Perth’s over 2 million residents have an amazing outdoor lifestyle—surf beaches, Swan River, and Kings Park (400 hectares of protected park and bushland). From its beautiful weather to its endless day trip options, Perth has plenty to offer its locals.
The mining boom brought a wealth of opportunity and investment to Perth. However, the boom has driven house prices up and raised the cost of living. Outlying suburbs on decent-sized blocks are still affordable.
Perth was also named the 7th best in the world to live in by the Economist Intelligence Unit in 2015 and has made that list almost every year since 2004.
The 2 million people cover an area of over 5,000 square kilometres, so there is no giant concrete metropolis. It has a more suburban feel than urban.
Population: 2,140,000 people
Climate: sun, sun and more sun
First Home Owners Grant: $10,000
Top draw cards: Mediterranean climate and a relaxed lifestyle in a very beautiful, clean, spacious feeling city
Public Transport: free bus service, train and cars
Thanks to the huge mining boom, Perth is home to more than 30 international oil and gas companies. This growing city is also one of only 19 cities to be a member of the illustrious World Energy Cities Partnership.
Innovative companies have been thriving, and industries ranging from 3D printing to sustainable energy production enjoy widespread success. There is considerable foreign investment, with agribusiness, manufacturing, and retail among the strongest industries.
The majority of employment opportunities are in mining, hospitality, scientific and technical services.
Perth is a unique and beautiful city on the western coast of Australia. It is Western Australia’s capital city with a population of over a million people. Perth is a city built on the coast, on a flat plain, with the Swan River bisecting the city. It has the Darling Scarp as a boundary on the east and the coastline of the Indian Ocean to the west. It ranks fourth among the largest cities in Australia and is a delight for beach lovers with its uncrowded coastline and beautiful sands offering amazing views of the sunset.
Perth City – a junction where culture and business blend.
Fremantle – located at the mouth of the Swan River, it is a food and entertainment hub with incredible history.
Northbridge – has an amazing array of bars, cafes, clubs, restaurants and Art.
The Coast – is ideal for outdoor activities such as swimming and sunbathing.
Northern Suburbs – is characterized by a huge number of houses and an aquarium.
Southern Suburbs – is characterized by numerous residential buildings and the Zoo.
The Hills – this suburb is known for its wine, picturesque sceneries and a Weir.
The Indigenous Nyoongar tribes inhabited the Perth region for over forty thousand years before the British settlers occupied the land. The British started as a free and small settler colony in 1829 and was part of the bigger Swan River colony. The settlement was named ‘Perth’ after Perth, Scotland, as it was the norm in those days to name newer cities with the same names as existing cities in the settlers’ homeland.
Beginning in 1850, the settlement grew with the inflow of convicts, and their work helped frame the city’s architecture. The growth mushroomed with the discovery of gold in the eighteen-nineties. The discovery of other mineral deposits down the line has been crucial to the growth of the economy of the city.
Perth became part of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901 as the capital of Western Australia. Perth saw a great rate of migration following World War 2 due to its mining prospects, which eventually meant it could overtake Adelaide’s population in the eighties. Although the mines are located in the remote corners of the state, Perth acts as a hub for mining-related activities.
Perth continues to be the fastest-growing city in Australia and has evolved as a vibrant city from its more laid-back demeanour of the past. As a relatively new city, Perth doesn’t have the Victorian charm of its eastern cousins but makes up with its brilliantly planned parks and open spaces.
Perth is perhaps the most isolated city in the world, with all the eastern cities almost grouped together in comparison, and yet it boasts a rich and diverse culture. Diversity is the result of continuous inward migration of people from all parts of the world, with a large number of its citizens born outside Australia. Perth gets many migrants from nearby places like South Africa, India, Thailand and Malaysia, and this fact is reflected in the wide variety of cuisine the city offers. For such a diverse population, the city is surprisingly safe and has an excellent crime-fighting record. A true cosmopolitan in every sense, Perth is a destination that you cannot dislike.
