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See original article at Perth Western Australia - Things to See and Do Perth Western Australia - Things to See and Do
Located on the extreme west coast of Australia makes Perth one of the most isolated state capitals in the world. Because of this, if you are looking to visit, it is recommended to fly in and get a car to look around. Driving to Perth will take a long time, if you are coming from Adelaide (the nearest other state capital) it will take about 2 days travelling over 2700kms!
Perth is the capital of Western Australia which is the biggest of Australia's states. It accounts for a third of Australia's landmass though it only has about 10% of its population. This is probably because much of the interior of the state is desert but the coastal areas, including Perth (which is home to 70% of WA's population), are really rather nice. Perth is easily accessed from Australia's other major cities. It has two airports, Perth International Airport (book car hire Perth Airport) to the northeast of the city, and Jandakot Airport in the south of the city which serves smaller craft. From Adelaide to Perth, the main roads to take are the A1, the National 1 and then the National Route 94 to Perth. From Darwin, the route to take is the National 1 Route and then the National Route 95 to Perth. There are many scenic drives you can take in the area, and here are some of the most popular: Fancy a tour of the Western Territory of Australia? A great place to start is Perth, the capital of the region. And the best way to explore the area is from behind the wheel! Located on the extreme west coast makes Perth one of the most isolated state capitals in the world. Because of this, if you are looking to visit, it is recommended to fly in and get a car to look around. Driving to Perth will take a long time, if you are coming from Adelaide (the nearest other state capital) it will take about 2 days travelling over 2700kms! A good start to exploring the city might be to visit the Perth Cultural Centre. You will find it next to the Perth Train Station. As the name suggests it is very much the cultural centre of the city and it is home to an art gallery, a museum, the state library and the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts. Something else you could visit while you are in the city is the Perth Mint. Easily found from the city centre by walking out along Hay Street east. This mint is the oldest in Australia and is one of the oldest in the world! It still produces coins, and even some gold bullion still, you can even see the mint in operation. It offers a nice place to get some souvenirs as well, as many of them are made from gold such as pieces of jewellery etc. Perth Zoo is over one hundred years old, having opened in 1898 and it has been open every day since then! You can get free guided tours at 11am and 1.30pm each day. The zoo currently houses more than 1800 animals of 230 species, which is a big improvement from the 3 animals (2 lions and a tiger) that were present when the zoo first opened. Many of Australia's native animals are present including the Numbat, a marsupial that is also the national emblem of Western Australia. There is also Whiteman Park, located on the northern outskirts of the city. This national park is a great place for the kids as they can meet and pet the kangaroos and other animals. There are also a number of attractions for adults as well such as the railway museum. There is also the Swan Bells, these are located at the foot of Barrack Street and they are one of the few Millennium projects that were finished on time, on budget and are still used for their original purpose! These bells were a gift from the city of London and the city of Perth spent AUS$5 million in building a special bell tower for them. Well worth a visit if you are in the area. If you are around in early November then you might be lucky enough to be in time for the Red Bull Air Race which holds its annual final in Perth every year. Thousands of spectators line the Swan River shore to watch these aerial acrobats fly about at extremely low altitudes What to see and do in Perth There's so much to do and see within the city itself before you even hire your car and explore the surrounding area. With plenty of sandy beaches in Perth, and aspects of marine life to enjoy at the neighbouring port of Fremantle, the following are some of the main cultural and places of historical importance that you can discover: Heading out of the city one good place to start might be Fremantle. Fremantle started as a separate colony but now the urban areas of Fremantle and Perth have merged which leaves some who regard Fremantle as a suburb of Perth, but you won't find many in Fremantle that would agree with that assertion. Fremantle lies about 20kms from Perth city centre and it continues to be an important port to this day. It sits overlooking the Indian Ocean and stares across at Durban in South Africa. While there you could visit such attractions as the WA Maritime museum, includes a fine collection of ships such as the winged-keel Australia II, which won the America's Cup; the Fremantle Prison, built by convict labour in the 1850s, closed in 1991 and now reopened as a historic site with a museum (perhaps you could try the ghost tour!); have a walk through the Fremantle markets; take a look at the Round House, the oldest building in WA; or you could simply head for the beach and watch the sunset or go whale watching. The Darling Scarp is a popular area close by for going on bush walks particularly from September to November (the local springtime when all the flowers are in bloom). The area is a ripple in the landscape caused by the Darling Fault a major geological feature which extends for over 1000kms in Western Australia. Located off the coast of Fremantle is the island of Rottnest. This