Fremantle
Despite having been absorbed into Perth's urban sprawl,
Fremantle, affectionately known as 'Freo', retains its own strong
identity and is a popular destination for day-trippers from Perth.
Its harbour was built in 1903 by CY O'Connor, who also constructed
the Goldfields pipeline before killing himself on a beach near
Fremantle. A bronze statue in CY O'Connor's honour stands in front
of the Fremantle Port Authority. The harbour of Fremantle, which is
still functionally a separate city rather than part of Perth, has
been substantially revamped in recent years and is now filled with
outdoor bars and restaurants and has a laid-back, arty character.
Freo is a creative, interesting, little port city which has
retained a distinct character, and has considerable allure for
visitors.
Fremantle Sunset
Daniel Lee
Kings Park and Botanic Garden
Comprised of more than 400 hectares (988 acres) of parkland and
gardens, Kings Park and Botanic Gardens is one of Perth's most
popular attractions for locals and tourists alike. Set on Mt Eliza,
the park offers breath-taking views over the city and Swan River,
while more than 80 species of birds can be found enjoying the
indigenous bushland. Kings Park also features the State War
Memorial, the Royal Kings Park Tennis club, and a reservoir, and
the streets of the park are lined with trees, each with plaques
dedicated to Western Australian men and women who died in WWI and
WWII. Kings Park is the perfect place for a relaxing afternoon
picnic, sightseeing, walking, cycling or just exploring the various
lookout points. During the summer months (December to February),
the park hosts a number of events such as outdoor concerts,
moonlight cinema and the Kings Park Wildflower festival each
spring.
Address:
Fraser Avenue
Kings Park and Botanic Garden
Mel Patterson
London Court
Built in 1937, Perth's London Court is set among modern
skyscrapers in the heart of the city. The small pedestrian 'street'
is located between the Hay Street Mall and St Georges Terrace, and
is reminiscent of the Tudor style buildings of England. Walking
through London Court, visitors can experience the charming small
shops and cafés as well as the clocks on either end of the lane.
London Court is brimming with dozens of small details, which can be
easily missed, such as the statues of Sir Walter Raleigh and Dick
Whittington, weather vanes, and stairways leading to fantastic
viewpoints looking out over the court. London Court is a little
taste of England in Australia, making the colonial heritage of the
country clear, in a very aesthetically pleasing way.
Address:
Hay Street Mall and St Georges Terrace
London Court
Sheila Thomson
Perth has a Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and
cool, wet winters. In summer (November to March) temperatures
average between 58°F (15°C) and 88°F (31°C), occasionally reaching
as high as 105°F (41°C). Luckily the sea breeze known as the
'Fremantle Doctor' somewhat tempers the heat. Rainfall during this
period is low, with an average of only three to four days each
month receiving rain. Winter in Perth (June to September) is cool
without getting unpleasantly cold, generally staying between 46°F
(8°C) and 68°F (20°C). This is the wettest time of year, with
roughly half the days in each month getting rainfall. Tropical
cyclones do hit Perth, however this is very rare.
Due to its large size, Western Australia has one of the most
diverse climates in the country, with the land divided into three
main climatic zones: tropical, semi-arid and Mediterranean. The
north is tropical, characterised by a sunny dry season (April to
September) and a wet season (October to March) with high humidity,
heavy rains and thunderstorms. The dry season has ideal
temperatures, with hot days and mild evenings. The central part of
the state falls within the semi-arid zone and consists mostly of
deserts. A temperate, Mediterranean climate characterises the
south, where the summers are warm and dry and the winters mild and
wet. Perth lies within this zone and the hot summer days are cooled
by the strong afternoon sea breezes. Perth has a very low rate of
humidity. Winters (June to August) are mild, with the wettest month
being July.
Perth International Airport
Location: The airport is located seven miles (12km) from Perth's
city centre.
Time: GMT +8.
Transfer Between Terminals:
A free shuttle bus links all four terminals, operating 24 hours
a day.
Getting to the city:
Bus 40 runs daily from Terminals 3 and 4 to the Elizabeth Quay
Bus Station via the Great Eastern Highway. The journey takes
approximately 55 minutes. Bus 380 runs daily from Terminals 1 and 2
to Perth city centre via Elizabeth Quay Bus Station, Belmont Forum
Shopping Centre and Victoria Park Transfer Station.
Car Rental:
Avis, Budget, Thrifty, Hertz, Redspot, and Europcar are all
represented at the airport.
Airport Taxis:
Taxis are available outside the terminals, and a trip to central
Perth will cost approximately A$43.
