Where Is It

Western Australia is your host state for CHOGM 2011.

• Welcome from the Premier of Western Australia
• Map of Perth
• Fast Facts
• Weather and Climate
• Experience Western Australia
• Further Information

Welcome from the Premier of Western Australia

Premier of Western Australia

I look forward to welcoming you to the Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting in Perth, Australia in 2011.

Perth is a modern and sophisticated city which has an open and clean environment. It is the Australian gateway to the Indian Ocean region and has all the facilities necessary for a successful CHOGM 2011.

While you are here, we hope you have the opportunity to explore Western Australia. The state has a robust economy with strong mining and agricultural industries. Western Australia is also home to unique native plants and animals and extraordinary tourism destinations.

I look forward to seeing you at CHOGM 2011. I trust this will be a wonderful opportunity to discuss a range of important issues for the nations and the people of the Commonwealth.

The Hon Colin Barnett MLA
Premier of Western Australia

Map of Perth

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Fast facts

Western Australia is one of the oldest lands on Earth boasting an Aboriginal history that dates back more than 40,000 years.

Western Australia is also one of the largest jurisdictions in the world occupying around one-third of Australia’s total landmass or 2.5 million square kilometres.Western Australia’s landscape is inspiring in its beauty and grandeur and includes pristine beaches, rugged gorges, unique rock formations and secluded waterfalls.

The State is divided into five distinct regions, each offering a diverse range of extraordinary experiences. The regions are Experience Perth, Australia ’s Coral Coast, Australia’s South West, Australia’s Golden Outback and Australia’s North West.

Experience Western Australia

Western Australia (WA) offers a host of extraordinary landscapes, people, cultures, events and experiences that are exclusively available in WA.

Just a few of the State’s natural wonders include the Bungle Bungle Range in the World Heritage listed Purnululu National Park, Ningaloo Reef - the largest fringing reef in the world, Lucky Bay Australia’s whitest beach, the largest collection of wildflowers on earth and our capital city, Perth is the sunniest in Australia.

Our enriching, life enhancing experiences promise to reward visitors to this remarkable State.

The facts say it all. Western Australia truly is extraordinary.

The capital city of Perth and CHOGM2011 host city, offers an easy-going, natural lifestyle surrounded by the beautiful Swan River, Kings Park and the Indian Ocean.

Perth is the sunniest city in Australia with 19 pristine metropolitan beaches and a thriving, progressive art and cultural scene. For those wanting to indulge in some fine local food and wine, Perth’s bars and restaurants are sure to impress. And for some retail therapy, Perth offers cutting edge boutiques and shopping centres. Fashion lovers should head to the King Street precinct in Perth's historic West End.

Rated one of the top ten most liveable cities in the world, in recent years, Perth has experienced incredible growth and development.

Top 10 unique things to do in Perth:

1. Visit one of the 19 beautiful metropolitan beaches.
2. Visit Kings Park, the southern hemisphere’s largest inner city park.
3. Take a ferry to Rottnest Island.
4. Spend a day exploring the colour and diversity of the port city of Fremantle.
5. Spend the day sampling the amazing produce and wine at WA’s oldest wine growing region, the Swan Valley, just half an hour’s drive from Perth.
6. Indulge in a cultural feast – visit the Art Gallery of Western Australia, the Western Australian Museum and check out the many live music/theatre options available.
7. Explore the funky inner city precincts of Mount Lawley, Subiaco, Leederville and Claremont for fantastic restaurants, bars and shopping.
8. Visit one of Perth’s Indigenous art galleries to see some unique artwork, and do the Indigenous Walking Tour of Kings Park to learn about Australia’s fascinating history.
9. For a different perspective, take a scenic helicopter flight over Perth city and the stunning coast.
10. Swim with dolphins at Rockingham, just 45 minutes drive from Perth.

Moving south from the vibrant city of Perth, Australia’s South West offers world class food and wine, beautiful beaches, spectacular caves, luxury accommodation and forests of tall trees.

Australia’s Golden Outback is where you’ll find historic townships, scenes of spectacular desert wilderness, outback characters, gold rush history and the beaches of the Southern Ocean.

Australia’s Coral Coast, located north of Perth, is home to awesome marine life, endless white sand beaches and the warm, turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean.

The Kimberley in Australia’s North West offers adventure and one of the world’s last true wilderness areas.

Weather and Climate

Perth is blessed with beautiful weather and a lifestyle second to none. With more hours of sunshine than any other Australian capital city, Perth enjoys a true Mediterranean climate with long hot summers (December - February) and mild cool winters (June - August).

Perth's summer temperature averages are 18 degrees Celsius (minimum) to 29 degrees Celsius (maximum) with February the hottest month. Winter averages are 8 degrees Celsius (minimum) to 18 degrees Celsius (maximum).

Perth’s summer rainfall average is 11mm and winter average is 164mm per month.

The average October temperature in Perth ranges from a minimum of 11 degrees Celsius to a maximum of 23 degrees Celsius. The average October rainfall is 53mm over an average of nine days.

Further information

Tourism Western Australia has assembled some dedicated tourism pages highlighting suggested itineraries and things to see and do in Perth and Western Australia. The pages feature maps of Perth and Fremantle, destination videos, day tour suggestions and a range of extended holiday itineraries. View the Western Australia Tourism web site for further information.