The Mint was one of the places where Australia’s coinage was produced but now it mints mainly commemorative medals and the like – the 2000 Olympics medals for instance – but it stages a ‘Gold Pour’ half a dozen times a day. This is industry as theatre, as a bloke melts down gold (and they do use real gold, unlike other mints that have a similar attraction) and pours into a mould, plunges that into a bucket of cold water and then presents the finished article for the audience to admire – all of this done with an informative and witty patter. It was fascinating and the Mint also has a very upmarket gift shop and tea gardens.

This was, I reckon, the best cuppa I had for the entire nine weeks I was away from home – a fresh pot of Orange Pekoe made with leaf tea not bags, slices of lemon instead of milk, piping hot water for top-up and a plate of excellent scones with raspberry jam and cream - terrific.

On the excellent free tram circuit

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Star Anise is a relaxed fine dining restaurant with chef David Coomer consistently creating exceptional cuisine. Some of it influenced by south-east Asia and all of it outstanding.

The degustation menu is fantastic giving you a little more than a taste of his favourite items on the menu. Ma hor a well known favourite with a slice of pineapple, caramalised duck, seared scallop with a mint, chilli and coriander dressing. Licorice ice cream is another established favourite but if it's not on the menu it's worth a trip back.

The wine list is dominated by Australian wines but there are generally a few international gems as well.

225 Onslow Rd
Shenton Park 6008
Tel: (08) 9381 9811
Fax: (08) 9381 9822
www.staraniserestaurant.com

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Northbridge is a suburb of Perth which is the place to go for bars and restaurants be they Italian, French, seafood or Asian and everything in between. Catch the free CAT bus from the city and they take you straight there, or you can walk it easily from the city centre too.
On sunday catch a train to Cottesloe and head for the beach and have a few drinks watching the sunset in the Cottesloe Beach Hotel.
Do it!

Cottesloe - catch a rtain from the city
Northbridge - catch the free Blue CAT bus from the city.

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What do you want when you go on holiday? Great scenery, things to do, excellent restaurants... oh hang on, let's throw in some world class adventure sports and free wine, and not just some cheap plonk but some of the high-end stuff, too.

Despite its rather sedate sounding name, Margaret River, three hours drive south of Perth, has all of these.

It's the home of world-class surfing competitions with frighteningly large waves which break against the rugged coastline with awesome power and regularity.

It's the home of Moss Wood, Leeuwin Estates and a hundred other world-class wineries, many of which have cellar door tastings and attached restaurants.

The local produce is so fresh and tasty that most of the restaurants deliver something a little special. Vasse Felix is particularly good for a smart dinner, but most of them are interesting.

Margaret River Cheese Co. (yummy cheddar), Chocolate Factory, Simmo's Ice Cream and Bootleg Brewery are all good stops between wine-tastings.

And that's just inland. The coastline of this area is one of the most beautiful on this side of the continent - or any side of any continent to be frank.

And the coastline offers up plenty of places to stay: north to south you've got Dunsborough, Yallingup, Gracetown and Prevelly/Gnarabup, where you'll often get stunning sea views from your deck, as you sip your day's purchases.

Some of the comments on Perth are pretty critical - but they also miss one of the great advantages: when you've got an area this beautiful, you don't want it to get too over-crowded. Margs gets pretty busy around Christmas, but the rest of the year you can normal find a corner of it - a beach-break, a vineyard, a restaurant - to keep to yourself.

Margaret River is three hours south of Perth. We like staying at Bavu Beach House www.bayubeachhouse.com

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Indian vegetarian restaurant run by volunteers. Good food. You pay what you judge the meal to be worth and the profits go to charities in India.
(NB No alcohol) Mon-Fri. Lunch and evening
Sat. Evening.

Barrack Street Jetty near the bell tower
www.annalakshmi.com.au

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Microbrewery and bar in a huge converted boat shed on the Fishing Boat Harbour in Fremantle – you can sit and drink their Pale Ale while you watch it being made. Also has a restaurant and a harbourside terrace.

40 Mews Road, Fremantle;
tel: (618) 9430 5555;
open: 10am–midnight every day;
www.littlecreatures.com.au

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Head out to the Indian Ocean beaches at Cottesloe (15 mins on train from Perth) and go to the Blue Duck overlooking the beach. Time it late afternoon and sit on the outdoor terrace with a mango daiquiri and something simple to eat from the extensive menu (the potato wedges are great!). If you've timed it right you'll be able to watch a stunning sunset over miles of glorious beaches. A second mango daiquiri will prove to you life doesn't get much better than this!

The Blue Duck
Cotteslo Beach
Train from Perth to Cotteslo (also a bus buit not sure of the number - train is easiest I think)

www.blueduck.com.au

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Licensed, definitely stylish, and with superb food, this restaurant boasts a great view of Perth's yachting harbour. Friendly staff add the final touch to make the dining experience into a memorable treat.

3 Hackett Drive Crawley Perth, WA 6009 Phone 08 9423 5000

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