'I go to this overlooked beach town every summer. Here's my local's guide.'

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I haven't lived in my home town for 24 years. I left when I was 18 'for six months' because I wanted to move to Melbourne and live "The Secret Life Of Us" St Kilda Bohemian dream.

Then marriage, kids, and divorce happened, and now I live in Sydney. But I still go home every year around Christmas to see my family.

The silver lining of this is I get to have a summer holiday in my hometown every year. Even better, it happens to be the most underrated summer holiday destination going around.

Watch: The sparkling sand in Syros. Post continues below.

When I left in 2001, it had a sleepy, small and isolated reputation. Jokingly, it's got a three-hour time delay in the summer months, and Perth has always been accused of being 'behind'.

But the last few years I have noticed a massive shift in the cool vibes of 'sunny Perth'. And sunny it is. It has the most beautiful long stretch of beaches and now, it has cool bars and things to do.

The weather in the summer months is very warm, sunny, and dry, with average daytime temperatures ranging from 27°C to 33°C and very little rain.

The famous "Fremantle Doctor" (sea breeze that blows through in the afternoon) cools the afternoons and evenings, which makes outdoor activities divine.

Here's the thing about Perth that I didn't expect when I was growing up: it's become genuinely cool. Not trying-too-hard cool, but effortlessly, authentically cool in a way that makes you want to tell everyone about it (but also keep it secret).

So, welcome to my hometown local's guide to the place you should most definitely book your next summer holiday.

The beautiful Iconic Cottesloe Beach. Image: Supplied.

Where to stay.

I stay at my mum's house in Swanbourne (a five-minute drive from Cottesloe Beach) when I am back in the hood. But if I were a tourist, I would stay near Fremantle, so I've skewed my recommendations this way.

The vibe in Fremantle is open, eclectic and relaxed: expect bustling markets with street food and artisans, historical architecture housing craft breweries and vintage shops, live music pouring out of cosy bars, and a welcoming local community that actually talks to strangers.

It's a walkable, lively area where you can stumble from hip cafés to art galleries to sunset drinks, all set against a backdrop of 19th-century charm and beaches that locals still call by their old names.

"Freo" as the locals call it (and you'll sound like a tourist if you say the full name), offers accommodation options that range from converted heritage buildings to modern apartments where you can hear the ocean from your bed.

What to do (beach vibes).

The Omeo Ship Wreck, Coogee.

Us and snorkel vibes and an areal view. Image: Supplied / Instagram @Perthisokay

This shipwreck is basically Perth's best-kept secret for families. My kids go snorkelling here every time we visit, and every year, they discover something new in the wreckage.

Locals call it "the wreck" and it sits in about three metres of crystal-clear water, only 20 metres from shore. Pack your snorkel gear and prepare to feel like you're in a David Attenborough documentary. Pro tip: go early in the morning when the water is like glass, and you'll have it mostly to yourself.

Cottesloe Beach at golden hour.

That sunset… and yum. Image: Supplied

Look, everyone bangs on about Bondi, but they've clearly never watched the sun melt into the Indian Ocean from Cottesloe's grassy hill. This is where Perth locals have been coming for decades to celebrate, relax, and just remember why they live here.

You can always get a car park (it's free!) and it's not overcrowded.

My hot tip: grab fish and chips to go from Amberjacks. But order ahead — you don't want to miss that moment when the sky turns every shade of orange and pink you didn't know existed.

Where to go (family friendly vibes).

Running With Thieves, South Fremantle.

Located on iconic South Beach in Fremantle, Running With Thieves is set in a classic beer brewing shed. This place gets it. Proper craft beer for the adults, actual good food (not just "pub grub"), and a playground where kids can burn off energy as the parents enjoy a proper conversation.

This is the kind of place where Sunday sessions turn into "just one more drink" before suddenly, it's 7pm and everyone's best friends.

The locals know to book ahead for weekend lunches. It's become that popular, but in the best possible way.

Clancy's Fish Pub, South Fremantle, City Beach and Canning Bridge.

This is where Perth families go when they want to feel like they're on holiday in their own city. The City Beach location has this massive nature playground that's basically a small child's paradise, while the adults can actually relax with a beer and watch the ocean.

Fair warning: the Sunday sessions here are legendary. I've seen grown adults get genuinely emotional about having to leave when the kids finally crash.

Where to go out.

Darling Darling on the left, 'The Gog' on the right. Image: @perthisokay.local / @thegog

Darling Darling, Fremantle.

Forget everything you think you know about themed bars. This nautical cocktail den on Henry Street is what happens when someone with actual taste decides to create a pirate bar. Think less Pirates of the Caribbean tourist trap, more "sophisticated sailor's hideout."

The cocktails are serious, the free peanuts are addictive, and the "crowd" (this is a proper small bar with a maximum of 23 patrons) is the perfect mix of locals and visitors who've stumbled upon something special.

This is the kind of place where you go for one drink and leave four hours later with new friends.

The Old Synagogue, Fremantle.

This restored heritage building houses multiple venues under one roof, and it's become the beating heart of Fremantle's weekend scene. The rooftop gets packed with locals who've been coming here since it opened, along with visitors who can't believe places like this exist.

The live music is consistently good (not just "pub band" good), and there's something magical about drinking cocktails in a building that's seen over a century of Perth history.

I look forward to my summer holiday every year, not just to see family and reconnect with lifelong friends, but for rediscovering why this corner of Australia keeps surprising me. Perth's not trying to be anywhere else anymore. It's just confidently, beautifully itself.

See you there in January!

Feature Image: Supplied.