Image Credit: Visit Perth
Thinking of moving to Perth lately but still have some doubts on your mind? If questions like ‘Is Perth a good place to live?’ or ‘Would I enjoy myself in Perth?’ have crossed your mind, you have come to the right page.
We are shedding some light on Australia’s sunniest capital city, hoping that it might make your decision a little easier when it comes to choosing your next place to call home. From the worst suburbs in Perth to the most popular, here’s help in making your decision.
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Firstly, where is Perth?
Perth is the capital of Western Australia, one of the biggest states in Australia that is filled with flora and fauna and tonnes of land to explore and sightsee.
It is an understatement to say that Perth is one of the most underrated Australian cities to exist. It has just the right amount of peace and tranquillity and strikes the right balance between wanting a metropolitan city life and living the suburban daydream.
With beautiful beaches and rivers, adventure-seeking hiking trails, tons of wineries and breweries to make day trips to, and a city centre that isn’t too crowded to the point where it overwhelms you – Perth is truly an Australian city that’s a hidden gem.
Let’s delve deeper into the various charms and aspects that Perth possesses, shall we?
The lifestyle in Perth
Given the vast amount of land and space there is in Western Australia and the population of over 2 million people in Perth, it is not as densely populated as compared to Australian cities on the East coast.
The central business district does not feel as stifling and hectic as it does in busier cities and the pace of life is much slower. That’s the charm of Perth though – with a slower, more ‘chill’ pace of living, you tend to appreciate the little things around you much more.
With most retail stores closing their doors a little earlier at 5 PM on most weekdays (Thursdays are late-night shopping days!), the Perth locals enjoy their own fair share of rest and relaxation.
If shopping’s not an option, perhaps sitting on your front porch and cracking a cold one after work would be the better option. Perth locals enjoy a laidback lifestyle, which is very refreshing for a change.
For individuals that are used to the hustle and bustle of city life and enjoy seeing the tall skyscrapers in the city, you might want to adjust your expectations before you come to Perth.
The only stretch of high-rise buildings you’ll find in Perth are only in the East Perth and Perth CBD area. Other than that, its old colonial-styled buildings, quaint suburbs and the occasional large shopping complexes in a few selected suburbs.
Perth’s robust café culture
If there is one thing that Perth locals love, it has got to be their coffee.
The café culture here in Perth has got to be one of the best among all the other Australian cities. If you take a walk anywhere in Perth, you’ll spot tons of independent coffee shops and more often than not, they roast their own beans and each café has its own unique flavour.
Perth locals value their coffee so much that commercialised coffee franchises like Starbucks cannot survive here. The locals would rather grab a cup of coffee from the cafés in their neighbourhood instead.
What’s the weather like in Perth?
The weather in Perth is rather enjoyable all year round (with the exception of a few days during the Summer). Perth doesn’t get extremely cold winters as Melbourne does, but it does get rather chilly at times.
The occasional wet winters do come once a year but other than that, you get very breezy winds on most days and tons of sun all year round. In Perth, it’s almost essential that you have a tube of sunscreen with you at all times. SPF protection is certainly needed.
Perth truly does live up to its name of being the sunniest city in Australia. With the sun, comes sweltering hot days during the Summer season. It’s not unbearable though, you might just need to invest in a little more air-conditioning during those periods.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, Perth enjoys 147 sunny days, and 121 partly sunny days annually – which makes up a third of the entire year filled with sunshine.
A mecca for day trips
Looking for fun activities to do around Perth over the weekend? The surrounding areas of Perth are perfect for day trips.
You can choose to take a ferry in the early morning to Rottnest Island and see the adorable quokkas, relax at the pristine white beaches and see the clear blue ocean for yourself! Cycling around Rotto is one of the best things to do there as well.
Or if you’re more of a wine and beer enthusiast, there are heaps of wineries and breweries in Swan Valley and down south if you drive to Dunsborough and Margaret River.
Visiting the Busselton Jetty about 2.5 hours away from Perth is also something to add to your bucket list. Alternatively, visiting the farmer’s market in Bunbury over the weekend will definitely put you in a good mood.
To fully enjoy the outdoor lifestyle that Perth has to offer, surely make a few road trips up North to the Pinnacles Desert or the picturesque town of Exmouth or down South to Albany.
There are so many sights to see and pictures to capture, peppered in with the occasional wildlife you’ll spot along the way, there’s just too much to do.
