Centered along the Swan River, Perth is the most isolated capital city in the world. There is a certain laid-back and relaxed atmosphere that is consistent throughout the city. It is lined with several beaches that provide you with the perfect chilled out vacation spot.

 

The City:

• This area consists of the metropolitan parts of Perth. It is the business and shopping centre of the city. The tourist information centre is located here along with the Perth train station.
• Main attractions and landmarks include:
  • London Court
  • Forrest Chase Shopping Centre
  • Myer Department Store

 

Fremantle:

• Not an actual part of Perth, this separate city is often mistaken for a part of Perth by residents themselves. You can get to Fremantle by ferry and enjoy the sights by foot or scooters which are easily rentable.
• Main attractions and landmarks include:
  • Fremantle Prison
  • WA Maritime Museum
  • Round House
  • Whalers’ Tunnel
  • Shipwreck Galleries
  • Fremantle Town Hall

 

Northbridge:

• The hip and happening part of Perth, Northbridge is the entertainment hub of the city. The area is filled with restaurants, shops, cafes and galleries, a contrast to the city’s suburbs. After hours, Northbridge offers plenty of clubs to get a peek into the city’s nightlife, though caution is advised if you intend to be out late night.
• Main attractions and landmarks include:
  • Northbridge Piazza
  • The William Street Collective
  • Lala Orange
  • Outré Gallery

 

The Coast:

• Aptly named, The Coast consists of the sandy coastline of Perth. Take a swim in the ocean or sunbathe on the beautiful stretch of beaches.
• Main attractions and landmarks include:
  • Hillarys Boat Harbour
  • World War 2 Tunnels
  • Buckland Hill Obelisk
  • The Aquarium of Western Australia

 

Northern Suburbs:

• This part is the residential part of Perth situated north of the Swan River. It has a number of pubs that are frequented by locals.
• Main attractions and landmarks include:
  • Whiteman Park
  • Perth Royal Show
  • Bailey Bar and Bistro

 

Southern Suburbs:

• This is the residential area to the South of the Swan River.
• Main attractions and landmarks include:
  • The Old Mill
  • Perth Zoo
  • Swan River Boat Charters

 

The Hills:

• The Hills are a beautiful, scenic area surrounded by bushland. It includes the Swan Valley region, famous for its gourmet food and drink.
• Main attractions and landmarks include:
  • Guildford Historic Buildings
  • John Forrest National Park
  • Mundaring Weir
  • The Zig Zag
  • Margaret River Chocolate Factory
  • Oggies Ice Cream Shop

 

Outer Perth

• Located 1-2 hours away from the city, Outer Perth is where locals often gather for picnics and barbeques.
• Main attractions and landmarks include:
  • Avon Valley National Park
  • Lake Leschenaultia
  • Safety Bay and Penguin Island
  • Serpentine Falls
  • Walyunga National Park
  • Adventure World

 

Rottnest Island:

• Known as Rotto to locals, Rottnest Island can be reached by ferry or by air. It is a popular getaway from the city of Perth. Details of all activities available at Rottnest Island are available here.
• Main attractions and landmarks include:
  • Rottnest Island Museum
  • Snorkeling
  • Walking Tours
  • Lighthouses
  • Churches and other buildings

General info

Getting around the city

Transport in Perth includes road, rail and water transport. Public transport is handled by Transperth. Information on timings, routes, etc. can be found on their website.

SmartRider is a card that helps you travel around the city using the public transport at special discount prices. There is also an app called the Transperth App that is available for Android and iOS devices.

Fares

Travel by the Transperth public system is charged based on how many zones are covered by your travel.

Type	Standard Fare (AUD)
1 Zone	2.10
2 Zones	2.90
3 Zones	4.40
4 Zones	5.30
5 Zones	6.30
6 Zones	7.80
7 Zones	8.80
8 Zones	10.30
9 Zones	11.10
Day Rider	12.10
Family Rider	12.10

 

• The various zone maps are available here.
• Tickets are available:
  • At train stations
  • Ferry jetties
  • From bus drivers

Train

• Trains are an effective way to get to Perth from other surrounding areas.
• Train services around the city start at 5:30 am and end at midnight.
• You can plan your train journey on Journey Planner.

Bus

From the Airport

• There are buses available from T3 and T4. These are the 37 and 40 bus routes.
• There is a shuttle that operates between terminals which is free of charge.
• There is also an airport shuttle available which is faster but more expensive. This CONNECT shuttle is available between the T3 terminal and the city.
• Tickets for the CONNECT shuttle are AUD 15 for a one way trip per person.

 

In the City

• Large, Air-conditioned, free buses operate within the Free Transit Zone in Perth. These can be spotted by the cat logo on the front.
• Public buses operate in and around the suburbs and main train stations.

