JET

I was just wondering why it was that no one on this forum seems to ask about, or include Perth on their itinerary. I understand it is a bit of a distance but it is a wonderful city and something very different to the east side of Australia. Just wondering??

Mike

I agree with you about Perth. <BR> <BR>A couple of reasons I can think of: <BR><BR>Too far from the East Coast which is so actively promoted here. <BR><BR>Not many have enough time to include it in their Itineraries. <BR>One more, if you read through the questions in this forum you'll find that most questions are asked by people who are as I would call them &quot;Resort Tourists&quot;. <BR><BR>What would you like to know about perth? <BR><BR>Cheers, <BR>Mike. <BR>

Bill

<BR>I'm just beginning to look into travelling to Australia.<BR><BR>Ok: why would I want to go to Perth?<BR><BR>One answer, for me, is suggested by Mike: because most of the foreign tourists are in the East.<BR><BR>Other good answers to my question would be: because it is sunny and warm, because a decent beach for an all-over tan can be found, because there is some very good Aussie horse racing in Perth, because I could travel there or in the region on a railroad pass.<BR><BR>

mandy

Perth is the most remote city on this planet. It takes days to travel to it by train or bus. It costs the earth by plane and there is nothing there that you cannot find in the eastern states i.e. nothing unique or unusual or for that matter really, really pretty. <BR>You can get Australian horse racing in just about every large and small town in the eastern part - you can get an all over tan in many beach areas in the east. The east has trees and grass near the beaches and finally Perth whilst boiling hot sometimes in summer has only a temperate climate for the rest of the year. <BR>Why go to Perth - I cannot think of many reasons why anyone would part with their money to go there actually.

kristy

Perth boasts great restaurants, beautiful beaches , the Margret River wineries to the south of Perth are fabulous, the scenery all the way up the north coast and then down the south coast is just beautiful.<BR>I think the reason you do not any thing in here except syd and dunk island is because they are the only places Alan/liz what ever she is calling her self today know about.<BR>I think western australia leaves the east for dead. Kristy

Prue

We spent some time in the south west of W.Australia last year and thought it was wonderful. The most magnificent scenery, especially the coast line.Great contrasts of areas and many interesting towns and people.<BR>We also liked Perth very much for its spaciousness, cleanliness and cosmopolitan atmosphere.<BR>It is obviously a long way from the east coast but not for those travelling from the far east or even Europe, so it is a great pity more people don't include it in their itinerary - it would surely make a nice change from the inevitable Sydney and the GBR!

Mike

&quot;To Perth or not to Perth&quot; <BR><BR>This is a good start for travelers to help them make that decission: <BR>http://www.discoverwest.com.au/mapall.html <BR><BR>Actually it's a good &quot;1st Port of Call&quot; for Travelers coming from Europe. <BR><BR>I must disagree with Mandy regards the climate. Just as you have huge differences between the south and north along the east-cost, the same is true for the west. <BR><BR>True, there is less rain than in Sydney <BR><BR>I don't blame Alan and Liz for being parochial - all Australians are and it's a good thing. <BR>Hi, I still barrack for the Geelong Cats (AFL) although they haven't been doing any good for longer than I care to remember. <BR><BR>To our visitors I say: be game, explore the country with all it's contrasts and diversity, don't just &quot;run with the mop&quot;. <BR><BR>Cheers, <BR>Mike

liz

Just for the record Kristy or whatever you want to call yourself. I lived in Perth for 7 years, my children went to school there and my eldest son started his Naval training there. <BR>I am not stopping anyone who lives in Perth from writing on this forum. I am always suggesting people go to Tasmania or parts of NSW and the Northern Territory so why should you call me biased, or is it that you are having such a bad hair day? <BR>I have not lived in Perth since 1982 and there would be no point in me suggesting any place there to anyone because things have changed so much and anything I said would be totally out of date. <BR>There is nothing to stop you from telling the world about Perth to your hearts content.<BR>If you wish to be rude then I think that the USA forum is much better for that so perhaps you would get much more pleasure with your jibes on that forum.

