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Perth

Perth is the capital and largest city of Western Australia. It is separated from Adelaide (the nearest city with over 100,000 inhabitants) by a distance of 2,120 km, including the vast spaces of the Nullarbor Plain, making it one of the world's most isolated cities.

Perth spreads out along on a flat coastal plain, dissected by the Swan River, and spreads over the Darling Scarp to the east. The Indian Ocean coastline to the west is its only distinct physical boundary making it the most isolated continental city anywhere in the world.

Perth has a population of 2.2 million (2021), making it the fourth largest city in Australia.

Districts
The official "City of Perth" is a small area on the north side of the Swan River, consisting of just the city centre. However, the Perth metropolitan area is much larger, spreading in all directions other than the ocean.

History
The Perth region has been home to the Indigenous Nyoongar people for at least the past 60,000 years.

British settlers established a free settler colony in 1829 as part of the Swan River Colony. The settlement was given the name "Perth" after the city of Perth, Scotland, the hometown of Sir George Murray, the British Colonial Secretary at that time.

Lack of labour hampered its development until 1850, when convicts were brought in, at a time when transportation to other parts of Australia had ceased. This boosted the size of the colony and their labour helped shape the early architecture of the city, as well as other infrastructure. The discovery of gold in the 1890s triggered a boom which, with subsequent mineral discoveries, has been a major part of the state's economy. Western Australia joined the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901, after which Perth became a state capital.

Once a small, isolated city, Perth's population overtook that of Adelaide in the 1980s. Perth remains one of Australia's fastest growing cities, and has been transformed from a relatively laid back city to a vibrant one.

Perth's population has been growing more rapidly since the beginning of the 21st century. The development hasn't taken away completely the older parts of the city, and there are many parks and other green spaces within close proximity of the CBD. Perth's economy is intimately tied with the mining industry, and its skyline is fittingly dominated by the corporate offices of Australia's two largest mining conglomerates Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton. A large proportion of Perth's residents comprise of miners, who are transported to the mines in the vast interior of Western Australia via private "Fly-in Fly-out" services operated by the mining companies.

People
Despite its isolation, Perth is a surprisingly culturally diverse city. Due to the high rate of migration to Perth, slightly less than half of Perth's residents were born outside Australia. Its relative proximity to Southeast Asia and Africa has led to an influx of migrants from countries such as Malaysia, South Africa and Thailand, and this is reflected in the diversity of cuisine available in Perth. If you wish to experience a cosmopolitan culture without the hustle and bustle of larger cities, perhaps Perth would be your cup of tea.

Climate
The city has a temperate Mediterranean type climate. Summers are hot and dry, while winters are generally wet and mild. Summer temperatures average 30°C (86°F) between November and April. Maximum temperatures during the height of summer can reach and sometimes exceed the 40°C (104°F) mark. Very hot days tend to have very low humidity, making conditions more bearable. Sunrise is at 5AM and it does not get dark until around 7:30PM during the summer months.

In the Perth metropolitan area, the summertime temperature rises rapidly during the morning, relieved in the afternoon when the "Fremantle Doctor" blows inland from the ocean to cool the city by up to 15°C. The doctor runs out of puff before reaching the areas further inland, leaving the hills and beyond to swelter till after sunset.

Winter (Jun-Aug) temperatures are usually around 15°C in the day, and usually fall to about 8-10°C at night. Minimum temperatures have been known to drop below 0°C on clear nights. Though Perth goes through lengthy dry spells, when it does rain, it pours. In the past storms with strong winds occasionally hammer a winter night, but they generally caused no more destruction than a toppled tree or flattened fence. Intense storms have created hail and more serious damage. Snow has never been known to fall in the Perth city centre, though very light dustings have been known to occur on higher elevations in the Perth Hills. Daylight hours run from 7:15AM to 5:15PM during winter.

When to visit
Spring (Sep-Nov) and Autumn (Mar-May) are ideal times in which to visit Perth. Spring (particularly Oct/Nov) is perhaps the very best time, as after a decent winter's rainfall, the famous wild flowers around Kings Park and the neighbouring Avon Valley region are blooming. The metropolitan areas and the bushlands have many flowering species which often flower en-masse, so it is wise to purchase over-the-counter hay fever or antihistamines from a local chemist before making a trip to see them. Beach-goers from colder climes might find the summer months too harsh, so it is perhaps best to visit during March–April or October–November, and to take a hat, sun-screen lotion and sunglasses.

The local inhabitants tend to holiday during the height of summer or winter, either to escape the climate, or to celebrate it. In winter, Perth inhabitants often travel north to Broome or Bali for the warmth, or else stay in small chalets in the south and south west during the winter to enjoy the cool wet climate and seasonal foods.

Although Western Australia has many public holidays, they are unlikely to cause much inconvenience to your travels. Most shops are still open, public transport still runs (to a reduced timetable) and the sky is still blue. The exceptions are Good Friday, Anzac Day (25 Apr) and Christmas Day (25 Dec), when most shops and restaurants are closed. Generally only offices, banks and government services are closed for the other 7 public holidays; New Year's Day (Jan 1), Australia Day (26 Jan), Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day (first Monday of March), King's Birthday (last Monday in September), WA Day (first Monday in June) and Boxing Day (26 Dec).

Tourist information

 * Visit Perth website

By plane
All scheduled international and domestic flights arrive and depart from

International destinations and the airlines servicing them include:

 * Auckland (Air New Zealand, Batik Air)
 * Bangkok (Jetstar, Thai Airways, from March 2024)
 * Denpasar (Batik Air, Citilink, Air Asia, Jetstar)
 * Doha (Qatar Airways)
 * Dubai (Emirates)
 * Hong Kong (Cathay Pacific)
 * Ho Chi Minh City (VietJet Air, Vietnam Airlines)
 * Jakarta (Batik Air, Citilink - seasonal route, Air Asia)
 * Johannesburg (South African Airways, from April 2024)
 * Kuala Lumpur (Air Asia, Batik Air, Malaysia Airlines)
 * London (Qantas)
 * Manila (Philippine Airlines)
 * Mauritius (Air Mauritius)
 * Paris (Qantas, from July 2024)
 * Phuket (Jetstar)
 * Rome (Qantas - seasonal route during Australian winter only)
 * Shanghai (China Eastern - seasonal route)
 * Singapore (Jetstar, Qantas, Scoot, Singapore Airlines)
 * Tokyo (ANA)

By boat
Once it was the only way to reach Perth and the rest of Australia, often in chains. Nowadays a dwindling number of freight ships have passenger places available to Fremantle from Southeast Asia, Los Angeles and San Diego USA, and very rarely all the way from Europe. Their facilities are pretty basic and mundane, more like a hostel bunkhouse with added sea-sickness than a Conradian salty adventure.

For a luxurious arrival at a splurgy price, come on one of the cruise ships which call regularly at Fremantle, including the Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria. These often offer one-way cruises to and from Fremantle, usually to other Australian cities, to New Zealand, and to Southeast Asia. They sail most often in summer, seldom in winter. Check the schedule here and you'll need to book many months in advance.

By train
Most long-distance and regional trains run to East Perth, 1 km NE of the city. It's part of the Public Transport Centre so many city buses and metro trains serve it, and there are taxis. The Australind train from Bunbury arrives at Platform 3 of Perth Station.

The Indian Pacific runs to Perth from Sydney and Adelaide. It is more expensive than flying and takes longer than driving yourself, but this journey, which takes four days and three nights, is one of the world's great train journeys. You can bring your car on the train with you only if you are travelling to/from Adelaide, but not Sydney. The train traverses the longest stretch of straight track of any railway in the world (478 km) as it journeys across the Nullarbor.

Regional train services are operated by Transwa. Their four routes are:
 * The Australind runs twice a day between Perth and Bunbury.
 * The Prospector runs daily between Perth and Kalgoorlie, with a second train on Mondays and Fridays.
 * The AvonLink runs between Northam and Midland Monday to Friday.
 * The MerredinLink runs between Perth and Merredin on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

By bus
The main operators of long-distance and inter-city coaches in Western Australia are the government-run Transwa, and Integrity Coaches.

Transwa buses run from the Public Transport Centre in East Perth. They run overnight north up the coast (both by Brand Highway 1, and Coastal Highway 60) to Dongara, Geraldton, and Kalbarri. To go further north, take the Integrity Coach, described below.

Transwa has three SE routes to Esperance, and three SW routes (all via Bunbury) to Pemberton. Their "Great Southern" routes are to Albany, with one service continuing to Katanning.

Integrity Coach Lines run from Midland Station, 10 km east of downtown, and pick up at Wellington Street Perth opposite the central metro station (on some routes it's vice versa). They run north two or three times a week via the coastal Highway 1 to Dongara, Geraldton, Carnarvon, Coral Bay, Exmouth, Port Hedland and Broome. A less frequent service cuts inland along the Great Northern Highway via Mount Magnet and Newman to Port Hedland. At Broome you can transfer to the Greyhound Australia coach to Darwin, from where coaches run to Alice Springs, Adelaide, and the eastern cities of Australia.

South West Coach Lines run from southwestern towns including Busselton, Bunbury, Margaret River, Manjimup, Collie and Dunsborough, to Perth Airport and Elizabeth Quay downtown.

There is no regular bus across the Nullarbor Plain between Perth and Adelaide, but there are adventure-oriented tours that include camping and sightseeing. The only one operating on a regular basis is Nullabor Traveller, which has 9/10 day tours. These depart eastbound from Perth (Sundays), westbound from Adelaide (Wednesdays), once a week in summer (Nov-Jan) slowing to once a month off-season, and not running mid-winter. Tour price is around $1600 per person.

By car
Driving to Perth from Adelaide (2700 km) or Darwin (4100 km) is possible, as the road quality is good, and there's fuel, food and accommodation along the main highways. But it will take the best part of a week each way; that means a week of solid driving, with little time for sights or activities en route. Locals would consider it a 'once in a lifetime' excursion, which is their typically understated Australian way of saying "Hell, never again, mate!" Only attempt these drives if your car is in good repair. Australians and foreign visitors alike run the risk of death by dehydration if a breakdown leaves them stranded in the outback.

By public transport
The Perth metropolitan area has a fairly reliable and inexpensive public transport system operated by Transperth. Information about timetables, disruptions or service alterations can be found on their website, by calling or at 'Transperth Infocentres' at the central train station and a couple of branches in the City

By bus
A reasonably reliable network of public buses serves the city centre, suburbs and outlying townships, with good interconnections between routes and with metro rail services. Most routes run hourly in the off-peak and every 20 to 30 minutes during peak hours, although the exact frequency varies by route. Some routes only run on weekdays, and some only have a limited number of services each day. Hi-Frequency routes run every 15 minutes, and some of these routes can be even more frequent. The "Super Bus" between Morley and UWA runs every two minutes in the peak, for example.