Perth is a very sunny city with almost nine hours of sunlight every day. It has a typical Mediterranean climate, with summers that are dry and hot and winters that are mild and wet. Summer temperatures can reach into the 40s (over 100 Fahrenheit) while winters are mild, around fifteen. Rains are sporadic and limited, but they do rain a lot when they happen. Being on the coast, storms can be severe with strong winds but generally don’t cause a lot of destruction.
Perth offers a range of activities including professional sports clubs, swimming, beaches, eateries, pubs and a range of amusement spots. Perth is home to the WACA (Western Australia Cricket Association) that boasts of a magnificent stadium with arguably the world’s fastest cricket pitch. Perth is also crazy about their football and hosts a match every weekend between March and August.
Perth offers some of the best beaches in the country for swimming during the summer. Sunscreen is a must on these beaches. The beaches are patrolled well and provide facilities like shady grassed areas, refreshments, toilets, and first aid.
Here are the main websites for Perth, with information on what’s happening in the city right now. Enjoy the amazing array of events currently happening around the city.
![]() | Guide to Perth: Embrace the best of both worlds in Perth, where soft-sand beaches and scenic parks meet a thriving metropolis of small bars, creative restaurants and curated street art. Australia’s urban oasis of Perth is nestled within the vast nature of Western Australia – and that’s why the locals love it! Here, not only can you relax on the serene white-sand beaches, but you can immerse yourself in the bustling art galleries, historic neighbourhoods and epic events. Just outside of Perth, you can find idyllic local wineries and unique wildlife. Getting to Perth, when to visit and accessibility. |
![]() | Destination Perth: What’s On Now in Perth. The Perth Region Tourism Organisation Inc. (PRTO), trading as Destination Perth, is the Perth region’s peak destination marketing organisation responsible for promoting the city and surrounding area as a desirable leisure destination. We have compiled a list of events and activities that can be enjoyed in Perth, WA, this season: festivals, Food and wine, music, arts and culture, family, sports, and free events. |
Overall, Perth is a delight of a city that promises a wonderful and safe life for families and aspirants alike, and hence, it is worth considering as a place to settle.
If you are looking for more information on Perth, you can visit http://wikitravel.org/en/Perth. This includes information on getting into Perth, getting around, what to see, do, buy, eat, drink, sleep, getting gout, and staying safe in Perth.
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If you’ve read the above content and the answer to your question isn’t there, please write a comment below and I’ll research the answer for you.
If you need advice on moving to Australia from New Zealand, I’ve created a helpful little questionnaire to point you in the right direction. It takes less than 30 seconds, so give it a go!
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Tony
May 7, 2025 at 1:38 pmGood morning, JJ,
What an amazing site you have set up. I certainly will visit your sponsors as I move through the process.
You have so much information available, but I am a bit confused as to what might apply to us.
We have a son living in Perth. He is a New Zealander but married to an Australian partner. They have three children, and they are growing up fast!
We have decided to move to Perth and will visit there in September to check out if the move is the right thing for us. I an 78 and my wife is 75.
What are the ‘hoops’ that we will need to consider as NZ Citizens?
Can we just shift as if we were relocating in NZ?
If we have cash from the sale of our house, can we do a deal with a property developer in North Perth?
Would there be additional costs such as stamp duty?
Will we need to take out a health cover?
Can you recommend a good investment company in Australia?
Those are the basic gaps in my understanding at present. It is a now or never moment for us. I would anticipate that we would be moving by this time next year.
Warm regards,
Tony
JJ Smith
May 21, 2025 at 11:20 amHi Tony,
Thank you for your email and sorry for the delay in replying.
I don’t think there is any better reason to move to Australia than to be closer to family!
The good news is, moving from New Zealand to Australia is quite straightforward, in many ways, it’s like moving to another city within NZ, just with a few more logistics and slightly higher costs when it comes to shipping household goods.
