The capital of the largest yet most desolate state in Australia, Perth is like an oasis in Australia\'s outback. Once considered a dull location, a resources boom in the 1960\'s has seen Perth blossom into a sophisticated, cosmopolitan city with myriad bars, restaurants and cultural activities. Only here you will find one of Australia\'s most unusual birds, the black swan, paddling gracefully on the Swan River. Vineyards and pastures sit between stands of hardwood forest, with a subtle climate, and the surf is world-class.