Go Perth Culture
Despite existing on the fringe of an already isolated continent, Perth and Western Australia are also abuzz with modern cultural activity. In fact WA’s isolation has resulted in cultural traditions that are truly unique and quite distinct from their urban Aussie counterparts to the east.
Perth has more hours of sunshine then any other state capital in Australia. This has given rise to a prolific and rich outdoor culture. Entertaining, socializing and drinking outdoors, is simply the way life is lived over here.
Western Australia is also the backdrop for such epics as Australia the movie, Rabbit Proof Fence and author Tim Winton’s multi award winning novel Dirt Music. The annual Perth Arts Festival (Feb 13 – March 8) is an arts fest of major international standing with a 55 year history. Check out www.perthfestival.com.au for this year’s free entertainment and gigs.
For those with a taste for history The Western Australian Museum (www.museum.wa.gov.au) has brilliant branches in Perth, Fremantle, Albany, Geraldton and Kalgoorlie-Boulder. The museums have exhibits that explore local history alongside Aboriginal culture and indigenous wildlife.
During the summertime seek out various outdoor cinemas; classic, cult, and new release films are played under the trees and stars on balmy evenings. Throughout the year countless events are held in Western Australia. These range from Broome’s Shinju Matsui Pearl Festival to Perth’s Good Vibrations dance fest. To find out more check out our
events guide or go to
www.westernaustralia.net/events or
www.cultureandarts.wa.gov.au.
Go Pop Culture
Recently Perth and Freo have earned the reputation of being Australia’s equivalent to Britain’s Manchester or the United States’ Seattle, due to the many first class artists and bands it has produced, including Gyroscope, John Butler Trio, The Waifs, Little Birdy, and The Little Panda Band. Check out unique local radio at
RTR 92.1 FM.
Go on a Session
Watching the sunset as it sinks into the Indian Ocean with your bevvie of choice in hand, is an Aussie cultural tradition that is unique to Perth and WA as a whole. The ‘Sunday Session’ as it has come to be known, sees hordes of locals and visitors congregating at beachside pubs to watch the sun go down.
Pubs along Cottesloe Beach, Fremantle and Scarborough Beach are famous for these Sunday afternoon drinking parties. Most venues crank up the music with their favourite DJ’s and the drinking is fast and furious.
Go Get Sporty
All Australians love their sport and Aussies on the west coast are no exception. In summer cricket is the national religion of Australia. The Western Australian Cricket Association ground – the WACA – is up amongst the best as a place to catch a game.
In wintertime the action is far from dying out. The season for Australian Football League – or ‘footy’ as it is known here – kicks off during this time. The game is played in WA, SA, NT and Victoria. Aussie Rules is fast paced and seemingly has no rules when you first watch it. Western Australia has two teams, the West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle Dockers. The sport is an integral part of Western Australian culture so be sure to come and check it out.
Go Chow Down
Virtually all restaurants and most pubs and bars offer outside tables wherever possible and dining al fresco is very popular, especially in summer. Areas to check out include Northbridge, Fremantle, Mt Lawley, Leederville and Scarborough. All these ‘strips’ offer a variety of restaurants, cafes, pubs and clubs.
The range of food on offer is enormous, from lunchtime favourites such as food halls and sushi shops to upmarket restaurants for a classy evening meal. In between you will find something to suit all palettes and pockets, including some fantastic BYO curry houses and many venues and flavours reflecting the ethnic diversity of WA’s population. Keep an eye out for fancy restaurants offering specials for dining outside on week nights or during the day.
Seafood is fantastic all over WA, particularly to Northern Europeans who are used to seeing prawns about an inch long. Over here they’re huge by comparison. Fancy seafood platters are often surprisingly cheap and could hardly be fresher if they were still flapping. In the coastal suburbs and townships there are some legendary fish and chip shops to be found.
Go Make a Splash
As a traveller, other than a kick-around on the beach and a bit of compulsory Frisbee, most sport you participate in will involve you getting wet. Australian culture is inseparably linked to the rivers, dams and beaches and water sports are at the heart of the WA lifestyle. With vast stretches of unspoilt coastline, the very accessible Swan River and a beautiful climate year-round, there is no better place to get wet.
Whether it’s trying your luck at surfing, windsurfing, kite-surfing, kayaking, sailing, snorkeling or Scuba diving, WA has some of the very best breaks, spectacular seascapes and delicious dive spots for you to enjoy. The local sealife is amazing and friendly - well, most of it is. Maybe avoid the ones with big teeth. As well as offering you the chance to swim alongside the biggest fish in the world, the whale shark, WA has dolphins, whales, seals, dugongs, turtles, manta rays and countless other maritime wonders in its surrounding waters.
Other activities you can try include bushwalking, climbing, four-wheel driving, beach volleyball, dirt biking and sandboarding. Gyms which offer packages for Backpackers generally leave brochures around hostels. Public swimming pools such as The Fremantle Leisure Centre, Beatty Park, Claremont Pool and Bold Park are set in scenic surroundings, have heated pools in the colder months and are cheaper if you buy a 10-swim or monthly pass.