Facilities:
Facilities include a selection of bars and restaurants, various
retail stores and a duty-free shop. ATMs and bureaux de change are
also available. Travellers will also find internet access and an
information centre. Access to all terminal facilities is provided
for disabled visitors.
Parking
Short-term parking is free for the first 10 minutes, then
charged at A$8 for 30 minutes, A$13.40 for 60 minutes, A$19.80 for
two hours, up to A$3 per hour thereafter and A$49 per day.
Long-term parking is about A$25 per day for the first three days,
and A$12 per day thereafter.
![Western Australia]()
Perth has a very efficient and convenient public transport
system called Transperth, which operates buses, trains and ferries.
Passengers can hop from one to the other on a single ticket, and
obtain information on all the services at booths set up for this
purpose at strategic points like Plaza Arcade, the railway station
and bus stations. Buses in the central area are free, covering a
number of colour-coded routes, while suburban bus services and
trains link to the outer districts day and night. Ferries operate
on the Swan River; fares are based on zones and tickets can be
bought from newsagents and vending machines. Metered taxis can be
hailed in the street in Perth, found at taxi ranks or booked by
telephone. All major car hire companies are represented in Perth
and driving in the city poses no problems. Cycling is a popular way
to get around, and there are numerous designated cycle routes.
Sunbathe, indulge in some wine tasting, shop for pearls, wander
the waterfront of Fremantle, or visit the funfair. These are just
some of the many diversions that draw people to enjoy a holiday in
Perth, Australia's laid-back, remote western city, which is
surrounded by some stunning scenery, including lovely, sandy
beaches.
Perth is packed with attractions to suit everyone, especially
food-lovers, who will find more restaurants here per capita than in
any other Australian city. With an abundance of fascinating local
wildlife and landscapes on its doorstep, Perth has plenty to offer
families travelling with kids.
Pristine sandy beaches mean there's hours of fun in the sun to
be had on Perth's family beaches, such as Cottesloe Beach and
Leighton Beach, but be sure to pack plenty of sunscreen as the
Australian sun can be ruthless. Another great outdoors option is
the Kings Park and Botanic Garden where visitors can hike, bike or
just relax in the shade with a picnic.
The Perth Zoo is the perfect place for animal lovers, while the
Aquarium of Western Australia is not to be missed either. The
Museum of Childhood is great for kids.
The Perth Sightseeing Pass is useful for those planning to do a
lot of sightseeing, and parents should grab a copy of The Parent's
Paper, free every month, for ideas on attractions and events for
kids.
Monkey Mia Resort
At this remarkable resort, situated near the town of Denham,
about 525 miles (830km) north of Perth in the Shark Bay Heritage
area, visitors have the opportunity to interact with and even
hand-feed the local wild dolphins who visit the shore each day.
Several bottlenose dolphins regularly visit the beach at Monkey
Mia, sometimes up to three times a day, while others who are less
tame wait just offshore. Visitors are encouraged to enter the water
to gently touch and feed the dolphins, under the watchful eye of
local rangers who advise on how best to approach and handle the
animals without causing them stress. Monkey Mia also has a Dolphin
Information Centre, and offers good bathing at Shell Beach, unique
in that it has a four-mile (6km) stretch of tiny white shells
stacked up to 33ft (10m) deep. Some of the buildings in the nearby
seaside town of Denham are built out of shells from this beach.
Address:
Shark Bay, Denham
![Monkey Mia resort]()
Monkey Mia resort
Robert Young
Karijini National Park
Karijini is the second largest national park in Western
Australia, situated in the Pilbara region. It features breathtaking
gorges, crystal clear rock pools, waterfalls and stunning scenery.
A system of walking trails designed for hikers of various levels of
fitness, from beginner to experienced, have been laid out. There
are picnic and camping areas and a visitor information centre with
interactive natural and cultural displays. The park boasts 50
varieties of Acacia, Eucalypts and Melaeluca in its gorges, 133
types of bird and 92 species of amphibians and reptiles, not to
mention the dingoes. It is situated about 900 miles (1,435km) north
of Perth on the Great Northern Highway. Numerous tours into the
park operate from Tom Price, Port Hedland, Karratha and Auski.
