Perth

Discover Perth and Western Australia

2 September 2015 by Kate

Welcome to wonderful Western Australia and the vibrant state capital city of Perth. Whether you’re visiting for a couple of days, a week or two or several months, in Perth and Western Australia you’ll enjoy adventures and experiences that are as extraordinary as they are unique.

Averaging over 300 days of sunshine every year, Perth is a playground for adventure lovers and just about everyone who enjoys the great outdoors. With beautiful white sandy beaches, stunning natural scenery, hot sunny weather and a laid back lifestyle, there’s so much to love about the beautiful west coast of Australia.

The largest of all Australian states (more than 2.5 million square kilometres!) if you love the ocean, the outdoor lifestyle and lots and lots of sunshine, Perth and Western Australia will exceed your expectations. With a huge 12,500 km coastline, Western Australia is home to an abundance of beautiful beaches – 19 of which are in the Perth area alone, including the iconic Cottesloe Beach.

Of course there’s so much more to Perth than just our amazing beaches! Hire a catamaran or go kayaking and paddle boarding on the Swan River; take a trip to the Avon Valley for hot air ballooning; and visit the Perth Hills and enjoy some bushwalking. Check out top attractions like Kings Park, Caversham Wildlife Park, Perth Zoo and Fremantle for the prison and markets. Alternatively, browse our museums and galleries, eclectic markets and stylish malls. We even have free Cat buses to help you explore our amazing city.

Experience and explore Perth and WA

Escape to Kings Park… Right in the heart of our vibrant and busy city is Kings Park. With around 4.06 square kilometres of botanical gardens, tranquil parkland and bushland, it’s one of the largest inner city parks in the world; bigger than New York’s Central Park, in fact. Kings Park is the perfect place to head to if you want a change of pace, with spectacular views of the city and the Swan River. If you’ve got a head for heights, try out the Lotterywest Federation Walkway and walk among the treetops!

Explore Margaret River and the great South West… Around 280 kilometres from Perth is the picturesque town of Margaret River. Known for its gourmet food and world-class wine, the area has over 200 vineyards producing award-winning wines. It’s also a renowned surfing location, attracting surfers from around the world. You can’t venture down south without visiting Busselton and its timber jetty, the longest in the southern hemisphere, or Bunbury where you can swim with wild dolphins. If you want more breathtakingly beautiful beaches and coastline, head to Albany.

Enjoy a day in paradise… Paradise awaits, a mere 19km off the coast of Perth. It’s called Rottnest Island. Take the short ferry ride from Perth or Fremantle and be entranced by over 60 pristine beaches and 20 beautiful bays. This paradise island is 11km long and home to some of the state’s best natural attractions. Spend a day exploring the island by foot or bike – no cars are allowed at Rottnest. Alternatively you can use the jump-on, jump-off bus. Visitors can swim, snorkel, fish or simply lie on the beach and soak up the sun. Rotto (as the locals call it) is also a popular location for surfing and diving, kayaking and paddle boarding. A protected nature reserve, keep an eye out for the island’s friendly resident marsupials called quokkas.

Get cultural at the cultural centre… Arts and exhibitions, food and drink, music, markets and shopping: Perth’s cultural centre has something for everyone. Major attractions include the West Australian Museum, Art Gallery of Western Australia, the State Theatre Centre of Western Australia and the Blue Room Theatre, the home of cutting-edge performance in Perth.

Hit the beach and learn how to surf… Water sports and activities are a big part of the Aussie way of life. And Perth alone has 19 stunning white sandy beaches. From City Beach and Cottesloe Beach, to Leighton Beach and Brighton Beach, whether you want to swim, surf or just work on your tan, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Scarborough Beach and neighbouring Brighton Beach are two of Perth’s best surfing spots, with numerous surf schools in the area offering lessons for beginners.

Swim with dolphins and whale sharks… Experience the thrill of swimming with wild dolphins and whale sharks in the beautiful Indian Ocean. Around 2 hours drive south of Perth the Dolphin Discovery Centre in Bunbury is one of the best places to enjoy this amazing experience. Closer to home, and just 45 minutes south of Perth, Rockingham Wild Encounters also organises similar activities. Between April and July, head north of Perth, to the UNESCO World Heritage listed Ningaloo Reef to swim with whale sharks. Swimming with these gentle ocean giants is an unforgettable experience of a lifetime.

