remaining historic buildings.

These days however, the river and surrounding area provides a scenic outlook for the city of Perth as well as a place for recreational activities.

During your visit you'll find a multitude of fun activities in the city centre, many of which focus on the picturesque Swan River.

Perhaps you might enjoy one of the many river cruises which operate along the river, some offering dining and music as you spend a few hours cruising in and out of the city.

To see spectacular panoramic views of the city, and the river, visit Kings Park and Botanic garden and take advantage of the many lookouts and vantage points available to the public, or enjoy a relaxing picnic in one of the many recreation areas of the park.

While in the city visitors can also visit some of the main tourists attractions including the Zoo and the Old Mill, both just a short ferry ride from the city.

Barracks Arch and Kings Park, both of which are located just on the edge of the city centre are easily accessible by public transport.

Free buses get you around the CBD where you can visit the many attractions and there's a train and bus station right in the centre of town.

If you’re a serious shopaholic make a beeline for up-market King Street where you’ll find boutiques, art galleries, eateries and beautiful people a plenty, it's the place to be seen, or if you prefer quality department and fashion chain stores, the Murray Street and Hay Street malls hit the spot.

A fabulous range of city and suburban shops will satisfy even the most particular tourist, with everything from traditional Australian gifts and garments, opals, Kalgoorlie gold and precious diamonds to succulent local seafood, tender red meat and fresh fruit and vegetables.

Whet your appetite with a day on the Swan River, a picnic to the Darling Ranges, a visit to a vineyard or a stroll around Perth or Fremantle.

Offset by the vast tranquil waters of the Swan River, this beautiful city is a tourist's delight.

Modern and vibrant, it contrasts with its historic counterpart, the port city of Fremantle, accessible within 20 minutes by car from Perth.

Tourists often refer to Perth as the ‘friendly city’ although some of its more famous visitors have renamed the city after their own personal experiences.

Astronaut John Glenn called it the ‘City of Lights’ after his historic fly-over in 1962 and victorious America’s Cup skipper Dennis Connor referred to it as the ‘most isolated city in the world’.

Most visitors see it as bright, fun, friendly and ‘laid back’ but once you visit here you’ll find your own unique way to describe what you find.

For more information visit the WA Visitor Centre in Forrest Place, opposite the city railway station.

If you enjoy long relaxing walks along clean sandy beaches, swimming in the surf on a warm sunny day, or perhaps lazing on a beach towel while watching the world go by, then a visit to the Sunset Coast is for you.

The Sunset Coast contains coastline and beach side suburbs, from Cottesloe west, to Mindarie Keys North West of the city centre.

Many of the beaches are just a short drive from the centre of Perth, and this northern coastal area is popular for Perth's safe swimming beaches, walking and cycling paths, as well as beach side cafes.

Fremantle is Perth's port city, just a short drive or train ride south of the Perth city centre.

Affectionately known by Australians as Freo, Fremantle was originally Perth's access port for ships bringing supplies when Perth was just a colony.

Today Freo is so much more, and while it is still the main port for Western Australia, over the years it has grown to embrace its own identity as a seaside city with a vibrant atmosphere.

Fremantle is a popular spot, particularly at weekends when you will find markets, entertainment and plenty of alfresco style cafes and eateries.

Also only a short 20 minutes from the city, and a great destination for a day trip from Perth, the Swan Valley Region is steeped in history and is one of Western Australia's oldest wine regions.

The region is home to more that 40 vineyards, many of which are still run by the descendants of families who originally came from Europe and started the wineries many years ago.

Just a short ferry ride from the city centre or Fremantle is Rottnest Island, a popular holiday destination which offers a very relaxed atmosphere.

Measuring just 11 Kilometres long and less than a few Kilometres wide in most places, the island gained its name from a small marsupial which calls Rottnest home.

When early Dutch explorers visited the island, they mistook the beautiful native Quokka for unusually large rodents, and referred to the island as "Rottenest", a rat’s nest.

They were wrong about these creatures, and the island, and the small friendly Quokkas which are now a protected native animal, still inhabit this scenic island in large numbers today.

If you enjoy nature and want to immerse yourself in natural Australian bushland, then a visit or stay in the surrounding hills is a must.

Offering rolling hills and valleys of native bushland, wineries and orchards, the area is perfect if you enjoy bushwalking and hiking, and nowhere else has the amazing views over the city below.

The city has a number of locations which suddenly spring into life, especially at the weekends.

Just outside the city centre is the district of Northbridge where you will find a range of nightclubs, pubs, cafes and eateries offering an eclectic mix of cultures and cuisines, meanwhile, south, in Fremantle, things are jumping at the local nightclubs and bars.

If you are looking for nightlife, good food and a great atmosphere you're sure to find it at one of these locations.

NOW... when you visit us in Perth you'll need a great hotel to call home for a few days won't you?

Well the task of finding accommodation in Perth just became a whole lot easier! That little box on the right is not the usual link to a hotel booking site...

It is a search tool. It searches the 30 biggest hotel booking sites on the web and brings back all the prices for you, so you can make sure you get the best deal available.

•Just enter your chosen dates,

•click "Search"...

•...and you get taken to a page that lists the Perth accommodation that is currently available for those dates and the best price for each.

(Page opens in new window.)

Click on any individual hotel and you can see all the results for that hotel. If you want a bigger or better located room than the cheapest one available, you can still see with one glance who has the best deal for that particular room.

On top of the best prices you also get information about the individual hotels and resorts, pictures, maps, reviews from travellers, all neatly presented and very user friendly.

Once you click "Select" on the best price, THEN you get taken to a booking site where you can find out more details about the offer.

I played with this myself before I put it here. I compared it to the prices that the hotels offer on their own websites: this tool brought back the same or a better offer. (Up to 20% cheaper!)

I also compared it to what Flight Centre had to offer: Flight Centre was either sold out or more expensive.

Needless to say, I was impressed.

Try it out for yourself you'll like it...

Yes indeed, Perth has all the essential ingredients for a great holiday…………enjoy,

John.

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