Perth, the capital of Western Australia, stands out as one of the globe’s most secluded cities. Surrounded by empty desert on one side and an endless ocean on the other, Perth is known for its lively spirit and dynamic appeal and offers an enviable lifestyle that’s hard to match.
The city is a hotspot for British expats, often topping their list when considering a move to Australia due to it’s balmy climate with hot summers and milder winters. Perth has an average of 3,200 hours of sunshine each year, making it one of the sunniest capital cities in the world. Despite its vibrant community, Perth’s title as the world’s most isolated city astonishes many.
The nearest major Australian city, Adelaide, lies a staggering 2,136 km away. That’s roughly the distance from London to Casablanca, Morocco. The capital of Western Australia is a four-hour flight to Sydney, and is actually closer to Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia geographically.
With its perfect fusion of urban buzz and scenic splendour, Perth boasts the magnificent Swan River, enhancing its picturesque landscape. Its immaculate beaches and perennial sunshine create an idyllic setting for both living and vacationing.
Home to over two million residents, Perth thrives as a cultural hub, rich in heritage and bustling with cosmopolitan life. Perth has virtually everything: this modern city is situated in a thriving country and has plenty to keep residents and visitors entertained.
From shopping malls to nightclubs and an efficient public transport system – Perth is a flourishing metropolis and world major city. Kings Park, one of the world’s largest inner-city parks and a favourite among locals and tourists alike, is a standout attraction in Perth. Spanning over 400 hectares, it offers breathtaking views of the city skyline.
Perth also boasts an array of stunning beaches, with Cottesloe Beach being a firm favourite. Just a short 20-minute drive from the city centre, this beach is renowned for its idyllic scenery and vibrant summer atmosphere – a must-visit for any tourist.
For those looking to experience Perth’s rich wildlife, whale watching is a popular activity. The best time to spot these majestic creatures is between April and December when approximately 35,000 humpback whales migrate from Antarctica to the warmer waters of the Kimberley, passing close to Perth’s coast.
Perth’s status as the most remote major city is something that’s usually up for debate. Iquitos in Peru is often considered a contender for the title, considering no roads lead in or out of it. Iquitos is only accessible via river or air however the city of Pucallpa is barely 500km away.
Hawaii’s Honolulu is also a strong challenger for the title, with the nearest major city, San Francisco, USA, being at a mind-bending distance of 3,858km from the remote city. However, lively areas on the island of Oahu, like Waikiki Beach are close by.
New Zealanders often try to stake their claim on the crown by throwing Auckland into the mix, which is at a 2,168km distance from Sydney.
Many also argue that Perth is quite close to its nearest city, Fremantle, just 40 minutes away by car. However, most view Fremantle as a suburb of Perth rather than a distinct city.
A resident of Perth spoke about their experience living in the city on a subreddit and shared: “In terms of driving, it definitely feels far, but planes can get you to places like Singapore, Jakarta, and the eastern coast of Australia in 5 hours. Personally I’ve never really felt isolation, considering it’s a pretty big city of 2 million spread across a 100km coastline, and it’s got everything I need for a liveable city.”
Another Redditor shared their experience and commented: “I am American but lived here for a year. I was raised in a big-small city of about 250,000, but also was just a few hours drive from million+ population cities. Perth to me never felt isolating, perhaps because of the context where I was raised. However, the Perthians I knew did feel that it felt isolating. They would often complain that the “big acts” never came to that side of the country (in reality some did though). I may be wrong on this, but it seemed like a flight to Bali was closer than a flight to Sydney.”
The reality lies along these lines. Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour gave Perth a miss and did not touch down in the city, and Swifties were in for heartbreak as well, with Perth being left out of the Era’s Tour, despite hitting more than 50 cities worldwide.