Explore the North West… Apparently the northern region of Western Australia has fewer people per square kilometre than pretty much anywhere else in the world. Rivers, mountains, bushland and deep gorges are the natural features of WA’s extraordinary outback. Highlights include Broome, Cable Beach, Karijini National Park, Lake Argyle, the largest manmade lake in the southern hemisphere and the Kimberley, famed for its rugged red landscape.

And the Coral Coast… You can’t head north without checking out the amazing Pinnacles, located in the Namburg National Park. Best visited at sunrise or sunset, these limestone formations protruding from the sand are a unique sight to behold. If you’re in the mood for something a bit more adventurous, visit Lancelin for sand surfing and four-wheel driving down massive sand dunes.

To find out more about Perth, visit Experience Perth and check out the official Tourism Western Australia website.

This article was written for Haus Accommodation website.

Design For Life

31 July 2015 by Kate

For the past three years, Tse Yin Chang has been working her creative magic to help produce the Chung Wah Association’s flagship magazine. Tse Yin spoke to Kate Anderson about how she came to be involved with the Chung Wah Magazine, and what led her to choose a career as a graphic designer.

“Like most freelance designers, you’ve always got one eye open looking for more work to help your business grow. I remember browsing through Gumtree one day and I came across an ad the Chung Wah Association had placed for a graphic designer,” explains Tse Yin.

“At the time I was looking to expand my freelance business, so I enquired, popped along for a chat, showed them my portfolio and ended up getting the job. I guess it was a question of right time, right place.”

As a web and graphic designer, Tse Yin works with images and text to create material that is visually appealing, be it to convey a message or promote a product. On any given day she can be working on the layout for a magazine, designing a new website or working on branding solutions, such as creating a logo.

“Basically it’s my job to make things look good,” she says with a smile. “Okay, I’m just joking; it’s not quite that simple.

“I’ll usually be given a brief with a specific outcome that needs to be achieved, or a message that needs to be conveyed. As a designer I have to figure out the best solution.

“I’m a visual-thinking problem solver. Of course it’s not just about making something look good.”

Tse Yin began her career working as a web designer for an advertising agency, before setting up her own business in 2005. She also works with Western Australia’s popular music festival, Fairbridge Festival, volunteering her design skills.

“I put a lot of time and effort into my graphic design work for Chung Wah. It’s not my full-time job; I’m a partial volunteer. But whether I’m getting paid or working for free, I believe that what I produce reflects on my skills and professionalism. So I’ll always give 110 per cent.”

Tse Yin was also responsible for the Chung Wah Association’s new look website, which went live earlier in the year. It’s proved to be a huge success, both in terms of visitor traffic and feedback.

When touching upon the skills needed to pursue a career in graphic or web design, Tse Yin says you don’t necessarily need to have a formal education to break into the field. But for those of you just finishing school, a design degree will provide you with the opportunity to meet and work with other up-and-coming designers, as well as mix with cool creative folk and get access to design resources and guidance from professional tutors.

“I never went to design school. In fact, I have a commerce degree! But I learned by reading books, practising my craft and working in the field for free to build up my portfolio.

“What you really need to become a good designer is practise, practise, practise. It’s extremely important to have an impressive portfolio of work to show off your artistic fair and creative eye. You won’t get a job, paid or otherwise, without one.

“Oh, and don’t think you have to be great at drawing to be a good graphic designer either, because you don’t. Which is great, because my drawing skills are pretty much limited to stick figures!”

10 things NOT to say to a graphic designer

“Can you make it look like this, but better?”

“But my target market is everybody.”

“I don’t really have a design idea yet, but can you tell me how much it would cost?”

“I love the logo, but can you just make it pop a bit more?”

“I love the design, but can you do another 5 or 6 and come back to me with them all?

“Can you jazz it up a little?”

“Can you do lots of versions? I’ll know what I want when I see it.”

“We haven’t finished writing the copy, but can you design a draft?”

“You’re the designer, you’ll know what to do.”

“Can you bold and underline all the text so it stands out?”