You can also make day trips to the Perth Zoo, which isn’t too far from the Perth CBD. Or visit Caversham Wildlife Park to see wildlife that can only be found in Australia.
The beaches and coastal views
Perth’s beaches are indeed second to none. Perth is located strategically close to the coast so it makes for perfect beaches and creates the loveliest coastal suburbs.
Cottesloe Beach, Scarborough Beach and City Beach are some of the best beaches in Perth presenting the prettiest views of the Indian Ocean and the whitest and softest sand your feet will set foot on.
The great beaches are perfect for a day of surfing, parasailing and other water sports. Or if you prefer just basking in the sun and getting a golden tan, you are more than welcome to do so.
On certain days of the week, there are night markets set up near the beaches that offer delicious meals from food trucks or little handmade trinkets from small businesses.
A place to appreciate nature
If there’s one more charm to add to Perth’s belt, it has got to be their lush green parklands and national parks.
There are heaps of national parks to visit across Western Australia and each park is different from the other. If you’re someone that loves the great outdoors and nature, the list of hiking trails available for you to conquer might intrigue you.
Head to Lesmurdie Falls or Serpentine Falls and you’ll be greeted by waterfalls along your hiking trail. You might even spot a kangaroo or two when you visit these national parks.
Aside from hiking and all these huge national parks, there are also many parks and reserves in the suburbs that are equally as beautiful.
Hyde Park in Highgate is certainly one of those examples. The lake frequented by ducks and their ducklings might just be the most adorable thing ever. You could consider grabbing pastries from the popular Chu bakery that’s within walking distance and just relax at the park.
Perth is a city for the arts
The arts and cultural scene in Perth is definitely booming.
In fact, Perth places a lot of value and importance on the arts with 255 events held annually. Let’s not forget the annual Fringe Festival to celebrate the arts in Perth.
Perth features a plethora of arts-related activities for people to take part in – be it arts exhibitions, live music festivals, paint-and-sip sessions and theatrical events.
Perth has the prestigious Western Australian museum also known as the WA Boola Bardip Museum which features new exhibitions monthly and the AGWA (The Art Gallery of Western Australia) all within walking distance from the Perth train station.
Winding down – the nightlife in Perth
After a long week of going to work, you’re probably looking for things to do to unwind. The nightlife in Perth would be perfect for you.
There are tons of bars located all around Perth, especially in the Northbridge area and there are taverns located in your suburb that you can visit for a cheeky pint after work.
Perth is also known for having many hidden bars in the area. There is just something so thrilling about telling the bouncer a secret password and feeling an air of exclusivity when you enter the venue.
You’ll feel welcome in Perth
Perth locals are one of the most genuine people around. They are certainly a welcoming bunch!
Perth is diverse and multicultural, with about 35% of the population being born overseas. There are many ethnicities of people living in Perth, contributing to the amazing variety of food places to visit and giving you the opportunity to learn more about different cultures.
With communities from all around the world living in Perth, there is an unspoken form of respect that everyone has for one another and its the nicest thing. You’ll have no problem finding your little piece of home here in Perth.
Is it safe to live in Perth?
As with any city, there are good and bad suburbs but Perth is generally a safe city to live in.
As long as you’re looking out for your own safety i.e. locking your doors and not living your valuables lying around outside your home or in your cars, you’ll definitely do fine.
Just like anyone would advise you in any other city, don’t wander around by yourself late at night. There are low crime rates in Perth so there is usually nothing to worry too much about.
Perth property prices are also rather affordable and you can read up more about the drop in property prices here.
So, the conclusion is…
Perth is without a doubt, a good place to live in.
With amazing sights to see and places to relax and unwind, paired together with the slow-paced lifestyle that you will grow to appreciate and enjoy, Perth checks all the boxes to be the next best place to be.
It is also a comfortable and cozy city to build a family in, with many prestigious schools located in many suburbs around Perth. You won’t need to fret about the quality of life as well as the quality of education. The most expensive schools in Perth are Presbyterian Ladies’ College, for example, but you can also find more budget friendly options in nice suburbs.
As with every city in the world, there will always be pros and cons of moving to a new and unfamiliar place. But, if we look at Perth from a larger perspective, the experiences that you’ll get out of this liveable city will be unreal and definitely unrivalled.
So… what are you waiting for? It’s time for you to visit Perth and make it your next home.
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