• How do I get there?
• Getting Around
• Tourist Offices
• When to Go
• Where do I Stay?
• What  to bring
• Things to do

How do I get there?

By Road
Driving your way across the country is one way of getting to Perth; the expenses are reasonable if the number of travellers is many. However, beware of the distances, the possibility of breakdowns and the chance of getting stranded in the huge Aussie outback. The roads get impassable during the Wet months, and driving is best avoided then. On Sundays fuel may only be available at the pump stations rostered to stay open, so tank up on weekdays to avoid the hassle of a run around. With care and sensible driving and a sturdy car, it can be a fine experience. Traffic drives on the left side of the road and traffic regulations including wearing of seat belts and driving within speed limits are strictly enforced. For more details check Australia By Road.

Road Rider Alert! Hitchhiking your way across is not advised but if you must, check out the notice boards in student or backpacker hostels for tips.

Getting Around

Perth has a good public transportation system, which is also free in a certain zone.  Transperth operates buses, trains and ferries to various places in Perth and its suburbs. Travel is free of charge on Transperth in the free transit zone in Perth, their offices and newsletter supply additional details. From the airport to the city options include taxis, private airport shuttle services and Transperth buses that run every hour from the domestic terminal.

Fastrak train lines connect the suburbs; the service is reduced in frequency on weekends; also on offer is free train travel in the free transit zone between Claisebrook and City West stations. Boats and ferry services are also covered by Transperth. Cycling is a great way to travel around Perth. The city centre is compactly laid out, so distances aren’t killing.

Those with their own vehicles need to watch out for fuel on Sundays, when petrol pumps work on a roster basis and hence only a few stay open. Filling up fuel from 7 am to 9 pm on weekdays is not a problem.  Car rental companies, especially the smaller ones offer good rates.  Traffic drives on the left side of the road and traffic regulations including wearing of seat belts and staying within speed limits are strictly enforced.

Tourist Offices

The offices open Monday to Saturday, and even on Sundays. The timings vary from place to place and day to day, but all open from 8.30 am to 4.30 to 5pm. These offices supply brochures, price lists, maps etc; and may even book accommodation and tours.

When to Go

The winter months from June to August are the best time to visit Western Australia. The humidity is at its most tolerable, the temperature is as perfect as it can be and the outback is not baking hot. Spring and autumn months are the best months to see the country as a whole.

Where do I Stay?

Luxury to mid range to motels….. you get them all in Perth. So choose what suits you best.

What to bring

Apart from essential travel documents like the passport and visa, carry your driving license and an international driving license, if you have one and especially if you plan on driving around. Carry your essential medication in an adequate supply and a prescription with the generic name of the particular drug. Asthmatics will need to stock up on anti-histamines, especially in the danger months of winter in the south and April/May and October in the north. Inhalers are available across the counter at all drug stores.

Things to Do

• Sights to see
• Dining & Entertainment
• Shopping
• Activities
• Special Events
• City Getaways

Sights to see

If you just want to relax, walk and take in the atmosphere in Perth, go to Kings Park. This 4 km park will give you great views of the Swan River and the city, and of the 17 hectares Botanic Garden with over 2500 species of indigenous plants, and open spaces of natural bushland. WA’s famous wildflowers are on display here during spring. You can rent a bike at the west end of the park and ride down the many biking tracks in the park. Visit Artist in Residence, a gallery displaying and selling authentic Aboriginal art.

The Perth Cultural Centre is a not-to-be-missed visit. It includes the Western Australian Museum, which has exhibits of Aboriginal culture, a marine gallery, vintage cars, a 25m blue whale skeleton and a huge collection of meteorites, one weighing 11 tons! A Discovery centre and Perth original prison built in 1856, is part of the museum. If you want to know what a megamouth is (only 5 specimens of the shark have ever been recorded) then you'll find it soaking in its preservative bath. The Art Gallery of Western Australia with one of the richest displays of Aboriginal art in the country, and the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art can be found here as well.

If gold fascinates you, then head straight to the Perth Mint which handles one ton of gold everyday. You can actually hold a gold bar or even mint your own coins! Security is tight so don't try anything drastic.

Museum buffs can go to the Small World Museum, which has the country’s largest collection of miniatures.

For a pleasant tour of the city hop onto The Perth Tram, which is a replica of its early predecessors and runs on wheels. The tour takes you to some of the nicer buildings and older areas of Perth, which haven't been bulldozed to make way for skyscrapers.

Perth Zoo makes a good outing, especially if you are travelling with youngsters. The zoo is well laid out in pretty gardens across the Swan River. Highlights include a look at the nocturnal house, a numbat display and an Australian wildlife park. The zoo is open every day, though the nocturnal house opens only between 12 to 3pm.

