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March 8, 2024
Perth, the Capital of Western Australia: A City That Offers More for Adults Than You Might Imagine | TRAVEL
TRAVEL | Western Australia
A three-part series. To Western Australia, a paradise where nature and city coexist. Part 1
In December 2023, I had the opportunity to visit Western Australia for the first time, using ANA's direct Narita-Perth flight. I will report on the charms of "Perth," the capital of Western Australia, and its surrounding towns over three installments. The first installment is about "Perth." Oh, it was a more wonderful city than I had imagined. It's the kind of city I want to visit regularly.
Western Australia is approximately 7 times the size of Japan
Have you ever been to Western Australia? When you think of Australia, perhaps the first cities that come to mind are Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns, or the Gold Coast. To be honest, I didn't have a clear image of Western Australia until I actually visited.
I learned for the first time this time that Western Australia occupies nearly one-third of the Australian continent. Its total area is over 2.64 million square kilometers! That's about 7 times the size of Japan. It's huge!
Perth, its capital, was a wonderful city where Australian nature and urban life coexist. Many historical buildings dating back to the 1800s remain, and it's moderately urban (laughs), making it enjoyable to walk around. The city itself is calm and sophisticated, so it might be good for girls' trips or trips to show appreciation for your parents. Free CAT buses operate within the Perth city center (fares apply for suburban routes). It's a great point that you can enjoy walking around easily, conveniently, and above all, affordably.
So, what was so good about it? As I've said, I think the fact that you can enjoy both nature and the city is a big factor. You can stay in a nice hotel, eat delicious food, and relax on the beaches (there are 19 beautiful beaches within a 15-20 minute drive from the city) or at spots scattered throughout the city where you can enjoy nature. Rather than just traveling, it feels like a place I'd want to visit once a year and stay for about a week. That's what's so appealing.
A short trip from Perth allows access to more enchanting spots, such as the port town of Fremantle with its historic streets, Rottnest Island with its world-class beaches, and Margaret River, which produces over 30% of Australia's premium wines.
The flight from Japan to Perth takes about 10-15 hours, depending on the airline. It's not exactly close, but the one-hour time difference with Japan is a big advantage. Also, the ANA direct flight "Narita-Perth route" that I used this time took about 10 hours one way, which was quite comfortable.
So, this time I'll introduce some impressive spots I visited in Perth.
Must-visit places include the Western Australian Museum Boola Bardip, which underwent a major renovation in November 2020, and Kings Park, offering panoramic views of the city.
Western Australian Museum Boola BardipAddress | Perth Cultural Centre, Perth WA 6000
Tel. | +61-8-9431-8413
https://www.museum.wa.gov.au
"Boola Bardip" is a cultural facility in Western Australia with a history dating back to 1891. The permanent exhibition halls are divided by category, with displays designed to be enjoyed by both children and adults. I was captivated by the mummy of a Tasmanian tiger and the skeleton of a giant blue whale that washed ashore at the mouth of a river in the late 19th century. There was also a section featuring minerals mined in Western Australia.
You can also learn about the Aboriginal people. I learned here that the Aboriginal people divided the year into six seasons in this region, and these six seasons frequently appear throughout a trip to Western Australia. It's worth remembering them (laughs).
Kings ParkAddress | Fraser Avenue, Perth WA 6000
Tel. | +61-8-9480-3600
https://www.bgpa.wa.gov.au
Kings Park is one of the world's largest inner-city parks, with an area of approximately 400 hectares, located on a hill overlooking the city. Within the natural forest, over 3,000 species of Western Australian native plants and about 80 species of birds inhabit the park.
Western Australian native wildflowers (in Western Australia, over 12,000 species of wildflowers grow naturally in various environments, coloring the vast land with diverse flowers) are also found here and there. It feels more like an oasis for locals than a tourist spot, with people walking their dogs or lying on the grass reading books, each spending their time as they please. It was also heartwarming to see a group of women, who appeared to be in their early twenties, having a tea party.
And let's not forget, this is Australia, a coffee-loving nation. Perth, with its large Italian immigrant population like Melbourne, has a developed coffee culture and is full of cafes (and they're all crowded!). According to a guide, there isn't a single Starbucks here. I didn't have a chance to visit this time, but I heard that a coffee chain originating from Western Australia called "DOME" is very popular.
There are also many stylish restaurants. We visited "Wildflower," the main dining room of the luxury hotel "COMO The Treasury," housed in a renovated historic building that once served as the government's general administrative office. It is known as Perth's premier fine dining establishment.
It's highly regarded by locals who love good food, and it was almost full on the day we visited. They serve ingredients sourced from trusted farmers and fishermen, presented according to the six Aboriginal seasons. They also actively use wildflowers, as well as native herbs and nuts that Aboriginal people have consumed.
WildflowerAddress | 1 Cathedral Ave, (cnr St Georges Tce & Barrack St), Perth WA 6000
Tel. | +61-8-6168-7855
https://www.wildflowerperth.com.au/
We had the "4-course tasting" (140 Australian dollars, wine pairing 95 Australian dollars). The appetizer, made with Albany asparagus, wildflowers, and homemade duck egg mayonnaise, was particularly memorable.
The Shark Bay pink snapper was also fluffy and packed with flavor. For the meat dish, we had pork loin from theリンリーバレー (Linley Valley). The accompanying vegetables were also rich in flavor and quite substantial.
COMO Hotels and Resorts is a hotel brand that develops natural-style hotels based in Singapore. Although it has not yet launched in Japan, it is one of my personal favorite hotel brands. I'm curious about the hotels too.
The Ritz-Carlton, PerthAddress | 1 Barrack St, Perth WA 6000
Tel. | +61-8-6559-6888
https://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/perrz-the-ritz-carlton-perth/overview/
We stayed at "The Ritz-Carlton, Perth." Opened in November 2019, it is one of the top luxury hotels in Perth. Located on the Swan River waterfront at Elizabeth Quay, which is undergoing redevelopment, I couldn't help but exclaim when I opened the curtains in the morning and saw the magnificent view (laughs).
All 205 rooms, including 19 suites, are over 50 square meters. As expected of Australia. It was extremely comfortable, and I found it hard to leave (laughs). The infinity pool overlooking the Swan River had a real resort feel.
QT PerthAddress | 133 Murray Street, Perth WA 6000
Tel. | +61-8-9225-8000
https://www.qthotels.com/perth/](https://www.qthotels.com/perth/
On our final day, we stayed at "QT Perth," part of the Australian designer hotel brand QT. It's in the perfect location for exploring Perth's city center and for active pursuits. The rooms are as stylish as rumored, and the rooftop bar is bustling with locals every night.
"Santini Grill," which serves authentic Italian cuisine using a lot of Australian ingredients, has also become a place I want to visit every time I go to Perth. (To be continued)
