Travel Goals

1. Climb to Everest Base Camp.
2. Climb Mt Kilimanjaro.
3. Learn to Scuba Dive.
4. Visit every continent.
5. See the Galapagos Islands.
6. Sail down the Amazon River.
7. Climb Ayer's Rock.
8. Ride the Trans-Siberian.
9. Go into space.
10. Go wild at La Tomintina.
11. See the sunrise from Mt. Fuji.
12. Gaze at Borobudor.
13. Visit the Pyramids
14. Safari in East Africa.
15. Go to the World Cup!
16. See Machu Picchu.
17. Join the Century Club.
18. Visit Antarctica.
19. Do development work.
20. See Petra Jordan.
21. Backpack the Eastern Block.
22. See the Northern Lights.
23. Vegas Baby! Vegas!
24. Greek Island hop.
25. Cycle Tuscany.
26. Visit India.
27. Lounge in the Seychelles.
28. See Morocco.
29. Oktoberfest!
30. Caravan across the Sahara.
31. Visit Tibet.
32. Fly first class.
33. Go to Israel.
34. Carnival!!!!
35. Mardi Gras!
36. Cannes Film Festival.
37. Sundance Film Festival.
38. Eat a sushi meal at NOBU
39. Pacific Island hop.
40. Spend a night in the Ice Hotel.
41. See Glacier National Park.

Book Your Travel Here!!

The Saturday City: Perth

September 13, 2008

Perth is located in Australia’s west coast and is the capital of Western Australia. The city has the largest population in the territory with a whopping population of 1.5 million residents.

The city was founded on June 12th 1829 by Captain James Stirling as the center for the Swan River Colony. Despite a slow start and skirmishes with the native Aborigines, the city prospered and grew. In 1850, an influx of convicts boosted the size of the colony and their labor helped build the city. The discovery of gold in the 1890s triggered a mineral boom that as still not subsided. This boom has been the key to Perth’s growth as well as the growth of the whole of Western Australia.

Over the last few years, the rise of commodity prices and the subsequent mining and oil drilling boom has ballooned Perth’s population. The city is now a hub of activity and growth. (It grows 10% per year.) Despite that growth, the city still remains a wonderful place to visit. It’s clean, the people are friendly, it’s easy to get around, and it sits right on the ocean. To me, Perth embodies everything that Australia is about- rugged yet refined, modern but still rustic, relaxed but still moving.

As a young and modern city, there is little to “see” but there are a few attractions. The Perth Cultural Center contains an art gallery, museum, the State Library, and the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts. Kings Park is a large and lush park that is full with native flora and fauna. It provides a fantastic view of the city, especially at night. There is a great aquarium in the city too filled with exotic fish. Additionally, here are also tours of the Swan River which provides great views of the city and is a good way to relax. If you are looking to get out of Perth, the city of Freemantle is a quick train ride away.

If the heat (and it gets really hot) gets to you, head to Perth’s famous beaches. Perth has a number of good beaches: Cottesloe Beach (one of the most popular), Swanbourne Beach (nude beach), City Beach (also very popular), Scarborough Beach (great for surfing), Trigg Beach (also popular for surfing). So matter what your tastes are, there is a beach in Perth that has it.

On Sundays, Cottesloe fills with young adults engaging in one of Australia’s most time honored traditions- the Sunday session. The Aussies love to drink on Sundays and the Sunday sessions art the Cottesloe Hotel are famous throughout the country. Even if they have never been to Perth, they know about “The Cott.” It’s that good. Don’t miss it!

At night, the action heads down to Northbridge. There the natives unwind with a good beer and socialize until the early morning hours. One thing that I found really nice about Perth was just how friendly people were. Normally, you go out to the bars, and people are stand offish when you try to strike up a conversation. But in Perth, everyone talks. The city is a great place to meet people and on all my nights out there, I found the locals to be very friendly. Northbridge may get crowded and sometimes a little rowdy but everyone’s always willing to talk.