Anne

I spent three days in Perth for work and really enjoyed it. It is a lovely city. The ABH at Cottesloe Beach is a lovely place to watch the sun set over the Pacific Ocean (the sun doesn't set over the water in the east!). Some of the restaurants in Subiaco are amazing, and the Maragret River wineries are amazing- in my opinion, WA wines are Australia's best! I think Perth is deinetly worth a visit if it fits into your schedule &amp; budget.

Nick

I was born and brought up in Perth and totally agree with Liz, and although Kristy's comments re: WA are a positive and valid view, her comments re: Liz and Alan whose comments are useful and sensible (though I do not always agree with them, are completely stupid. Mandy's perspective has some validity but to say there is nothing really pretty is frankly idiotic - given the sheer size of the state of course there are features - agree with south-west, scenery around Albany is great (but a long way), Kalbarri Gorge, teh Kimberlys all have very impressive sights and just for suburbs - Peppermint Grove is a beautiful place to compare with Vaucluse etc. Overall however, tourists have a typically limited time and I am afraid Perth's isolation is an issue which it can do little about.<BR>Bill's comment about horse racing should be qualified (my weekend second home used to be the racetrack and I have gone to an awful lot of tracks around the world, so I think I am well qualified to comment) Ascot, Perth's summer racecourse is one of the nicest courses in the world bar none - it is in my view far nicer than any track in Melbourne (especially - Moonee Valley home to the second most important Australian race is a total dump as a course for racing and as a nice place top go) or Sydney. (Elwick in Hobart is also very pretty). Belmont Park the winter track is great for function - get out of the rain easily. As for quality of racing - second division I am afraid, despite Australia's best horse Northerly being trained there. Perth's summer carnival used to be a highlight but it hit difficulties some years ago and it does not resemble the glory years of the 70s.

Diane

Part of what we enjoyed about Perth was the feel that it was not just another stop on a tour. The isolation did not restrict our enjoyment at all--just made it a bit more interesting.

naomi

Perhaps people have been to Perth and encountered Kristy or people like her and that is why no one suggests going there. Just what is it about Perth that leaves the eastern states for dead Kristy? You have wild flowers, yes we have them too, you have beaches but we also have them too and for what its worth we have the beach voted the best beach in the world, you have great restaurants, well we have great restaurants too and ones that have won the &quot;restaurant of the year awards&quot;, you have Margaret River Wines, thats nice but the eastern states have many, many wineries and ones that have won many, many International awards too. I did a working holiday in Perth which was nice but it does not have anything different from the eastern states BUT it does NOT have a lot of the wonderful things the eastern states have and that is probably another reason people don't go. <BR>Perth does have: The world's most parochial people AND the world's most insular people AND more often than not, the rudest.<BR>

Pete

I have been to the great state of W.A. lots and lots of times, and I am yet to meet a rude person. I am born and bred in the Eastern States as well. But you know what!!!!! next time you are walking down a street some where and you see a big dog walking the other way. Slow down, get his attention, look him in the eye, and then growl, growl loudly at him, and then reach out and belt him right in the chops. Watch what he does,you will be amazed, he will look at you for a sec, and then he will growl back, he will pull his lips back to show his teeth and BANG!!!!! he will bite you. However if you slow down, get his attention, talk gently to him, throw him a bit of your smoko pie and then pat him, you will have a friend for life. <BR>Humans are not that different. Pete

Alan

Kristy does me an honour by assuming that Liz and I are the same person writing under two different names! Would that I knew as much about Australia as much-travelled Liz does! Unfortunately, I have never even been to Western Australia, and, in fact, the only city I really know anything useful about is my home town. So this, I guess, is why Kristy thinks I am biassed towards Sydney, and she's right... I am (and those of you who have visited will understand why)! But, really, Kristy, you wouldn't want me to attempt to answer questions about a town I know nothing about, would you? I will have to take your word for it that Perth &quot;leaves the east for dead&quot;, though, frankly, I have my doubts.