Transport buses also serve rural towns and villages near Perth. Some bus routes travel to far-flung areas like Serpentine and Pinjarra. These routes only operate a few times a day, and some stops may appear to be in the middle of nowhere. Some bus routes can be extremely long. The CircleRoute, for example, takes four and a half hours to complete a full trip. Suburban buses do not have toilets on board, so be prepared to get off mid-journey for a toilet break or hold it in!

Transperth buses are free in central Perth. This applies to all bus services while they are within the CBD Free Transit Zone. You don't need a permit or Smartrider, just get on. In addition, there are CAT buses that are free throughout their route. There are five routes - red, blue, yellow, green, purple - and some buses match the colour, others will have the colour written on their front and side signs. See city centre page for details.

Similar free bus schemes operate in Northbridge, Fremantle and Joondalup - see relevant pages.

The Perth Explorer Bus is a hop-on hop-off bus that runs on a loop around the downtown area.

By train

The suburban railway network is great for quickly getting to outlying suburban areas. All services stop at the central Perth station in the City on their way to or from the outlying terminating stations. The network consists of six lines:
 * Fremantle Line, servicing western Perth, to Fremantle.
 * Midland Line, servicing eastern Perth to Midland, and offering transfers to regional and interstate rail services.
 * Armadale/Thornlie Line, servicing south-eastern Perth to Armadale, with a spur line to Thornlie.
 * Joondalup Line, servicing north-western Perth, to Butler (via Joondalup).
 * Mandurah Line, servicing southern Perth, to Mandurah.
 * Airport Line, servicing eastern Perth, to High Wycombe.

All rail lines converge at Perth Station. Joondalup and Mandurah Line services utilise underground platforms at Perth Underground Station, which is directly connected to Perth Station, allowing transfers by foot to the other lines.

All lines connect to various bus services. The Perth Busport, which is in the CBD, is where many bus services can be boarded, and is directly connected to Perth Station. The Elizabeth Quay Bus Station is another prime bus service location in the CBD, and is directly connected to Elizabeth Quay Station on the Mandurah and Joondalup Lines. Most train stations across Perth have bus transfers that service the more local area of the station.

Train services run every 5–10 minutes (this depends on the line and station) during peak hours. Express services on the Fremantle and Midland lines have now been replaced with local trains, resulting in more frequent service at many stations. Off peak and most of the day on weekends, trains run every 15 min and 30 min after 7PM and weekends. The Armadale Line runs express at all times except late nights.

During peak hours (7-9AM & 4:30-6:30PM) the Midland (east) and Joondalup (northwest) lines can become extremely overcrowded. Avoid these lines during peak if possible. Bicycles are not allowed on trains heading toward the city in the morning peak, or away from the city in the evening peak; they are also not allowed to enter or pass through Perth, Perth Underground or Elizabeth Quay stations during peak hours. Passengers with bikes should use stations just outside the CBD (City West, McIver, Canning Bridge or Leederville) during this time, and then ride to the final destination from there.

Services commence around 5AM and cease around midnight. Remember to purchase a valid ticket or use your SmartRider card when travelling on the rail network. Failing to have a proper ticket can cost you $100, and the fine doubles for every month it is overdue. Fail to pay a fine at all, and you could end up paying up to $20,000 in fines and court costs. A good tip to remember is, if you have a SmartRider, to use one of the red fare gates to enter the station, so you can also be sure you have "tagged on". Do the same when leaving. Not all stations have these gates. If your station does not, look for a green pole with a SmartRider reader instead.

Late night service
On Saturday and Sunday mornings, extra services depart Perth at 1AM and 2AM. These services cater to people returning home from night clubs in Northbridge. These services operate in one direction only, heading away from the city. The Armadale services run all stops during this time; there is no late night service to Thornlie.

Weekend travel
Weekend service frequency is 15 minutes on all routes. Trackwork can cause partial line closures on weekends, with buses replacing trains. It is rare for a whole line to be closed due to track work, but it does occur at least twice a year on the Fremantle and Midland Lines.

By ferry
Transperth operates a ferry shuttle service between the city, departing from Elizabeth Quay, and Mends Street Jetty in South Perth. Services are frequent throughout the day, and it is rare for a service to be cancelled. From Mends Street, it is a seven minute walk to Perth Zoo. The Blue CAT connects to the ferry, and the Elizabeth Quay (formerly known as Perth Esplanade) Train Station is adjacent to the ferry terminal. Fares are part of the bus and train Transperth system, with a 2-section fare needed to cross the river, or it can be part of a multi-zone bus or train ticket, if it's taken within the time period as shown on the ticket.

Fares
For trains, buses and ferries, the Transperth system is divided into 9 concentric zones, and the Free Transit Zone (city centre and surrounds). The Free Transit Zone on the trains is only available to SmartRider (transport card) holders, passengers without a card have to buy a ticket. Tickets and passes are valid on all buses, ferries and trains within a zone. Tickets are valid for 2 hours and can be used on your return trip.

Zone 2 extends as far as Fremantle and for most visitors a two zone ticket will suffice. Single trip, cash tickets can be purchased from bus drivers or coin-operated ticket machines located at train stations. The more convenient SmartRider cards automatically calculate your fare and deduct it from your card when you tag on and off upon boarding and alighting bus and train services. SmartRiders can be bought or recharged at Transperth Information Centres, major train and bus stations and/or from most Newsagents. Bus drivers can also charge your SmartCard for you, however they will not provide change. SmartRider cards carry a 15% discount over cash fares.

There are $9.30 Single Rider passes available after 9AM most days. Family Rider passes also cost $9.30 and allow two standard fare passengers plus up to (five?) concession passengers unlimited travel- these are only available Monday to Thursday after 6PM (3PM on Fridays), and all day on weekends and school or public holidays. This is an excellent value for couples and couples with children, as a standard one-way fare alone runs from $2.70 for one zone, $4.00 for two zones, and $4.70 for three zones.

Those passengers not holding SmartRider cards will need to present their paper ticket to the transit guard upon entering and leaving Perth Station and selected suburban stations.

By taxi
Taxi experiences in Perth can range from hassle-free to problematic. Extended waits during peak periods (5-9AM weekdays, and weekend evenings) are common, but outside these times, taxis are plentiful. Booking a taxi is possible but only recommended if your journey is likely to be upwards of $25 or you are travelling to the airport. This is due to the convoluted way in which the dispatch services handle timed bookings. If your journey is likely to be short, it is better to simply call for a taxi once you are ready to leave, or hail a taxi if you are in a busy area.

Three major taxi companies are Swan Taxis, who dispatch Swan, TriColor, 13CABS, Yellow and Coastal taxis, , Black and White Taxis and Maxi Taxi Perth , they specialise in van taxis with wheelchair hoist and lifts. They also accept all major cards including cabcharge vouchers and Taxi Users Subsidy Vouchers (TUSS vouchers). They strongly suggest that people book online. There are many smaller companies that operate mainly out of the Central Business District. Fares are regulated by the state government and all dispatch companies charge the same rate. Flagfall is $3.90 during weekdays, increasing to $5.70 on week nights and weekends. The kilometre rate is $1.59/km charged in $0.10 increments. Surcharges apply on designated holiday periods (New Year's Eve and Christmas Day) and on weekend nights between midnight and 5AM. Tipping taxi drivers in Perth is not customary, but adding a small gratuity ($1 or $2) on top of the fare is common for exceptional service.

Catching a taxi from an entertainment precinct late on a Friday or Saturday night sees clubbers waiting at taxi stands up to 2 hours for a ride home. Drivers are known to avoid picking up drunken patrons from outside of pubs, clubs or from the entrance to Perth central station. There have been sexual assaults on female passengers so it is advisable to travel in groups. There are specially designated 'secure ranks' operating at these times where patrons can queue in (relative) safety. Another option is the late night Transperth trains and buses run specially for revellers after their night out.

Services at Perth Airport are generally reliable, but at off peak times (1-8AM, be prepared for a potential wait at the taxi-stand as the line of waiting taxis crawl in one by one. The frequency at night drops off but there should still be a few cars waiting to meet incoming planes. A typical taxi ride from the Domestic Airport to the city is around $30 ($35 from the International). There is a $2 airport tax payable on top of the fare.

For bookings made more than 24 hours in advance, you can request that your booking be pre-confirmed with a driver for an additional $9 fee. If the taxi arrives later than ten minutes, the fee will be waived. Normal bookings can still be placed 24 hours in advance at no additional cost.

 * Uber
 * Didi
 * HOP

By bicycle
Perth can be comfortably explored on foot or by bicycle as Perth has some of the best cycling and pedestrian infrastructure in Australia.

The Perth bicycle network features an ever growing, metro-wide system of bicycle/pedestrian paths. The system features;
 * Principal Shared Paths (high standard shared paths that run adjacent to each railway lines and along major motorways).
 * Local Bicycle Routes (a series of on-road routes and some suburban off-road sections that run through parks - these paths provide a connection to such destinations as schools, shopping centres and other recreational facilities.
 * Generic minor works (projects include general improvements to the cycling environment in local areas, such as on-road bike lanes and sealed shoulders).
 * End of trip facilities (including U-Rails, Cora bike racks and bike lockers and change-rooms).

Cycle maps are available from most bike shops, and at Transport Maps. The Department of Transport provides a range of guides, maps and brochures for bike riders. If you have a scenic route in mind, these brochures can take you to the coast, Kings Park, Armadale and the Hills or around the Swan River.

A favourite among seasoned local cyclists is the ride along the North side of the Swan River between the City and Nedlands. Allow 60 min for a round trip along this route, as you might encounter a strong headwind.

Bicycles are allowed on board Transperth trains but not during peak hour unless they can be folded up.

By car
Driving into Perth's CBD and Northbridge will mean paying to park, which can cost up to $40 a day on a weekday. There is also congestion on roads leading to the CBD during peak hours. The other option is to park at a railway station and catch a train. Some stations charge a small fee for parking, and all-day parking can fill up. Once parked in the CBD, you can reach most destinations by foot or by a free bus.

Renting a car is the ideal means of transportation for travelling through the suburbs and to outlying attractions. Most major car hire companies have locations in Perth city. Unlike the east coast, Perth's major freeways and highways are free from any tolls, and it is possible to be surrounded by beautiful countryside within minutes.

