To walk on Perth’s wild side, visit Fremantle Prison for a taste of life behind bars. Built in the mid-1800s, Fremantle Prison was the site of hangings, floggings, dramatic escapes, and riots. Home to some of Australia’s most notorious criminals, the prison was closed in 1991, and began its second life in the following year as a popular tourist destination.

The most coveted Perth souvenir is the “quokka selfie,” and no wonder, as who can resist a snapshot with the happiest animal in the world? No bigger than a cat and with the tail of a rat, the quokka is a marsupial (a mammal born incompletely developed, typically carried and suckled in a pouch on the mother’s belly), and it is part of the kangaroo and wallaby family. The best place to find quokkas is on Rottnest Island—click here for travel options from Perth.

(If you do decide to snap a selfie with a quokka, a marsupial expert advises that you should avoid touching or feeding them. Quokkas may bite people and they do not fare well eating human food.)

To mingle with kangaroos, koalas, wombats, and other Australian furries, take a drive to the family-friendly Caversham Wildlife Park. (Click here for a list of animals in the park; the quokka can be found here too.) If you prefer the challenge of spotting kangaroos in the wild, a local tip is to stake out Swan Valley, where kangaroos have been sighted at Whiteman Park.

For a more exotic option, schedule a day trip to experience life alongside wild dolphins, rare Australian sea lions, and penguins on Penguin Island, which is 45 minutes south of Perth and a 5-minute ferry ride away.

For a laid-back evening at the movies—under the stars—check the Moonlight Cinema events page to see what’s showing. In Perth, summer screenings for 2019 will run till 31 March 2019. The outdoor cinema’s finely curated selections range from blockbuster movies to arthouse films, and details are available here.

Moonlight Cinema screenings are held at the May Drive Parkland in the Kings Park and Botanic Garden. One of Perth’s best picnic locations, Kings Park is also a showcase for over 3,000 species of Western Australia’s native flora. (To discover a “hidden garden” in Perth, head to the Araluen Botanic Park, 35 km south of the central business district, which has been hailed as “paradise on Earth.”)

To enjoy an outdoor movie experience with a view of the city lights, try Rooftop Movies instead.

If you wish to stargaze without distractions, head to The Space Place in the town of Toodyay, about an hour’s drive from Perth. It is a privately owned observatory where night sky enthusiasts will be on hand to help you grow in your knowledge of space. A suggested itinerary is to arrive before sundown to spend time in the Cartref Park Country Gardens with a picnic basket, before proceeding to the observatory to unlock the secrets of the universe.

For a night out on the town, refer to the Australian Hotel Association’s awards list (finalists and winners) to select a dining or drinking spot. Top picks for 2017 include C Restaurant (finalist, Best Premium Restaurant), Petition (winner, Best Restaurant), Tiki (winner, Best Cocktail Bar and Bartender), Mechanics Institute (winner, Best Small Bar and Bar Team), and The Laneway Lounge (winner, Best Late-Night Venue). You can also find recommendations from Australian sites such as Perth Now and The Urban List.