The Promise of Perth: Some Delectable Side Trips

The Western Australia capital of Perth offers so much to the holiday maker. There are historical monuments, great shopping and dining and nightlife all in a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. But to get the most out of your Perth Holiday, you need to get out of the city and pay a visit to some of the enchanting nearby attractions. Here's the skivvy on three of those delights: Sunset Coast, Swan Valley and Rottnest Island

One of the joys of visiting Perth is the proximity of some fine beaches to the city centre. The most luminous beach area is known as the Sunset Coast, a long strip of clean sand.

The whole area is perfect for swimming, walking and cycling, as well as al fresco dining or just relaxing in beach front cafes. As the name suggests, a special time of day to enjoy this area is sunset, when you can view the sun dipping down into the Indian Ocean in a blaze of orange. It makes for the perfect romantic moment.

Among the beaches of choice for safe swimming are Cottesloe Beach, Swanbourne Beach, which is a nudist beach, and City Beach, North Beach, and Sorrento Beach, which are popular family beaches.

Another great Perth side trip is to Swan Valley, especially for wine buffs. Just 20 minutes from downtown Perth, Swan Valley is one of Western Australia's oldest wine producing regions and home to over 40 vineyards. Many have been in the same families for generations since the founders arrived from Europe.

Wine buffs will be particularly intrigued by the singular, fortified wines produced here. These include Muscats, Ports and some liqueur wines offered direct from the cellar door.

If beer is your tipple, you can visit the several boutique and micro breweries in the region. More than 20 locally brewed beers are on offer including ales and stout. Other than the many imbibing options, Swan Valley also offers a number of great restaurants.

Nature lovers will enjoy a visit to Swan Valley's Whiteman Park, a conservation area covering more than 4000 hectares of protected bushland and wetland. Flora in the the park includes Banksias, Melaleucas, Wattles and Grass Trees.

Another treat for nature lovers is the small island of Rottnest, accessible via a short ferry trip from Perth City, Fremantle or Hillarys. It's home to the small marsupials known as Quokka.

Known locally as "Rotto", Rottnest Island has a chequered history having been used as a prison colony, farm, governor's residence and military training zone over the years. No cars are allowed on the island but it can get busy with locals especially during school holidays.

Other than relaxing and enjoying nature, Rottnest Island is also a great place for activities such as cycling, swimming, sunbathing, and especially, snorkelling and scuba diving. The waters are clean and the seabed is home to coral reefs and shipwrecks.

Making Perth your base to explore Western Australia is a smart move. For one thing it has great transport options and is packed with things to do and places to go. You've also got a grand choice of Perth city hotels including the The New Esplanade Hotel and the Parmelia Hilton Perth.

About the Author: Richard Greaves has over 20 years experience in the travel industry and writes for Cheaper than Hotels. Cheaper Than Hotels offers Perth City hotels as The New Esplanade Hotel and Parmelia Hilton Perth.

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Top Five Attractions To See On An Australian Vacation

It can be a challenge to come up with a list of the top five attractions in a country that's as big and diverse as Australia. If you have visited the "Land Down Under" before, you may have your own suggestions. Although, if you have not yet visited Australia, the following places will give you a good start, they include man-made and natural wonders, dramatic scenery, beautiful beaches and Aborigine culture.

Great Barrier Reef

Off the eastern coast of Australia lies one of the world's greatest natural wonders. The reef's statistics are impressive, it is around 1200 miles long, and is home to around 1,500 varieties of fish and around 400 species of coral. You may also be lucky enough to see manatees, sharks, and turtles as well as humpback whales that give birth during the winter months.

There are several ways to see the reef. Many companies offer cruises - lasting from several hours to a full day, and you can also sleep on the reef aboard a 1890's sailing boat. Virtually every cruise boat also offers the chance to see the reef by diving, an opportunity not to be missed, even if you are new to diving. Also, many visitors to the reef cannot resist mailing postcards from Australia's only floating post office, anchored about 45 miles offshore from Port Douglas.

Sydney Opera House

One of the most recognizable and striking buildings in the world, Sydney's famous opera house was designed by the Danish architect Jorn Utzon. Even if you do not like opera, the building is worth visiting, it is actually a major center for the performing arts where you can see not only opera, but classical music, dance and rock concerts. And there are free performances outside the building on Sunday afternoons.

Sydney Opera House does resemble the billowing sails of a ship, quite appropriate, as the building lies alongside one of the world's most beautiful harbors. Not far from the Opera House is the area of Sydney known as Circular Quay, a bustling area of shops, bars and restaurants. And from Circular Quay, you can easily catch a bus or ferry to almost any other part of the city, the Sydney Harbor Bridge, Royal Botanic Gardens and the historic Rocks district, the oldest part of the city.

The Gold Coast

The Gold Coast is Australia's playground. Beautiful white sandy beaches line the coast for 40 miles, backed by high-rise apartments, luxury hotels, shops, casinos and restaurants. The area also boasts several theme parks such as Sea World and Movie World, as well as around 40 golf courses.

The closest big city to the Gold Coast area is Brisbane, capital of Queensland. It's a friendly laid back kind of a place, offering a wide range of shopping and restaurants. But if you really want to escape from the crowds on the Gold Coast beaches, explore some of the small islands in nearby Moreton Bay.

The Outback (Ayers Rock and Alice Springs)

Many visitors to Australia come just to see the famous Outback - one of the last truly unspoiled areas in the world. It's difficult to comprehend the size of the Outback, it covers an estimated 2.5 million square miles. The Outback is not all desert, the northern part boasts high mountains, deep gorges and spectacular waterfalls. Driving across the Outback is an unforgettable experience, although you should always carry essentials such as extra water and fuel, spare tires, and perhaps a satellite phone

The unofficial capital of the Outback is the town of Alice Springs, made famous by the book and movie A Town like Alice. Alice Springs makes a good base to explore the area as well as to shop for Aborigine souvenirs. Within easy reach of Alice is the huge monolith once known as Ayers Rock, now known by its Aborigine name of Uluru. The rock is impressive at any time of day, but if you have the chance, try to be there at sunset.

Darwin and Kakadu National Park

Darwin is about as far north as you can go in Australia, in fact the city is closer to parts of Asia than to many parts of Australia, and has quite an oriental feel to it.

Within easy reach of Darwin are several areas of natural beauty, including Australia's largest national park, Kakadu. The park covers around 6,000 square miles, and offers varied landscapes ranging from wetlands to dramatic sandstone escarpments. Over 200 species of birds and around 75 species of reptile can be seen here.

Kakadu is still under Aborigine control and is one of the few places where their traditional way of life is still practiced. You can see their art on display at the park's cultural center and at various rock-art sites, and if you are lucky, you may glimpse the Aborigines themselves.

About Author:

Craig Elliott is a freelance writer who writes about topics pertaining to vacations and the travel industry such as Australia Travel | Flights to Australia

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