A Local’s Guide to the attractions of Perth Western australia

Take a look at a map of Australia and the first thing you will notice is that the bulk of the country's population is located on the east coast. Have you ever wondered what its like on the west coast? Visit Perth, Western Australia and discover another side of Australia.

Perth, whose population is well over one and a half million, is by no means a small outback town. A panoramic picture of the cityscape shows towering skyscrapers in the background with the placid waters of the Swan River in the foreground. In many ways, this often photographed panorama depicts Perth perfectly. It is a capital city with a difference: cosmopolitan and urbane on the one hand, it retains strong ties to its natural surroundings.

Its location on the banks of the Swan River is no accident. The site was chosen because it was a safe and fertile inland location that offered easy water access to the coastal port, some 20 miles west. Back then, the Swan was the most important transport route. Today, it is equally important as the backdrop for the Perth lifestyle. Most of Perth's most popular attractions are located around the beautiful Swan River.

Perth's commitment to nature began way back when the city was founded in 1872. 172 hectares were set aside in the heart of the city for Perth Park. This was expanded to 400 hectares in 1901 and the name of the park was changed to King's Park. Over 60 hectares larger than New York's Central Park, King's Park is the largest urban park in the world and is home to over 100 animal species and 250 species of plants.

Aspects of King's Park is a good example of how artfully Perth blends commercial enterprise with its beautiful natural surroundings. Aspects Gallery and retail shops offer some of the finest examples of Australian arts and crafts that can be found anywhere in the world. It is inspiring to visit the gallery and look at all the marvelous artworks and crafts that are on display in this beautiful setting. Whether you choose to make a purchase or not is up to you.

For an inspiring day of shopping or window shopping, call in at Aspects while you're exploring King's Park. After that, pay a visit to the equally inspiring Aboriginal Art Gallery and chat with the aboriginal performers who work there between performances. It's a great way to learn about Perth and Australia's rich aboriginal history and perhaps pick up an example of fine aboriginal arts and crafts while you're there.

A must-see attraction in Perth is the amazing Bell Tower on Riverside Drive. The Bell Tower is a masterpiece of modern architectural design and houses a fascinating range of unique and historic bells. These include the ring of bells that was gifted to the people of WA during the Australian Bicentennial celebrations of 1988 and many other historic bells, including one that weighs 459KG that dates back to 1550 and the 12 bells of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, which were originally cast before the 14th century.

These few examples of Perth attractions are just a handful out of dozens of places to see and things to do in this amazing city. Once you have visited Perth, you will understand why it has been voted one of the world's finest capital cities. Your Perth accommodation will reflect the city itself - refined, sophisticated and still in touch with nature.

Take a few days off, find Perth accommodation, things to do and other travel related information about the area on bookitnow.com.au. Or visit our Australia blog for more Australian holiday ideas.