Firstly, the Sheraton Perth is an outdated mediocre hotel, but it does now have a club lounge with full breakfast for Plats. I try to stay at the fabulous Inter-Continental instead, although it is ten minutes outside the city.

Secondly, flyco's trip should partly be planned according to the season of travel. (Aside from the fact that Geelong is only worth a 1 night stay as a base for seeing the Great Ocean Road). My rule of thumb is as follows:

1) NZ North Island: visit only between November and Easter.
2) NZ South Island: visit only between Easter and September if you want to see snow at Queenstown.
3) Perth, WA: visit only between October and Easter unless you like cold vacations beside the ocean.
4) Broome, WA, visit only Easter to November unless you like monsoon weather for your beach vacations. (But if you're coming from the USA stop off at Fiji or Tahiti instead, just not during the November-Easter rainy season).
5) Melbourne: visit only if you're an Aussie or Kiwi with an inferiority complex about the lack of culture in your home city. And do so between November and Easter unless you've always fantasised about a cold, wet vacation.