Perched at the very edge of Western Australia, Perth is a modern prosperous city with a rich history, delightful climate and a host of things to see and do including a bevy of Australia's best beaches. Who could ask for more of a holiday destination?

First you need to get your bearings. Downtown Perth stands on the banks of the Swan River which was given the name when a Dutch sea captain saw black swans floating here in 1697.

One of the landmarks in the river district is the 82.5-metre-high glass spire of the Swan Bell Tower on Barrack Street Jetty. You can climb up to an observation deck for some great views over the river and the city. But it’s the bells that are the most famous feature here. Twelve of the bells are from St Martin in the Fields, a church on London's Trafalgar Square. They were rung centuries ago in 1771 to welcome James Cook back from his great voyage of discovery and now in Perth they are rung on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays between 12:30pm and 2pm.

Most of Perth's most interesting sites are situated on the elegant thoroughfare of St George's Terrace and the streets leading off it. One unique spot here is London Court, a representation of London during the Elizabethan era complete with clock towers and statues of Sir Walter Raleigh and Dick Whittington.

For shopping, Perth's pedestrian-friendly central business district offers a fine experience with its arcades and small shops. Hay Street Mall and Murray Street Mall are the prime shopping areas.

To get in touch with nature and get a great vantage point over the city, head for King's Park. This 1000-acre green delight on Mt. Eliza offers loads of thing to see and do and is one of the city's best photography spots. Other than bush land, woodland forest and a botanic garden, King's Park features the Lotterywest Federation Walkway which runs through the treetops.

Perth's long history unfolds in the Museum of Western Australia with its extensive displays including Aboriginal artefacts and zoological and social exhibits.

Part of the Perth Cultural Centre, the museum's Social exhibits include Perth's original prison and an old settler's cottage. The prison consists of a cell range, chapel, yards and jailors' quarters.

To round off your introduction to Perth, head for the Perth Zoo. It opened all the way back in 1898 as a park that offered musical performances on the weekends. Now it's home to a vast array of 1800 animals ranging from elephants, orang-utans, and tigers to giraffes, rhinos, lions, cheetahs. The zoo is thematically organised into various zones such as the Australia Walkabout, Asian Rainforest, and African Safari. It's a great way to see all these fabulous animals in as close to their natural environment as possible.

There's much more than this to Perth but that's for later. We haven't even mentioned the nearby beaches for one thing. What's more, Perth is one of Australia's best cities for side trips with a host of attractions located a short trip away. Just check into of the Perth hotels and you'll never be short of things to see and do in this amazing city in the west of Australia.

Richard Greaves has over 20 years experience in the travel industry and writes for Cheaper than Hotels. Cheaper Than Hotels offers Perth hotels as The New Esplanade Hoteland Parmelia Hilton Perth http://www.cheaperthanhotels.com.au/Australia/Perth/City/Parmelia-Hilton-Perth/.