Residents enjoy a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters.
The city's western suburbs border on the Indian Ocean and there are many beautiful sandy beaches within easy reach. Water sports such as swimming, sailing, wind surfing, surfing, boating and fishing are all very popular and the city has many parks and an extensive network of cycleways. In the cooler months the forests of the nearby Darling Scarp provide many opportunities for bushwalking and in spring there is the added attraction of the thousands of different varieties of wildflowers. Perth is home to the WA Symphony Orchestra and the Western Australian Ballet and every year in January and February Perth hosts the Perth International Arts Festival which boasts an incredible array of performers from all over the world. Rottnest Island, a 40 minute ferry ride away from perth, is a popular holiday destination with its sheltered, unspoilt beaches and relaxed lifestyle.