Car rental providers are located at the airport and in the city. There are some providers also in the suburbs.

The speed limit within built-up areas is 50 km/h unless otherwise directed by traffic signs. On major State Highways, such as 3, 4, 7 and 8, the speed limit can quickly go from 100 km/h, to 60 km/h. Be aware, and unlike Sydney or Albury, the maximum urban speed limit is 100 km/h, unless in the very very outer suburbs (1 Forrest Highway or 94 GEH).

Police are rarely seen out on the roads but speed cameras are very prevalent. Driving even 5 km/hr above the speed limit can incur a fine. Driving 40 km/hr above the speed limit means the car is impounded for 28 days even if it is not your car (hire cars excepted).

Special event transit
During special events, extra public transport services will be running, but can get crowded very fast. Some events may also result in road closures. If you are attending one of these events, you should plan ahead.

Perth Stadium is served by dedicated bus and train stations. Stadium train station is open on weekends regardless of whether an event is taking place or not. Armadale line trains stop every 15-30 minutes. During special events, extra trains to and form Armadale, Fremantle, and Joondalup serve the station. Midland line passengers should consider walking from East Perth if possible. If walking is not an option, transfer at Perth. Changing trains at McIver or Claisebrook is not an option, either because trains heading toward the stadium will already be too crowded to board, or the stations will be closed. Mandurah line passengers must change at Perth. Thornlie line services do not run during stadium events. Bus services run from many destinations across the city to the stadium, usually every 15 minutes. The Yellow CAT serves East Perth Cemetery, which is within walking distance of Matagraup bridge, which provides an alternative route.

Perth Arena is served by Perth station and Perth Busport, with the Yellow CAT stopping in front of the box office.

NIB Stadium is served by Claisebrook and East Perth stations. Arena Joondalup is served by Joondalup station.

New Year's Eve and Australia Day are the most difficult events to reach, as they include many road closers and a high demand for public transport. Plan ahead and by prepared for long wait times. On both days, trains between Elizabeth Quay and Perth Underground are suspended during the events to prevent the stations becoming overcrowded, so you may need to walk between them in order to leave the city. On NYE, train and bus services run until 3AM the following morning.

See
Top sights in and around the city are:
 * The renovated WA Museum, the Art Gallery of WA and PICA, and the Perth Mint — see city centre page.
 * Kings Park and Botanic Gardens — see city centre page
 * Fremantle Prison, Maritime Museum and Shipwrecks gallery — see Fremantle page

Outside of the metropolitan area are some unspoilt national parks, unpopulated coasts and other interesting locations.

Kangaroos
There is a designated area in the zoo for kangaroos where they can wander on visitors' paths. The animals are used to people, so you can see them very close.

To see semi-wild kangaroos, visit the Pinnaroo Valley Memorial Park (a cemetery, but not European style). It's in walking distance from Whitfords Transperth Train/Metro Station - just cross the highway, the highway exit and look for the entrance on the left. As there is plenty of space for them, you may see them not only eating but also hopping.

In Whiteman Park, kangaroos come close to the parking areas in the main visitor areas of the park. Kangaroos are also commonly seen on many golf courses, including at The Vines and Joondalup Resorts.

There are also kangaroos that occasionally come close to the Mundaring Weir Hotel and the car park above Mundaring Weir/Lake C Y O'Connor.

Spectator sports

 * Perth Glory play soccer in the A-League, Australia's top tier. The season runs Oct-March, with playoffs running into April. Perth Glory W-League competes in the women's equivalent league. Both teams play at Perth Oval, also known as HBF Park due to a sponsorship deal. The stadium is a 10-min walk from Northbridge, or a 3-min walk from Claisebrook Train Station. In 2023 it staged matches in the Women's World Cup, co-hosted by Australia and NZ.
 * Cricket:
 * Western Warriors play cricket in Australia's main domestic competitions — the Sheffield Shield ("first-class"; matches run for four days), the Ford Ranger Cup (one-day cricket; matches last about 8 hours). Home ground is the WACA. The WACA also previously hosted one of the summer Test matches (over five days) and at least one One-Day International game against a touring international side, however some events are now played at the new, larger venue, Perth Stadium.
 * Perth Scorchers play cricket in the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash (matches last about 3 hours), normally in the last few weeks of December. Matches are played at the WACA, but it is renamed "The Furnace" to tie in with the Scorchers theme.
 * The Australian national team plays most of its matches at the Perth Stadium whenever matches are hosted in Perth. The Perth Stadium has replaced the WACA Ground as Perth's main Test cricket ground.
 * Western Force is a Rugby union team in the National Rugby Championship, the country's top domestic competition (though also featuring a team from Fiji). Season runs from early September to late October. Western Force play at HBF Park.  The Australian Rugby union team, The Wallabies, also play a game in Perth most years, nowadays using Perth Stadium.
 * Perth Wildcats play in the National Basketball League. Home games are at the Perth Arena.  Join the Red Army!
 * Perth Lynx play in the Women's National Basketball League. Home games are the Bendat Basketball Centre, Floreat.
 * Perth Heat play in the Australian Baseball League. Home games are at Baseball Park, Thornlie.
 * West Coast Fever play netball in Suncorp Super Netball. Home games are at RAC Arena (Perth Arena underneath the corporate naming rights) in the city centre.
 * West Coast Fever play netball in Suncorp Super Netball. Home games are at RAC Arena (Perth Arena underneath the corporate naming rights) in the city centre.

Do

 * Perth's parks range from inner-city parks such as Kings Park, Bold Park, and Lake Monger, to outer city parks such as John Forrest and Whiteman Park.
 * Perth's parks range from inner-city parks such as Kings Park, Bold Park, and Lake Monger, to outer city parks such as John Forrest and Whiteman Park.
 * See a concert. Perth has an enormous traditional arts scene. There are many world-class orchestras and opera companies, as well as theatre and jazz. The West Australian Symphony Orchestra is the premier orchestra in Perth and mostly performs every few weeks at the Perth Concert Hall. The WA Opera produces between 4 and 6 operas a year, performing at His Majesty’s Theatre. The WA Ballet also produces 4 ballets a year, most productions are at His Majesty’s. The Ellington Jazz Club is renowned for major acts and local jazz in an intimate setting. Sets are playing almost every day.
 * Golf: notable courses are Royal Perth, Maylands and Mount Lawley.
 * Golf: notable courses are Royal Perth, Maylands and Mount Lawley.
 * Golf: notable courses are Royal Perth, Maylands and Mount Lawley.

 * Fremantle Markets are a "Fremantle institution" popular with tourists and locals for local crafts, fresh produce, food, and entertainment. Opens on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and is an easy 8 minute walk from Fremantle train station.
 * Kalamunda Farmer’s Markets run every Sunday morning in Central Mall in Kalamunda, 30 min from the CBD. Parking is free and plentiful, with a large array of local produce and food for sale. Open 8AM-noon.
 * Manning Farmers Markets are popular with locals for fresh local produce, breakfast and coffee. It has more than 50 stalls and is very busy before 10AM. Open Saturday 7:30AM-12:30PM. Regular public transport to Curtin University bus station (followed by a 15-minute walk through the uni grounds).
 * Perth City Farmers Market focuses on fresh, ethical and sustainable produce. Open Saturday 8AM-noon. 3-minute walk from Claisbrook train station.
 * Twilight Hawkers Markets have more than 50 food stalls in the centre of the city. Open Friday night 4:30-9:30PM from October to April.

Beaches
Perth boasts some of Australia's best beaches along the coast, which are ideal for swimming during the warmer months. Sunscreen is essential, and insect repellent may come in handy during the evening. As the beaches are on the open ocean, it is strongly advised that you only 'swim between the flags' at patrolled beaches. Cottesloe Beach is one of Perth's most famous, and a favourite among locals and tourists alike, with its heritage pavilion. It's also the easiest to access via public transport from the nearby Cottesloe station on the Fremantle line, making it the quickest and easiest to get to from the CBD. Scarborough beach is also quite popular and accessible.

Live music
Perth is well known for its indie music scene at established venues such as Amplifier Bar, Rosemount, Fly By Night, The Rocket Room and Mojos. The Big Day Out Festival was held in early February every year. Visit YourGigs for upcoming gigs or Perth Indie Bands for a selection of good Perth bands.

Learn
Perth is home to several universities, of which the University of Western Australia is part of the prestigious "Group of Eight". All these universities have opportunities for international students to enrol in either as part of their degree programs, or as part of exchange agreements with foreign universities. Other universities located in the Perth metropolitan area are Curtin University, Murdoch University, Edith Cowan University and Notre Dame University.

Buy
The largest concentration of boutique shops is in the City centre while adjacent Northbridge is the place for niche independent stores. Trendier suburbs such as Mount Lawley, Leederville and Subiaco have a number of offbeat designer fashion stores.

Most of the top end luxury brands like Gucci, Chanel and Louis Vuitton are located on or around King Street in the CBD.

Large shopping complexes located in the outer suburbs, such as in Morley (Galleria), Cannington (Westfield Carousel), Midland (Midland Gate), Joondalup, Booragoon (Westfield Booragoon), Innaloo and Karrinyup have the usual department and chain stores.

Fremantle Markets offers an experience on its own with its over 150 independent stalls.

Hours
Shopping hours in the Perth metropolitan area for medium size shops to large supermarket/department stores are:
 * Monday to Friday 8AM-9PM
 * Saturday 9AM-5PM
 * Sunday and most public holidays 11AM-5PM

Even at the larger shopping centres, many smaller stores do not remain open until 21:00 each night except Thursday, which is the traditional, and still busiest, night for "late night shopping" in Perth. All shops are required to close for Good Friday, Christmas and ANZAC Day.

Small supermarkets such as IGA and other small shops can have more flexible shopping hours (some Petrol stations and small corner stores are open 24 hours).

A 10% Goods and Services Tax is included in listed prices. WaterTown (formerly Harbour Town) is where manufacturers have their factory outlets; some good deals can be found had there. It's walking distance from the centre of Perth, or catch the free Yellow CAT bus.

After Christmas and during June and July, many stores hold big sales with heavy discounting. Nearly all stores are open on Boxing Day, but some are not. Boxing Day sales attract massive crowds, so be prepared for long lines. Department stores like Myer and David Jones can be extremely busy on sale days, and shopping centre car parks reach capacity almost as soon as the doors open. Some retailers have started offering Black Friday deals in November, but this hasn't fully caught on yet.

