Perth, Australia travel resource.

Perth,Australia.

Located 1,700 mi/2,735 km from any other large city, Perth (pop. 1,300,000) is the clean, progressive capital of the vast state of Western Australia. Walk along the Swan River, shop at Ye Old London Court (an arcade with a medieval-London motif) and visit at least one of the splendid beaches (some are nude or topless).
Drop by the Western Australian Museum (Aboriginal art), visit the Kings Park (a very large area of undeveloped land with a great view of the city) and drive through the city's lovely suburbs-a pleasant way to pass an afternoon. You can also explore Underwater World, an aquarium that boasts a 321-ft/98-m underwater-tunnel, displaying 2,500 examples of 200 marine species, including sharks and stingrays. For nightlife, visit the Burswood Casino or, in summer, take in an outdoor concert at Perth Zoo or Kings Park.
Neighboring Fremantle, the port town at the mouth of the Swan River, had a flurry of fame when the America's Cup yachts were based there in 1987. The quaint city's real claim to fame, however, is that it has the world's largest and best collection of 19th-century British colonial architecture. Offshore is Rottnest Island (11 mi/18 km), the local automobile-free vacation island with good beaches, great diving and curious quokkas (very small and appealing kangaroolike animals). Be sure to book your passage in advance; boats can fill up quickly. Other day trips from Perth include the Swan River Valley (9 mi/15 km) for wine tasting (some tours go by boat) or the Margaret River Valley (175 mi/280 km south), noted for boutique wineries and world-famous surf beaches. Avon Valley (60 mi/100 km east) is the site of York, the oldest town in Western Australia. If you're heading out to Avon Valley, be sure to see the stupendous Wave Rock, a monolith shaped like a giant wave. 1,330 mi/2,140 km southwest of Alice Springs.