Twenty minutes by train from Perth (Boorloo) city, is the postcard-perfect Cottesloe Beach, where turquoise waves crash against golden sands and beautiful people lounge under a canopy of Norfolk Island pines. After a day of surfing, swimming or sun-worshipping, head to the Italian canteen Il Lido, inside an Art Deco-era hall, to watch the sun sink into the Indian Ocean.

There’s no place quite like Rottnest Island (Wadjemup), a 30-minute ferry ride from Fremantle (Walyalup). Peacocks strut through the lively pub, the only traffic is pedal-powered and quokkas – a cute mammal native to Rotto – that happily bare their teeth for selfies (you can snap pics but don’t touch the wildlife). Go for a dip in The Basin, a protected turquoise cove, snorkel the teeming reefs at Little Parakeet Bay – breaking for a famous jam doughnut from the bakery – and spend the night (or a week) in coastal luxury at Samphire Rottnest.

Sure, you could drive to Margaret River, an easy three hours from the city. Better yet, you could board a helicopter and soar above karri forests, pristine beaches and lush vineyards. Stops include private wine tastings and a degustation lunch with the winemakers at the likes of Aravina Estate and Amelia Park, where the region’s wine and produce will be showcased in all their delicious glory.

Picturesque Kings Park and Botanic Gardens (Kaarta Koomba) is larger than New York’s Central Park – and arguably prettier, too. With more than 3000 native flowers blooming in spring and killer views of the city skyline and Swan River (Derbarl Yerrigan), the inner-city park makes a great spot for a family picnic. Good luck dragging the kids away from the adventure playground.

For a fancy night out head to Crown Towers Perth, a resort and casino with a distinctly showbiz style. Fifteen minutes from the city centre, it feels like a world unto itself with restaurant after dazzling restaurant. Neil Perry’s Rockpool Bar & Grill might have the best steak out west, while Epicurean Perth, an open-kitchen buffet overlooking lagoon pools, is popular with locals. Nobu, of course, needs no introduction (don't miss the sublime miso black cod, the dish that started it all.)

Keen hikers should head for the hills – specifically, John Forrest National Park in the Darling Scarp, to tackle the challenging 15-kilometre Eagle View walking trail. A burn in your calves is a fair price to pay for the waterfalls, western grey kangaroos and views across the Swan Coastal Plain to the Indian Ocean.

The painstakingly restored State Buildings have such a dense concentration of eateries and bars that even the most decisive travellers can dally. Bold, punchy Thai at David Thompson’s Long Chim or modern Australian from the bustling Petition Kitchen or even a glass of Nebbiolo from the Wine Merchant.

To get to Elizabeth Quay, you cross a dramatically curved footbridge edged in glowing LED lights that continue around the entire inlet and change colour with the weather. It gives the precinct an other-worldly feel, like a funpark from the future. The good times don’t stop there: indulge at the microbrewery or gelateria, take the kids on a carousel ride, or sip champagne in a red velvet-lined gondola on the glittering Swan River.

The bucolic Swan Valley is just 25 minutes drive east of Perth but savvy sippers forgo the wheel altogether, instead opting for a wine tour with the likes of d’Vine or Up Close and Local. Whichever of the 40-odd wineries are on the agenda, make sure you savour a honeyed chenin blanc – known informally as the region’s signature.

Inside the Victorian-era facade of COMO The Treasury are elegant rooms with stone bathtubs you could almost swim laps in. But why would you when there’s a stunning indoor pool beneath a two-storey wall of louvred windows? Book a massage at Shambhala Spa and a table at Wildflower or Post, in-house restaurants that just so happen to be two of Perth's best restaurants.

To discover a side of Perth few have seen, drive 20 kilometres south of the CBD to Old Riverton Bridge, where a kayak tour will steer you to Canning Wetlands, inaccessible by foot or car. The tranquil beginner-friendly paddle takes around three hours and offers plenty of opportunities to see birds such as black swans, Australian egrets and ospreys.

It doesn’t matter if you’re not staying in the QT Perth’s designer lodgings – enter the lobby and take the psychedelic elevator 18 floors up. Here lies the highest and most glamorous rooftop bar in Perth, where luxe cocktails pair with sparkling views of the city skyline and river.

The team behind Coogee Common, a rustic restaurant 10 minutes from Fremantle, tended their rambling kitchen garden for two years before opening, with the harvest now inspiring exquisite seasonal dishes. Ask for a table in the arbour for serene garden views and the resident sommelier for wine recommendations.

Perth city was built with the wealth from the 19th-century gold rushes and can credit many local attractions to the boom-and-bust industry, including the stately circa-1899 Perth Mint. Admire artefacts (including King Henry, an enormous 94-kilogram gold nugget), watch a traditional gold pour and invest in a hard-working keepsake by way of a bullion coin.

It may be a global brand but The Ritz-Carlton’s Perth outpost is an undeniable love letter to Western Australia – from the Kimberley sandstone in the foyer to hyper-local restaurant Hearth, where a map on the menu pinpoints precisely where the produce in your dish came from. The luxury rooms also celebrate the state, from the fresh native blooms to views of the Swan River.

You can easily walk along its shores, drive across it and even paddle down it. But peering at the Swan River from 72 metres above its surface is only possible from the SkyView Deck on the Matagarup Bridge. Take the 314 steps – on a 45 degree angle – all the way to the top for expansive views across the city. Daredevils can even clip on for an exhilarating 400 metre zipline ride. 

37 Hidden Gems to Discover in Western Australia