Lets Sell Perth and WA

[ali]

Perth is one of those places that people have strong opinions about ..... a lot of the time the negatives are from people who have never set foot in our wonderful state (which is leading other states economically apparently). I realise what one person sees as a postive others can see as a negative - but I thought for people considering Perth/WA those that have been could talk about the things we like. You can add some of the things we don't do quite so well too in the interest of balance.

So I'll start ..... The things I like about Perth

Our coast line is wonderful - not a beach bum and they're not terribly important to me but when I go i'm always struck by how beautiful they are.

Population - we have the smallest population and for me that's a plus, I don't feel crowded, the roads aren't packed all the time and being in the city is really nice because you're not pushing past people all the time.

Isolation - always makes me laugh when people make it sound like we're cut off from the rest of the world - personally, I don't feel isolated in the least here, yes I need a car to get about, but I needed one in the UK too.

Restricted shopping hours - when I first arrived I didn't like this, but realised that in hindsight in the UK I probably spent most of my evenings in the UK popping out to the supermarket and being gone a couple of hours and coming back with anything but what I went for. My hubby on the other hand loved it ... evenings became times to do things and spend as a family. We now have extended shopping hours during the week, which means I can call in on the way home from work.

Weather - got to mention it because it is great to be able to plan things. We do get rain ... and when it rains it rains but generally we have pretty good weather for about 9 months of the year

Things I've got used to ...

Food - I've probably tried more things than I ever did in the UK, we've found alternative brands for things we liked and even added some new ones.

Wait Awhile .. WA is called wait awhile and whilst frustrating initially, i've actually got used to it now.

Things I've not got used to...

People shopping in bare feet and PJ's ... still can't get my head around that one

[scoon101]

Getting lost In Perth city centre, Driving round London with my wife navigating would usually end in... let's say "a quiet drive home" He had our first " No my left! yeah that's the junction we needed" a few days ago and what a lovely surprise, the layout makes getting lost a near impossibility. Miss your turn! no worries just go to the next one and turn back! Genius and we're still talking lol

[jackboots]

What a wonderful place we have for bringing up children ... its all about families here and they can be children for longer it seems .. yes it gets hot and wet as mentioned but on the whole as a family you get to do more .. parks and picnics , beaches , swimming, indoor outdoors , plazones, Zoo's its all here as it is there ..just better weather for planning !

Food i have no problems with iv'e even learn't to cook better and from scratch :)


The drivers are batty . But .... the driving is so much easier for sure , you think nothing of going a forty min drive or an hour to go visit someone or a place or even work for some ..
Its very laid back i feel and can take a while to step of the wheel and slow down .. but when you do :)

[Give me a break!]

Lets not sell it, lets keep it our little secret :wink: Perth well, you can get the large city feel when in the CBD, but if you want a real bush or sea side view its all within a short drive. Obviously the weather, glorious sunshine practically all the time but with the added bonus of the Freo Doctor that blows in most afternoons. I love he train system to be able to take the whole family our for 9 dollars on the weekends and school holidays for $9 and be able to use trains bus and ferry all in that ticket, when they have things going on like the Queens visit free public transport. The West Coast Eagles call it home as do the Fremantle Dockers, oh is keen to see Perth Glory soon. The beaches well, they have got to be some of the best in the world. Mandurah and Joondalop have recently been voted the best cities to live. The CBD with its mix of pubs and restaurants and the Murray Street shops I just love it. The Lucky Shag pub, just go their on a sunny Sunday afternoon sit out on the decking and look at that view, seriously I defy anyone not to be in aw as with the view form Kings Park and from the Mount Henry Bridge as you go north to the City. People say its small, well weve been here 16 months and have so much yet to see. The Western Australia people are so friendly and accommodating with a lovely attitude. The food, omg the shell fish and the wines , Margaret Rive Wines, the nectar of Gods. The relaxed attitude the relaxed dress code, Ive only been over to Brisbane for a very short visit to see my daughters and we took in a tiny bit of the Sunshine Coast, so I cant really compare it to the rest of Australia as I havent experienced it. Our visa dictated that we had to live in WA for two years. Thats up in 8 months and we could theorectically up sticks and move, but no way will we, its gorgeous here. We feel so blessed to have found our paradise first go with no prior visit. We are building our own little haven at the moment the roof has just gone on, and we will soon be living in our own it of paradise, cant wait, still feeling very fortunate that we took that step and contacted a migration agent what must be about 4/5 years ago :cool:

[tomabbie]

Sounds so amazing, just can't wait to get there now. Looking forward to a sunny Christmas next year!

[nadia and scott]

thanks guys for the posts, it all sounds amazing just what we are looking for!! hopefully booking our flights on monday (waiting for house sale money to come through!) and will be there in the new year!! CANT WAIT !!!

[ali]

It really is a great place and perhaps we should keep it a secret lol, I have to say that almost 5 years here and I get the train into the city and never fail to have a small smile creep on my face as I travel past the river and Kings Park towards the CBD sky line.

I recently visited Exmouth - and fell in love all over again, watching turtles come to shore to lay eggs was like having our own private documentary .... so peaceful, the sea truly met the sky and I did think I'd got to heaven

[Lucy G]

Totally brilliant post - thank you Ali and everyone else who's participated! We've never been before and so many people are saying to us right now that we must be crazy - how can we move somewhere so far without knowing wot it's like. We researched all the different states in Oz and Perth just seemed perfect for us - it had everything we had imagined and were looking for. Reading the above and just confirmed what we already know and makes me want to get there even quicker now! Must get hubby to read this thread as it's just what we need to keep in our heads when we get the negatives!

