Western Australia

Western Australia is Australia's largest state and covers almost 1/3 of the continent. The capital city is Perth, and curiosly it is closer to Jakarta than it is to Sydney. Perth's offers a classic Mediterranean climate. Summers are hot and dry, lasting from late December to late March, with February generally being the hottest month of the year.

Western Australia is home to around 540 species of birds. Most found in the south-western corner of the state and the area around Broome and the Kimberley. It also has some of the largest numbers of plant species for its area in the world.

Perth is situated on Australia's western coast, close to the southwestern tip of the country. The city centre is fairly compact, situated on a sweep of the Swan River. The river, which borders the city centre to the south and east, links Perth to its port, Fremantle. Perth is a vibrant and modern city sitting between the cerulean Indian Ocean and the ancient Darling Ranges.

The Perth Concert Hall is the city's main concert venue and hosts theatre, ballet, opera and orchestral performances. Other theatres include an auditorium at the Perth Convention Exhibition Centre, the historic His Majesty's Theatre and Burswood Dome, which hosts rock and popular music concerts. The West Australian Art Gallery houses the states premier art collection and hosts numerous exhibitions.