Explore the Australian bush while still in the city
Kings Park is one of the biggest city parks in the world - bigger than Central Park in New York City - yet it's right in the heart of Perth. It grants epic views of the Swan and Canning rivers and the skyscrapers perched on their banks. Astonishingly tall, white-trunked trees line the entrance road to this inspiring patch of green, which has a treetop bridge, bushland trails, manicured gardens and cafes.
Swim at Perth's beaches
Expect to have your breath taken away at any of the beaches lining Perth's long coast, where pale sand meets turquoise water so transparent you can see your feet, no matter how deep you swim. Visit Cottesloe Beach, with its cafes and Norfolk pines, Mettams Pool for its snorkelling reef, Leighton Beach for its blindingly white sand and rip-free waters, Trigg Beach for its family-friendly grass area and huge playground, and North Beach for its charming rock pools. Each March Sculpture by the sea transforms Cottesloe's foreshore into an incredible outdoor gallery.
Snap a quokka selfie
Only 19 kilometres (12 miles) from Perth, car-free Rottnest Island, takes you back in time to when life was relaxed and simple. Along with more than 60 beaches, coral reefs harbouring tropical fish, and history-packed buildings, Rottnest is home to an Instagram star, the friendly quokka, a marsupial found only in Western Australia. The friendly creature has been dubbed "the happiest animal in the world", comically pulling cheeky grins and cutie-pie smiles for the camera. Because quokkas are so trusting, care needs to be taken when posing with them for a photo. Using a selfie stick is a good idea, allowing you to stay a respectful distance.
Explore Perth's urban villages
Minutes from the city centre, the neighbourhood of Leederville buzzes with eclectic boutiques and alfresco cafes, while hipster Mount Lawley does fantastic bar-bistros, edgy restaurants and fun-loving pubs. Stylish Subiaco offers designer clothing shops and a brilliant Saturday farmers market. Northbridge is best for locally created fashion, its Chinatown restaurants and multicultural food stores.
Indulge in culture in Perth's core
The Perth Cultural Centre delivers a fantastic one-stop culture fix. Delve into an extensive collection of Aboriginal art at the free-entry Art Gallery of Western Australia before roaming the Urban Orchard, a city garden of leafy greens and herbs. Nearby, The Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts delivers free, modern exhibitions.
