“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list” ~ Susan Sontag
Australia. The “Land Down Under” as known for many across the globe. I haven’t had the chance yet to visit Melbourne or Sydney (although its on my list!) however I had the pleasant surprise of being quite impressed by Perth on a recent visit there when opting to fly out and meet a longtime friend whom I hadn’t seen in a while. Although we didn’t do the cliché sightseeing items on the list, there were definitely a few worthy mentions of the underestimated city of Perth. (By cliché I mean that I didn’t get to see a kangaroo or a koala. Unfortunate, but I will go back to Australia and explore further with this on my list! 🙂 )
City/Nature Balance
I found much to my delight that there was quite a lovely balance of the large city and the panoramic outdoors. When I had told my friend of this she joked to me and said with a half laugh that “Perth was no New York”, to which I would say I don’t mind! Shopping was a wonderful option, as the city had a wide variety of choices – because I’m a girl and shopping just happens to be a must 🙂 On the other hand, I’m also a keen individual when it comes to the open-air. Fortunately, I was blessed with the opportunity to see some scenic sights that just were well worth the visit! Such as King’s Park. This picturesque park was a lovely stroll to go by on a mild winter’s day, with the evening sunlight glowing against the green lawns and bridges. Not to mention that its from here that I was actually able to see the skyline of Perth! (Although apparently the view at night is also well worth a visit.)
Elizabeth’s Second Hand Bookshop
With my avid love for reading and writing, Elizabeth’s Second Hand Bookshop located in Fremantle was an eager visit for me. I was greeted by not only bookshelves filled with a wide variety of reading opportunities (if only I had more luggage space!) but also the concept of a blind date with a book! Read here to check out my last blog for more information.
Rottnest Island – An Epitome of Beauty!
If given the opportunity, I could ramble on about how stunning Rottnest Island was for me. I won’t. This 30 minute ferry off the edge of Fremantle district in Perth was a cold one – with the winter winds hitting quite hard! Nonetheless, post this ferry trip, the visit was spectacular. Although I did google several pictures to see what I should expect before the trip (and if I needed to take my extra lens) the views that came into sight as we biked along the island were sensational and very unexpected. It also helped that the day we picked to go on had been the warmest in the week – a mere 14 degrees if I’m not mistaken 🙂 – so we got lots of sunshine and a clear sky. No need to mention that that made it extremely easy for me to take photographs! Another fascinating view for me were the ‘Quokkas’, which are a local species inhabiting the island. Quite friendly with the individuals – and certainly adorable!
View of the Basin Bay – Rottnest Island
Quokkas – Image © ExperiencePerth.com, 2016
If Rottnest Island has piqued your interests, then check out my feature on The Culture Trip Melbourne (I’m freelancing temporarily now!), which further describes this beautiful location.
With those memories to stay in my mind and with me for a long time, I bid adieu not only to Perth, but to my best friend – we will meet again. 🙂 For those of you who have traveled to Perth, what did you like about it? Feel free to share this post and let me know your thoughts!