Freewheeling Perth

Compared to Sydney and Melbourne, I find the pace of city life in Perth a lot more relaxed on a recent trip there. This metropolitan city in Western Australia, with its population of about 1.3 million, still retains much of its old world charms in many of its historic buildings, a must-visit is Fremantle – touted to be the world’s best preserved 19th century seaport.

Located on the mouth of the Swan River, this beautiful port city, also affectionately known as ‘Freo’ to the locals, boasts an artistic ambience and colonial heritage architecture with its many alfresco cafes, restaurants, art galleries and of course, the popular Fremantle Markets. Make sure you arrange your vacation to include the weekends as the colourful markets bustle with activities from Fridays to Sundays. It will definitely satisfy the shopping bug in you with its many interesting stalls and quirky finds. When you’re tired from the shopping, just stop by a café and order a cup of freshly brewed coffee or an ice-cream, and catch some street performances. I recommend you try the fish and chips here too. It’s very fresh and absolutely one of the best I’ve tasted! A great way to admire the beautiful Fremantle port is to take the scenic Captain Cook Cruise from Fremantle back to the Perth city. You can watch the lovely sunset as you sip a glass of the Australian fine wine on the cruise.

For the shopaholics who are also food-lovers, Subiaco is one hip place you do not want to miss. It’s known for its designer boutiques, fine art galleries, and many alfresco cafes and restaurants selling fusion food and other international cuisines. If you like weekend markets, the Station Street Markets which is just a stone’s throw from the Subiaco train station, and the nearby Subiaco Pavilion Markets are just up your alley.

Even if you don’t drive, getting around in Perth city is relatively easy as you can take the TransPerth train from the suburbs to the city. Within Perth city, you can catch free CAT (Central Area Transit) buses to some of the tourists spots.

One of the main shopping hubs in Perth city is London Court. Built in 1937 as a residential and commercial premises for wealthy gold miners, the place is now a unique, Victorian-style retail walkway lined with many specialty boutiques and some cafes. I was pleasantly surprised to discover some rare finds in this shop named Proost, which sells all sorts of jams, dips, sauces, olive oils and some lavender skincare products from the Margaret River. Some of you may be thrilled to find collectible dolls and handmade designer bears in assorted clothing in this shop Meem’s. You will have lots of varieties to choose from. For those with a penchant for hats and accessories, do drop by the shop Passchendales; or if you are a die-hard chocolate lover, John Walker Chocolatier has plenty to offer.

When you’re in Perth city, you may want to visit the Hay Street and Murray Street Malls, where you can find the bigger departmental stores like David Jones and Myers. Prices there are not cheap, though. And if you prefer bargain finds and some quirky buys, try the smaller shops at nearby Piccadilly and Plaza Arcades.

Some people swear by designer brands and are always on the lookout for big sale and discounts on their favourite brands. I’m not a fan of designer brands, but I do find Harbour Town Outlets, a 2-storey shopping hub where you can get designer brands at up to 60 percent discount, very alluring indeed. You can find diversified brands like Ed Harry and Roger David for men’s wear; Country Road and Olga Berg for ladies’ bags; Fila, Nike and Esprit outlets for sports wear; Valley Girl Factory Outlet and Table Nine for ladies’ fashion; Sheridan Factory Outlet for bedlinen and homeware, just to name a few. Spend at least half a day here and go through all the outlets leisurely, you will definitely find some great buys to add to your designer collections.

Ok, enough of shopping. Let’s do some sightseeing.

If it’s your first time in Perth, the best way to get a quick tour of the laidback but beautiful city is to hop onto the City Explorer tram, and it will bring you around some of the interesting historic sites like Kings Park, the Swan Bells Tower, Perth Mint, and Perth’s signature Burswood Entertainment Complex and Casino.

If you have more time in Perth, you can rent a car or book a day tour to renowned attractions like the spectacular Pinnacles – a unique desert created out of rare geological formation. The 11-hour drive up to the Pinnacles may be a bit exhausting, but the breathtaking scenery of nature’s beauty is surely worth the trip.

For the wine connoisseurs, you wouldn’t want to leave Perth without visiting the Swan Valley – just 20 minutes away from Perth and well-known for its award-winning wines. The wine tour will enable you to visit some of the beautiful vineyards and wineries, where you get to taste different varieties of Australia’s finest wines, and even buy back some liqueur chocolates from the chocolate factory there.

If you are a nature-lover, another great getaway is the Rottnest Island, named after the native marsupials called ‘Quokkas’ which look like the cute version of rats and are commonly found on the island. Here, you can swim, snorkel, scuba dive, hike or cycle around the island. Or simply laze by the pristine beaches and watch the world go by.

The best time to holiday in Perth is during spring from September to November, or autumn from March to May. Summertime is too hot as the temperature can rise up to 40 degree Celsius!

Looking back on this Perth vacation, I must say the memories that still linger on are not so much the shopping sprees that my aunt brought me on the few days I was there. It was the lovely smell of the lavender and rose plants in the back garden of my aunt’s little cottage house, the companionship with my aunt watching back-to-back CSI TV shows till late at night and of course, the most unforgettable fish and chips I’ve ever tasted in my life!