Perth, the capital city of Western Australia, is home to one and a half million people, a wide river and a few kangaroos. It's sometimes known as the most isolated city in the world, since the next major stop is Adelaide, almost 1700 miles away, with just desert and a few tiny towns in between. But perhaps its isolation is one of the reasons that the population hasn't exploded in an otherwise perfect location: sun, sea, sand and friendly people.

It's also my hometown, but I've seen a lot of the world, so it's not just a bias that makes me say you should come and visit. If you do, here are my suggestions for two days touring Perth. Two days is the minimum time to do Perth justice, and then you'll need at least a week longer to drive into the countryside and check out some of the natural wonders of Western Australia.

Day One: Hit the Coast

Perth lies on the Indian Ocean and white sandy beaches stretch endlessly along the coastline. To enjoy them, try Cottesloe Beach or Scarborough Beach. You can reach Cottesloe by train and Scarborough by bus, although renting a car makes getting around Perth much easier. Both of these famous beaches are great in both summer and winter; if the season's not right for swimming, then you can have a meal in the cafes nearby. I prefer Cottesloe, since Scarborough's just a little over-developed for my taste, with the first (and last, after so many protests) high rise hotel on the Perth coast.

A little further north up the Perth coast, you should spend the rest of the day at the Hillarys Boat Harbour. Along with yet another beach and heaps of cafes and pubs, it's also home to AQWA - the Aquarium of Western Australia - which is a great collection of sealife from up and down the coast. It has a massive aquarium with a conveyor belt system to take you under and through, and there are even opportunities to swim with and feed the sharks if you're feeling brave.

Day Two: Hit the City or Cuddle a Koala

Once you've soaked up all the sun you can, your second day in Perth should center on the downtown area. It's eas to get around here on foot or by using the free CAT buses that circle the city center on various routes. You can shop in the Hay Street Mall or enjoy multicultural meals in Northbridge. When you need some culture, there are a few interesting museums to try: the Perth Mint, which produces most of Australia's coins, has a really interesting exhibition program, and the Art Gallery of Western Ausralia and the Western Australian Museum, set together with the Alexander Library, are also worth visiting and usually don't charge an entry fee.

If museums and culture are less your thing, you might want to hit the eastern edge of the city after shopping, and visit the Caversham Wildlife Park. It's one of the best places to see kangaroos, koalas and wombats, and you have the chance to interact with the animals and get some great photos.