Officially Australia’s sunniest city, Perth also boasts over 19 beaches within easy reach of the city. Each one has its own special characteristics. All offer dazzling white sand and ridiculously clear blue water. Cottesloe Beach is the most famous, a popular swimming and picnicking spot backed by a grassy hillside, Norfolk pines, and an impossibly picturesque pavilion. You can spend an entire day snorkelling, surfing or swimming here, before retiring to a restaurant to watch the sun set over the Indian Ocean, a glass of Margaret River’s finest in hand. Just south of Cottesloe you’ll find Leighton Beach, a longer, less crowded beach that's popular with kite surfers and dog owners. Mettams Pool is the best place to don your snorkel. The platform reef just offshore is home to fish, octopuses, starfish, sea fans and grasses.