Dining & Entertainment

Dining pleasures await the hungry after a bout of sightseeing. The three main tourist centres of Northbridge, Leederville and Subiaco offer a miscellany of dining choices, in the guise of cafés, food halls, pubs and good restaurants. The city centre has two good food halls offering a variety of international eating options.

Perth nightlife is focused around   'entertainment complexes' combining discos, bars and live music venues. For entertainment in Perth look up the Xpress, the free weekly entertainment magazine available at various local outlets.  It'll give the what-is-on-this week list. There are lots of pubs and nightclubs in Perth main concentrated in Northbridge, Leederville and Subiaco. The pub-rock scene in Perth is pretty good with prominent local and foreign entertainers to give you a taste of glamour and glitz.

Cinemas and theatres in Perth feature both art-house and popular fare; the open-air cinema in Kings Park is a good way of rounding off a day spent in nature’s arms.

Gays and lesbians have their own favourite haunts in Perth. The Westside Observer will give more info on gay and lesbian hangouts and activities. The Perth Gay Pride March takes place in Perth in the last weekend of October.

Shopping

Shopping in Perth is a delight. There are several markets like the Subiaco Pavilion, Galleria Market, Wanneroo Market with food halls and other stalls, Fremantle market and weekend Stock Rd. Markets, which offer a variety of things from arts and crafts to food and clothing. There are excellent outlets for Aboriginal arts and crafts at Creative Native Gallery, Ganada and Artists in Residence Gallery. You can buy precious stones, jewellry made from Kalgoorlie gold, Aargyl diamonds and Broome pearls. Wines from the Swan Valley and sheepskin products, dried flowers, jarra and black boy handicrafts are some of the things to look out for.

Activities

Like all Aussies, the people of Perth are sports mad. Football, basketball, soccer and cricket events feature on the sports calendar. The Western Australia Cricket Association ground is a favourite hunting ground for international one-day matches and test matches.

Special Events

Perth has a hectic festival calendar in the spring and summer months from June to October. The Festival of Perth in February has music, drama, dance and films. The 'alternative' Northbridge Festival, Perth Royal Show and Artrage Festivals are around September and October.   The June festival is the West Week, which celebrates WA’s foundation. There is a week- long revelry, with sports events, concerts and arts and crafts events.

City Getaways

A fascinating view of the sea world and more than 2500 examples of 200 marine species including sharks and stingrays is the star attraction of the Underwater World.  It has a 98 metre long acrylic tunnel, which allows you to literally swim with the sharks!  Interactive displays and dolphin feeding also feature in the aquarium in the suburbs, so take the local train. 

Bungee jumping at Bungee West and water skiing at Cables Water Park are a good outing for those looking for thrills. Head for Lake Monger and hang out with the black swans, go to Tumbulgum Farm and buy Australian produce or go down to the Swan Valley Vineyards and taste a few Australian wines.

Beaches are plenty, popular and of a great variety.  The beaches along the River are calmer and those along the Indian Ocean beautiful, but find out which ones are for experienced swimmers and which are safer. There is even a nude beach at Swanbourne.

Cruises along the Swan River up to vineyards and Fremantle Port are a great way to enjoy a day and have lunch and dinner on board. The river cruises run from September to May and depart from Barrack Jetty. Whale and dolphin watching is fascinating and is on from September to December when the Humpback whales are on their way back to the Antarctica after spending the winter on the north western coast of Australia. Swimming with wild dolphins is offered on tours from Perth daily from September to May.

The port city of Fremantle was founded by Charles Fremantle in 1829, and is less than an hours driving time from Perth. A day trip would be a neat way of checking the place out, then stay on if you prefer its laid back charm. Attractions in Fremantle include old buildings, museums, galleries and crafts markets; or take a boat ride down the water front. In November, look out for the 10 day Festival of Fremantle, the biggest annual event in the city. It features parades, concerts, and exhibitions.

Rottnest Island was misnamed by a Dutch explorer, who thought it infested by giant rats, the ‘rats’ are actually small wallabies called quokkas. Rotto, as it is commonly known, was an important Allied military strong hold in World War II. Today, it is ideal for a day trip out of Perth, so catch a highspeed ferry, and prepare to unwind on the beach, laze in the sun, spot a few quokkas, cycle around or even climb a few hills.

On either side of Perth, and just a few hours away are pleasant coastal beach resorts and two national parks. The Avon National Park is an area of woodlands of native species like the jarrah and marri, set amidst rocky granite outcrops. Towards the north is the Yanchep National Park, set in natural bushland. Look out for the koalas here. 

Need to Know Facts