PERTH

THE WESTERN AUSTRALIA capital is a vibrant, multicultural city that relishes its position as the anchor for the largest state in the country. The sparkling modern metropolis sits on the traditional Country of the Whadjuk Noongar peoples, with a history that traces a line through tens of thousands of years. Its enviable position on the edge of the Swan River and close to the stunning WA coastline means that its locals have a best-of-all-worlds lifestyle that includes jaunts to beaches the likes of Cottesloe and Bathers, bar-hopping through funky inner-city neighbourhoods, eating at some of the most interesting restaurants in the state, swimming with wild dolphins (and spotting penguins) in its outer suburbs, and heading beyond the city limits on easy day trips to places such as the Swan Valley, home of the state’s oldest wine region.

SMALL BUT PERFECTLY FORMED

Perth has become renowned for its small-bar culture in the past few years, with cosy boltholes tucked