Sandwiched between rusty desert and the cobalt Indian Ocean, Perth, in Western Australia, sprawls along 100km of coastline. With its economy linked to natural resources, the city has weathered the booms and busts, but this is not just a frontier mining town. Despite being one of the most remote conurbations in the world, Perth has matured into a vibrant destination, with sunny beaches, diverse suburbs and a sophisticated food and wine scene.
“The suburbs are where Perth is,” says Max Veenhuyzen, a freelance food journalist who has closely tracked Perth’s food and drinks scene for more than two decades. By day, Veenhuyzen pens stories on the latest in dining, and by night, he’s known to spin records in some of Perth’s happiest venues.
What to do
“Spending time in the suburbs gives you a sense of the place,” says Veenhuyzen, and the first on his list is Fremantle (or Freo), Perth’s working port.
