The hometown of Australia's richest citizen, mining magnate Gina Rinehart, Perth is the centre of the country's iron ore and oil and gas boom, with some of the largest resource firms churning out billions in profits.
But Perth has a laid-back side too - there's a saying that W.A., the acronym for Western Australia, actually stands for "wait awhile." And why not take it easy in this city with a sunny Mediterranean climate and miles and miles of coastline where even on a busy summer weekend, you have a good chance of having a big stretch of beach all to yourself.
Closer to Asia than it is to Australia's main population centres on the continent's east coast, Perth is often described as the most remote city in the world with the Indian Ocean at its doorstep and miles of Outback at its back.
Reuters correspondents with local knowledge help visitors get the most out of a 48-hour visit.
FRIDAY
5 p.m. The central business district is a convenient place to stay, with public transportation options such as the free Central Area Transit (CAT) buses if you decide not to rent a car. There are several hotels along the Swan River with beautiful views. Coastal areas such as the ritzy Cottesloe neighbourhood and the less exclusive Scarborough offer beachside accommodation.
6 p.m. Head over to the Old Swan River Brewery (theoldbrew ery.com.au). Beer is no longer made onsite, but the restaurant does have several tasty house brews and a view overlooking the Swan River, where you might spot a dolphin popping up for air if you are lucky. Enthusiastic carnivores can try the tomahawk steak, an Australian cut that generally weighs about 1.5 kilograms and can feed up to four.
If you opt for the giant steak, the riverside promenade is a lovely spot for a walk after a heavy dinner. Look for Western Australia's state flower, the kangaroo paw, along the esplanade during the wetter months of the year.
9 p.m. From here, you can head to the Northbridge neighbourhood, the centre of the city's nightlife, just a few minutes away by taxi.
The area is renowned for miners who belly up to the bar after spending weeks digging up minerals in the Outback.
SATURDAY
8 a.m. Wake up early like Perth natives and head out for a morning swim in the Indian Ocean or jog along the coastline, or, if you're staying in the city centre, a jog along the Swan River. If you're even more adventurous, drag yourself out of bed at the crack of dawn and head over to the Perth Surf School (surfschool.com) on Scarborough Beach, where classes begin at 7: 15 a.m. Book ahead.
10 a.m. Drive out to the Swan Valley (swanvalleywinemakers. com.au), Western Australia's oldest wine-producing region, about 25 minutes from the city centre. You can sample a wide range of wines since many vintners that produce in the lauded Margaret River region also have cellar doors in the Swan Valley.
2 p.m. Go to Fremantle, the small port city about 20 minutes from Perth, to visit the Fremantle Prison (fremantleprison.com.au), originally built to house convicts from Britain but closed in 1991. Tours run throughout the day, and torchlight tours are available at night.
If you find prison lore too depressing, head over to the Western Australian Maritime Museum (museum.wa.gov.au/museums/ maritime) on Victoria Quay, where you can check out the yacht that won Australia the America's Cup, the Australia II, ending the New York Yacht Club's 132-year winning streak in 1983.
6 p.m. For dinner, take your pick from several seafood establishments on the fishing boat harbour, including Cicerello's (cicerellos. com.au), Joe's Fish Shack (joesfishshack.com.au), and Kailis Fish & Lobster Market Café (kailis. com). Order some oysters on the half shell and barramundi, one of Australia's most popular fish.
SUNDAY
9 a.m. Start off with a more leisurely breakfast at one of Perth's brunch spots. On the high end, Fraser's (frasersrestaurant. com.au) in King Park in the centre of town. For a thriftier, but very hearty, option, try Miss Maud Pastry (missmaud.com.au), a Perth chain with locations all over town for the quintessential Aussie breakfast - a meat or veggie pie.
10 a.m. Time to squeeze in some more culture. The Art Gallery of Western Australia is free to the public and has a good collection of indigenous art. (artgallery.wa.gov.au)
The Perth Mint (perthmint. com.au) is a good place to soak in some of Western Australia's mining history. If you're shopping for jewelry, this is the place. Western Australian gold, pink diamonds and pearls abound, but bring your chequebook - none of it is cheap.
The mint also houses the world's largest pure gold coin, a one-tonne behemoth worth tens of millions (1tonnegoldcoin.com).
12: 30 p.m. Grab lunch at one of the fish and chips shops on the coast. Adam's Café Tonino's in North Beach is not fancy, but it has an amazing view.
2 p.m. Off to the beach! This is the place to be, especially during the summer where the Fremantle Doctor, a soothing sea breeze, will cool you down. Take a hat and sunscreen - the Australian sun is fierce.
4 p.m. Before you leave, join the locals in a Perth tradition - the Sunday Session. The pubs dotting Marine Parade along the coastline are a popular gathering place for this weekly ritual of raising a few pints from mid-afternoon till after the sun sets. The Indiana Tea House (indiana. com.au) directly on Cottesloe Beach is also a popular choice, with an alfresco terrace and great views. The waterfront Clancy's Fish Pub (clancysfishpub.com.au) in the suburb of City Beach is a more laid-back option.