The other thing we keep getting told is how expensive it is to live & our answer is we know that but with everything weighed up we wil be similar if not slightly better of than in the UK and what a place to be able to call home! I'd certainly rather just be able to "survive" and spend my weekend at a beautiful beach for free than just "survive" in the dreary, overcrowded, gloomy UK!

[ali]

Lucy ... there are so many lovely places in addition to the beaches, Point Walter http://www.melvillecity.com.au/facilities/parks/point-walter-reserve Heathcote reserve http://www.melvillecity.com.au/facilities/parks/point-walter-reserve and wireless hill http://www.melvillecity.com.au/environment/environmental-management-plans/mdocument.2008-09-15.6312517911 are all near me and great for an afternoon out.

Whiteman park is great and serpentine falls are also lovely .... I'm sure people can add others. I remember going to Kings Park not long after we arrived and there were families (extended), couples, small families, groups of friends who'd all met up having a picnic and it really took me by surpise .... we love it and i'm sure you will too.

[ali]

Getting lost In Perth city centre, Driving round London with my wife navigating would usually end in... let's say "a quiet drive home" He had our first " No my left! yeah that's the junction we needed" a few days ago and what a lovely surprise, the layout makes getting lost a near impossibility. Miss your turn! no worries just go to the next one and turn back! Genius and we're still talking lol

This really made me laugh .... I'm sure most of us can relate to the quiet drive home, I'm not the best map reader (so don't know why my hubby always wanted me to do it) "Where are we now Ali" ..... Shoot was I supposed to be looking .... I've been staring out of the window for the past half hour!! "errr ... we're near this river" Hubby - "I think you'll probably find that the river is a motorway" "Ooops" ... Thank God for Tom Toms is what I say

[jackboots]

Ha ha ... after a few months of living here my oh came home and said " i'm saving us some arguments " what i said ? he then showed us the new satnav he had bought ... Moi, im sooo bad at map reading , arguments galore def not funny when your lost and hot and arguing :mad:.. love it !:wubclub:

[Give me a break!]

Ah see, you were never lost but merely sight seeing :wink:

[portlaunay]

Ssshhhhh. Don't tell anyone, the last thing we want is more people here. :biggrin:

Laundry dries in seconds.
No MOT
Scented toilet paper.
Exploring SE Asia is like popping to Italy for the weekend.
Cleanskins. It's like an alcoholic lucky dip
Growing Lemons, Figs, Kumquats, Limes etc
Patriotism. It's so refreshing for people to be justly proud of their country and proud to buy Australian
Drive through coffee. How cool is that?
5672* different varieties of iced coffee
Clean streets
People who thank the bus driver
Double demerits on a bank holiday. "I mean, you are having a laugh right?". "No, sir, that'll be 6 points"
Aircooled 'dubs are everywhere
Harmless looking creatures that can kill you from a thousand yard stare
There's no Tesco (ignoring Tjeerd Jegen)
Egalitarianism



*estimated

[Sarab]

Totally brilliant post - thank you Ali and everyone else who's participated! We've never been before and so many people are saying to us right now that we must be crazy - how can we move somewhere so far without knowing wot it's like. We researched all the different states in Oz and Perth just seemed perfect for us - it had everything we had imagined and were looking for. Reading the above and just confirmed what we already know and makes me want to get there even quicker now! Must get hubby to read this thread as it's just what we need to keep in our heads when we get the negatives!

The other thing we keep getting told is how expensive it is to live & our answer is we know that but with everything weighed up we wil be similar if not slightly better of than in the UK and what a place to be able to call home! I'd certainly rather just be able to "survive" and spend my weekend at a beautiful beach for free than just "survive" in the dreary, overcrowded, gloomy UK!

Hi Lucy - we are the same position as you coming out early next year & never visited before - most people think we are mad too!!
I just know it is going to work for us.

[scoon101]

lol :) Dick Smith Tom Tom 1/2 price! sorted :))

[ali]

Ssshhhhh. Don't tell anyone, the last thing we want is more people here. :biggrin:

Laundry dries in seconds.
No MOT
Scented toilet paper.
Exploring SE Asia is like popping to Italy for the weekend.
Cleanskins. It's like an alcoholic lucky dip
Growing Lemons, Figs, Kumquats, Limes etc
Patriotism. It's so refreshing for people to be justly proud of their country and proud to buy Australian
Drive through coffee. How cool is that?
5672* different varieties of iced coffee
Clean streets
People who thank the bus driver
Double demerits on a bank holiday. "I mean, you are having a laugh right?". "No, sir, that'll be 6 points"
Aircooled 'dubs are everywhere
Harmless looking creatures that can kill you from a thousand yard stare
There's no Tesco (ignoring Tjeerd Jegen)
Egalitarianism



*estimated

Do you buy the lavender loo roll too? Clear skins $6 and $10 for Margaret river wine, Patriotism ... Flags flying in peoples gardens and no one has told them to take it down, neighbours knocking on your door with a bag of fruit 'cos their tree has too many and "would you like some" ... thanks for heaps more reasons why I love WA

[Hassan]

Thanks you all for such an enlightening post regarding Perth WA !! I feel myself really lucky to be sponsored by WA......

Regards

[yorkshirepudding]

Brilliant posts :)
I can't wait to join you guys, I have visited WA before and can't wait to come back :D

[jackboots]

There is something quite special about picking your own fruit off your own tree .. my lemons and figs are growing again ....
The Parrots in my garden brighten my mood everyday ...

[portlaunay]

Do you buy the lavender loo roll too?

Complete fluke, it was probably just on offer but it is a great idea.

[Lucy G]

Very true Ali, perhaps I should've phrased that better - I didnt mean to sound like it was all about the beaches and thanks for all the tips on beautiful places to visit - our list just keeps getting bigger - wonderful! x