Article originally written for and published in the Chung Wah Magazine, volume 24 July 2015

Chung Wah Magazine: A Street Celebration With Style

29 June 2015 by Kate

There’s nothing quite like a good celebration to bring people and communities together, especially free community events. This year I had the opportunity to experience my first ever Chinese New Year festival, when I popped along to Northbridge for the Chung Wah Association’s family-friendly one-day street celebration.

Now Perth, as I’ve discovered during my relatively short time here, is a wonderfully diverse multicultural city. And the Chinese community plays a big part in its growing diversity. For Chinese people, the New Year is the most important date of the lunar calendar and a major festival for most Australian cities, Perth included.

Street parades, with lion dancing, firecrackers and food stalls, are a big part of these celebrations. And given the importance of New Year, the festivities, organised by the Chung Wah Association, certainly did the Chinese community proud. Colourful, fun and entertaining, it’s fair to say that Perth’s Chinese community certainly knows how to celebrate in style!

In true Perth fashion, the weather on the day was sunny and warm (although thankfully not as hot as last year’s 41 degree heat I’m told!) with people of all ages out to have a good time, enjoy the pleasant weather and help the city’s Chinese migrants usher in the Year of the Goat. With over 100 stalls selling food and drink and a range of products and services, it was fun to mingle with the crowds on James Street and soak up the lively atmosphere. I especially enjoyed the multi-cultural entertainment – even, dare I admit it, the Morris dancing! But as fun as the daytime festivities were, for me the best was yet to come.

The day was brought to a close with a multicultural concert at Northbridge Piazza. A treat for both the eyes and the ears, like the rest of the crowd I was in awe of the amazing performances. I loved the lion dance; a traditional Chinese dance performed to bring good luck and fortune, and to scare away evil spirits.

The concert also included the show-stopping Chinese mask changing and fire breathing, and the eye-catching Sichuan Kung Fu tea act, which involves pouring tea from an elaborate long-spouted teapot. For me, a Western woman who grew up in a relatively small village in England, this was my first opportunity to experience traditional Chinese culture.

The Chinese New Year Fair left me entertained, educated and much more culturally aware. I felt it was the perfect opportunity to showcase Chinese culture, and perhaps most importantly, allow as many people as possible to learn more about China.

8 fun facts about Chinese New Year

The date changes every year. Chinese New Year is determined by the Chinese lunar calendar. Which means Chinese New Year will always fall between 21 January and 20 February.
During the Chinese New Year red envelopes are exchanged, which contain cash. Older people give envelopes to younger people, while bosses are known to give out red envelopes to their employees.
It’s a popular festival in the UK. Over 300,000 people take part in the celebrations across the capital.
The period just before Chinese New Year is the busiest travel time of the whole year. Everyone that can goes home to celebrate with their families.
Every Chinese New Year brings with it a new animal zodiac year. 2014 was the Year of the Horse, this year is the Year of the Goat, and next year it will be the Year of the Monkey.
The traditional Chinese New Year celebration lasts for a whopping 15 days.
The colour red is said to be a lucky colour. Hence the reason why decorations are always red.
It’s a big no-no to wash your hair on the first day of Chinese New Year. Apparently some Chinese people believe doing so means washing away your good luck and fortune for the year ahead.

Article published in Chung Wah Magazine, volume 23 April 2015

Learning to Surf in Perth

10 April 2015 by Kate

For as long as I can remember I’ve always loved spending time at the beach. I guess it stems from childhood. When I was growing up, family holidays usually meant a few weeks vacationing in various seaside spots around the Norfolk coast in England.

As a kid I relished every opportunity to be close to the ocean; I loved splashing about in the sea and exploring rock pools. But coming from a small village, the nearest beach was almost 10o miles away. So for me the seaside represented some of the most fun and carefree times of my childhood.

As an adult, I’ve remained a bit of a beach bum at heart. Stick me on a beach and I’m as happy as Larry. Strolling along the sand, the sound of waves crashing on the shoreline, the smell of the sea caught up in a breeze… for me life doesn’t get much better than that.

I guess it’s one of the (many) reasons why I have such an affinity for Australia. The country has some of the best beaches in the world.

Take Western Australia for example. The State boasts a 12, 500 km coastline and some of the most beautiful crystal clear blue waters you’re ever likely to feast your eyes upon. The state capital of Perth alone has 19 beaches – so it’s fair to say that if you love beach life, Western Australia is definitely the place to be.

