Perth: Where City and Sea Collide | City AM

Advertorial written on behalf of Qatar Airways, published in City AM, November 2018

In Perth, Australia’s sunniest city, the sun shines for a dazzling 3,000 hours every year, and fortunately, there are just as many ways to soak up those spectacular cloudless skies. This unique destination - home to 19 city beaches, a city centre park larger than New York’s, and the iconic Swan River, where wild dolphins swim among boaties and bathers – is designed for alfresco living; a must-visit for those unashamedly in love with the great outdoors. 

It’s this abundance of nature alongside a thriving music and arts scene and a series of billion-dollar developments that’s recently seen the city’s international reputation soar. The impressive Elizabeth Quay, for instance, is just one example of natural and urban landscapes living in contented symbiosis. A network of boardwalks, cafés, bars and sculptures – art and architecture seamlessly weave between the city and the sparkling Swan River here. No wonder the brand new Ritz Carlton will set up home here in mid-2019.

Thanks to Qatar Airways, these vivid sights, sounds and tastes that lie on the other side of the globe are now more easily accessible than ever. The multi-award-winning airline has taken on the mantle of delivering passengers to the doorstep of Perth’s many and varied charms, offering multiple flights from London, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Cardiff. Climb aboard the airline’s utterly luxurious A380 aircraft and the 20-hour flight via Doha turns into a whirl of laid-back indulgence, setting you up perfectly for the trip that lies ahead.

Aside from the adrenalin-boosting anticipation of what awaits upon landing, the key to every enjoyable flight experience lies in the service received. At Qatar Airways, staff crew embody the ethos that the real journey begins the moment you step onboard, so every need and desire is taken care of with seamless attention to detail. The double decker A380 itself has also been designed to ensure ultimate comfort in all classes with plush, spacious seating and 4000 options of in-house entertainment, as well as sleek, modern décor and low noise levels to ensure a dream-filled sleeps settles quickly. It’s eco-friendly too, with low fuel consumption leaving your conscience as clear as the crisp, blue atmosphere.

And it’s when you touchdown on Australian soil that the adventure really begins to unfold, because not only is Perth the gateway to the west coast’s spectacular, pristine beaches, it’s also a hub of urban diversity that sizzles with vibrancy; a place that’s profited from its so-called remoteness by forging an identity unique to anywhere else in the country. In fact, visit during festival season (between January and March each year) and you’ll encounter a rich tapestry of art exhibitions and concerts in full flow.

As a coastal city, Perth also offers an abundance of choice. Hop from wild and free surf spots to crystal clear, calm coves or watch a spectacular ocean sunset from a beachside restaurant, ice-cold glass of rosé in hand – there’s something for every kind of beach-goer here. Don't miss Fremantle - home to markets, buskers, stunning colonial architecture, and the numerous breweries responsible for kicking off Australia’s famous craft beer scene, or Rottnest Island, where a bounty of a cute-as-a-button quokkas wait to populate your Instagram feed.

Elsewhere, the city and surrounding area teems with life in all forms. Kings Park is an urban parkland brimming with indigenous trees, birds and animals that’s also bursting with Aboriginal heritage - a microcosm of Australian ancestry. Cottesloe is an easygoing, white-sand beach bordered by the Indian Ocean that’s ideal for whiling away sun-drenched afternoons, and Northbridge is a haven for the night owls who like to dine late and then dance into the small hours. Further afield, you can swim with dolphins, cycle through vineyards and explore billion-year old rocks in the Kimberley, one of the world's final wilderness frontiers.

Offering a unique combination of urban and natural appeal, Perth is a city striding purposefully into the future: you’re invited along for the ride.