The Perth inner area radiates north and south of the Swan River on a flat coastal plain, bounded in by the Darling Scarp to the east and the Indian Ocean coastline in the west. Perth has a population of around 1.6 million (2009), making it the fourth largest city in Australia. The many uncrowded beaches along the Perth coastline define the lifestyle: Perth is laid-back, quiet and safe.

Perth’s Main Areas

Perth Metropolitan Area

Inner Metropolitan Perth Map

Most residents live in the area around the Swan River.

Perth City

The centre of the Perth metropolitan area is the City, located on the Swan River around 10 km inland. The City is the main business and shopping centre, and together with the adjacent Northbridge, the entertainment centre as well.

The CBD is about 1 km North-South but 2 km East-West and is centred on the pedestrianised Forrest Place. In or adjacent to Forrest Place you will find the General Post Office (GPO – open Monday – Friday 9-5 and Saturday 9-12), the Tourist Information Centre, Perth Train Station and the Forrest Chase shopping centre including the Myer Department store.

The main East-West streets are Wellington Street (northern boundary), Murray and Hay Streets (which become pedestrianised shopping malls in the centre), St George’s Terrace/Adelaide Terrace and Riverside Drive (which runs along the Swan River and forms the southern boundary of the CBD). The main northbound street is Barrack Street which runs along the eastern end of the central shopping district and the main southbound street is William Street to the west.

Fremantle

Fremantle is an Indian Ocean port, clinging to the western edge of Australia, facing west towards Rottnest Island, Mauritius, and Africa.

You could claim that Fremantle is a suburb of Perth, but you’d be wrong. It is a city in its own right, deliciously different from Perth in its location, people and style.

Fremantle is famous for it’s “cappucino strip” and all its wonderful restaurants, as well as some great shops & historical monuments.

Northbridge

Northbridge is close to the centre of Perth, the other side of the Perth train station from the city shopping malls. It’s the more place to go for the independent end of shopping, art and eating.

In fact, Northbridge is generally considered to be the restaurant hub of Perth, with MANY different cuisines available, plus a few good coffee shops to help round the night out.

Though Northbridge is a small suburb its sphere of cultural influence blurs into neighbouring North Perth, Highgate and Mount Lawley.

Northbridge is fast becoming the place to go for more alternative shopping. If you are bored of the same big clothing labels, you can find some really different, locally designed fashion, as well as some excellent vintage pieces. William Street has a variety of independently owned businesses where you can find punk, goth, rockabilly fashion, anime/manga collectables and other generally more unique stores.

As mentioned above, there is an extensive array of restaurants in Northbridge. You will find a great selection of authentic cuisine that ranges from Southern European (Greek, Italian etc) to Asian (Hong Kong, Indonesian and Vietnamese etc).

The Coast

The place for a swim or to watch the sun sink into the Indian Ocean. There some nice cafes and small restaurants along this area, with a beautiful view out to the ocean.

Northern Suburbs

The northern suburbs are mostly residential, with a small selection of popular places to visit, such as Sorrento Quay at Hillarys Boat Harbour & AQWA (The Aquarium of Western Australia).

Southern Suburbs

The southern suburbs are also mostly residential, but include the Perth Zoo and the Old Mill (the oldest surviving industrial building from Perth’s colonial days. Left to ruin over the years it has been restored along with the adjoining millhouse containing various colonial artefacts.)

The Hills

The Hills is an area including the Swan Valley and the Darling scarp. Despite being a good distance up the Swan River it was the first area to be inhabitation by colonists after settlement. The area around Guildford and the Swan Valley was provided rich farmland and the granite escarpment around Kalamunda and Greenmount provided raw materials for buildings in the City and Fremantle. Surrounded by areas of undeveloped bushland, much of it protected inside the John Forrest National Park there are plenty of places where you can go bush without really leaving the city.

In the foothills is the Swan Valley Wine region containing not just wine but also gourmet food and boutique beer. Visits to the Margaret River Chocolate Factory and Oggies Ice Cream shop (both on West Swan Road) are obligatory!

Outside Perth

Perth Surrounds Map

An hour or two outside the city are many small townships and a big island
Perth surrounds
Perth surrounds
Outer Perth
Small townships out of the city
Rottnest Island
Where locals like to relax with the Quokka