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If you're a sports fanatic then Perth is the
city for you! West Australians take part in various local and
national sports competitions, ensuring that on any given weekend,
Perthis always hosting a major sporting contest. The main summer
game is cricket, although inroads
are being made by soccer and basketball. In winter
the religion is Australian
Rules Football, or "footy". The other main winter
creed is Rugby League,
but this is much more the game of New South Walesand Queensland.
If tennis is your game be sure to find yourself courtside at
Burswood Dome at the beginning of January when the world's
most prestigious invitational tennis tournament, the HopmanCup, hits off.
Golf is
also popular and Perthweather makes it a year-round obsession.
With the river and ocean on its doorstep, sailing and fishing also
figure largely in Perth's sporting life. The main yacht clubs
are Royal Freshwater and Royal Perth on the Swan, and the Fremantle
Sailing Club on the coast just south of the port. Sailboarding
(windsurfing) is also very popular and extremely fast off the
ocean beaches. When the wind is brisk, Pelican Point on the
river is packed with both novice and experienced enthusiasts.
There are innumerable sports grounds, playing
fields, and swimming pools throughout the metropolitan area.
Many suburbs have their own tennis and bowling clubs. Some
other sports that the people of Perthenjoy include badmington, ballooning,
cycling, diving, hockey, horse racing, lawn bawls, orienteering,
table tennis, triathlon and watersports.
If there's one thing that Australians enjoy
more than playing sport, it's watching. Horses provide year-round
entertainment at the GloucestorPark trotting
track, while flat racing attracts hefty crowds during the summer
at Ascot, and winter at Belmont
Park. Summertime sees the highly-rated State cricket team,
the Western Warriors, play regular interstate
games, and international matches are conducted both under blue
skies and under lights at the WACA oval.
Baseball rates highly, as does basketball, with the State team,
the Wildcats, firm
favourites. Winter sees regular league fixtures on the Australian
Rules football calendar. The State is represented by two teams,
the West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle Dockers, in the national competition
and play each weekend during the season. If you're into motorsports,
don't miss out the annual Telstra
Rally Australia, which comes to Perthevery year in November.
Other regular sporting fixtures include surfing, tennis, baseball, motor racing and show jumping.
Surfing and swimming at the city's beaches are
favoured activities; but Rottnest Island has good diving and
fishing, and the picturesque Avon River is a popular canoeing
spot. You can also get out on the ocean by renting a catamaran
at the South Perth foreshore, or asking around Perth's yachting
clubs for volunteer spots on racing yachts.
There are a number of activities that bring
you into contact with marine mammals in and around Perth, including
watching for humpback whales returning to Antarctic waters
after wintering in the ocean off north-western Australia. The
Darling Ranges are famous for their geological diversity and
around Perthyou can explore evidence of the break up of Gondwanaland
(formerly one of two ancient supercontinents).
Spring (September to November) and autumn (March
to May) are the best times to visit, as Perth experiences hot,
dry summers and mild, but rainy, winters. One peculiarity of
the local weather is the breeze that blows in from the sea
in the late afternoon - call it the 'Fremantle Doctor', and
you might as well wear a t-shirt saying 'I'm not from around
here'.
Events:
Every year around February/March the Festival
of Perth offers entertainment in the form of music, drama,
dance, visual art and films. The Northbridge Festival is hosted
at the same time. In early June, West Week is held to celebrate
WA's foundation - there are historical re-enactments, arts
and crafts exhibitions, concerts and sporting events. The Perth
Royal Show takes place every September while the Artrage Festival
is in October.
Tops 10 Activities to do in Perth:
1. Rottnest
Rottnest Island is a short ferry trip away.
It has beautiful beaches perfect for swimming, snorkeling,
sunbathing, surfing and windsurfing. Accommodation is available
on the island if you want to stay overnight.
When: Preferably summer months
Where: Rottnest Island
Zone number: Zone 32
How much: Depends on ferry and activities.
