Far off, on the coast of Western Australia, seemingly miles away from all other civilization, lies the city of Perth and The New York Times writer Lucas Peterson visited to discover its many wonders. 

“Perth is an interesting sprawl of a place, closer to Bali than it is to Sydney and over 1,200 miles from the nearest large city,” writes Peterson. 

The city is perched along the ocean and the Swan River, meaning it lends itself to the great outdoors. 

“While Perth’s city center, on a bend in the neck of the Swan River, certainly has some worthwhile attractions for any budget-conscious traveler, getting the most out of Perth means getting outside—that is, exploring the outskirts of the city as well as making the most of the natural surroundings,” says Peterson.

READ MORE: 5 Things to Do in Melbourne, Australia (Besides the Australian Open) 

Every evening, Perth shows off with its spectacular sunsets. 

“Perth’s location on the west coast means it has the best sunsets Australia has to offer. We caught a stunning panorama of pink- and blue-streaked sky near the south end of Cottesloe beach in North Fremantle, a suburb, then checked out a nearby bar and restaurant called Coast Port Beach,” Peterson writes. 

For more reasons to visit Perth, read on here.