Founded in 1829 and located on the Indian Ocean coastline, Perth is the capital of the Australian state of Western Australia and a popular destination for learning English.

Perth is known as the "City of Light" after city residents lit their house lights and streetlights as American astronaut John Glenn passed overhead while orbiting the earth in 1962 and again when he was aboard the Space Shuttle in 1998.

Students taking an English language course in Perth will find clean and picturesque beaches with all kinds of watersports. Cultural highlights include the Western Australian Museum, which has Aboriginal artefacts and many zoological exhibits, and the Western Australian Maritime Museum in Fremantle, which displays historical maritime objects from across the centuries. As well as the Art Gallery of Western Australia, which attracts major exhibitions, there are smaller galleries and music, theatre and dance performances at the Perth Concert Hall and other performance spaces.

Fremantle is a popular spot, especially at weekends, when markets and outdoor entertainment flourish and the many alfresco cafes and restaurants buzz with life. For shoppers, Perth City Centre is ideal. It is located inland, along the Swan River, and offers a wide range of stores.

Out of town, the Swan Valley Region is steeped in history and one of Western Australia's oldest wine regions. It is home to more than 40 vineyards, many of which are still run by the same families that started the wineries many years ago.

Not surprisingly, Australia’s fourth largest city has a thriving nightlife. It is well-known for the local rock music, played at the city’s many live venues - one place that jumps into life after dark is the Perth district of Northbridge, and Freemantle also has plenty of nightclubs and bars.

With so much to discover and enjoy, Perth is a great destination for an English language course in Australia.