A guide to Perth, Western Australia's revitalised coastal capital

Headed Down Under? Delta has announced a new bonus-mile promotion for Australia flights. But it’s not the only option.

Looking to escape the wintry weather blighting much of the U.S.? Maybe it’s time to change hemispheres.

Located in the southern part of Queensland, Australia, the city of Toowoomba is a perfect spot for a getaway. Here are the top attractions and things to do in Toowoomba. Picnic Point Provid

The Great Ocean Road is one of Australia’s most iconic tourist routes, stretching along the south-eastern coast of Victoria from Torquay to Allansford. Stretching for 151 miles, it offers spectacular ocean views and some breathtaking scenery. Along the way, visitors can explore a range of attractions including beaches, surfing spots, wildlife viewing areas, and stunning rainforest walks. There are also numerous great restaurants and cafes, galleries and museums to discover in the small towns along the route.

Australia enacted some of the most strict lockdown restrictions in 2020, which kept any and all tourists out. Then, in February, the country once again opened back up to Americans — just in time for the more comfortable Australian winter temperatures.

Located on the banks of the Swan River, Perth is the capital city of what is, geographically, Australia’s largest state: Western Australia. With a population of about two million, Perth enjoys a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild, wet winters. It’s culturally diverse any time of year, with a mix of both modern and indigenous art alongside galleries and museums to rival Sydney and Melbourne, and its west coast remoteness means the city is far less touristy than the cities on Australia’s eastern seaboard. Perth saw 5.7 million arrivals between July 2018 and June 2019 compared to the 16.1 million visits to Sydney in the same period. If you do make the trip here, these are the cultural attractions to see.

Western Australia is the largest state in Australia, a vast area of over 976,000 square miles facing the Indian Ocean to the west and north and the Southern Ocean along its southern border. The state’s population is about 2.6 million, with 92 percent living in the southwestern corner where the capital of Perth sits. North of Perth, the state is sparsely populated, isolated, and perfect for those with an adventurous spirit who are looking for an epic road trip. Here, you can swim with whale sharks and visit Australia’s Coral Coast. Here’s how to make it happen, beginning in Perth.

Like the Sydney of Australia’s west coast, Perth is a vibrant city that’s known for its pristine beaches, thriving food and art scenes, and laid-back atmosphere. It’s home to one of the largest inner city parks in the world, Kings Park, and surrounded by beautiful and historic areas including Fremantle, Cottesloe, and Rottnest Island where you can spot quokkas. Whether you’re looking to soak up the rays during the day or indulge in the city’s nightlife, Perth is worth a visit — and these Airbnbs in Perth are the perfect home base.

Only five minutes after checking into my villa at Smiths Beach Resort, my cellphone pings with a text.

Air New Zealand is putting flights on sale from the United States to cities across Australia — helping to make the dream of a trip to Oz a reality.

As the sun sinks lazily into the horizon and day turns to night on Phillip Island, a hush of anticipation settles across the group gathered at Summerland Beach. Our eyes strain in the gloaming, scanning the swaying wheatgrass of the foreshore and the darkening waves beyond, gently spilling their foam onto the sands. Typically, dusk heralds the end of a day but, here, at the water’s edge, it’s time for the main event: a nightly wildlife spectacle known as the Penguin Parade. Any moment now, our guests of honour will arrive.

Colourful Australian slang, or strine, has its origins in the archaic cockney and Irish of the colony’s early convicts as well as the adoption of words from the many Aboriginal languages. And for such a vast country, the accent barely varies to the untutored ear; from Tasmania (“Tassie”) to the northwest you’ll find little variation in the national drawl, with a curious, interrogative ending to sentences fairly common – although Queenslanders are noted for their slow delivery.