Eat
One of Perth's drawbacks is that its people have not embraced late night dining. Very few places will serve food after 10PM, even on Friday or Saturday nights. Most restaurants in Perth do not cater for vegetarians or vegans, and if they do - the range is extremely limited. If you are looking for a place that embraces vegetarian food, Fremantle is great.

Restaurants
There is an extensive array of restaurants in Northbridge. You will find a great selection of Southern European and Asian restaurants. Northbridge gets very busy on Friday and Saturday nights as Perth goes into party mode. Neighbouring Mount Lawley and Highgate also have some good options. Victoria Park has a stretch of restaurants along Albany Hwy which is a fairly steady location with the locals and has a few high quality restaurants, although is lower key and more casual. Northbridge is also home to Perth's Chinatown. As most ethnic Chinese residents of Perth are descended from Malaysian Chinese immigrants, much of the Chinese food is based on Malaysian Chinese food.

Fremantle is a good eating option. Famous for its cappuccino strip lined with cafes next door to one another popular with the yuppie crowd. On weekends, a local tradition is to visit the Fisherman's Wharf on warm, sunny weekend evenings for fish and chips. There are a couple of options to choose from close to the beach. Just follow your nose or the seagulls. Further exploring in Fremantle, or "Freo" as it is locally known, can reveal lots of trendy, alternative restaurants that cater for the "careful" eaters. If you care about knowing what it is you are eating, (vegan, preservative free, fair trade, organic), try exploring the Freo markets area, or ask around, they are often not in the "touristy areas". Little Creatures is a decent brewery, but is also a yuppie pub.

If you are looking for a decent fish and chip or seafood dinner, it is typically far more expensive by the coast (where the tourists are), excellent seafood at a better price can be sourced in the central and eastern suburbs.

Subiaco is located a couple of kilometres from the city centre. It is a trendy but fun suburb which features some great food and entertainment, although it can be quite expensive.

Claremont is a suburb on the Fremantle railway line where you will find some good restaurants as well (including authentic Italian), although, again, it can be quite expensive and there is a limited range.

The Swan Valley, especially along West Swan Road contains various wineries, food producers and restaurants with stunning views over the vineyards. Particularly good are The Black Swan Cafe, Duckstein Brewery, Elmar's and The Mallard Duck Cafe.

Kalamunda and other Eastern hills suburbs offer hidden gems of cafes, small shops and food producers in beautiful countryside with stunning city views. Perth locals used to go for picnics and produce festivals in these areas back in the 19th and early 20th century; however as the practice waned with fashions leading towards the coast, it is an excellent place to visit away from the touristy areas for a relaxing or peaceful trip to the bush with fine views and decent food not too far from the city. People often do DIY food tours to local orchards, vineyards, cheesemakers, bakeries and other cottage industries, arts and cafes as its not really organised. Its usually best to visit during Spring or soon after the rains when the forest is at its best.

Guildford has many antique stores (although like all Australian antique markets it is visited by many hundreds of tourists and locals, so real bargains can be rare), but you can get decent cafe morning teas and lunches in some fine old architecture. This area has some of Perths oldest residential houses and grand building museums & cafes. The old theatre now houses a large Asian textile and artworks store worth a visit and a quirky taxidermy museum a few doors down. Alfreds Kitchen is a tiny but legendary burger bar to the locals, who amass in large crowds that opens at night.

Delis can be found scattered throughout the suburbs. These small stores, sometimes located in a converted houses, sell basic household supplies, magazines, and food cooked fresh to order. Menus mostly revolve around fish and chips. Servings are cheap, but can be larger than expected. Cooking times are often different than store hours, so check before hand.

Local specialties
A large Western Rock Lobster (known locally by its former name of crayfish) industry. Most of the crayfish is exported to Asia for vast sums of money. However, crayfish prices in Perth can be relatively cheap, especially during summer in a good season. A chance to give it a try without breaking the bank.

Chilli Mussels are a popular local specialty, consisting of mussels cooked in tomato and chilli jus, available in various restaurants.

Truffles are grown around Mundaring and Manjimup, and hosts an individual truffle festivals at different times in the year.

Wine regions
The nearest wine region to Perth is the Swan Valley which has many wineries, distilleries and breweries. In addition to cellars where you can sample the wines many wineries also have restaurants or cafés for meals. The second most recognized region is the Margaret River region (about a three-hour drive away) which is extremely popular for wine tasting, delicious chocolate and fresh, locally made food and produce. Lesser publicized regions include the Porongurup region which is recognised internationally for its Rieslings, Mount Barker region also produces fine Rieslings and Shiraz.

Coffee
Perth has an abundance of Gloria Jeans, Miss Mauds and Dome stores mainly in the city centre and suburban shopping areas. Clusters of independent European style cafes line the trendy streets of suburbs around the city centre. The most well known place for a decent espresso is the Cafe Strip in Fremantle closely followed by the districts of Subiaco, Leederville and South Perth. Perth culture has a high quality taste for coffee and demands very high standards in product.

Pubs and bars
Perth has bars scattered throughout the city but most bars are in the CBD, Northbridge, Subiaco, Leederville, Victoria Park, Mount Lawley & Fremantle areas. Bars usually become busy after 5PM with the afterwork crowd, but most locals tend to go to bars on Friday & Saturday nights. The CBD bars in particular get very busy on Friday nights with many of the popular bars forming long entry lines. Most bars open from around 11AM and close midnight (10PM on Sundays), a few bars do have special extended liquor trading hours to 1AM, 2AM, or 3AM. There has been an increase in small bars and bistro dining in niche areas of the CBD. However despite good quality, these are typically expensive, so browse around for a good value evening.

Clubs
Perth has a small but strong dance music scene which revolves heavily around drum & bass. Club nights and international gigs are held at a variety of venues across the city centre, Northbridge and outer suburbs (check out local street press magazines such as Xpress for gig guides and further info) for a comprehensive gig guide).

Almost all clubs in Western Australia have very strict ID policies and it is highly unlikely that you will get in if you do not have your passport or an ID issued in Australia by a government agency (either an Australian driver's license or proof of age card) with you, even if you definitely look over the legal age. Also most dance music bars/clubs close at 2AM following Friday and Saturday nights and are subjected to Police enforced lockdowns and lockouts (as is the case in Brisbane), so you will find yourself stuck in one place after 3AM, and be stranded should you be short on money for a cab.

Alternatives

 * Fremantle and Subiaco have many pubs and clubs. (see Fremantle listings)
 * Fremantle and Subiaco have many pubs and clubs. (see Fremantle listings)

Hotels and motels
Most of Perth's hotels are concentrated in the city centre, the neighbouring suburb of East Perth (between the city centre and the Swan River), and the seaside suburb of Fremantle. Slightly further away, the coastal town of Mandurah, which is easily accessible by Perth's suburban railway system, is a popular weekend getaway for Perth's residents, and has several hotels and beach resorts to cater to that crowd.

Hostels and backpackers
Perth is very popular with backpackers, and there are a large number of backpackers' hostels located in the city, particularly in the Northbridge area. A few hostels in Perth are in terrible condition, so make sure to see your room or check the ratings online.

Caravan parks
Caravan parks are a cost effective and often good value family way to stay in Perth. Caravan parks are usually some distance from the city, but some have bus stops right out the front door. Caravan parks are generally clean and offer a variety of accommodation types.

Weather
The main dangers that an overseas visitor to Perth faces are sunburn and dehydration. Make sure you cover yourself with SPF 30+ sunscreen and a hat, and preferably a shirt. In the warmer months, beware of dehydration in the hot weather, and keep a bottle of water with you. An insect repellent such as 'Aeroguard' will be useful on summer evenings if you are outdoors.

Security
Police are generally friendly and approachable. To contact the police, ambulance or fire brigade emergency service is "000" on the phone for emergencies. "" is the recommended number for 24/7 Police assistance and general enquiries.

Crime
Perth is generally a safe city, with crime rates lower than those of Sydney and Melbourne. However, there are still some areas best avoided late at night, such as Armadale and Midland, which have higher crime rates due to being more economically depressed. The Armadale Line of Transperth Trains is known for its particularly high crime rates, so you should avoid taking it late at night. Otherwise, most violent crime in Perth is fuelled by alcohol, so be very care when in bars and nightclubs, and stay clear of trouble.

Transport
Trains are generally safe with transit guards travelling in pairs, patrolling most scheduled trains after peak hour. All train stations have a time to next train and an emergency button which can be used to call transit guards should the need arise. All stations have live monitored cameras and these can be activated by the simple push of the emergency button. In the train, there are "talk to driver" buttons in every carriage, but some older trains do not have them on every door. You can also call Transperth Security directly on. The Midland and Armadale lines have higher crime rates than other lines, so exercise extra caution on these lines at all times, especially at night.

The bus network is generally safe, but after hours can be a little more dangerous than the train network. Some bus routes have limited security patrols available, and some routes have had more than their share of anti social behaviour.

If you have to travel by bus at night, sit as close to the driver as possible and if a problem develops, tell the driver. Often incidents on buses continue for much longer than they should because no one asks the bus driver for assistance.

Exercise caution when crossing the road at pedestrian crossings, walking along the footpath at the entry/exit point of parking lots or when crossing the street at a T-intersection.

Though pedestrians have the legal right of way, some motorists choose to ignore this rule. In the case of pedestrian crossings, cars should slow down for you though caution is advisable. If you do not notice a car slowing down, do not begin to cross. It is usually best to follow the lead of the locals and to move as a group.

Similarly if you are driving a car, you can often encounter people crossing the road at traffic lights who make no allowances for waiting for the lights to be to their advantage, and who will walk across the road when it seems the most inappropriate time. Look out for pedestrians who walk in front of you when you have a green light.

Driving
Driving in Perth can be straightforward, as its highways tend to connect at various nodes making navigation easy. However, avoid travelling during business rush hour (7-9AM and 4-6PM), particularly in summer or on hot days. Many of Perth's major roads were not designed for the volume of traffic it now faces with high population growth. Perth drivers are increasingly known for being inconsiderate to other drivers on the roads during these times, which has also caused increased delays due to accidents.

There are a few rules to take care of while driving in Western Australia. When stopped at a railway crossing, do not proceed until the flashing lights have stopped even if the boom gate has fully lifted as fines are issued. There is a lower tolerance towards speeding so even a small excess over the road limit may warrant in an infringement and or fine. It is not mandatory or always observed, however it is polite to keep a gap at an unmarked road crossing when stuck in traffic to allow access for turning vehicles. If you have noticed the lane next to you leave a gap in these places, it is polite do the same. It is always wise to take great care during merging traffic lanes, especially during rush hour (as per the above paragraph). Buses do have right of way when entering traffic and occasionally often pull out with little warning.

