Carlisle

One of the first suburbs you'll hit when you cross the Causeway bridge over the Swan River travelling east from Perth's CBD, Carlisle is a densely populated suburb which enjoys all the advantages of being so close to a major city.

Just a kilometre or two to the west is the Swan River, of course, and the Burswood casino and resort, Burswood Park Golf Course and Ascot Racecourse - all contained on a thumb-shaped peninsula poking into the river.

In fact, Carlisle is central to all of Perth's major racing venues: Ascot and Belmont racecourses, Cannington Central greyhound track (about four kilometres east) and the Gloucester Park harness racing track, one of the very best in the country.

And, of course, it's just minutes into Perth, one of Australia's most exciting and vibrant cities. On the banks of the broad, impressive Swan River, Perth exudes a youthful vitally helped along by the fact that it enjoys more sunshine than any other Australian city.