Perth

OVERVIEW

Experience the essence of Australian city life. Perth is a lazy, laid back city that’s full of charm and character. The city is located on the West coast of Australia and sits along the Swan River which is perfect for fishing, boating or any other water sport you can handle! A stones throw from the centre you will find stunning beaches, bush land parks as well as its many charming towns and suburbs. Perth acts as a great hub for exploring the west coast and you could easily spend a couple of weeks here, or even longer exploring the surrounding areas.

Most people visiting Australia skip Perth and the west coast due to its more isolated location, however after living there for 12 months we can assure you it’s definitely worth the trip!

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BEST TIME TO VISIT

Perth is definitely a year round destination with warm, dry winters and hot, long summers.

Summer

December to February – summers in Perth are dry and hot with occasional sea breezes providing some relief. Average temperatures are around 18–30°C (64–86°F) with really hot days hitting 40°C (104°F) plus.

Autumn

March to May – autumn brings warm, sunny days with cooler evenings. Average temperatures are between 16–26°C (60–78°F) in the day, rarely dropping below 10°C (50°F) at night.

Winter

June to August – winters are cooler with average temperatures around 8–20°C (46–68°F). This period also brings the occasional heavy downpour as well as some stormy weather.

Spring

September to November – spring is a great time to visit with warm, sunny days and temperatures averaging from 12–24°C (53–75°F). Spring also brings an injection of colour as many flowers and plants are in bloom.

The best time to visit would be September to December with temperatures building in December. If you can handle the heat January and February are the hottest months — we still enjoyed these months and the beaches are quiet, if not deserted (hat and sunscreen is highly recommended).

TRANSPORT

Perth has various means of transport, there is an extensive highway network as well as a system of rail and bus routes.

Buses

Perth has a fully networked metropolitan bus system called the Transperth bus system, in addition to this there are also CAT buses which operate around the city that are free and convenient to use. You can get pretty much anywhere around the city centre (CBD) using the free buses which are split into four routes, each serving different portions of the city.

Train

Perth’s rail system covers a slightly larger area around the city than the buses do and it is split into five main lines. You can get to some of the more interesting places and towns using the trains as well as some of the local beach areas.

Ferry

There is a ferry that runs every 20–30 minutes between the Elizabeth Quay Jetty and Mends Street Jetty in South Perth. This ferry is a good and cheap way to travel across the river, to the zoo and to take in views of the city skyline.

Car Hire

There is plenty of choice if you’re looking to hire a car, with options to pick up the rental at the airport or in the city. Although the public transport is great around Perth, a hire car will give you added freedom to find more secluded beaches, explore the Swan Valley wine region or even go on day trips further afield.

AVERAGE COSTS

The currency in Perth is the Australian Dollar (AUS) and note denominations are $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100.

Average Costs (prices in Australian Dollars)

A mid range 3–4 star hotel $50–$190
A nights budget accommodation $20–$60
A three course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant $70–$100
A budget dinner $11–$25
A pint of beer $6–$12
A beer at a local supermarket $3–$8
A regular coffee $4–$5
A bottle of water $2–$4
A taxi from Perth to the Airport $37–$60

ATTRACTIONS

Beaches

You are spoilt for choice when it comes to beautiful, white, sandy beaches that meet the clear waters of the Indian Ocean where spectacular sunset displays are a daily occurrence. Some of these fantastic beaches are just a short drive from the city centre, while many more can be found dotted along the coastline both north and south of the city. With such a huge choice of vast beaches, they very rarely get crowded, with the exception of a couple of the most popular beaches that are mainly more favoured due to the surrounding cafes and restaurants than the actual beach. Many of the beaches have public BBQs and picnic areas, while some also have children’s play areas and there are plenty of opportunities for sea-based activities, such as swimming, surfing and fishing. Some of the most popular beaches are Cottesloe Beach, Scarborough Beach, City Beach and Trigg Beach, but whichever one you choose you won’t be disappointed.

Rottnest Island

A popular destination for locals and tourists alike, lying just a short ferry ride from Freemantle (25 minutes), Hillary’s Boat Harbour (45 minutes) or Perth’s Barrack Street Jetty (90 minutes). There are 63 picturesque beaches and 20 pristine bays around the island and this is also the home of the friendly Quokkas, a marsupial only found in Western Australia and who the island is named after. The island is car free so you can get around either by hiring a bike for a small fee or by the Island Explorer hop-on hop-off bus service that runs regular buses throughout the day, stopping at 18 different stops. An adult day ticket is $20. If you choose to hire a bike the island is only about 6.5 miles (11 km) long and 2.5 miles (4.5 km) wide, making it easy to navigate along the various roads and trails. There are a few places to stay on the island from budget campgrounds and a hostel to cabins and hotels with premium choices.

King’s Park and Botanic Garden

The largest inner city park in the world, located a short distance from Perth’s CBD and easily accessed by multiple entry points along main roads. It provides amazing views over the Swan River and the City of Perth skyline and it is a popular place for picnics, walks and discovering the beautiful flora and fauna on display. You can also cook at one of the public BBQ areas, walk among the treetops on the Lotterywest Federation Walkway, find one of the many memorials or statues, see the huge 750 year old boab tree from the Kimberley region or watch sunset over the twinkling lights of the city.

