Related Information: Perth and Fremantle | Surrounding Regions | Sporting Activities | The Venue

http://www.pcb.com.au

PERTH
During the eighties, Perth gained a well-earned reputation as an international meeting place. Its clean air, safe streets, open spaces and enviable lifestyle provide the perfect setting for conventions, events and exhibitions. Perth enjoys one of the most equable climates in the world, making it virtually an all-year round meeting destination. With its Mediterranean-type climate, Perth is Australia 's sunniest state capital with an average of eight hours of sunshine daily throughout the year.

Kings Park
More than 400 hectares of natural bush and manicured gardens thoughtfully set aside by Alexander Forrest more than 150 years ago, Kings Park nestles in the heart of the city. The bluff offers incomparable views of the broad, glossy Swan River and the Perth Central Business District, while those with energy to spare can take to the vast network of cycling tracks within the park. Picnicking and barbecue facilities are available, as are guided bushwalks through the botanical gardens and wildflowers (in season).

Swan River
Paddle steamer or modern ferry, catamaran or yacht, exploring the river at the city's heart is an irresistible summer pastime. Cruises of all types are available whether plying the waters up river to vineyard country, or seaward, along the millionaires' rows of houses which hem the water en route to the seaport of Fremantle.

Hillarys Boat Harbour
Hillarys Boat Harbour is located 20 minutes from Perth on the Sunset Coast of Western Australia. It provides everything for the boating enthusiast including accommodation, shopping, dining, recreation and entertainment in a unique marine environment.

Major attractions at Hillarys Boat Harbour include the Sorrento Quay complex with over 50 specialist shops; an oceanarium at the Aquarium of Western Australia (AQWA); Hillarys The Great Escape - a water fun park, miniature golf and trampoline centre; and a sheltered family beach.

FREMANTLE

Fremantle is high on the visitor's ‘must do' list, and it's hard not to fall in love with the pretty port the moment you arrive. Primped, painted and lovingly restored for the America 's Cup, the salty city just a half hour from Perth maintains an insouciant carefree flavour. Walking among historic buildings is essential, browsing in bookshops, strolling the harbour and sipping cappuccino in pavement cafes mandatory. The Fishing Boat Harbour , bristling with restaurants and food stalls, brings you bang up to the 20 th century, as do the colonial-style Fremantle Markets, where you can buy everything from a potato to a painting, a stick of incense to a sausage. Don't depart without paying a visit to the Sail and Anchor, the historic hostelry which was the vanguard of the back-to-real-ale movement and centre of operations during the America 's Cup Defence in 1987.

Sightseeing…

Whether a walk through history or a turn on the river, a stroll through the park or around the port appeals, there is a tour to suit. A wide range of half-day and full-day tours help visitors orient themselves in Perth and Fremantle.

Shopping…

Among Perth 's more pleasant pastimes is strolling through the network of shops, malls, markets and arcades. The city centre is the place for people, not cars, so access to shops is easy, and entertaining too, thanks to a smorgasbord of buskers, from jazz musicians to jugglers, magicians to a one-man band. Be prepared to find everything from Aboriginal artefacts to gumnut souvenirs and authentic Outback gear. Beautiful hand-crafted items worked from jarrah and blackboy abound, as does magnificent jewellery fashioned from the pearls and diamonds for which the State is famous. The Perth Mint offers equally sought-after precious metals and coins, while duty free shops which litter the malls offer goods at prices that are among the most competitive in the world.

Wildlife…

Western Australia doesn't only have koalas and kangaroos, quokkas and possums, it has dolphins, too! Monkey Mia, more than 800km north of Perth , is the arena for one of the world's most extraordinary natural wonders. Here, a family of wild dolphins swim into shore to commune with humans.

The South-West of the State is home to some of the tallest stands of natural jarrah and karri forest in the world.

Closer to Perth is a wide variety of wildlife parks and sanctuaries, while the Aquarium of Western Australia (AQWA), a short distance along the coast, gives visitors the opportunity to walk beneath the ocean. The native black swans can be hand-fed at a number of pristine lakes around the metropolitan area, while the Perth Zoo features exotic animals and wide open space. Springtime visitors can try their luck at whalewatching off the coast, when humpback whales and their young begin their migratory journey to Antarctica from their breeding grounds in the far north. Wildflower lovers can thrill to the sight of more than 8000 species, stretching for hundreds of kilometres both north and south of the city.

Entertainment…

From blackjack to ballet there's something for every taste. The opera and ballet companies and the local symphony orchestra present high-class performances while some of the biggest names in show business regularly strut the city's stages. Musicals and plays from Broadway and London 's West End feature on the menu, as do major productions such as the Moscow Circus, and Disney on Ice.

Annual entertainment not to be missed comes in the form of the Perth International Arts Festival, which showcases some of the world's finest musical and theatrical talent; or the Leeuwin Concert, set in an idyllic corner of the South-West, which offers a sunset performance by some of the biggest names in the entertainment world.

Wining and Dining…

Perth has more restaurants per head of population than any other city in Australia , so visitors are spoilt for choice. Its cosmopolitan population also ensures that whether your tastes run to sushi or satay, noodles or nachos, curry or chips, pizza or Peking Duck, you won't be disappointed.

Northbridge, just a short walk from the central city, offers a swag of chic coffee bars, bold brasseries and traditional pubs, neoned nightclubs and dazzling discos.

Many of Perth 's finest dining experiences are to be found in the signature restaurants of the city's five-star hotels. Fremantle, with its sassy seaport atmosphere, is a perfect place to dine, whether on fresh rock lobster, al fresco at one of the pretty pavement cafes, or “con la familia” at a local trattoria.

Nightlife…

Perth boasts an endless variety of night time venues from traditional Aussie pubs to trendy nightclubs and hotel bars. Try your luck at the Burswood International Resort Casino with its 125 tables and nine forms of gambling. Or chose one of our many karaoke bars, piano bars or jazz clubs.

Museums and Galleries…

Perth has a selection of museums and art galleries which are as fascinating as they are educational, ranging from the traditional to the avante garde. The Art Gallery of Western Australia in the city centre houses one of Australia 's finest collections of Aboriginal art; the stunning new Western Australian Maritime Museum at Fremantle traces the State's history from the Dutch shipwrecks of the 17th century to the early settlement of the colony; while Scitech Discovery Centre, a hands-on science and technology centre, offers regularly changing feature exhibitions.

Cycling

A vast network of trails throughout the city and stretching as far afield as Marmion to the north and Fremantle to the south makes cycling a pleasure in Perth . Trails through Kings Park help visitors appreciate the pristine beauty of the bush and the views of the city from the bluff, while on Rottnest Island, 22 kilometres from Fremantle, pedal-power is the only way to go!

This information is provided by the Perth Convention Bureau
Website: http://www.pcb.com.au