It’s easy to feel the joy of being alive in Perth, perhaps Australia’s sunniest city. (It proudly boasts of having more than 300 days of sunshine a year.) While central Perth offers plenty to explore - from the extraordinary Kings Park, 400ha of greenery in the heart of the city to a thriving street art scene - it also has some extraordinary places to discover close at hand.
Take Fremantle, the pretty port where you can enjoy locavore dining at the ever-popular Bread in common or feast on some of the city’s best vegan food at Mother, before taking a stroll through the lively Fremantle Markets, held every weekend.
Then there is the lush Swan Valley, where the rolling hills contain not just boutique wineries such as Sittela or Olive Farm Wines, but also magnificent bushwalks.
And finally there is Rottnest Island. Just a brief ferry ride from town, this pretty car-free island has a lot more going for it than its cute quokkas. With 63 beaches and superb snorkeling - you can drift over coral gardens and dive down to explore underwater caverns - you will want to bring your swimmers with you.