Australians are allowed to overtake on the inside lane.

Cope
All embassies are in the capital of Canberra, which is much closer to Sydney than Perth.

Consulates

 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇮🇩 Indonesia
 * 🇺🇸 United States
 * 🇮🇳 India
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * 🇳🇿 New Zealand
 * Vietnam

Go next
Heading east from Perth:
 * Toodyay is a historical town on the Avon river, with regular festivals. It's a favourite place for day trips and overnight getaways from Perth, and once the home of Bushranger Moondyne Joe.
 * Hyden is the closest town to Wave Rock, a granite rock formation that looks like a large breaking wave.

Heading south, Margaret River (three hours from Perth) has some of the world's best wines. Good food and pristine beaches make the South West region a favourite destination. It's an ideal weekend getaway.

Heading north, follow Coastal Highway 60 to Pinnacles Desert in Nambung National Park. Other places of interest are Jurien Bay, Cervantes with its odd stromatalites, and (poorly signposted just past Cervantes) Lesueur National Park for wildflowers.

Cervantes is about the northern limit of a day-trip from Perth. From here on it becomes a road trip, and there's an awful lot of Australia ahead of you. Places within a day or so's drive are Dongara, Geraldton, Kalbarri National Park, Shark Bay and Monkey Mia, Carnarvon, and Exmouth & Coral Bay for Ningaloo Reef. And still the road stretches on ahead across this vast red continent.

title: Perth


text:
Perth (disambiguation)

There's more than one place called Perth:

Australia

 * Perth – the capital city of Western Australia, by far the largest city of this name
 * Perth (Tasmania) – a small town 20 km south of Launceston, Tasmania

Canada

 * Perth (Ontario) - a town in Lanark County, Eastern Ontario
 * Perth County (Ontario) - a county in Western Ontario

United Kingdom

 * Perth (Scotland) - a city in Perth and Kinross County, Scotland, and the original city of this name

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Perth (disambiguation)


text:
Perth (Ontario)

Perth is a small, historic town in eastern Ontario, Canada, home to around 6,500 people (2021).

Understand
Established as a military settlement in 1816, Perth-upon-Tay was first settled by military veterans of the War of 1812 as the seat of Lanark County. The Scottish, Irish and European stonemasons who constructed the Rideau Canal (opened 1832, Kingston to Ottawa) built many local historic stone buildings which have been preserved in their original condition or carefully restored.

The seven "Marks Brothers", Canadian kings of theatrical repertoire who toured North America from the 1870s-1920s, hailed from Christie Lake just outside of Perth. The Balderson Theatre building at 12 Gore Street East (still standing, now a furniture store) was the largest theatre between Montreal and Toronto in its time; the brothers were called (Maclean’s Magazine, 1958) "the most remarkable theatrical family in Canadian history. The dazzling Marks Brothers were the greatest impresario performers of our small town stage in the era before the nickelodeon." The two-century-old downtown huddles around the Tay Basin, the end-point of the Tay Canal that connects Perth into the Rideau Canal system. Large boats arriving from the Rideau via the Tay Canal will get no further than the Last Duel Campground due to very low bridges between the campground and the Tay Basin but smaller boats, canoes and kayaks should be able to navigate under these bridges to the Tay Basin in downtown Perth.

Local arts and crafts can be found throughout the town. Paintings, prints and art cards of Nostalgic Realism artist Craig Campbell (available at many downtown stores) are internationally known for their nostalgic portrayal of the steam train era.

The town is named for Perth (Scotland), one of its two sister cities, which is built on a Tay River. County Lanark is also named for a Scottish town Lanark (from the Cumbric Lanerc meaning "clear space, glade") in the former Lanarkshire.

Visitor Information

 * Town of Perth
 * A Visitor Information Centre is located in the Perth Museum (see below).

Get in

 * By car:
 * From Ottawa (and the Highway 417 on the mainline of the Trans-Canada Highway), Perth is 83km (52 miles) west on Highway 7. Exit on Wilson Street and follow the "business section" signs. This portion of Highway 7 is part of a branch of the Trans-Canada Highway that passes through the area, traveling between Sudbury and Kanata (near Ottawa) on Highway 69 and 400, then Highway 12, then Highway 7, then Highway 417.
 * From Kingston and Highway 401, take County Road 10 north through Westport.
 * By bus:
 * By boat:
 * The Tay River branches from the Rideau Canal between Smiths Falls and Newboro. There are two locks (#33 Lower Beveridges, #34 Upper Beveridges) which bypass the river to join Perth to the main canal. Parks Canada operates the canal seasonally, late May to Thanksgiving.
 * By boat:
 * The Tay River branches from the Rideau Canal between Smiths Falls and Newboro. There are two locks (#33 Lower Beveridges, #34 Upper Beveridges) which bypass the river to join Perth to the main canal. Parks Canada operates the canal seasonally, late May to Thanksgiving.

 * By train or aeroplane:
 * The closest rail station is in Smiths Falls, on the Toronto-Brockville-Ottawa VIA "Corridor" service.
 * The closest major airport is Ottawa.

Get around
The downtown core, situated on a few square blocks, is easily toured on foot. Parking in downtown lots is $4/day; one may park on-street for free for no more than two hours in any five-hour period. Portable wheelchair ramps have been retrofitted to some of the older-style stores.

The "big box" stores, strip mall, fast food and motels are out on Highway #7 and best accessed by motor car.

Local taxis are provided by K+K Cab (+1 613-264-4001), Access Taxi (+1 613-264-1212) and Charlie's Taxi (+1 613-267-3757).

Maple syrup
Various farms around Perth/Lanark (locally) and around Delta (north of Brockville) produce maple sugar and maple syrup seasonally; sap normally starts flowing at the beginning of the spring thaw (late March-early April) while the last of the winter snow is still on the ground.

Go next

 * Brockville — the "City of the Thousand Islands", along Highway 401 and the St. Lawrence River.
 * Carleton Place — a fast-growing town on the edge of Ottawa.
 * Smiths Falls — toward Ottawa, the half-way point of the Rideau Canal, and home of the canal's museum and visitor centre.
 * Westport — a small village, but a shopping and service hub for boaters on the canal, toward Kingston.

title: Perth (Ontario)


text:
Perth (Scotland)

Perth is a city in Perth and Kinross in North East Scotland, with a population in 2016 of 47,430. It stands at a point where the River Tay channels between hills, turns sharply and becomes tidal and navigable. It lost its "city" status in the late 20th century but local signage remained in denial about this until 2012 when Perth's status was restored. Its chief attraction is Scone Palace.

Understand
You think you've reached the Highlands as you approach the ridge south of town, but it's just a spur of the Ochils, with the true boundary another ten miles north. Nevertheless it does make Perth a "Gateway to the Highlands", an over-used tourist phrase but well justified here. Cattle drovers, traders and warriors all came this way, following the Tay valley to the lowest point it could be forded. Medieval Scottish kings did the same: they didn't have a fixed capital but their usual abode was "Saint John's Town" at nearby Scone - that name lives on in the local football team St Johnstone. The writer Sir Walter Scott wove the royal dynastic intrigues and adventures into his novel The Fair Maid of Perth, and the place became known as "The Fair City". Perth in Western Australia takes its name from here, as do Perth, Ontario and  Perth, Tasmania.

Visit Scotland iCentre is the tourist information office, at 45 High Street. It's open M-Sa 9:30AM-5PM.

By plane
 Edinburgh Airport  is usually best choice for its connections across Europe and within UK. It's 50 miles (80 km) south of Perth, and west of Edinburgh city so with a hire car you turn onto M90 and avoid city traffic. Jet 747 bus runs from the airport to Inverkeithing for the train, or to Halbeath for an onward bus. Otherwise take the tram from the airport to Edinburgh Haymarket for trains and buses towards Perth.

 Glasgow Airport  has a similar range of flights. It's 70 miles (120 km) southwest of Perth, but west of Glasgow so you have to cross city traffic. Take the airport bus to Buchanan Bus Station in city centre then train or bus to Perth.

 Dundee Airport  is closer but only has flights from Stansted, London City and Belfast City.

Perth's own airfield at Scone north of town has no commercial flights, though it's busy with private aviation and flight training.

By train

 * Wikivoyage has a guide to Rail travel in Great Britain

Trains run to Perth from Glasgow Queen Street (High Level) hourly via Stirling (one hour), from Edinburgh hourly via Fife (80 min) plus others changing at Stirling, from Aberdeen hourly via Dundee (90 min), and from Inverness every hour or two via Aviemore (2 hr 15 min).

There is one direct daytime train from London Kings Cross, taking six hours to Perth via York, Newcastle and Edinburgh, and continuing to Inverness, but it's usually more convenient to change in Edinburgh.

Caledonian Sleeper trains run overnight Su-F from London Euston. The Highland Sleeper for Inverness leaves around 9PM and reaches Perth before 6AM, so you'll be woken by 5AM and ejected onto a cold platform with no public transport or amenities available. The return train picks up around 11:30PM to reach Euston for 8AM. You might prefer to take the Lowland Sleeper from Euston towards midnight, and change to a day train in Glasgow or Edinburgh. Returning south, you need to leave Perth around 9PM to join the southbound Lowland Sleeper at Glasgow Central near midnight, and reach Euston shortly after 7AM.

is at the southwest edge of city centre on Leonard St. The station is staffed and fully accessible by wheelchair. There are two entrances, both of which allow car parking. The ticket office, newsagent and café are between platforms 2 and 3. The original main concourse was between the current platforms 4 and 7 and the station was covered by a large overall roof, which still exists in a reduced form. At one time there were nine platforms as the station served a leash of branch lines across the county.

By bus
Perth bus station is on Leonard Street, 200 yards north of the railway station.

Megabus and Citylink buses run from Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Stirling. There are buses to Oban from May until October. Megabus does not call at the bus station: it drops you at Broxden service area at the A9 / M90 junction, which has a frequent Park & Ride bus into town.

Megabus and National Express Bus NX590 (daytime) / 592 (overnight) takes 11 hours from London Victoria via Carlisle and Glasgow to Perth, continuing to Aberdeen (another 2 hr). The overnight bus also calls at London Heathrow.

