I am travelling to Australia for business in early August. I will be there for two weeks. I have a free weekend and can spend it in either Melbourne or Perth. I have heard such wonderful things about both cities, I am hoping some Australian natives or people familiar with these cities can help. Things that are important:

1) Which has better weather in August?
2) I will not have an automobile, so I will be travelling by taxi or rail to visit the area
3) I will be by myself, so I need things to do that do not require other people.
4) This is my first time to Australia

Thanks so much for any help you all can provide, I welcome all suggestions!

Perth is likely to have better weather (but not that much better), but it will still be Winter.

Both citites have reasonable public transport

Where is your business? Perth and Melbourne are ~4 hours flying time apart so if you have to travel from, say Sydney, it's ~1:20 to MEL, and closer to 5:00 to PER, so there is a significant difference in time and price, and PER would eat into your free weekend a lot more.

Melbourne is about 3 times the size of Perth and probably would offer a greater variety of activities to see/do for a w/end (not that there's anything wrong with Perth, mind you )

If you could give an idea of the sort of things you like to do it would assist people in providing some advice...

PS. This would probably be better placed to get replies, in the Australia/Sth Pacific etc. forum...perhaps a kind mod would do so?

Welcome to FT!

Personally, having visited both, I'd go with Melbourne though the weather is likely to be a few degrees cooler. Bigger city, more to do. That said, Perth will keep you quite busy for a weekend. Items 2 and 3 on your list will be fine in either.

That said, you'll probably get more, and more informed, opinions if you post this in the Australia/NZ/So. Pac forum. Lots of real Aussies, not just Yanks who've been there several times, tend to hang out there.

Thank you both, I did not realize there was a dedicated Aussie thread. I will repost this there when I find it. Thanks!

As the OP has now posted this aptly in the Travel->Australia forum, this thread will be closed. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator.