Biking -- Perth's superb bike-track network stretches for miles along the Swan River, through Kings Park, around Fremantle, and all the way down the beaches. There is a great 9.5km (6-mile) track around Perth Water, the broad expanse of river in front of the central business district, that starts at the Swan River on Riverside Drive and goes over the Causeway bridge, back along the other bank and over the bridge at the Narrows back to the city. The state Department of Transport's cycling division, Bikewest, publishes a range of useful bike-route maps to the city. They are available in bike shops, most newsagents, and at Map World, 900 Hay St. (tel. 08/9322 5733).

Rental from Koala Bike Hire, located in the car park behind Fraser's restaurant in Kings Park (tel. 08/9321 3061), is A$5 (US$3.25) for an hour, or A$16 (US$10) for the day, which includes a helmet (required by law in Australia), lock, and maps of Kings Park.

Golf -- Most convenient to the city is Burswood Park Golf Course, part of the Burswood International Resort Casino, across the river on the Great Eastern Highway, Burswood (tel. 08/9362 7576 for the pro shop). A nine-hole round is just A$14 (US$9.10) weekdays and A$17 (US$11) weekends. A cart for nine holes is A$22 (US$14) and club rental is A$17 (US$11).

Even more scenic are the 27 championship fairways designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. at Joondalup Resort, Country Club Boulevard, Connolly, a 25km (15 1/2-mile) drive north of Perth (tel. 08/9400 8811 pro shop); and The Vines in the Swan Valley (tel. 08/9297 3000 for the resort, or 08/9297 0777 for the pro shop), which has two 18-hole bushland courses. Joondalup was ranked the No. 1 Resort Golf Course in Australia by Golf Australia magazine in 2003. Kangaroos often come onto both courses. Expect to pay between A$35 and A$55 (US$23-US$36) for nine holes at either resort, and A$90 (US$59) at Joondalup on weekends.

Sailing -- The tallest Tall Ship in Australia, the lovely three-masted barquentine STS Leeuwin II (tel. 08/9430 4105; www.leeuwin.com), sails from B Shed at Victoria Quay, Fremantle, when it is not out on voyages around Australia. You may be one of up to 40 passengers, but you still get the chance to try your hand at sailing the way it used to be done. Day trips -- usually on weekends -- are from 10am to 3pm and cost A$99 (US$64) for adults and A$55 (US$36) for children under 12. The ship sometimes does 3- or 4-hour sails in the mornings, afternoons, and at sunset.

Experienced sailors can sail on Wednesday afternoons in summer from about 3 to 5pm with members of the Royal Perth Yacht Club, Australia II Drive, Crawley (tel. 08/9389 1555; ask for the sailing administrator), if there is a place available. It's not spinnaker sailing on Wednesdays, so the action is at an easy pace. All-white dress standards apply.

Scuba Diving & Snorkeling -- Just 19km (12 miles) off Perth, Rottnest Island's corals, reef fish, wrecks, and limestone caverns, in 18m to 35m (59- to 115-ft.) visibility, are a gift from heaven to Perth divers and snorkelers. Contact Rottnest Malibu Diving (tel. 08/9292 5111) on Rottnest Island to rent gear or join a dive trip. Diving Ventures, at 384 S. Terrace, Fremantle (tel. 1800/655 330 in Australia, or 08/9430 5130; www.dventures.com.au/dv.shtml), also conducts dive day trips from Perth to Rottnest Island, and also to the wreck of the HMAS Swan, located off Dunsborough in the state's Southwest, a 113m (246-ft.) long destroyer which was scuttled for divers' pleasure a couple of years ago. This trip costs A$160 (US$104) with two dives, including all gear. The company also does 3-day live-aboard trips to Ningaloo Reef, and "introductory" dives for any adventurer without dive qualifications who wants to try the sport in the company of an instructor. The company also rents scuba gear and conducts dive courses. It has a city outlet at 222 William St., Northbridge, in Perth (tel. 08/9228 2630).

Surfing -- You will find good surfing at many city beaches, Scarborough and Trigg in particular. Rottnest Island also has good breaks. Murray Smith Surf Centre, Shop 14, Luna Maxi Mart, Scarborough (tel. 08/9245 2988), rents long boards for A$20 (US$13) for half a day or A$30 (US$20) for the day, plus a A$100 (US$65) refundable deposit. They also rent body boards. Surfing WA (tel. 08/9448 0004) runs 2-hour surfing classes for A$110 (US$72) per person on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Boards, wet suits, and sunscreen are provided.