Perth is an undeniably charming town with a host of things to see and do. But one of the great things about a holiday visit to this capital of Western Australia is that it's the perfect base for a whole range of fascinating side trips to the delights of the state. You can pop over to nearby Fremantle, visit Australia's only Spanish monastery, relax in national parks, head out to the wine country, and even visit penguins.

Your fist sortie should be to the port city of Fremantle, located some 13 miles along the Swan River. Here you can browse the markets, visit the splendid heritage buildings, marvel at the city's maritime past in the museums, and sprawl on the pristine beaches. The most scenic way to get to Fremantle from Perth is to take a river cruise. It's the perfect, relaxing day out.

For a unique side trip further afield, you can visit the Benedictine monks in the Spanish Renaissance monastery town of New Norcia, the only monastic town in Australia. Located 82 miles north of Perth, New Norcia stands on the banks of the Moore River. It's a little touch of the Mediterranean in the midst of the Australian bush. Here's how it got there.

Long ago in 1846, a mission led by two Spanish Benedictines visited the local aborigines and in the following year, the foundation stone of the monastery was laid. The name New Norcia is from Norcia in Italy where St Benedict was born.

New Norcia is a town of unique architecture, beautiful interiors, and olive groves. It's best experienced on a guided town tour which unlocks all the town's charms and secrets. You can see the monk's own chapel in the monastery, the Abbey Church and the College Chapels with their beautiful frescoes. There's also a museum and art gallery which include gifts from the Queen of Spain.

If you're a wine buff or just enjoy a glass or two, you'll want to do a day trip out to the Swan Valley vineyards for a wine tasting tour. The best way to do this is as a delightful two-hour cruise along the Swan River from Perth. You then visit the vineyards to explore the region's wine culture and partake in numerous wine tastings.

A must visit site near Perth is the famous Nambung National Park. This is located some 150 miles north of Perth on the Indian Ocean. The main feature of the park is the famous Pinnacles desert. These 'pinnacles' are in fact petrified limestone pillars that thrust out of the yellow desert sand. The pinnacles are formed from ancient seashells which stuck together and formed the pillars which can get up to four metres high. Passing Dutch sailors, seeing the pinnacles from the sea, thought them the ruins of an ancient city.

They are best experienced at dawn or sunset. You can walk or drive along walking or driving trails which lead to lookouts offering stunning views of the pinnacles and the blue ocean beyond. The spring when flowers are blooming is an especially picturesque time to visit.

Our last Perth side trip is a special delight for nature lovers - a visit to Penguin Island. Just 26 miles from downtown Perth, this small island is located less than 700 metres offshore in the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park.

Other then penguins, the island is home to a range of fauna including sea lions and pelicans. The coastal and marine scenery in this area is delightful.

You can also have picnics, go snorkeling, scuba diving, or surfing, or just enjoy the natural beauty.

Another thing that makes Perth such as great base to explore Western Australia is the tremendous range of Perth city hotels that cater for every taste and budget. Two of the most outstanding are the Criterion Hotel Perth and Aarons Hotel Perth.