Life in Perth as a GP in Australia
Perth is one of the most popular cities in Australia for GPs to relocate to and it’s easy to see why! Find out more in our blog about life in Perth and more about our GP jobs in Perth and surrounds.
- Perth is the thriving capital of Western Australia and the state’s largest city.
- It is a laid back, very liveable city with wonderful weather and a relaxed feel.
- With a population of almost 2 million it is the 4th largest city in Australia.
- Perth is the 12th most liveable city in the world (Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index 2023)
The city runs alongside the Indian Ocean on the west coast and the distance from north to south is about 100km. The many suburbs based along the beautiful coastline have easy access to stunning beaches. The Swan River providing lots of water activities runs through the city and has Darling Ranges for stunning scenery, walking and bike trails, to the west. The city centre of Perth is only a short 12km drive to the ocean.
Perth is an easy city to get around. The International airport is 30 minutes to the city by car. It is well serviced by public transport with great train and bus links around the Perth including the free city CAT bus. There is also a ferry terminal only 10 minutes’ walk from the city centre which crosses the Swan River with other ferry services providing trips out to the popular Rottnest Island.
Perth Time Zone
Australia is a big country with 3 separate time zones. As Perth is the furthest west of all the cities, it is the closest to the UK, only 8 hours ahead of the UK and only 7 hours during British Summer time. Unlike some of the other states, Western Australia doesn’t practice Daylight Saving Time.
If you’re looking to have a shorter journey home or have family living in Asia and want to be closer, this is the perfect location.
Perth Climate
Perth is the sunniest capital city in Australia with an average of 8 hours sunshine daily. It has a mixture of Californian and Mediterranean climates with mild winters and hot dry summers. The summer months run from December to February and the temperature averages around 29 degrees during the day and 17 overnight. The temperature can reach much higher temperatures however the hot days are cooled by the ‘Freemantle doctor’ which is a strong sea breeze that blows in for the ocean which provides relief and is excellent for windsurfing and sailing on the Swan river.
The winter months in Perth are from June to August. These are mild with an average temperature of 18 degrees during the day and around 9 overnight. The wettest month is July which sees quite a bit of rainfall which comes down quite quickly and in many instances passes to be followed by sunny periods. It rarely gets cold enough for snow to fall or frost to form.
Combine the warm weather and beautiful beaches it is easy to see why so many people enjoy the outdoor lifestyle of Western Australia. All year round the residents of Perth enjoy the beautiful sandy beaches along the coast line, and on hot days, cooling down in the clean blue Indian Ocean.
Perth Beaches
Situated on the Indian Ocean, Perth has some of Australia’s finest beaches, most of which are easily accessible by car or bus. Enjoy surfing, swimming, scuba diving and fishing within a 20 minute drive of the Central Business District (CBD). For swimming, some great options are Cottesloe, Swanbourne, City Beach, Floreat Beach and Scarborough Beach. For those who want to try surfing, beaches such as Trigg, to the north of Scarborough, are ideal.
Kings Park and Botanic Gardens
Kings Park is a must see and has an amazing view of Perth City and the Swan River. With 400 hectares of tranquil parkland, bushland and botanic gardens interlaced with trails and pathways Kings Park gives you the chance to experience Australian flora and fauna without leaving the city. Great for kids to connect with nature with a playground and café on site.
Fremantle
Visit fabulous Fremantle, located on the coast just 30 minutes south of Perth CBD. You can enjoy a coffee on the famous ‘Cappuccino strip’, take a stroll through the Fremantle markets, go underground on the Fremantle Prison Tunnel Tour or enjoy fish and chips down on Fisherman’s Wharf. Weekends are a great time to visit Fremantle with many festivals and events hosted in this great city.
Perth Housing and Schools
www.realestate.com.au
www.domain.com.au
http://www.australianschoolsdirectory.com.au/
http://www.australia.gov.au/topics/education-and-training/school-education
http://www.privateschoolsdirectory.com.au/
Perth for Kids
With such a great climate, entertaining kids in Perth is made much easier – visits to the beach or the park can be a spur of the moment decision and with better weather means planned days out can be enjoyed rather than it being a wash out.
Hillarys Boat Harbour: A brilliant family destination only 30 minutes from the Perth CBD, Hillarys Boat Harbour is a great place to spend the day. Whether you are keen on swimming, boating, fishing, shopping or dining in cafes or restaurants, Hillarys has everything you need. For the little kids there is a lovely, cosy, beach with play equipment right on the sand. Bigger kids can enjoy waterslides, trampolines, minigolf and circus rides at The Great Escape. Parents can join right in or choose to relax at one of the cafes nearby.
Around Perth
Rottnest Island
Just 19 km off the coast of Perth, just under a 30 minute ferry ride from Perth city centre or Fremantle is the sunny holiday island of Rottnest. Blessed with some of the world’s finest beaches and pristine bays, Rottnest Island is Western Australia’s very own island getaway.
There are no cars on the island so a popular way to get around is by bike, it is a small island making it easy to explore with a number of great trails to follow. Not surprisingly, water activities play a major role in island life – from snorkelling and diving to fishing, surfing, boating, kayaking, sailing and swimming!
Margaret River
A 3 hour drive south of Perth is the Margaret river region. This is an area renowned for its wine production and first class restaurants. You’ll be spoilt for choice with over 100 wineries plus many fine restaurants, boutique breweries, art galleries and fresh produce, from divine cheeses to chocolate.
Margaret River is also a top surfing destination holding yearly surfing competitions, and the town has evolved from a relaxed surfing town to a popular base to enjoy the areas flavours and spectacular scenery.The Swan Valley The Swan Valley is a 30 minute drive from central Perth. In the region you will find wildlife and historical parks, bushland, arts and crafts and several wineries. The Swan Valley is also breathtakingly beautiful in wild flower season.
More information on our Perth vacancies
Further Reading
Read our blog on Australian School Fees