Perth Mint

Located right in the heart of the City of Perth, the Perth Mint offers an interesting insight into the history of gold in Western Australia. The Gold Exhibition is award-winning and through an array of innovative concepts it tells the story of the discovery of gold in this part of the world. The highlight of this exhibit is the largest and most valuable coin ever made, weighing one tonne of pure gold. A glittering display of natural gold nuggets, handling $700,000 worth of gold bullion and watching molten gold being poured to form a glistening solid bar are other noteworthy features of the exhibit. The mint is open daily from 9:00 am till 5:00 pm, with hourly guided tours on offer throughout the day. Adult admission is $19.

Hillary’s Boat Harbour

Situated about 14 miles (23 km) northwest of Perth’s CBD is this impressive marina with restaurants, bars, shops, a boardwalk, the Aquarium of Western Australia (AQWA) and boat charters (including whale-watching, Sept–Dec) on offer. The AQWA is open daily from 10:00 am till 5:00 pm. Adult admission is $30 and child admission is $18 (ages 4–15). Marmion Marine Park, Sorrento Beach and Mullaloo Beach are also nearby.

Caversham Wildlife Park

This family owned and run wildlife park is located about 11 miles (18 km) from the centre of Perth and is located inside of Whiteman Park. You can take a walk through the Kangaroo enclosure where Kangaroo food is available so you can even feed them too. You can also see the koala’s up close and pose for a photo next to them and meet the wombat and other Aussie animals during an interactive experience with the wildlife park team. It is open everyday from 9:00 am till 5:30 pm (last entry is 4:30 pm). Adult admission is $29 and child admission is $13 (ages 3–14).

AREA GUIDES

Perth Central Business District (CBD)

Perth is a growing, modern and vibrant city, that has a laid back charm. This clean and easily accessible city on the banks of the Swan River has plenty of bars, restaurants, cafes and shops, as well as a wealth of green spaces, with the largest and most impressive being King’s Park. The city is also going through an exciting period of expansion, with new developments further enhancing what the city has to offer. Some of the new and redevelopments are the Perth Arena, Barrack St Jetty and Elizabeth Quay, Perth Stadium and Yangan Square. All of the buses within the CBD are free too with the popular CAT service that has 4 different routes around the city.

Swan Valley

Just 25 minutes from Perth lies a haven of wineries, breweries, distilleries, shops selling gourmet goods and eateries ranging from casual to fine dining and everything in between.The Swan Valley grape industry dates back almost 200 years and today it continues to thrive with an abundance of small, family run business that produce a wide range of grape varieties. There are plenty of tours on offer or you can make your own way round to sample the wine, cider, ales and food on offer and also visit the chocolatiers, honey producers, ice cream and nougat makers and cheese makers. There are over 150 attractions in the area and the whole Swan Valley Food and Wine Trail is a 20 mile (32 km) scenic loop. The historic village of Guildford is the gateway to the Swan Valley and is also worth a visit to see its colonial buildings, character pubs, antique stores and to gain an insight into the areas past.

Freemantle

This port city 30 minutes south of Perth is more commonly referred to as ‘Freo’ by locals. It is relaxed, eclectic, arty, historic and trendy all mixed into one, making this an enjoyable place to explore. You will find museums, colonial buildings, art galleries, quirky shops, chic cafes, markets and micro breweries (our favourite being Little Creatures) doted around the city, as well as Fremantle Prison that dates back to the 1850s. Just outside the city you will also find some fantastic beaches, such as Leighton Beach and South Beach.

Rockingham

This region, located 45 minutes south of Perth, is the southernmost border of the Perth metropolitan area. The city fronts the beautiful expanse of Rockingham Beach with clear, shallow waters, white sand and several jetty’s. This beach is perfect for a safe snorkeling environment, but for more experienced snorkelers or divers the West Coast Dive Park has a dive wreck to explore. You will find plenty of activities in the area including swimming with wild dolphins, kayaking around the Shoulwater Islands Marine Park to see penguins and sea lions, visiting Penguin Island or doing one of the many water sports available, such as jet skiing or kite-surfing.

INTERESTING FACTS

Perth has the largest inner city park in the world, yes, even bigger than Central Park in New York. King’s Park is 1.57 square miles (4.06 km²) and Central Park is 1.32 square miles (3.41 km²).
Perth enjoys more hours of sunshine than any other capital city in Australia – there are 3,200 sunny hours a year!
The city was named by Captain James Sterling in 1829 after Perth in Scotland.
Hollywood stars Isla Fisher and Sam Worthington were raised in Perth and the late Heath Ledger was born there.
Perth Mint is the oldest operating mint in Australia and it still runs from its original premises.
The city is also known as the ‘City of Light’ as when astronaut John Glenn orbited Earth in 1962 he could easily identify Perth as everyone turned their lights on so it made the city highly visible.
Perth is closer to Singapore and Jakarta than it is to Canberra, so it is closer to a foreign country than its country’s capital.