Perth is the capital of Western Australia and is known for its green center, a strong cultural scene and a wild nightlife. The center is on the banks of the Swan River, from which you can see the hilly Darling Ranges to the east and the large Kings Park to the west. There are many attractions in the city itself, as well as in the surrounding area, including beaches, national parks, and wineries, all of which are less than an hour away by car or public transport can be reached. Because of the international airport and the fairly central west coast location, the city is also the ideal starting point for excursions to the various regions of Western Australia as well as for a trip around the country. The beaches of the Indian Ocean are only a few kilometers west of the city and attract both surfers and sun worshipers as well as city lovers.
Find out more about Perth
The whole of Western Australia has a population of around 2,700,000, of which over 2,000,000 live in Perth alone. The 4th largest city on the 5th continent covers an area of approximately 6,500 km² with a population density of 321 people per square kilometer. The metropolis is a very affluent city with an upscale lifestyle and a well-paid workforce. The reason for this is the many mines in Western Australia and other profitable companies that are often headquartered in the immediate vicinity of Perth. Accordingly, the cost of living is quite high, but in return the capital of WA has a lot to offer.
The author Bill Bryson once said that Perth is the most remote city in the world, which the metropolis has apparently been accused of having since then. On the other hand, it was given the name City of Lights, which is rarely used, because the residents and the city administration themselves switched on all the lights when the American astronaut John Glenn was in space over the city in 1962 and 1998. In addition, in 2010 the city was ranked eighth in the category “The World’s Most Livable Cities” in the English magazine The Economist. Founded on June 12th, 1829 (see history Perth) City of Lights is also very multicultural, with Chinese, Indians, Indonesians, Italians, Croats, Malays, Portuguese and South Africans in particular exerting a stronger cultural influence on city life. The student scene is also quite pronounced because of the 4 universities and the 4 TAFEs . There is also a lively student life in neighboring Fremantle, as there is another university and a TAFE. Furthermore, many different events are held here throughout the year , which have something to offer for almost every taste.
Orientation
The Central Business District ( CBD ) is characterized on the one hand by modern office skyscrapers and on the other hand by stylish, historic buildings. The structure of the city center is like a checkerboard pattern, which is why orientation is very easy. 6 parallel streets run from northwest to southeast, which in turn are connected by various side streets. Here the modern business district mixes with the lively pedestrian zones and the graceful, older buildings. Most of the shopping opportunities can be found in Murray Street Mall and Hay Street Mall (see Shopping ). In addition, more than 1,000,000m² of office space has been built on St Georges Terrace, with thousands of workers flowing in and out every day.
The culturally valuable district of Northbridge is located to the north of the green center, which is both noble and lively. Backpackers and interested visitors in particular appreciate this district, which is also the actual party district (see Nightlife Perth ). To the east you can see the rolling landscape of the Swan Valley and the Perth Hills . To the south of the CBD, the green lawns on the banks of the Swan River delimit the actual city center. If you go about 20 kilometers further south-west , you arrive in the alternative town of Fremantle . You can also find behind the large Kings Parkto the west the beaches of the Indian Ocean. The more affluent citizens have mainly settled around Kings Park and in the popular western suburbs, which include Subiaco, Cottesloe , City Beach and Scarborough.
In the heavily urbanized area of Perth there are a total of 33 suburbs, each of which has several subdistricts. These districts are located between Yanchep in the north, Mundaring in the east, Rockingham in the south and the Indian Ocean in the west.
Highlights & recommendations from the editors
- Enjoy great views of the impressive skyline and the Swan River in Kings Park
- Have a coffee and dine at the harbor in the alternative city center of Fremantle
- Bathing fun, good mood, sipping cocktails & relaxing on pretty Cottesloe Beach
- Wine & gourmet tour through the idyllic Swan Valley wine region
- Party, China Town & loads of backpackers in the nocturnal Northbridge
- Extensive shopping in the lively Hay Street Mall in the modern central business district
- Visit Rottnest Island with its dream beaches and cute quokkas by bike
- Ferry, Sail, Canoe & River Cruise from Barrack Square by the Swan Bell Tower
Tourist information & internet
The Western Australian Visitor Center at 55 William Street (corner of William Street & Hay Street) provides free information, numerous brochures and helpful maps of all regions and the most important attractions in WA . The Visitor Center in Kings Park at the War Memorial and the i-City kiosk in Murray Street Mall also help visitors with any questions they may have. Internet access is particularly common in William Street in the Central Business District or in the numerous backpacker hostels in Northbridge.
Location, weather & time
Due to its location on the west coast of the country, Perth is the perfect starting point for shorter or longer trips to the individual areas of Western Australia. The area has something to offer in all four directions and for every taste. Above Perth, head north along the Coral Coast, where the Kimberley and Pilbara regions are located. To the south begins the area of the south-west , where Margaret River , Albany and Esperance are popular destinations. In the center of Western Australia you can see the Golden Outback with Kalgoorlie Boulder , the Visit Wheatbelt , Wave Rock and the red desert of the fifth continent. The next larger cities are Adelaide (2,130km), Darwin (2,652km) and Dili (2,785km), the capital of East Timor.
The weather here can be described as Mediterranean because of the hot, dry summers (December – February) and mild winters (June – August). The average maximum temperature is around 24.5 ° C, the average minimum temperature is 12.7 ° C. Since the average length of sunshine is 8 hours a day, this is the sunniest capital of the Down Unders. In the summer, cooler winds blow, known as the Fremantle Doctor, as they really are a real refreshment in the hot summer days. The average annual rainfall is around 870mm, with the months May to August being the wettest. On the other hand, it rains the least in the summer months from November to February.
In addition, Perth is in the Australian Western Standard Time (AWST) (UTC + 8) time zone and the state has removed the changeover during daylight saving time. Thus, the capital of WA is 7 hours ahead of Central European Winter Time (CET) and 6 hours ahead of Central European Summer Time (CEST).