By car
From Edinburgh and the east side of England follow M90; from Glasgow and the Midlands follow M80 onto M9 / A9; from Dundee and Aberdeen follow A90 west.

The historic Edinburgh to John O'Groats road passed through Perth but the modern A9 is now a bypass to the west. There's a Park & Ride at Broxden roundabout where the M90 terminates onto A9. There's another on A94 at Scone but you're less likely to approach that way.

Get around
Walking will get you round city centre and out to Branklyn Garden.

By bus: Stagecoach are the main operator, no surprise as the company was founded and maintains its headquarters here. For the football ground take Bus 15 (for Crieff) or 23 (for Aberfeldy). For Scone Palace take Bus 3 (circular) or 58 (for Blairgowrie M-F only). For Falkland Palace take Bus 36 towards Glenrothes.

Taxis are plentiful around town, with ranks outside the station, the Caledonian Cinema and next to Tesco Metro on South Street. Local firms include Ace Taxis +44 1738 444000, A & B Taxis +44 1738 446688 and Thistle Taxis +44 1738 441122.

Car hire: you don't need a car in town, but you will to explore rural Perthshire. There's several agencies, mostly clustered at Inveralmond near the north end of the city bypass. Europcar have a base on Glasgow St 200 yards north of the railway station.

See

 * is the 1020 ft / 310 m hill that Birnam Wood marched upon, according to Shakespeare's Macbeth. Its summit has the remains of a late Iron Age hillfort, badly mucked about by bungling Victorian antiquarians. Follow B953 then ascend from the north by Collace.
 * Bandirran Stone Circle is in the woods just before the Collace turn-off. Eight of an original ten are visible, the tallest about 1.5 high.
 * is the 1020 ft / 310 m hill that Birnam Wood marched upon, according to Shakespeare's Macbeth. Its summit has the remains of a late Iron Age hillfort, badly mucked about by bungling Victorian antiquarians. Follow B953 then ascend from the north by Collace.
 * Bandirran Stone Circle is in the woods just before the Collace turn-off. Eight of an original ten are visible, the tallest about 1.5 high.
 * is the 1020 ft / 310 m hill that Birnam Wood marched upon, according to Shakespeare's Macbeth. Its summit has the remains of a late Iron Age hillfort, badly mucked about by bungling Victorian antiquarians. Follow B953 then ascend from the north by Collace.
 * Bandirran Stone Circle is in the woods just before the Collace turn-off. Eight of an original ten are visible, the tallest about 1.5 high.
 * Bandirran Stone Circle is in the woods just before the Collace turn-off. Eight of an original ten are visible, the tallest about 1.5 high.

Do

 * Golf courses in town are North Inch, King James VI and Craigie Hill. A few miles east is Murrayshall. Noah's Ark driving range remains open though the rest of that leisure facility has closed down.
 * is the abrupt 728-ft (222-m) hill east of the city, around which the river makes a tight left-hand turn. Walk or off-road bike to the top for good views over the city and county. Just east of the summit, Kinnoull Tower is an 18th century folly teetering on the cliff edge. Kinfauns Castle east of Kinnoull Hill is privately owned and can't be visited.
 * is the ridge south of the river and city that makes visitors think they've reached the Highlands, as the M90 climbs from lowland fields towards bluffs and woods. At 732 ft (223 m) it's almost the same height as Kinnoull on the other side of the river, but the views are restricted by the trees until you reach the top. Reach it along Rhynd Road off A912 near M90 jcn 10. Elcho Castle is further down this lane.
 * Football: St Johnstone FC (aka "The Saints") play soccer in the Premiership, Scotland's top tier. Their home ground (capacity 10,700) is McDiarmid Park on Crieff Rd PH1 2SJ, two miles northwest of the centre. Take any bus along Crieff Rd A85.
 * Fingask Follies are cabaret. Their next season is 26 April to 5 May 2024 at Fingask Castle 10 miles east of Perth.
 * Scottish Game Fair is held at Scone Palace. It has clay pigeon shooting, gun dogs, fishing, ferreting and falconry, plus exhibitions, children's activities, lots of eating and drinking places, and of course plenty of marketing of the relevant equipment. The next Fair is 5-7 July 2024.
 * Rewind is a music festival at Scone Palace in mid-July, with the next on 19-21 July 2024.
 * Perth Highland Games are held in August at Scone Palace, with the next on Su 11 Aug 2024.
 * Fingask Follies are cabaret. Their next season is 26 April to 5 May 2024 at Fingask Castle 10 miles east of Perth.
 * Scottish Game Fair is held at Scone Palace. It has clay pigeon shooting, gun dogs, fishing, ferreting and falconry, plus exhibitions, children's activities, lots of eating and drinking places, and of course plenty of marketing of the relevant equipment. The next Fair is 5-7 July 2024.
 * Rewind is a music festival at Scone Palace in mid-July, with the next on 19-21 July 2024.
 * Perth Highland Games are held in August at Scone Palace, with the next on Su 11 Aug 2024.

Work
There is potential for picking up summer work in the many restaurants, hotels and tourist attractions, and the rural areas need labour picking fruit or vegetables. Jobs in town are in retail or hospitality and don't pay great wages. The biggest employers are Scottish and Southern Energy, Perth and Kinross Council and Aviva Insurance.

Buy

 * Farmers Market is held first Saturday of every month except Jan, with an extra market third Sat in Dec. It's in King Edward St and High St 09:00-14:00.

Drink

 * Cullach Brewing and tap room is at 50 Princes St, open W-F 4-11PM, Sa noon-midnight, Su noon-9PM.
 * Lindores Abbey is a scrappy ruin on the south bank of Tay, across the boundary into Fife, but it's now home to a whisky distillery. Tours available.
 * Cullach Brewing and tap room is at 50 Princes St, open W-F 4-11PM, Sa noon-midnight, Su noon-9PM.
 * Lindores Abbey is a scrappy ruin on the south bank of Tay, across the boundary into Fife, but it's now home to a whisky distillery. Tours available.
 * Cullach Brewing and tap room is at 50 Princes St, open W-F 4-11PM, Sa noon-midnight, Su noon-9PM.
 * Lindores Abbey is a scrappy ruin on the south bank of Tay, across the boundary into Fife, but it's now home to a whisky distillery. Tours available.
 * Cullach Brewing and tap room is at 50 Princes St, open W-F 4-11PM, Sa noon-midnight, Su noon-9PM.
 * Lindores Abbey is a scrappy ruin on the south bank of Tay, across the boundary into Fife, but it's now home to a whisky distillery. Tours available.
 * Cullach Brewing and tap room is at 50 Princes St, open W-F 4-11PM, Sa noon-midnight, Su noon-9PM.
 * Lindores Abbey is a scrappy ruin on the south bank of Tay, across the boundary into Fife, but it's now home to a whisky distillery. Tours available.
 * Cullach Brewing and tap room is at 50 Princes St, open W-F 4-11PM, Sa noon-midnight, Su noon-9PM.
 * Lindores Abbey is a scrappy ruin on the south bank of Tay, across the boundary into Fife, but it's now home to a whisky distillery. Tours available.

Stay safe
Perth is mostly safe even at night.

Connect
Perth has 4G from all UK carriers. As of March 2021, 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Go east to rejuvenated Dundee, then explore the coast towards Aberdeen.
 * Southwest brings you via Gleneagles to Stirling.
 * The Highlands start a few miles north at Birnam. The road leads through Pitlochry and Blair Atholl then climbs over the bleak moor to Aviemore.
 * The road west also enters the Highlands at Crieff.

title: Perth (Scotland)


text:
Perth/City

Perth City or Perth CBD is the central business district in Perth, but there are plenty of other things to see than just tall buildings and busy men in suits.

Understand

The centre of Perth metropolitan area is the City or CBD, Central Business District, located on the Swan River around inland. It's the main business and shopping centre, and together with adjacent Northbridge, forms the entertainment centre.

The City extends about 1 km north-south and 2 km east-west. The pedestrianised Forrest Place, and Murray Street and Hay Street malls are interconnected through arcades, and have a range of shops and services.

At Forrest Place you will find the General Post Office (GPO, open Monday-Friday 9AM-5PM and Saturday 9AM-noon), the Tourist Information Centre, Perth Train Station and the Forrest Chase shopping centre including Myer Department store.

The main east-west streets are Wellington Street (northern boundary), Murray and Hay Streets (which become pedestrianised shopping malls in the centre), St Georges Terrace/Adelaide Terrace and Riverside Drive (which runs along the Swan River and forms the southern boundary of the CBD). The main northbound street is Barrack Street which runs along the eastern end of the central shopping district, and the main southbound street is William Street to the west.

By train, bus and car
The City has the main transport hubs for the metropolitan area, and the airport buses run downtown along Adelaide Terrace to Elizabeth Quay. See Perth for more information.

By ferry
A ferry makes the short hop across the Swan River, running between Barrack St Jetty on the City bank and Mends St Jetty in South Perth. This is the most direct route across the river to South Perth, the Old Mill or the Zoo - however the Zoo is a bit of an uphill hike from Mends St jetty, you may prefer the bus. Ferries run every 15 min weekdays and 30 min on weekends. You will need a 2-section ticket for $2.20 to go one way across.

Get around
Transperth info-centres provide timetables and journey advice for all its services at the central train station, Wellington Street bus station, the Esplanade Busport (south of St. Georges Terrace, near the bell tower), and Plaza Arcade in the city centre (the Plaza Arcade can be found between the Hay and Murray St malls - if walking from St. Georges Terrace, walk up London Court and across the Hay St mall; the Plaza Arcade is located directly opposite the exit to London Court).

By bus
Transperth buses are free within the city centre Free Transit Zone. The zone is bounded to the north by Newcastle Street, to the west by Thomson Street, to the east by the loop beyond Plain Street, and to the south by the river. In addition there are four CAT bus routes that are free throughout, every 5 to 15 min from around June 29, 2024 to June 29, 2024. You don't need a permit or Smartrider for any of these, just get on. The bus stops have route maps and show arrival time of the next bus. See www.transperth.wa.gov.au for timetable and a detailed route map.