was used as an Internment camp during the world wars for German, Austrian and Italian civilians. You can take a cruise to the island and perhaps hire a bike to take a quick tour around. Rottnest Island is only 19 km west of Fremantle and can be seen from the mainland. Rottnest, or ‘Rotto’, was named in 1696 when Dutch explorer Wilhelm Vlaming mistook the marsupial quokkas on the island for rats and named it after the Dutch term for Rat’s Nest. Quokkas are a protected species and roam freely on Rotto but they are nocturnal so the best chance of seeing them is at night. Ferries for Rottnest Island leave Barrack Street jetty in Perth, Fremantle and Hillarys. Ferry operators will assist where they can – discuss your requirements with one of the operators. The Visitor Information Centre (Ph: 61 8 9372 9730) and Gift Shop are adjacent to the pier and an accessible toilet is available at the rear. There are no private vehicles on the island, most visitors walk or cycle to the various points of interest. Tourist activities include a guided bus tour, a guided walking tour of the main historical settlement at Thompson Bay, and a short train trip on the Oliver Hill Railway to the island’s high point and fortifications. Several developments have occurred, which have made the island more accessible for the day visitor and those wishing to stay longer: Manual wheelchairs are available to borrow from the Visitor Centre, phone 61 8 9372 9730. Accessible toilets are located behind the Gift Shop, on Digby Drive and also close to the Tearooms and Quokka Arms on Bedford Avenue. Another accessible toilet is located behind the shops/kiosk towards the hotel. Access to the ocean is available via a ramp at Thomson Bay. Australia is also famous for its New World wines Head out to Margaret River to experience this yourself. You can find this town located about 280 kms to the south of Perth and it is well worth the drive. The Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay is one of the more famous varieties found in this part of the world. In addition to the wine making region you can also find numerous fine beaches. The Namburg National Park is located about 245 km north of Perth. The park contains the Pinnacles Desert which is filled with thousands of limestone pillars rise out of the yellow sand. While you are there you can try taking one of the walks through the park, or perhaps try some fishing and swimming. The animals you can expect to see while there include the Western Grey Kangaroo, Honey Possums, Emus, Carpet Pythons, White-tailed Black Cockatoos and others. Western Australia Maritime Museum The main museum for the state of Western Australia. You can learn more about Aboriginal culture as well as the flora and fauna of the area. Adventure World A great day guaranteed for all the family! With plenty of rides and amusements, this will keep the little ones happy! Kings Park Kings Park is home to beautiful botanic gardens, and walks. There's something here in the peace and tranquillity for everyone! Cohunu Koala Park Cohunu Koala Park has plenty for the family to enjoy, including Australia's native animals such as koala bears, dingoes, kangaroos, emus and wallabies. Scenic Drives from Perth The Avon Ascent gives you a marvellous introduction to the heartland of Perth, with stunning scenery. Driving from Perth to the historic town of York and Balladong Farm will take you about an hour and a half. If you travel south, for 10km from here, you will reach Gwambygine Park and you can enjoy the wildlife and scenic river walks here. The next stop is the Avondale Discovery Farm, which is 23 km further up river near Beverley on the Great Southern Highway. If you're interested in rural tourism, and the development of an open farm, organic farming, and the development of alternative crop practices, there's plenty to see and do. Perth - Mandurah Another popular driving tour that you could take is the Perth to Dunsborough and then on to Mandurah, in what is known as a scenic drive of the wine country of Western Australia. The drive from Perth to Dunsborough will take approximately 3 hours and is over 250 km. From Perth, take the South West Highway to Dunsborough. Travel through Bunbury and Busselton. You can enjoy time exploring the Wine Country of Mandurah! Travel to many wine farms and sample the beautiful wines of varying vintages, at Busselton, Margeret River and Yallingup. Here, you can browse through the many art galleries, look at local craft shops and explore the limestone caves that litter the area. You may decide to overnight at Mandurah. You can enjoy the scenic beaches in the area, plenty of watersports, and cruising and visit the Peel Discovery Centre before you head on the final leg of this Self-drive tour from Perth to Mandurah, a driving time of 75km. Alternatively, you can travel back to Perth through Fremantle, and spend some time at this port city, and sample the atmosphere of the city, with its historical buildings and many art galleries. Alternatively, the drive from Perth to Margaret River and onto Bunbury is a good way of getting to know the local area. This again, is the heart of wine country - but with a difference as at the marvellous Prevelly, you will see the wild coastline and majestic forests. At Bunbury, you savour some time at the Dolphin Discovery Centre. All in all, there's much for you to discover in the Perth Region, and the best way to explore the area is by hiring a car. Reference: Mairead Foley writes for http://www.Novacarhire.com/ where you can book car hire at airports, ferry ports, rail stations, cities and towns all over the world. Disabled World (www.disabled-world.com) provides a large range of worldwide health and disability information. Disabled World Welcomes Health and Disability Related Press Releases and Article Submissions © Copyright 2011 - Disabled World News - www.disabled-world.com |