Website: www.rottnest.wa.gov.au
2. Perth Zoo
Perth Zoo is only minutes away from the city
centre by car or ferry. The Zoo is open every day of the year
and is a great way to discover some of Australia's native and
exotic animals
When: Open every day of the
year
Where: 20 Labouchere Road, South Perth
Phone: 24 Hour recorded infoline
(08) 9474 3551
Zone number: zone 06
How much: Adult $13.20, Children
4-15 years $6.60, Concession $9.90, Family $35.75.
Website: www.perthzoo.wa.gov.au
3. Adventure World
Adventure world is WA's biggest fun park. It
has approximately 30 different rides including water slides.
Food is available along with picnic facilities.
When: 25th September 1998 to 26th April 1999. Closed Christmas Day and Good Friday
Where: 179 Progress Drive Bibra Lake
Phone: (08) 9417-1373
Zone number: zone 21
How much: Adult $25, Children 4-15
years $20, Concession $22.50, Family $80
Website: www.adventureworld.net.au
4. Underwater world
Underwater world is oceanarium which thousands
of sea creatures the majority of them from Western Australia.
The oceanarium has a submerged glass tunnel that you walk through
and see all the sharks, sting rays and other exotic marine
life. Underwater world also has a dolphin sanctuary
When: Every day except Christmas
Day
Where: SorrentoQuay
Phone: (08) 9447-7500
Zone number: Zone 11
How much: Adult $16, Children 3-14 years
$8, Concession $12.50, Family $40
Website: www.coralworld.com/perth
5.Omni
IMAX theatre has a movie screen ten times bigger
than your average cinema screen. The screen is two stories
high and has 32 speakers which gives you real surround sound.
When: Seven days a week
Where: 14 Lake Street, Northbridge
Phone: (08) 9328 0600
Zone number: Zone 01
Website: www.imax.com.au
6. Cottesloe Beach
CottesloeBeach is one of Perth's most popular
beaches. The beach is about 15 km from the city centre and
is patrolled in the summer by the Cottesloe Surf Life Saving
Club. There is plenty of parking and public transport stops
at the beach. Coffee shops, restaurants and pubs are only a
short walk away.
When: Preferably summer months
Where: Cottesloe
Zone number: Zone 09
How much: Free
7. Parasailing at Mill Point
Parasailing behind the latest style winch boat
means you dont even have to get wet if you dont want. Located
on Mill Point so you get the best views of Perthand the SwanRiver
When: Open every day of the
year (weather permitting)
Where: Mill Point Road, SouthPerth
Phone: (08) 9313 3897
Zone number: zone 06
8. River cruise
Relax while cruising up or down the SwanRiverseeing
some of Perth's most expensive houses along Millionaire's Row,
or the busy FremantlePort.Scenic cruises, Luncheon cruises
and dinner cruises are available.
When: Open every day of the
year
Where: Pier 3 Barrack Street Jetty Perth,
East Street Jetty Fremantle
Phone: (08) 9325 3341
Zone number: Leaves from Zone
01 or Zone 09
How much: Scenic cruise Adult $24,
Children 4-14 years $12, Family $60
Website: www.captaincookcruises.com.au
9.Cycling around river
Perthhas a large number of cycleways that make
cycling around the river a safe and fun way to see the city.
A popular ride is leaving from About Bike Hire at the East
end of Riverside Drive, past Barrack Street Jetty, crossing
the Narrowsbridge, riding through South Perth, over the Causeway
and then back to About Bike Hire.
When: Preferably summer months
Where: Causeway Car Park Perth ( East end
of Riverside Drive)
Phone: (08) 9221 2665
Zone number: Zone 01
10.Surfing
Perthhas plenty of beaches along the coast where
you can surf. Trigg was voted as Perth's most popular beach
in 1998. This beach is considered to have the best break for
surfing within the metro area. The beach is patrolled by the
Trigg Surf Club and is a safe beach to surf.
When: Preferably summer months
Where: Trigg Beach
Zone number: Zone 10
How much: Free
Website: www.surfcam.msr.wa.gov.au
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