Perth, Western Australia, is a city that seamlessly blends modern urban development with stunning natural landscapes. The city’s central business district (CBD) is framed by the Swan River to the south and east, with Kings Park marking the western edge and the railway reserve creating its northern border. A key infrastructure project, Perth City Link, submerged a section of the railway to provide better pedestrian access between the CBD and the Northbridge area.

The CBD is home to significant landmarks such as the Perth Arena, an award-winning venue for sports and entertainment, and St Georges Terrace, a major thoroughfare lined with office buildings. Retail and entertainment are concentrated along Hay and Murray Streets, while the tallest building in the city, Central Park, reaches 244 meters (801 feet), making it the 12th tallest building in Australia.

The metropolitan area of Perth spans a vast expanse of 6,418 square kilometers (2,478 square miles), stretching from Two Rocks in the north to Singleton in the south and extending approximately 50 kilometers (30 miles) eastward. Perth's urban area, with its sprawling suburban districts, is roughly the same size as cities like Wuhan and Salt Lake City, positioning it as the 67th largest urban area in the world. Despite this, it remains one of the least densely populated cities globally.

The city's geography includes diverse landforms and geological features. The Swan River, named after the black swans discovered by Dutch explorer Willem de Vlamingh in 1697, is the largest river flowing through Perth. The city sits on the flat and sandy Swan Coastal Plain, with relatively infertile soils, while the Darling Scarp to the east marks the transition to the more rugged terrain beyond.

Historically, much of Perth was built on the Perth Wetlands, a series of freshwater wetlands stretching from Herdsman Lake to Claisebrook Cove. The region is characterized by its two major river systems—the Swan and Canning Rivers to the north and the Serpentine and Murray Rivers to the south, both contributing to the area's unique landscape. With its mixture of coastal plains, river systems, and escarpments, Perth remains one of Australia's most geographically diverse cities.