Western Australia covers about 1/3 of Australia, it is 10 times the size of the UK but has only about 3% of the population. There is approximately 1.7 million people living in Western Australia, however 1.2 million live in the Perth metropolitan area. Perth is the capital city of West Australia (in case you didn't know). The city of Perth covers an area of over 5,400 square kilometres, and extends over 70 kilometres along the coast. The whole of the state measures approximately 2.5 million square kilometres.
Perth isn't a very old city, compared to some places in the world, it is still in its "adolescent" years. Captain James Stirling founded Perth in 1829, and is about 17 kilometres upstream from the mouth of the Swan River.
Perth has hosted the Commonwealth Games, and its yacht club is known to be the first to win the America's Cup from America (and who in Australia can't remember that victorious win!
I guess I could fill this page up with a whole state of facts and statistics, but frankly...... that bores me!! hehehe.... if you would like to know more information about the size of Australia, population, how many people wear red socks go here!
Now, on to some more interesting information.....
The city of Perth has some great stores, and excellent restaurants. The main restaurant area, Northbridge, is just a stones throw away from the heart of the city. Here you will find a restaurant to suit any fussy eater! If Perth is one thing, cosmopolitan it is.
Okay, I have searched and searched the web, but as yet there is not a complete site showing Northbridge nightlife and the restaurants there, so for now, you will just have to take my word for it! But basically, the variety of restaurants you can find there is immense! You have got the obvious ones, like Italian, Greek, Chinese, but you can also find unusual restaurants that cater for the Muslim or Hare Krishna in you. It is as diverse a place for eating as you will find anywhere and if I was to list them all, I would have to dedicate a page just to restaurants in that district!!
So... on to the next bit..... I have listed a few places below, that if you are into driving long distances and camping under the stars (or not) might be a few good places to visit. I have tried to indicate whether there is hotel/motel or camping facilities available. If there is neither of these indicated - be prepared for anything!!
There are tours starting out from Perth if you don't feel like driving by yourself; although I always think you get to see more if you don't have to do tours. The nearest town to the Pinnacles is Cervantes which you can't miss because it is situated at the entrance to the park! Although.... if you did blink you might just miss it!! hehehe
The Pinnacles are something you are probably unlikely to see anywhere else in Australia. They are a mass of limestone formations rising up to the sky.
Seventeenth century Dutch sailors observing them as they passed by along the coast thought they were the ruins of an ancient city built by a forgotten civilization. However, this isn't to be the case, they happened to be where they are because of soft limestone covered by sea shell sand dunes. Over thousands of years rain has hardened the limestone into cement. Over the years sea winds have gradually blowen away the sand to reveal the Pinnacles as we see them today.(C)(M **)
I have tried to find a good link for a company that provides tours to the Pinnacles, this one is, I think, what most people would enjoy; and it is very reasonably priced. Tour
Fremantle is another great place for restaurants and nightclub scene. It is often referred to as Perth's "little Italy" district as there is heapsof Italian restaurants and cafes there. But Fremantle has a lot more to offer than just a great cup of coffee. Some fantastic people come from this town - okay.... so you might have guessed it by now... I was born here! lol
Anyways, there is alot of history behind this little seaside village! Such as.... the town's name "Fremantle" is from Sir Carles Howe Fremantle who, in 1829, claimed the West Coast of Australia for Britain. The colony was settled and the convicts provided much of the "blood, sweat and tears" to make Fremantle and in 1897 the first steamer entered the new Fremantle Harbour.
The Fremantle Prison, which is one of the oldest (I think) and is made from the limestone that was found in the Fremantle area, is no longer in use. It was a maximum security prison from 1855 until 1991 and was built also by convict labour. It is now protected under the State Heritage Act and is open to the public for tours. It is really quite interesting, as this prison housed some of West Australia's "notorious" criminals of the 19th century, such as Moondine Joe and the likes. It is open: 10am-6pm daily 7.30am Wednesday & Friday Candlelight Tour - bookings essential. I have been told the candlelight tours are quite eerie, a few ghosts are lurking in some of the cells....
