Perth

An urban outpost over 4,000km by road from Australia's east coast, Perth has no hope of riding on the coat tails of Sydney or Melbourne's massive tourist appeal. So it's just as well that the capital of Western Australia state makes a fabulous destination all on its lonesome.

The city is tailor-made for outdoor living, thanks to its Mediterranean climate, riverside setting, and scores of beaches and parks.

Although the city beaches are fine indeed, things get even better slightly further out in Scarborough and Cottesloe. Among the green spaces, the best is Kings Park, which contains the Botanic Gardens and its thousands of species of native flora and fauna.

Perth Zoo, with its 'Australian Bushwalk', warrants a visit, and there are crocodiles, sharks and dolphins at the Aquarium of Western Australia, boasting the country's longest aquarium tunnel. For natural history, don't miss the Museum of Western Australia, which has a 25m skeleton of a blue whale, and a top-quality gallery devoted to Aboriginal heritage.

The cultural hub of Perth is Northbridge, with its museums, galleries and thriving nightlife, while cosmopolitan Subiaco is the place to go for shopping and eating. Fremantle, a short train ride south from the city, is good for dance clubs, and is equally vibrant by day with its popular markets and cafés.

Warm to hot in summer and rainy and mild in winter, Perth itself is best visited between November and March. However, if you're using it mainly as a jump-off point before heading to the tropical northern parts of the state, April to October is a better bet.

Western Australia is vast - the state covers a third of the country - and offers incredible space and freedom. A coral reef, national parks, striking scenery, outback territory, and a spectacular coastline reward those who manage to leave the modern delights of its capital behind.