The five lines are:
 * Red CAT runs an east-west loop and stops at Royal Perth Hospital, WACA cricket ground, Perth Mint, Wellington Square, the Murray St Mall/Perth Underground train station, His Majesty's Theatre, Parliament House, King St and Wellington St bus station & central train station.
 * Yellow CAT runs east-west from Thomson Street, past City West metro train station, along the length of Wellington Street past central bus & train station to WACA, then Claisebrook metro station.
 * Blue CAT runs north from Elizabeth Quay up Barack Street past Murray Street mall and the art gallery and museum, then curls through northern streets before returning south past the central bus & train stations.
 * Green CAT (Monday-Friday only) runs from Elizabeth Quay west past King's Park and the Botanic Gardens, then heads north to City West and Leederville metro stations.
 * Purple CAT (every day) runs from the Elizabeth Quay bus station up St George's Terrace, past King's Park, past the QE2 hospital to the university of Western Australia and stop by the Abraham's reserve by the river. It runs as a loop service, every 10 minutes in peak hours and wvery 20 minutes at other times and weekends. No tickets needed.

By train
You're unlikely to use the train for journeys just within the city centre, the bus is generally more convenient. Train journeys within the Free Transit Zone (eg the loop from central station via Perth Underground to the Esplanade) are free only if you have a Smartrider or other valid ticket; otherwise you will need a 2 section ticket for $0.60 to go one way.

Train is a good way to reach other districts such as Fremantle, see those districts "Get in / around".

Festivals and events

 * Many local festivals occur in the suburbs of Perth and in Perth itself throughout the year - best to check current information from the Perth Tourist Information centre
 * Many local festivals occur in the suburbs of Perth and in Perth itself throughout the year - best to check current information from the Perth Tourist Information centre
 * Many local festivals occur in the suburbs of Perth and in Perth itself throughout the year - best to check current information from the Perth Tourist Information centre

Do
The city riverfront is a popular spot for walking, running and cycling. But for most physical activities you'll want to head to other parts of the metropolis: to the coast for beach & water sports, to Rottnest Island for more of the same, and to the hills for hiking.

Buy
There are three major supermarkets located in the city:

These supermarkets accept all forms of payment including Visa, MasterCard and American Express.

King Street has some of the more expensive shops in Perth, including Louis Vuitton and Gucci.

But at the Northern end of King Street from Murray Street to around the corner of Wellington Street you will find a mix of fantastic locally owned boutique stores with more afforable designer Australian clothing and interesting designer imported clothing and a great coffee shop. Some of the best shops to visit are Love in Tokyo, Billy and Rose, Cult Status, Zekka, Mame and Dilettante.

Hay Street and Murray Street malls are the main shopping precinct of Perth. They have a number of chain music, clothing and department stores. The two are connected by several arcades, including Carillon arcade, Plaza arcade and Picadilly arcade. These have a number of off-beat Asian fashion stores, unique jewelry shops, and even a shop which specialises in gourmet teas. Basement level of Carillon arcade has a large food court. You can go and have a free Didgeridoo Lesson at Creative Native in Forrest Chase.

People seeking alternative clothing with a dance/street bent might want to check out Narcissist clothing (located along Barrack St - just listen out for the drum & bass oozing from the stairs that lead down to this basement level shop) and Red Rover clothing (Murray St east), the former of which also sells 12" vinyls, CDs, DVDs and a small selection of DJ equipment.

Elizabeth's secondhand bookstores - along Hay St (west) near King St. There is also one located along the cappuccino strip in Fremantle which is open 'til late on weekdays, are one source of old books - Fremantle has a number of other stores as well.

Harbour Town located on Wellington Street in West Perth (Yellow Cat to Harbourtown or Train, Fremantle line to City West, within Free Transit Zone) is good for a budget shopping spree, and contains primarily outlet stores.

Coffee
Perth is home to a thriving, European-style cafe culture, influenced by the large number of Italian migrants. There are a number of stylish cafes, including:

Internet
Internet cafes can be found mainly in parts of the CBD, and Northbridge

Internet news sites directly linked to local newspapers are:
 * The local daily The West Australian a locally owned tabloid newspaper, with the Australian more as a national paper, it is linked with the local Sunday newspaper the Sunday Times.
 * The site 'Watoday' is not linked to a newspaper.

Go next
The top day-trips within Perth are to Fremantle and to Rottnest Island.

See main Perth page for out-of-town options, ranging from day-trips to weekend getaways to great Australian expeditions.

title: Perth/City


text:
Perth/Fremantle

Fremantle is a port on the western coast of Australia, facing out into the Indian Ocean. Often referred to as Freo, it's not just a suburb or outgrowth of Perth, but a city in its own right — it's where Western Australia got started. Later on the action moved upriver to Perth city centre, which meant that Fremantle missed a lot of modern development, and retained its charming character.

Understand
Fremantle has long been the first port of call in Australia for ships from Europe - by the Dutch in the 1600s then by the English from the early 1800s. At first it competed with Albany WA as a shipping port, then overtook it to become the premier west coast port, both as port-of-call and as definitive destination for the growing region. This brought a motley population of itinerants, workers and settlers, especially the convicts who from 1850 were transported here from England to ease a labour shortage, at a time when transportation had ceased elsewhere in Australia. Fremantle is therefore well endowed with historic buildings and streets redolent of that era, and the story is well-told in the museums and prison. This heritage escaped 20th-century demolition as the CBD moved up to central Perth. Nowadays it's protected, and facilities were especially spruced up for the 1987 Americas Cup yacht races.

Fremantle remains an important port for freight (especially minerals and livestock export) and is a frequent port of call for cruise ships. It's also the closest point for boat trips to Rottnest.

By car
Take Leach Highway west, Stirling Highway southwest or Canning Highway west. From the south, take Rockingham Road. From the north coast, West Coast Highway and the Curtin Avenue lead to the port. From Perth City, Fremantle is about a 30-minute drive using the Kwinana Freeway (Hwy 2) and then exiting onto either Leach Hwy (Hwy 1/7) or Canning Hwy (Hwy 6).

By train
Suburban trains run from platform 7 of Perth railway station (the above ground one, not Perth Underground). They leave every 15 minutes and make the 25-minute trip to Fremantle via Perth's western suburbs, culminating in a fine view of beach, ocean and port. The standard 2-zone fare is $5.20 (as of July 2024) and with a SmartRider card you travel free on Sundays.

Fremantle station is just north of the town centre, within easy walking distance. It is also a bus station for bus routes serving the southern suburbs, so a journey onwards to Woodman Point, for example, is not difficult. See the TransPerth Journey Planner for more info on trains and buses.

By bus
There are many Transperth buses that arrive and leave Fremantle. Routes 998 (clockwise) and 999 (anti-clockwise) are quick and frequent services that lead to Fremantle. They terminate at the Fremantle Railway Station.

By ship
All cruise ships berth at the Fremantle Passenger Terminal on Victoria Quay. The terminal has a café and licensed bar area and public conveniences.
 * Fremantle cruise ship calendar

Get around
You can get around most of central Fremantle for free on the (Central Area Transit) CAT Buses which run every ten minutes during daylight hours. There is one route, the Blue CAT. Most buses used for the service are painted orange with a large black cat on the side. Look for the CAT symbol at bus stops, and maybe even paw-prints on the footpath. The CAT Bus is wheelchair and pram accessible, including kneeling (automatic lowering suspension) and ramp access.

Walking
Fremantle is mostly flat, relatively compact in size and good for walking. It is well worth seeking out information and interpretation - as not all of Fremantle history is that obvious in its current state. Fremantle for its size has a range of subjects that can be understood with some If, the passion is high enough and spare time available, and there is a need for information beyond the easily available - The Local History Collection at the Fremantle Library is an excellent way to gain more detailed information.
 * The Fremantle City Council has a set of self conducted walk pamphlets about the features that can be found in a short walk in Fremantle.
 * Also at local bookshops, David Hutchison's Fremantle Walks has 9 walks well described and explained.
 * The annual Fremantle Heritage festival usually has walks as part of its programme.
 * Guided walking tours from operators like Two Feet & and a Heartbeat.

Walking areas - either from the Fremantle Walk Book, or other sources - these areas are well worth getting out of the car and having a closer look:-
 * Arthur Head - a small area on top of a limestone ridge, great views and history
 * Cappuccino Strip and Market Street - plenty of places to stop for a drink or eat
 * Esplanade and Boat harbour - a large space for children to play and a great place to look at boats from fish and chip outlets
 * Memorial Park and Monument Hill - a great view of Fremantle and the ocean
 * Victoria Quay - a great place to check out markets, maritime museum, and watch the ships - also a place to catch a Rottnest Ferry
 * West End - really old building now part of Notre Dame University - and interesting shops and places tucked away

Do

 * Watch Fremantle Dockers playing an AFL game. Aussie Rules is a unique sport that's only really played Down Under. Though "Freo" (as they are sometimes known) play their games mainly in central Perth, where the stadium is bigger, there are a few smaller sides playing in the state league too dotted around.
 * Watch Fremantle Dockers playing an AFL game. Aussie Rules is a unique sport that's only really played Down Under. Though "Freo" (as they are sometimes known) play their games mainly in central Perth, where the stadium is bigger, there are a few smaller sides playing in the state league too dotted around.
 * Watch Fremantle Dockers playing an AFL game. Aussie Rules is a unique sport that's only really played Down Under. Though "Freo" (as they are sometimes known) play their games mainly in central Perth, where the stadium is bigger, there are a few smaller sides playing in the state league too dotted around.
 * Watch Fremantle Dockers playing an AFL game. Aussie Rules is a unique sport that's only really played Down Under. Though "Freo" (as they are sometimes known) play their games mainly in central Perth, where the stadium is bigger, there are a few smaller sides playing in the state league too dotted around.

Nightlife
Like all good port towns of the world, Fremantle has a bustling nightlife and is a favorite place to go out for many people who live within the Perth metropolitan area. Unlike Northbridge, Fremantle does not seem to attract the same level of bad behaviour so is quite a safe place to spend an evening. Some places to go out include:

Buy
Shops in Fremantle are generally open from 10AM-5PM.

Boutiques
Catering for both males and females, and a big price range, there are several boutique shops dotted along South Terrace. Whether you are looking for that long dazzling gown or a tailored suit, you will be sure to find it.

Bicycles
Fremantle is one of the most popular cycling cities in Australia, with thousands of cyclist visiting daily and many socialising along the cafe strip. Fremantle has a host of shops catering for them. The two most popular "old school" shops (around since the 1980s) seem to be Mercers on South Terrace (which carries a full range of family bikes and offers repairs) and Ideal Cycles on South Street O'Connor (offers a wide range of road bikes, fixie bikes and accessories). Others include Ace Cycles, Bike Force, and Fleet Cycles.

Eat
Despite the wide availability of Italian food outlets, Fremantle offers other cuisines within different price ranges.

Fremantle is famous for having an array of Italian restaurants. Italians had a big influence on the Fremantle's culture in the 1880s.