Despite having visited Perth on two previous occasions, I’d never tried my hand at surfing. But that was about to change during my third visit in December 2013. It was finally time to get on a surf board and channel my inner surfie!

Now I’m a pretty decent swimmer and I love the ocean, but surfing has always seemed a) difficult and b) rather scary. I can’t pretend that the State’s spate of shark attacks didn’t cross my mind either. Of course it did. But I’ve never let it put me off getting in the ocean to swim, so why should surfing be any different? So I took the plunge and booked a one-to-one lesson with a local surfing instructor at Brighton Beach in Scarborough. It was a perfect blue-sky summer’s day, and the waves were pretty gentle. It was the perfect spot for a beginner like me.

Now to say it was one of the best things I’ve ever done would be an understatement. Sure, I initially felt nervous and a bit self-conscious, especially since I had to wear a wet suit and a bright orange rash shirt that screamed “look at me”. For the record, orange is definitely not my colour! Although I arrived at the sands pretty early, it was set to be a very hot summer’s day, even for Perth. So it wasn’t long before the beach got busy and I had a bit of an audience, to my initial dismay.

Still, I was on a mission and the adrenaline was starting to kick in. After practising a few moves on the sand – namely how to stand up on the board – it was time to venture into the open water with my lovely instructor, Tom. Now I can’t pretend that learning to surf is easy, because it’s not. It’s hard work. I lost count of the number of times I ended up falling into the ocean. And by the end of the hour I’d used muscles I wasn’t even aware I had. But I adored every single minute of the experience.

I’m not exactly the strongest person, and I’m pretty petite. So the hardest part for me was finding the upper body strength to get myself up into a crouching position. But I persevered and by the end of my first lesson I was actually standing up and surfing a wave. Yes, a real wave. Several in fact! I can’t begin to find the words to describe the buzz I felt riding across a wave. It was unreal. A truly exhilarating experience.

By the time my hour lesson was up I was aching, I was exhausted but I was walking on air. Surfing had me, hook line and sinker.

Learn to surf in Perth

Perth is the perfect playground if you’re into water sports. And surfing is no exception. The Perth area is littered with surfing schools, and a quick Google search will provide you with a few to choose from. Popular areas include Scarborough Beach, Leighton Beach and Secret Harbour. You need to make sure your instructor is accredited with the Academy of Surfing Instructors (ASI). I can heartedly recommend the team at Go Surf in Scarborough, and my friendly and patient instructor, Tom.

Chung Wah Magazine: Magical Perth Will Cast a Spell Over You

24 October 2014 by Kate

Famed for its glorious beaches, hot sunny weather, laid back lifestyle and stunning scenery, Australia is overflowing with attributes. As a country it effortlessly manages to cast a magical spell over the many millions of tourists who flock to its far away shores every year. Millions of people who arrive as tourists but who depart with a shared sense of having found a home away from home.

Back in 2009 I was one of those tourists. Like a lot of English people I’d grown up watching Home and Away and Neighbours. To most Brits Australia enjoys enviable all year round sunshine and is home to some of the world’s best sports teams (cricket and rugby union), a big rock (Uluru), a vast remote patch of land (the Outback) and the world’s largest coral reef (the Great Barrier Reef). But it didn’t take me long to discover that there was far more to Australia than what I’d seen depicted in Aussie soaps!

At almost 32 times the size of the UK, and 2,989,000 square miles, there’s a lot of Australia to explore. While Sydney and Melbourne remain the top destinations of choice for first time visitors, there’s heaps of equally amazing places to check out. Which brings me to Perth and the start of my love affair with Australia.

Tucked away on the beautiful west coast of Australia, Perth sits majestically overlooking the stunning Indian Ocean. Like most Australian cities it’s pretty expensive. In fact pricey Perth is the most expensive state capital after Sydney. But don’t let its reputation for being one of the world’s most expensive cities put you off. Perth more than makes up for its expensive price tag.

A cosmopolitan city with an abundance of restaurants, bars and cultural activities, Perth might not be the bustling city that Sydney or even Melbourne is. But in truth that’s part of its charm. And if like me, you love the ocean, the outdoor lifestyle and plenty of sunshine, Perth will not disappoint.

