The city itself is well stocked with an extensive range of shops, restaurants, accommodation, cinemas, and other entertainment. There is Kings Park and Gardens, offering residents and visitors alike a scenic wander through 400 hectares of beautiful landscape and a breath-taking view of the metropolitan area. Running through Perth is the Swan River, adding to the number of water based and outdoor activities that are available. Due to the quality of the water it is still possible to see visiting dolphins swimming up the river.

Just south of Perth is Fremantle, known for its markets, shopping, eating out options, bars, entertainment venues, and art galleries. It is easily accessible by train from Perth and is a very popular New Years Eve location.

Another popular destination is Rottnest Island. An easy ferry ride away from this island offers a relaxed environment of beautiful beaches and clear blue water. It is also home to the ‘quokka’, a small Australian marsupial that is not found anywhere else. You can visit Rottnest for a day or for a longer stay. To add to the peaceful atmosphere, visitors are expected to explore the area by bicycle or catch the regular tour bus. Be warned, however, that near the end of year the landscape can be overrun by final year school students celebrating the end of their exams.

Close to Perth there is also Penguin Island which, as the name suggests, is home to a colony of fairy penguins, which are the smallest of the penguin family. The island is situated in the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park, 42 km south of Perth.

And if you are willing to go even further afield there is a huge range of places to explore. West Australia is the largest state in Australia and encompasses both tropical and temperate climate ranges. Depending on the time of year you can view whales, seals, sea lions, dolphins and turtles off various locations on the coastline. Western Australia is also known as the wildflower state, with a spectacular display of wildflowers available naturally from July to November throughout the whole region. Throughout the outback there are numerous gorges, visited for their natural rugged beauty and crisp clean swimming holes.

Down south are the world-renowned wineries of Margaret River. As well as the great wine sampling some tasting sites have exclusive dining areas to tempt you with fresh local cuisine at the same time. There are also forests famous for the size and majesty of their ‘tingle’ trees and multiple beaches with clean white sand and crystal clear water. Another attraction of the southern region is a treetop walk, where you can observe life from up in the heights of the branches, an exhilarating experience.

In the far north is Broome, a picturesque pearling town that attracts visitors from Australia and around the world. There are a variety of pearl shops and tours of pearl farms available, providing a fascinating insight into the production and history of these sought-after wonders. Another unique feature is found at Gantheaume Point where there are dinosaur footprints that were left in the rock more than 130 million years ago! And you will not get bored, with various markets, a famous bird watching observatory, an outdoor cinema, a stunning 24 km (15 miles) long beach, and other attractions too multiple to list, both within Broome and throughout the state.