Rise bright and early to head to Northam (twenty-five minutes away) for a majestic hot air balloon ride over the Avon Valley as dawn breaks, before a gourmet champagne breakfast (pre-booking is essential). Alternatively, head into the town centre of Northam for brunch at a cafe or restaurant or grab a picnic breakfast to have by the river at the end of 41 Mile Road. Here, you can cross Northam's pedestrian suspension bridge (the longest of its kind in Australia) and photograph the nation’s only flock of white swans. Next, head to Toodyay - just a 20-minute drive west of Northam - where heritage architecture offers an insight into life in the early convict era, as well as local arts and crafts, fresh produce, wines and beautiful country gardens. For nature lovers - this wildflower-friendly town also boasts magnificent displays of wildflowers along its roadside verges. From Toodyay, join the Great Northern Highway to reach New Norcia. Home to a Benedictine Monastery, it's Australia's only monastic town where monks have been living a simple communal life since 1847. Visitors are welcome to join the monks in residence at prayer times and to take a tour of the Spanish architecture and museum. Be sure to indulge in the monastery’s famous baked goods before heading back to Perth. Alternatively, you can extend your weekend away and head into the nearby wildflower country of Moora and Yalgoo to see some of the spectacular blooms that make up the largest collection of wildflowers on Earth.