To many Australians, Perth is a world way. The majority of the country’s population lives on the east coast and rarely venture off it. To them, Perth might as well be another country. Perth always seems to be the end of the world- far removed from the rest of the country. But any visit to Australia that doesn’t include the city misses a truly Australian experience. I found the east coast is very “American” but, out west, life in Australia is as you would picture it. To truly get a feel for the country, you have to visit W.A. and you have to visit Perth.

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Posted by NomadicMatt | Filed Under Saturday City

Comments

13 Responses to “The Saturday City: Perth”

Quickroute on September 13th, 2008 3:17 pm

I never made it to Western Oz - wish I had looking at your photos
:-((
The Dude on September 14th, 2008 5:20 am

some flat share in south perth is a bit better for a long term stay. much cheaper and more quiet than northbridge, and you have less trouble to park your car.
Jari on September 14th, 2008 5:27 am

Wow. you put together a great blog here. I have always wanted to go to Perth! I am going to link it to my travel blog: http://www.pyrodes.com.
Language Dude on September 14th, 2008 8:43 am

What strikes me more than anything is the growth rate. Ten percent a year is phenomenal. I wonder how long it can keep up that pace? I’ve never been there, but it’s on my list.
Amanda on September 14th, 2008 11:42 am

Hey Matt, nice to hear your positive thoughts about my hometown Some people say it’s boring, but I just say they’re not looking hard enough, and your list does make it sound like there’s plenty to do (and you didn’t even mention the vineyards and breweries of the Swan Valley). The growth rate of our economy is still huge because of the mining boom in the north (which is mostly because of China’s economic growth) - it won’t last forever but it’s nice while it does.
Debo Hobo on September 14th, 2008 12:05 pm

Great info, and hey I love the new look of your blog.
NomadicMatt on September 14th, 2008 4:33 pm

@quick: get there soon!

@the dude: great advice!

@jari: thanks for the compliments. I’ll check out your site.

@language dude: You need to go. It’s an amazing place! Their growth is tied to China’s growth so I suspect you’ll eventually see it slow.

@Amanda: I love perth!!! I know I did not include the other stuff but I was simply focusing on the city itself. The growth rate won’t last forever…but neither will your water!

@debo: The new look suits me well!
NewWrldYankee on September 16th, 2008 10:46 am

Why is that every time you do a Saturday city, I have yet another place added onto my Want-to-Go-To list?
Cris on September 16th, 2008 11:10 am

We just left Perth, 2 days ago we were there, and I was expecting more from the city.
I know a lot of people that have lived there, are living there or are going to live there, so I guess I was expecting to much.
It is a pretty city, and true, it is very Australian. Kings Park is amazing.
But I don’t know if I would live there. I new it is isolated, but for a 1,5 million people city, I found it a bit boring, as this 1,5 is very very spread and you feel like your are always in a small town.
I also thought weird not seeing people walking on the streets, everyone drives, because everything is so far and the public transport to the suburbs is not wide enough. So when I was walking, drivers used to look at me with that face “why is this crazy girl walking?”
NomadicMatt on September 17th, 2008 2:22 pm

@cris: i think the big city but small town feel was what i did like about it!
dizzed.com on September 18th, 2008 1:04 pm

The Saturday City: Perth | Nomadic Matt’s Travel Site…

This is a really cool site about a guy who travels all the time. Nice look into the city of Perth….
healthranker.com on September 18th, 2008 1:06 pm

The Saturday City: Perth | Nomadic Matt’s Travel Site…

This is a really cool site about a guy who travels all the time. Nice look into the city of Perth….
8 ball in a tube sock on September 23rd, 2008 10:47 pm

matty…that sunday session at the cott was absolutely mental! i loved it when the bouncer wasn’t going to let you in….but you just swept the leg and then johnny got’cha that body bag….YEEEEEEEEEEEAH!!!