![Karijini National Park]()
Karijini National Park
Michael Theis
Wildflower Region
The mid-west section of Western Australia is known as the
wildflower region, particularly between late July and early
September after the seasonal rains, when the spectacular fields of
yellow, pink and white everlasting daisies emerge. The most popular
site for wildflower viewing is the Kalbarri National Park, which
boasts about 800 species of flowering shrubs. The park is 370 miles
(590km) north of Perth near the mid-west town of Geraldton and can
be accessed by car from the North West Coastal Highway. A bus
service also runs three days a week from Perth to the Kalbarri
National Park. World-renowned botanists, photographers and
film-makers visit the region for the flowers, particularly around
the Eneabba and Arrowsmith River areas. The mid-west is also rich
in history and offers visitors a variety of outback experiences and
coastal activities.
![Kangaroo Paws, Wildflower Region]()
Kangaroo Paws, Wildflower Region
denisbin
Goldfields
Goldfields, to the east of Perth, is a region steeped in history
and legend, where visitors can see relics of the gold rush and the
mines that have made the area famous. It is possible to tour the
Super Pit, Australia's biggest open-cut-mine, which is an
impressive sight at more than 853ft (260m) deep, one mile (2km)
wide and two miles (4km) long. The Super Pit can be found at the
edge of the city of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. It forms part of the
'Golden Mile', reputedly the richest square mile of gold-bearing
earth in the world. The total amount of gold recovered from the
Super Pit between 1989 and 1999 was incredibly over five million
ounces (142-million grams), and the total is still growing. From
the lookout near the Pit visitors can watch trucks carry rock up to
the refinery from the bottom of the pit, and sometimes witness
carefully controlled mine blastings.
Address:
Kalgoorlie
![Goldfields Super Pit]()
Goldfields Super Pit
aussiejeff
Margaret River
Southwest of Perth, the Margaret River Region is an area
characterised by dairy farms and wineries set within a picturesque
landscape, and is Western Australia's most popular holiday
destination. The area was initially discovered by surfers, but now
holidaymakers of all kinds head here by the thousand for the
tranquil atmosphere, clean beaches and excellent restaurants, often
attached to wineries. The area also has more galleries, craft
studios and potteries than the rest of the state put together.
Margaret River is also well known for its many caves, some of the
best of which are open to visitors and feature extraordinary
formations. The spectacular show caves are called Jewel, Lake,
Mammoth and Moondyne, with Moondyne offering a thrilling three-hour
exploration tour.
![Vineyards in Margaret River]()
Vineyards in Margaret River
Robert Young
Nambung National Park
Located in the Swan Coastal Plain, just 150 miles (245km) north
of Perth, the Nambung National Park is home to one of Australia's
most incredible natural attractions - the Pinnacles Desert. One of
the Seven Natural Wonders of Oceania, the Pinnacles Desert consists
of thousands of limestone pillars, protruding from the yellow
desert sand in a variety of shapes and sizes (some reaching 3.5
metres in height). It is a truly unique sight, unlike anything
you've ever seen before - an unearthly, unforgettable landscape,
best viewed in September and October, when wildflowers bloom,
adding colour to the vast desert expanse. Nambung National Park
also boasts white-sand beaches and marine life, and picnicking,
swimming, fishing, and snorkelling opportunities, making it a
stone-cold 'must-see' attraction in the state of Western
Australia.
Address:
Pinnacles Drive, Cervantes
![Nambung National Park]()
Nambung National Park
fzhuo
Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk
A wonderful example of nature-based tourism, the Valley of the
Giants Tree Top Walk is a must for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages.
The 0.4 mile (about 600m) walk takes place along a
specially-constructed boardwalk, 130 feet (40m) above the forest
floor, and winds through the heart of a massive karri and tingle
tree forest, where walkers are literally surrounded by the forest
canopy, in the company of true giants. The walk has a gentle
gradient, allowing access for wheelchairs and strollers, and
connects with the Ancient Empire boardwalk, a cleverly-designed
pathway that brings the grandeur of the 400-year-old trees into
sharp relief. Opened in 1996, the Valley of the Giants Tree Top
Walk has already thrilled millions of visitors in its short history
- a concrete testament to the uniqueness of the experience it
offers.
Address:
Valley Of The Giants, between Walpole and Denmark, in the
southwest of Western Australia
![Tree Top Walk, Valley of the Giants]()
Tree Top Walk, Valley of the Giants
Amanda Slater
Fremantle Sunset
Daniel Lee
Kings Park and Botanic Garden
Mel Patterson
London Court
Sheila Thomson
Monkey Mia resort
Robert Young
Karijini National Park
Michael Theis
Kangaroo Paws, Wildflower Region
denisbin
Goldfields Super Pit
aussiejeff
Vineyards in Margaret River
Robert Young
Nambung National Park
fzhuo
Tree Top Walk, Valley of the Giants
Amanda Slater
