Best of Perth

Welcoming West Coast vibes meet cool city charm in Perth – a glamorous, sun-kissed metropolis best visited between September and March for a profusion of wildflowers, festivals and long beach days. Tip-toe through the blooms in Kings Park. Bigger than Manhattan’s Central Park, it’s the place to catch panoramic views of the Swan River and city skyline. Shop, sip and grab a bite in downtown laneways and arcades. Catch a theatre show and enjoy a few boisterous drinks in Northbridge. Arty, offbeat Fremantle is only 30 minutes downstream – a raffish port town infused with history and soul. Coffee, craft beer and harbourside fish and chips are must-dos, or time-travel in the Maritime Museum and World Heritage-listed Fremantle Prison. Done exploring? Hit iconic Cottesloe Beach for a contemporary Australian dinner, chilled white wine and smouldering Indian Ocean sunset. From Perth or Fremantle, a fast ferry hightails it to Rottnest Island, shimmering on the horizon. It’s a car-free zone, so choose your own pace to discover 63 beautiful beaches and 20 white-sand bays, along with shipwreck-strewn coral reefs, superior surf breaks and secret swim spots like gorgeous Little Parakeet Bay. Snap a selfie with the world’s happiest marsupial, the quokka. Change gears with a short drive into the Swan Valley wine region, a symphony for the tastebuds and the soul. Spend an indulgent afternoon hopping between alfresco lunch terraces, stylish cellar doors and sunny craft-beer gardens. You mightn’t want to leave. Point your compass south and roll into Rockingham and Mandurah, unhurried beach towns with buzzy waterfront bars, eateries and sea-breezy promenades. Wild dolphins congregate close to shore, or meet sea lions and penguins on a cruise to Shoalwater Islands Marine Park. It’s just an hour back to Perth from Mandurah’s sublime sands.