092 - Travel in Perth, Australia

Besides its location, Perth has a lot going for it. It's friendly, hot, and has a huge range of events in summer, not to mention the many year-round free attractions.

Layout

The CBD is spread along the River Swan where you'll also find the Esplanade and Bell Tower complex. Like most cities in Australia, Perth spreads into surrounding suburbs which seem to continue forever.

To the north of the CBD, you'll find the party and restaurant suburb Northbridge. Beyond that are the two cafe and fashion regions of Mt Lawley and Leederville. If there are no events happening, these areas are much more lively than the city centre.

Accommodation

We've been to review a few hostels around the city and those in the
city suburbs seem to be nicer than those right in the middle of town.
Three that caught our eye were Billabong Resort, Witch's Hat and
Emperor's Crown.

The word "hotel" on the side of a building is not a guarantee of accommodation. Throughout Australia, but particularly noticeable here, a hotel is actually a pub.

There are also a lot of B&Bs to choose from, but make sure you look into transport options before you book one, as it might be far removed from the city centre.

Chains like Hilton, Hyatt, Holiday Inn, Mercure all have 4.5 and 5 star hotels in Perth.


Food

Australia's food is based on its colonial British foundations but then
spiced up by its closeness to Asia and the large Italian, Greek and
other European communities. Perth is no different and a full variety
of food can be found.

Once again, the suburbs outdo the CBD with Northbridde, Leederville
and, to a lesser extent, Mt Lawley serving great dishes in small,
friendly restaurants. Han's cafe is somewhere to look out for: they
have dozens of locations and serve good, cheap food from a variety of
Asian countries. Or try Siena's for Italian fare.

Perth's real glory isn't its food, it's the drink. Two micro-breweries
are really top notch: Little Creatures, based in Fremantle, has a cafe
that's perfect for Sunday brunch, and Feral Breweries in the Swan
Valley is a worthwhile stop during a winery tour. If you are going
wine-tasting, we recommend Houghtons for their gardens, Upper Reach
for the quality and range of their wines, and Jane Brook for their
service and fantastic gold-leaf wine.

Transport
Transport in Perth is constantly being upgraded, and the current
system is mostly efficient and well-priced. The train network
especially is great: the trains are clean, they run on time, and the
price is fair. If only it was more extensive, it'd be perfect.

Attractions - free

There's a wealth of free things to do in Perth. Start with Kings Park
– have a picnic or explore the gardens, which have plants from all
over Australia. Take a walk along the banks of the Swan River and go
shopping in the city malls or Harbourtown. Jump on the CAT buses for a
free city tour, but jump off to visit the museum, the art gallery, and
to hear the Swan Bells ring on the hour down by the jetty.

Beachlovers will enjoy Cottesloe and Scarborough, and partygoers will
find all they need in Northbridge. Plus you can go wine tasting in the
Swan Valley, walking in the Perth Hills, or shopping at the Fremantle
markets.

Attractions - paid

If you didn't find enough to do for free, never fear. The Perth mint
should tide you over while you plan your trips slightly further
afield. Within an hour, there's AQWA – the aquarium of WA; Penguin Island – a chance to see some cute penguins and lazy sealions; and Caversham Wildlife Park – a really good place to see Australian animals.

Rottnest Island is a 90-minute ferry trip from the city, but well
worth the journey.

Attractions - seasonal
Perth is also full of seasonal attractions. Summer is the best time
for events and festivals, but there's usually something happening –
check out www.perth.wa.gov.au for upcoming events.

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