Taxi

• Taxis are available in plenty around the city and can be hailed from the streets.
• Fares for taxis are set by the government.
• Two major taxi companies are Swan Taxis and Black and White Taxis.
• Catching a taxi in the early hours of the morning between 5:00 am and 9:00 am or late in the night especially from outside pubs can be problematic.

Tipping in Australia is not customary. However, if you feel that the service was exceptional, feel free to tip as much as you like. 

• Hotels: You generally do not tip at hotels. However at expensive hotels tipping your Bellman or porter with AUD 1.00 – 2.00 per bag is acceptable. The maid and concierge do not expect tips.
• Restaurants: Tipping your waiter is not expected. However, you may still tip your waiter up to 10% of the bill if you receive exceptional service, or if you are in a very expensive restaurant.
• Spas: Tipping is not expected but you can do so if your service was excellent.
• Tour Guide: They do not expect to be tipped but you can always do so as a form of appreciation.
• Taxi: Drivers will not expect a tip for their services, although it is common courtesy to let the taxi driver “keep the change”.

Perth in 3 days (Source: Tourism Australia)

 

Day 1

• Perth Cultural Centre
• Swan Bell Tower
• Picnic at Kings Park and Botanic Garden
• State War Memorial
• Snorkel, Swim and Surf at Cottesloe Beach
• Watch the sunset from Café Vans
• Perth Concert Hall
• End the night at Northbridge

 

Day 2

• Take a cruise to Fremantle
• Have brunch at South Terrace
• Visit heritage sites at Fremantle
• Australian Maritime Museum
• Fremantle Prison
• Shop on Henderson Street and Market Street
• Fishing Boat Harbor
• Boutique Brewery

 

Day 3

• Ferry to Rottnest Island
• Oliver Hill
• Wadjemup Lighthouse
• Parakeet Bay
• Geordie Bay
• Snorkel at Parker Point
• Scuba Dive at Fish Hook Bay
• Surf at Strickland Bay

• Australia uses the GSM 900 and 1800 frequency bands. For 3G carriers use the 2100 band. Telstra, Optus and Vodafone provide 4G services in the country now.
• The public phones are color coded:
  • Red: Local calls
  • Green, Gold, Blue: International calls
• Prepaid SIM cards are readily available, both at the airport as well as at convenience stores.
• Budget service providers include:
  • Lyca
  • Lebara
• Larger, more premium providers include:
  • Telstra
  • Vodafone
  • Optus

Local

Australian cuisine has made huge strides in popularity around the world in the recent years due to the hit TV show, Masterchef. There are a lot of authentic Australian delights that are a must-try while in Perth including Pavlova and Lamingtons.

Seafood is the main attraction in Perth. The best way to try these is fresh from the sea and tossed on the barbecue!

• Prawns and Crabs
• Fish like Marron, Trout and Barramundi
• Western Rock Lobster or Crayfish
• Chilli Mussels: Mussels cooked in tomato and chilli, are found in several eateries in Perth.

Some notable local restaurants for Australian cuisine include:

• Tuck Shop Café
  
• Alfred’s Kitchen
  
• Jus Burgers
  
• Pavilion Restaurant
  
• Moondyne Joe’s Pub and Bistro
  
• Jesters Nedlands
  

Gourmet

• Restaurant Amuse
  
  • Cuisine: Contemporary
  • 2013/2014 Restaurant of the Year, Australian Hotels Awards for Excellence

 

• Rockpool Bar and Grill
  
  • Cuisine: Modern Australian
  • West Australian Good Food Guide Award 2013

 

• Co-Op Dining
  
  • Cuisine: Contemporary
  • Best New Restaurant 2013, Restaurant and Catering Awards for Excellence WA

 

• Print Hall Bar and Dining Room
  
  • Cuisine: Modern Australian

 

• Pata Negra
  
  • Cuisine: Spanish, Moroccan, Mediterranean
  • Awarded 15 Chef Hats, Australian Good Food and Travel Guides

Vegetarian

• Sri Melaka
  
  • Cuisine: Vegetarian/Malaysian
  • Review: HappyCow

 

• Genesis in the Hills
  
  • Cuisine: Vegetarian/Vegan/Gluten Free
  • Review: HappyCow

 

• The Raw Kitchen
• Cuisine: Vegetarian
• Review: HappyCow

 

• Samudra
• Cuisine: Vegetarian/Organic
• Review: HappyCow

Drink

Australia is the world’s fourth largest exporter of wine. Regions like New South Wales are known for their vineyards. Swan Valley in Perth is famous for its numerous wineries. Some famous wines of Perth are:

• Vasse Felix
• Hay Shed Hill
• Longview Vineyard
• Howard Park

 

Australia is known for its beer world-over. Perth in particular consists of many popular breweries. Some of the beers you must try in Perth are:

• Little Creatures Pale Ale
• Indi White Cap
• Duckstein Hefeweiss
• Feral White
• Colonial Porter
• Ironbark Mango