Andy McCutcheonDestination Perth - Feature
September 7th 2007 01:28
Perth Skyline
Port of Call Perth, WA
During my inaugural visit to Perth, I discovered one very important fact. I am not the only person in Australia who has traveled the World before traveling to Perth.
I also noted as a result, that it was significantly isolated from the rest of the goings on in Australia and so it is feasible to think that there would only be two plausible reasons to be in Perth… by design or by default.
Given its proximity to the Asia-Pacific Rim, Perth is a natural stopover route for many international flight destinations but would you really stay and have a look around? Unequivocally…YES.
My wife grew up in Perth and a brief return to her childhood was a revelation in itself as major development of her old stomping grounds near Hillary’s Boat Harbour, alongside commercial expansion of the shopping facilities of Whitfords City adjacent to St. Marks Private School left her in awe of the magnitude of change over the past 17 years.
Construction and the current expansion south to Mandurah of a train line that runs down the center of the Mitchell Freeway simplifies commuting from most of the surrounding suburbs.
Years ago, investment in Perth property guaranteed a long-term stable undertaking with more plateaus than peaks. Today however, the secret’s out as property depressed for some time in comparison to hotter markets around Australia has buoyed up.
Likewise, berthing space for boat owners in the over 50’ class are waiting up to ten years for availability of a pen anywhere on the Swan River and the local authorities governing the Swan are less than desirous of expanding current marina and yacht club facilities despite the overwhelming demand.
As a result, the sleepy canal suburb of Mandurah has shot up, offering private moorage solutions driving real estate prices through the roof.
On the other end of the coast, Hillary’s Boat Harbour has also gone through significant expansion. Home to some 1200 or so pens and the gateway to the Indian Ocean, it is a tourist Mecca.
Trendy shops and dining spots are rounded out by boat brokers and ferry terminals to Rottnest Island. Crystal clear waters and soft white sand beaches form the backdrop of a children’s playground area and carnival type rides.
Adjacent to Hillary’s is the World-class AQWA oceanarium, where unique marine life can be observed by young and old alike. Next to the oceanarium is Hillary’s Boat Harbour Resort Apartments where long or short-term accommodation put you at the heart of the goings on of the north coast.
Large storage and repair facilities for vessels of all sizes dot the landscape across from the marina and it represents a veritable one-stop shop for all things nautical.
Inland from Hillary’s is the suburb of Joondalup where a day at the Wanaroo Markets could see you driving away with a boot full of bargains. Several name brand factory outlets are located across the street from the markets and I personally saved over $500 in the purchase of several Ralph Lauren Polo outfits.
The central suburbs of Perth are mainly residential with a gradual transition towards a commercial and industrial sector in the Osborne Park area.
While the International airport is located in the Eastern suburbs it is positioned to provide easy access to both the CBD and Fremantle.
Perth’s downtown core is the hub for business travelers housing many high rise office towers that overlook both the Swan River and the Indian Ocean, but post business action is definitely found in the heart of Fremantle.
Fremantle Harbour, or “Freo” as the locals call it, is a thriving international seaport with trendy dockside restaurants and entertainment venues.
Perched amongst Freo’s commercial fishing fleets are numerous microbreweries, café’s and waterfront restaurants that stretch along the esplanade and offer the freshest seafood available. Of course dining options allow for variations on a theme with fantastic pasta and char grilled meats.
Across the harbour on the fringe of the commercial shipping lanes is the recently constructed maritime museum that showcases the rich history of the port of Fremantle and houses the fully erected “Australia II” race yacht that claimed the coveted America’s Cup title for the Aussies.
Sport, entertainment and lifestyle abound in WA with water- based activities dominating the region. Boating, fishing and diving are mainstream leisure pursuits and whether you spend a day on the Swan, or a day over at Rotto it would be difficult to disappoint either above or below the water.
Cycling or walking through Kings Park is a great way to stretch your legs and expand your horizons but you don’t really get a sense of its enormity unless you fly overhead.
On the opposite shore from Kings Park is the Burswood Park 18 Hole Golf Course. A challenging 5000 m links with a fully stocked pro shop, café and both day and night practice facilities.
Additionally, there are two synthetic grass tennis courts with racquet hire, a basketball court for a quick game of one-on-one, an outdoor heated pool and a fully equipped health and fitness center.
For the armchair athletes among you, the Belmont racetrack is the scene for exciting thoroughbred racing throughout the week and on weekends the Burswood entertainment center goes off and is host to some of the finest local national and international acts currently touring Australia.
While in Perth I caught up with singing sensation Shannon Noll over at the Rivervale Hotel, dubbed the “Vale” by locals.
He was there doing a six song set in co-promotion with local radio station 92.9 and after signing posters and albums for kids who had been waiting to see him for more than eight hours, he paused for a photo and a chat.
Amidst our conversation, Shannon confessed, “Andy, I absolutely love boats, I just can’t afford one yet…that’s where you come in”.
WA, which takes up nearly ½ of the Australian coastline from the wild Kimberley region down past the Margaret River wine region is expansive and certainly the week we were there did not do it justice, but if you are one of those people like me who had been everywhere BUT Perth, do yourselves a favour and get over to WA and discover why its called, “Australia’s best kept secret”.
Text by Andy McCutcheon
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