It’s the sunniest capital city in the world and has on average 8 hours of sunshine per day 365 days per year, of which around 118 are clear days. That’s almost 3,000 hours of sunshine! And being the largest of all the Australian states (we’re talking an area of around 2 500 000 sq. km!) it has a huge 12, 500 km coastline with some of the most beautiful beaches and crystal clear blue waters you’re ever likely to feast your eyes upon.

With a climate that compliments its laid back lifestyle perfectly, as Australian cities go Perth is a rare blend indeed. Not perfection personified by any means. But in my opinion it comes pretty close.

5 things to see and do

Check out King’s Park

I absolutely adore King’s Park. It’s a beautiful place; 4.06 square kilometres of botanical gardens, tranquil parkland and unique bushland. It never ceases to amaze me that there’s this tranquil oasis right in the heart of such a vibrant busy city. And the views of the Perth CBD and the Swan River are stunning, particularly at night. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve taken in that view – it takes my breath away like it was the first time.

Take a trip down south to Margaret River

When the locals want to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life they head down south to the picturesque town of Margaret River. About 280 kilometres from the city, it’s a delightful area famed for its food, wine, award-winning chocolate and surfing breaks. Let’s just say Margaret River charmed the socks off me from the moment I arrived in the region. I loved every minute of my time in the South West, from visiting wineries, beaches and caves to sampling the delights of the Berry Farm and the chocolate factory. And even though I’m quite scared of heights, the Valley of the Giants tree top walk in Walpole was an amazing experience.

Swim with wild dolphins

At the Dolphin Discovery Centre in Bunbury

For as long as I can remember I’ve wanted to swim with dolphins. And that lifelong dream finally came true during my first trip to Australia. During the summer months you can sign up for the dolphin swim at the Dolphin Discovery Centre in Bunbury, around a 2-hour drive from Perth. It meant a very early morning start – you have to be there before 7.30am – and at $150 per person it’s certainly not cheap. But it was worth every cent. Being able to see and interact with these amazing creatures in their natural habitat was one of the best days of my life. I don’t think I stopped smiling for days afterwards. Rockingham Wild Encounters, just 45 minutes from Perth, also offers a similar experience.

Hit the beach and learn how to surf

I’m a bit of a beach bum at heart. Nothing makes me happier than a sandy white beach and a crystal clear blue ocean – and there are 19 beaches in the Perth area alone. Rockingham Beach is probably my favourite; it’s where I’ve spent many a happy day swimming and sunbathing. But in terms of aesthetics nothing beats the beaches and bays on Rottnest Island. At times, depending on when you visit, you feel like you’re on your own private island! I also love Brighton Beach, because it’s where I had my first surfing lesson. I can’t wait to go back and have a few more.

Visit the scenic Swan Valley

Around 25 minutes from Perth you’ll find the charming and scenic Swan Valley. Renowned for its mouth-watering food and award-winning wineries and restaurants, the Swan Valley is the go to place to sample a smorgasbord of gastronomic delights guaranteed to tantalise your taste buds. I spent a day in the region, including visiting the Margaret River Chocolate Factory and Whiteman Park. The highlight of my day trip was Caversham Wildlife Park because I got to meet koalas and best of all feed kangaroos. For an Aussie loving Brit it doesn’t get more Australian than that!

Article published in Chung Wah Magazine, volume 19 July 2014

Travel Stories: An Australian Affair to Remember

2 June 2014 by Kate

Australia. The land Down Under. The lucky country. Or that “really far away place on the other side of the world!” Call it what you like, it’s a place famed for its glorious beaches, hot sunny weather, laid back lifestyle and stunning scenery.

With these attributes the country effortlessly manages to cast a magical spell over the many millions of tourists who flock to its far away shores year after year. Millions of people who arrive as tourists but who leave feeling as though they’ve found a second home.

It’s pretty impossible to sum up Australia in just a few words. Sure it’s famous for a wide variety of things. Like great weather, stunning beaches, and a pretty good cricket team. It’s given the world Kylie Minogue, Mel Gibson and Neighbours. It’s home to a big rock (Uluru), a big bridge that resembles a coat-hanger (the Harbour Bridge), a vast remote patch of land (the Outback) and last but not least, the Great Barrier Reef.