 * Cicerello's, across the way from The Esplanade park, Cicerello's has been more or less an institution since the early 1900s, and is widely regarded as serving Western Australia's best fish and chips. Eat indoors in the pavilion, or outdoors on Fisherman's Wharf. Short walks to the Maritime Museum, Round House and the Crocodile Farm.
 * Sandrinos is a pizzeria close to the Millennium Hoyts cinema serving delicious Italian food including the famous chilli mussels. A small section of al fresco dining is available, but its indoor dining provides the best of the smells of the kitchen and pizza. Good for dinners with friends or family or just a Sunday lunch.
 * Ali Baba Kebabs is on the Cappuccino Strip. All sorts of wraps are available from chicken to vegetarian. It is open till late to accommodate all those nightbirds wanting a real cheap treat.
 * Cicerello's, across the way from The Esplanade park, Cicerello's has been more or less an institution since the early 1900s, and is widely regarded as serving Western Australia's best fish and chips. Eat indoors in the pavilion, or outdoors on Fisherman's Wharf. Short walks to the Maritime Museum, Round House and the Crocodile Farm.
 * Sandrinos is a pizzeria close to the Millennium Hoyts cinema serving delicious Italian food including the famous chilli mussels. A small section of al fresco dining is available, but its indoor dining provides the best of the smells of the kitchen and pizza. Good for dinners with friends or family or just a Sunday lunch.
 * Ali Baba Kebabs is on the Cappuccino Strip. All sorts of wraps are available from chicken to vegetarian. It is open till late to accommodate all those nightbirds wanting a real cheap treat.

Drink

 * The Cappuccino strip is a section of South Terrace and surrounding streets and laneways in the centre of Fremantle where there are lots of cafés. It is easily accessible from the railway station. For more details, see the individual café listings under above.
 * The Cappuccino strip is a section of South Terrace and surrounding streets and laneways in the centre of Fremantle where there are lots of cafés. It is easily accessible from the railway station. For more details, see the individual café listings under above.
 * The Cappuccino strip is a section of South Terrace and surrounding streets and laneways in the centre of Fremantle where there are lots of cafés. It is easily accessible from the railway station. For more details, see the individual café listings under above.
 * The Cappuccino strip is a section of South Terrace and surrounding streets and laneways in the centre of Fremantle where there are lots of cafés. It is easily accessible from the railway station. For more details, see the individual café listings under above.
 * The Cappuccino strip is a section of South Terrace and surrounding streets and laneways in the centre of Fremantle where there are lots of cafés. It is easily accessible from the railway station. For more details, see the individual café listings under above.

Budget
There are a couple of backpacker accommodations within walking distance of the train station.

Go next

 * Rottnest Island is a short ferry ride from Fremantle, and a great place to go for a day or a week.
 * Perth's northern coast has pleasant beaches and surfing.

title: Perth/Fremantle


text:
Perth/Northbridge

Northbridge is a small area in Perth. It's a place to go for the independent end of shopping, art and eating.

Understand
Northbridge is close to the centre of Perth, the other side of the Perth railway station from the city shopping malls. It is being made even closer by a government project to sink the railway line and make it possible to walk between the city and Northbridge through a large development above the former railway yards.

After dark emerge a wide choice of restaurants and nightlife.

Though Northbridge is a small suburb its sphere of cultural influence blurs into neighbouring North Perth, Highgate and Mount Lawley.

Get in

 * The easiest access is to walk from the railway or bus stations. If you drive in, it is always best to use the high rise car parks, rather than street parking.

See
Northbridge is an ethnically diverse and culturally rich neighbourhood.
 * Perth Cultural Centre. The place to find Perth's major galleries and museum. In addition, the amphitheatre (under the video screen screening ongoing visual confectionery) is an excellent vantage point for watching people flow between Perth's railway station and places of work and play around Northbridge. See the page on Perth for more information on the major attractions.

Do

 * Daytime: visit the Cultural Centre. The library, the museum, and art gallery are adjacent to each other, and easy to access.
 * Nighttime: visit the restaurants in the early evening, and much later on watch the clubbers lining up to go to the late night clubs.

Buy
Northbridge is fast becoming the place to go for more alternative shopping. If you are bored of the same big clothing labels, you can find some really different, locally designed fashion, and some excellent vintage pieces. William Street has a variety of independently owned businesses where you can find punk, goth, rockabilly fashion, anime/manga collectables and other unique stores.

Eat
There is an extensive array of restaurants in Northbridge. You will find a great selection of authentic cuisine that ranges from Southern European (Greek, Italian, etc.) to Asian (Hong Kong, Indonesian, Vietnamese, etc.)

Some options include:

title: Perth/Northbridge


text:
Perth/Outer Perth

Outer Perth is an area outside of the suburban sprawl in Perth.

Get in
From Perth, use State Route 20, 30, 40, 50 or 60 depending on where in Outer Perth you're going.

See

 * Rockingham, including Safety Bay and Penguin Island

Do
The activities for a traveller to do are pretty limited in Outer Perth, but there are some:
 * Hike no matter where you are in Australia, there's always some hiking trails

Buy
Due to the vastness of this area, there's plenty of shops you can find, but the same kind of shop might be far away.

Eat
What you want to want really depends on context here. Some areas have more types of certain cultural food than others, particularly a good comparison would be between the south east and north east.

Drink
There aren't much bars here

Sleep
There's not much accommodation here, and you're much more better off staying in metropolitan Inner Perth. Outer Perth can be reached within an hour, but staying in Outer Perth might mean travelling half an hour just for your meal.

title: Perth/Outer Perth


text:
Rottnest Island

Rottnest Island is an island about 20 km off the coast of Perth with a permanent population of around 300 people. It receives around 500,000 visitors a year, and up to 15,000 visitors at a time during peak periods and is best known for its adorable quokkas.

Understand
Almost all activities on Rottnest Island are under the administration of the Western Australian Government. It is invariably known as Rotto to the locals.

History
First settled by the Australian Aboriginal people long ago, the island was cut off from the mainland by rising sea levels and was uninhabited prior to European exploration for approximately 7,000 years. It remained significant in local Noongar Aboriginal mythology, in which it is named Wadjemup. The island was named by Dutch explorers in 1658 (it translates as "Rats' Nest Island", in reference to the local marsupial quokkas mistaken for large 'rats').

The island was used as an internment camp for Indigenous prisoners during the 19th century and later used as an internment camp for Italian and German civilians in World War I. Many Aboriginal elements of the island's history were ignored in the early mid-20th century, but Aboriginal remains and places of suffering are now acknowledged.

During World War II several large artillery guns were built on the island's tallest hill. These are no longer functional, but you can take a tour to the guns and through the bunkers surrounding them. Other installations were also created during the war. There were posts around the island, the surviving structures and evidence of the military activity after the war was near or at the barracks on the south east end of the island.

Landscape
The island is sparsely covered with scrub and occasional stands of woodland.

The eastern end of the island is dominated by several large salt lakes. The bays and beaches are part of the attraction of Rottnest, and feature excellent reefs and caves for swimming, snorkeling and diving.

Flora and fauna
Quokkas are small marsupials which gave the island its name – early settlers compared them to giant rats and called the island "Rats' Nest". There are also many birds on the island.

Climate
The climate in Rottnest Island is essentially the same as that in Perth, though tends to be a little cooler due to its more southern location, and because it is an island.

School leavers
Rottnest Island plays host to school leavers for a week towards the end of November. You probably won't get accommodation over this period anyway, but it is a time to avoid if you don't wish to share the island with a post-school party crowd.

By ferry
You can access Rottnest Island by a ferry, 30 min from Fremantle, or a longer trip from Barrack Street Jetty in Perth. The SeaLink ferries and Rottnest Ferries depart Fremantle approximately every hour during summer, but departure times are staggered so that a ferry from one or the other is usually available every half hour.

By ferry from Hillary's Boat Harbour, to the northwest of downtown Perth.

Fees and permits
Landing fees are included in the price of the ferry.

Get around
Rottnest is a car-free island.

By bicycle
Rent a bike from the ferry terminal in Thomson Bay and cycle around the island – this is a very comfortable and individual way. Bike rental is around $30 per day. You can rent on the island, or directly from the ferry company.

Distances and times from the Settlement at Thomson Bay
 * The Basin - 5 minutes
 * Geordie Bay - 10 minutes
 * Wadjemup Lighthouse - 20 minutes
 * West End/Cape Vlamingh - 50 minutes to an hour depending on prevailing winds

A full loop of the island is around 25 km, so it is an ideal cycling distance.

By bus
Cars are not permitted, but there is a regular bus shuttle available for traveling around the island. A day ticket allows you to stop everywhere you want. If you have enough time, make a complete trip around the island first in the morning, and then decide where you really want to stay for a few hours.

The bus service is known as the Bayseeker Service and bus stops are well signed and usually runs between 8:30AM and 3:30PM – always check when you arrive for any variations to the service.

See

 * Historic buildings including old churches and houses, and a cemetery.
 * Wartime remnants, such as old barracks and cannons.
 * Superb coastal views along the numerous bays and beaches.
 * Wildlife, that is, the thousands of quokkas which populate the island (especially at night).
 * The pink salt lakes on the island.

Do

 * Swim at any one of the islands beaches. The further you go from Settlement, the fewer people there will be to share your beach with.
 * Go for a cycle around the island (but take water with you).
 * Snorkel, as Rottnest is the best location in the Perth metropolitan area for this.

There is an annual swim out to the island.

Drink
Long the only pub on the island, the Quokka Arms is close to the main jetty. Apart from these, the convenience stores dotted along the island do sell a range of alcohol from wines to spirits.

Lodging
Bookings for nearly all the accommodation on the island are arranged through the Rottnest Island Authority, however they are so popular in summer that beds are only available by ballot about 9 months in advance. The result is that most overseas and interstate visitors will have to be satisfied with a day visit.

Stay safe
Rottnest Island is very safe. However, it has become notorious for its "schoolies week" events in November which can get out of hand. (There is a massive police presence on the island during this time, as opposed to the usual 3 officers). Travelling during schoolies week is inadvisable as the peace of the island is briefly shattered.

There are dugites, a venomous snake on the island, but these are only found out in the scrubland and are easily avoidable if you watch where you are treading.

Go next

 * Your next place has to be back to the mainland via Perth

title: Rottnest Island


text:
Perth/The Suburbs

The suburbs are the areas north and south of the Swan River in greater Perth.

title: Perth/The Suburbs