Bill

<BR>A beautiful racetrack and beaches. Excellent. And, I suppose, that when that big dog in Perth hears me speak without an Eastern Australian accent that I will be able to keep the smoko pie to myself.<BR>

UPSET Kim

I'm a regular reader of posts here at Fodor's but NOT a usual poster for fear of being mistreated or hit with insulting and nasty comments from regulars like lizf. (No - note I did not include the regular alan in this comment because i always find him to be helpful, not judgemental or nasty). Why do we feel safety in saying things that would never be said to each other's faces just because we have the shield of the internet to hind behind?!? Can WE PLEASE tone it down a little and not be so mean!?!? Kristy is just defending a beautiful area of the world (although the comment about the east side of Australia was out of line) and through my many trips to Australia i HAVE NEVER met a rude australian (from perth, melbourne, sydney, cairns, or otherwise). The only rude Australian i've seemed to encounter is liz (I think she tries to be helpful but thinks her way is the only way!) - Also, I thought her USA forum comment was downright uncalled for. I think we should be able to get past the stereotypes of the ugly American. Let's TONE IT DOWN PEOPLE! We are here to HELP one another out and encourage travelling and exploring new places, new people, and most of all new ideas. EVERYONE is entitled to their own opinion, but if it's rude - be an adult and keep it to yourself please.

Liz

Its very interesting to hear from Upset KIM that she does not want to hear anyone be insulting or rude BUT she goes on to be insulting and rude to me. <BR>The suggestion of the USA forum was because more people there are rude to each other than not so therefore it is regarded as the norm for most people. <BR>If you want to throw stones KIM don't live in a glass house. You are the directly rude person together with Kristy and you are probably one and the same!<BR>I didn't write about this question, Kristy brought up my name with a nasty jibe about me only suggesting the eastern states. The eastern states is where I live! I don't write about Africa, America, Europe etc either. Not that I have not been there but because I don't know enough about these places, nor am I up to date about these places to be at all helpful, and that goes for Perth. <BR>I most certainly will reply to people when they have been rude and patronizing to me specifically, or to anyone else directly too. I did not ask for Kristy to include me in her post and it was uncalled for and totally out of line - a bit like KIM.

Anne

Liz, you do indeed make ignorant posts about America- see above.<BR><BR>Keep it to yourself.

Alan

But, Anne, surely you will concede that there IS a lot of rudeness and foul language on the USA post -- I am sure that Liz is not suggesting that this is typical of American manners, but there certainly is a hard-core element on that board that delights in putting everyone down (often with language that would have the police called in if they used it on the streets), and I fully agree with Liz that the difference between the tone on that board and the much-friendlier tone on the Australia/NZ and Asia boards is one of the things we need to protect. I, too, am saddened when I see that nasty tone find its way onto &quot;my&quot; board... I think the people who call you names and then hide behind the net's anonymity are displaying a very cowardly streak. Liz, on the other hand, is neither a cowardly nor a rude person... no way! She CAN be sassy at times, but, frankly, that's one of the things that makes her posts so much fun to read -- and, obviously, a lot of people DO read her posts, as whenever this subject of manners comes up, there are always about twenty people who can instantly remember exactly what Liz said about something-or-other six months ago. Sassy, maybe... but have you ever heard her call anyone an idiot (as I was called two nights ago by someone to didn't agree with my recommendation on the Spit - Manly walk)? Thet's not her style -- it seems to be more the style of her detractors! Them I can do without.... but Liz? The board just wouldn't be the same without her!

JET

Well that was an interesting series of responses to my question. I had no intention of creating such a dispute.<BR><BR>Just to clarify I am from Perth and have been browsing these threads for a while now (on and off) and was just interested in the lack of queries. Yes I do think my city is a fabulous place to visit and has some unique features the east doesn't and a unique atmosphere. However yes I also completely understand that it is a long distance and international travel does not always allow for detours of that length or expense. Perhaps some second/third etc time visitors to Australia will consider it.