This is a guest post by Tracey Beveridge, who works in Tourism Western Australia’s Digital Marketing unit and lovingly cares for the westernaustralia.com and westernaustralia.tv websites.

The Real Treats of Perth

Perth, the most isolated city in the world, is renowned for its relaxed, outdoors lifestyle. And perhaps it is the isolation that has allowed the State to forge its own unique and interesting style of music, food and culture.

The bustling Perth CBD will play host to the feast of One Movement for Music Festival forums and gigs, hence this blog is all about helping festival goers taste and savour the real treats of Perth. Let’s go!

Bars and Small Eats

Perth’s small bar scene is gleefully gaining momentum. A short walk off St Georges Terrace, Perth’s main city drag, is Andaluz Bar & Tapas. Here you’ll find a discerning selection of bevies and incredibly tasty tapas to fill the fuel tank.

Once you’re fuelled up and ready to kick on, you can hop next door to Helvetica. This is a trendy bar where whiskey is the shelf favourite. You can even stake your claim on a bottle and drink from it each time you drop by.

If you’d rather picture yourself on a tropical island with a cocktail or two, then Hula Bula Bar is your call card. Think palm leaves, bamboo, totems, island music and a dazzling cocktail list to boot. Also lending itself to an exotic theme is a bar by the name of Tiger Lil’s. It’s a striking Asian blend of food and drink, with a dance floor that heats up after sunset.

Conveniently located right in the midst of the Wolf Lane Fringe Festival action is Alda’s, a classy place that invites you to chill out with a quality drop and scrumptious northern Italian food.

Or if you like the sound of soaking up some rays by the beautiful Swan River, then wander over to The Lucky Shag Waterfront Bar [pictured right]. It’s the perfect spot for casual drinks and nibbles and is just across the road from the main event action.

Cafes and Restaurants

If you’re chasing something to sate a generous appetite, you can find a range of casual eateries in Shafto Lane. Choose from delicious Burger Bistro, popular Japanese haunt, Taka or Irish pub Durty Nelly’s, to name just a few.

Located near to Shafto Lane is Tiger Tiger, a coffee bar tucked away in a pretty laneway. Here you can munch on simple, wholesome food from their all-day breakfast menu whilst tuning in to free wireless.

For something a little classier, check out Halo Restaurant, located right on the water at Barrack Square (near the Lucky Shag Waterfront Bar), offering divine river views and cuisine to match.

Vegetarians will love nearby Annalakshmi – a popular Indian restaurant run by volunteers and uniquely, you pay only what you think the meal is worth.

And for fine dining with a fine view, it has to be C Restaurant. You can indulge in premium food and gaze out at a revolving, bird’s eye view of Perth and beyond.

Sights and Shopping

If you fancy taking in some city sights in-between gigs, then consider these easy-to-reach suggestions.

King’s Park [pictured left] is a must-see. Not only is it the biggest inner-city park in the Southern Hemisphere, it has a million dollar outlook over the city and Swan River. You can learn more about the park and its important heritage by taking the amazing Indigenous Heritage Tour. For a sneak peek of the tour, check out this short video:

Getting there: Bus 37 from the bus stop just after William Street on St Georges Terrace will take you there. Otherwise there is an alternate stop not far from the Hilton Hotel. Simply cross the road (on Mill Street) and turn left on to St Georges Terrace. The bus stand is a 50m walk ahead.

Nothing beats a good walking tour to become acquainted with a city and its history. The friendly crew at Two Feet & a Heart Beat know the city like the back of their hand and offer a range of cool tours to choose from.

Or you can explore the city at your own pace by using the free CAT buses. And here’s a tip, you can jump on any of the green Transperth buses and ride up and down St Georges Terrace for free.

The Swan River is simply gorgeous on a warm, spring day and one of the best ways to enjoy it is by taking a leisurely River Cruise. Or you can get your toes wet with a “Fun Cat” catamaran.

If shopping is more your style, then you’re in luck, as Perth is fast becoming a chic oasis of boutiques and designer labels. Trendy King Street, the corner pocket of William Street and the new Enex100 on St Georges Terrace is where you’ll find international fashion houses and designer jewellery labels.

For something a little more mainstream, you can find department and chain stores in the Hay and Murray Street malls, and for the real bargain, make sure you check out Harbour Town.

Getting to Harbour Town: Catch a Transperth bus or a cab.

And lastly for the treasure hunters – pearls, diamonds, gold, Western Australia has it all! By taking the new Bling Trail, you’ll intimately explore the array of quality jewellery stores in this precious city.

Tourism Western Australia is the official State tourism body and Eventscorp, a partner of One Movement For Music, is a division of Tourism Western Australia. To find out more about WA visit our website or follow us on Twitter.