But there’s more to Australia than sport, the weather, tourist attractions and a few famous names. To see it is to believe it. To feel it is to fall in love with it. And fall in love is what I did.

While Sydney and Melbourne remain the top destinations of choice for first time visitors, there’s heaps of equally amazing places to check out. Australia is a vast country – and I mean HUGE. It’s almost 32 times the size of the UK. It’s actually a continent, albeit the world’s smallest, with an area of less than 7.7 million square kilometres. Lying south of the equator, its geographical location is why Australia is affectionately referred to as the land Down Under.

Australia comprises of six states: Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania. It also has two mainland territories, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. And contrary to popular opinion, it’s Canberra that’s the capital city, not Sydney!

Yes, Australia is steeped in misconceptions. For example most ‘locals’ don’t greet each other by saying “G’day mate”. And most Australian men (at least the ones I know!) don’t fit the rugged, outback-dwelling bush-man type as portrayed by the likes of Hugh Jackman (Australia) and Paul Hogan (Crocodile Dundee). Oh and about the outback: yes it is massive – like 1.2 million square miles or something. But only a small percentage of people actually live there (at the last count it was something like 1%) because most Australians are very, very urbanised.

Which brings me to Perth, the capital city of Western Australia. And the start of my love affair with Australia.

Tucked away on the beautiful west coast, the city sits majestically overlooking the stunning Indian ocean. Perth is, in my humble opinion, Australia’s best kept secret. I’d even go so far as to say that it’s the jewel in Australia’s crown. It’s the most isolated city in Australia – the nearest city, Adelaide, is just short of 2,200 km away. So geographically speaking Perth is pretty isolated indeed. Although it is a misconception that it’s the most isolated city in the world. Perth may “seem” like the most remote city in the world, but in terms of cities with populations in excess of 1 million, Auckland takes that title. Perth is second.

Like most Australian cities it’s also pretty expensive. Pricey Perth is actually the most expensive state capital after Sydney. But the best things in life aren’t always free. Don’t let its reputation for being one of the world’s most expensive cities put you off. In many ways Perth more than makes up for its expensive price tag.

Time for a few more facts about Perth and Western Australia:

Perth is the sunniest capital city in the world and has on average 8 hours of sunshine per day 365 days per year, of which around 118 are clear days. That’s almost 3,000 hours of sunshine!
It has the largest inner city park in the world. Yes at 4.06 square kilometres Kings Park is bigger than Central Park in New York.
Western Australia is the largest of all the Australian States. With an area of more than 2 500 000 sq km, it has a huge 12, 500 km coastline.
The weather is superb. On average maximum temperatures range from 17ºC in July to 30ºC in February. Minimum temperatures rarely fall below 5ºC on average during the winter.
Western Australia is famous for its mineral and energy resources including diamonds, iron ore and mineral sands.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics there are approximately 1.74 million people living in the Perth metropolitan area. The city has a lot of British-born residents too; 142,424 in fact, as of the 2006 Census.
WA is divided into five regions: the Kimberley, the North West, the South West, the Interior and the Wheat Belt.
In 2011 The Economist listed Perth as the joint eighth most livable city in the world.
Some pretty famous people were born in Perth, including model Megan Gale, INXS drummer Jon Farris and actor Heath Ledger.
West Australians are known colloquially as sandgropers. Yes, really!

So, what’s to love about Perth you may still wonder. I guess to summarise, Perth is kind of unique. Call it a vibe. Call it an atmosphere. There’s something rare, something truly special about Perth. A cosmopolitan city with an abundance of restaurants, bars and cultural activities, Perth might not be the bustling city that Sydney (or even Melbourne) is. But in truth that’s part of its charm. It also has some of the most beautiful beaches and crystal clear blue waters you’re ever likely to feast your eyes upon. And a near perfect all year round climate that compliments its laid back lifestyle perfectly.

Yes as Australian cities go Perth is a rare blend indeed. Not perfection personified by any means. But it comes pretty close.

Discover Perth and Western Australia

Experience and explore Perth and WA

Design For Life

10 things NOT to say to a graphic designer

Chung Wah Magazine: A Street Celebration With Style

8 fun facts about Chinese New Year