Perfecting Perth

Perth's serenity takes a bit of getting used to. Compared to Melbourne and Sydney, the Western Australian city's reputation as a sleepy town precedes it for better or worse.

On most days, businesses shut before the sun goes down; and even on weekends, the streets in town are eerily deserted in the evenings.

But the generally slower pace of life is also what draws many Singaporeans to retire there: that plus the all-year mild climate, crisp air, abundant sunshine, attractive property prices and beautiful white-sand beaches which beckon those with freshly-drawn CPF funds.