If you’re starting to look into moving companies, you can get 5 free quotes at the bottom of my moving company to Australia post: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/moving-company-to-australia/.
Once you’re in Perth, you’ll be granted an SCV (Special Category Visa) on arrival into Australia, which means you can buy property just like any Australian citizen — you won’t be considered a foreign buyer.
If you haven’t owned property in Australia before and you’re buying or building a new home, you may be eligible for the First Home Owner Grant (FHOG), which is currently $10,000 in Perth, WA.
Also in Western Australia, first home buyers are exempt from stamp duty on properties up to $430,000, with concessions available up to $530,000. That said, I recommend confirming your eligibility with an Australian lawyer or conveyancer, as they’ll need to consider any property you’ve owned in New Zealand.
You can read more about buying property in Australia here: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/buying-a-house-in-australia/.
A bit of good news regarding pensions, if you buy a home in Australia, the value of that asset won’t be counted against you when applying for the Age Pension. However, you might still be over the asset threshold if you are asking about investment companies. Australia’s pension is both income and asset tested, so I suggest waiting until you’ve been in the country for 26 weeks before applying, but you will still need to apply. Read more here: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/australian-age-pension/.
As for health insurance, the general rule is: if you have it in NZ, you should consider getting it in Australia too. More info here: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/private-health-insurance/.
Unfortunately, I don’t have any personal experience with investment companies in Australia, so I can’t offer any recommendations in that area.
Your trip to Perth in September will give you a great feel for the lifestyle and help guide your decisions. I hope you love it!
Hope the above helps.
Tony
May 21, 2025 at 5:12 pmThank you JJ. I really am impressed with your website and advice.
I have already recommended your site to my friends. So thank you.
September can’t come quickly enough! Land agents are already wanting to sell us a house in Perth!
We will, however, wait until we have a good look around.
Warm regards,
Tony
JJ Smith
May 22, 2025 at 10:14 amThanks Tony!
I do really love my job and I appreciate your support.
Best of luck with your visit to Perth.
Michael
March 22, 2021 at 2:11 amHi JJ,
Thank you for your website first of all. It’s really a fountain of information. I gained more information that I need to know in our plan to move across the ditch. I just have one question though, with the SCV visa are we eligible to buy a house? Looking forward for your feedback.
Regards,
Michael
JJ Smith
March 22, 2021 at 10:09 pmHi Michael,
Thank you for your comment.
Yes definitely! This is the post you need to read. I’ve recently updated it: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/buying-a-house-in-australia/.
Please feel free to email me back any further questions you have.
Good luck with your move.
Kristin
June 22, 2021 at 9:15 amHi there just wondering my husband is applying for jobs in the mine over in Perth WA, we have been told to get a White Card do you know can if you can apply for this from NZ or can you only apply over in oz?
Thanks
JJ Smith
June 23, 2021 at 11:09 pmHi Kristen,
Thanks for your comment.
Australia has very strict health and safety rules, which is why everyone who works on a construction site needs a white card:
To be able to carry out construction work in Australia, a person must complete an introductory safety training course called ‘general construction induction training’. This is also commonly known as ‘white card’ training.
To be issued with a WA White Card you must be located in Western Australia at the time that you are completing the course assessment.
EOT is authorised to issue cards directly to learners who complete the online White Card course in WA and will mail it to you once all of the course requirements have been met.
Here is a link to general info about white card training: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/construction.
Here is the link to the White Card WA Official Online Course: https://www.eot.edu.au/online-courses/white-card/WA/.
Please feel free to email me back any further questions you have.
Good luck with your move.
Isabella
October 10, 2022 at 8:52 pmHi, I am looking at applying for jobs in Australia and I’ve noticed when it asks if we have the right to work in Australia. What do I answer since I’m a NZ citizen. But then it asks what kind of visa I have and I don’t know if I need to put other or what the options are?