Going to Perth February 18th... Help?

JerseyVics · 13-02-2009, 07:42 PM

Can anyone help me out with some recommendations for a trip I'm planning to Perth... can anyone recommend:

- decent place to stay
- some cool things to do
- what best to see on a short visit
- transportation getting around (airport, around town, sightseeing, etc.)

thanks in advance!

--Russ

05_ENFORCER · 13-02-2009, 07:47 PM

Perth is a big place mate.
What do you like doing?
There are water sports (City foreshore), bush walking, (Bibilum track) fishing (Blue Water Charters) etc????
Staying anywhere depends on what you need to be close to.

mcnews · 13-02-2009, 08:01 PM

Mate, absolute number 1 cheap and easy but fantastic thing to do is perth to Freo and back on the river, normally about $35 return and if you go from Perth early enough you can get off at Freo and spend the full day in Freo and get one of the later ferrys back. Dead set best thing to do in Perth, it is a shame most of the locals don't take advantage of it, I could do it every day of the year, absolutely fantastic and best bang for buck you can get. by the way, Freo is heaps better than perth for nightlife, perth is dead like after a nuclear holocaust after dark apart from Northbridge which is the Kings Cross of Perth if you like and just over the train tracks from the main city of Perth. Freo has much better night life, restaurants and atmosphere. DO NOT BOOK A HOTEL IN THE MAIN PART OF PERTH CITY UNLESS YOU WANT TO DIE OF BOREDOM

Cobra · 13-02-2009, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcnews

Mate, absolute number 1 cheap and easy but fantastic thing to do is perth to Freo and back on the river, normally about $35 return and if you go from Perth early enough you can get off at Freo and spend the full day in Freo and get one of the later ferrys back. Dead set best thing to do in Perth, it is a shame most of the locals don't take advantage of it, I could do it every day of the year, absolutely fantastic and best bang for buck you can get. by the way, Freo is heaps better than perth for nightlife, perth is dead like after a nuclear holocaust after dark apart from Northbridge which is the Kings Cross of Perth if you like and just over the train tracks from the main city of Perth. Freo has much better night life, restaurants and atmosphere. DO NOT BOOK A HOTEL IN THE MAIN PART OF PERTH CITY UNLESS YOU WANT TO DIE OF BOREDOM

I find that surprising mate I thought Perth would be rockin' at night... or at least more than Adelaide at night! I've never heard of Northbridge being reffered to as King Cross either, I thought it was much nicer than that. Most people I've spoken to liken it to North Adelaide (the suburb) which is very nice.

TRUBLU4DS · 13-02-2009, 08:47 PM

I think you should look at staying somewhere in Freo. Plenty to see & do and the train is right there if you want to go to Perth 4 a day. You can stay at my place on Friday night 20th & cruise down with the FPV/TICKFORD Club to the Lane Ford Performance Day in Mandurah.(like a mini A.F.D.) You can hang around and perve on the cars or catch the Lane Ford courtesy bus into Mandurah & have a look around.

P.M. me if you are interested.

Windsor220 · 13-02-2009, 08:52 PM

How long exactly are you staying for?

JerseyVics · 13-02-2009, 08:03 PM

tourist stuff... would like to stay close to the center of town, hopefully within walking distance to the major downtown attractions?

jaydee · 13-02-2009, 08:46 PM

Check "wotif" to book a hotel on line and it's cheaper, they will tell you where the hotels are and different costs.
Is it just you or a family, what age group?
The city area has free buses to get around, Kings Park and the zoo during the day for tourist stuff as well as great beaches. Scarborough or Cottesloe are the top picks but they're all good.
Yep Fremantle is a good tourist spot, less chance of getting bashed there than Northbridge too.

JerseyVics · 13-02-2009, 08:48 PM

just me

26 y/o

thanks for the advise

JerseyVics · 13-02-2009, 09:14 PM

I appreciate all the suggestions for nightlife, but I don't drink so it would be quite boring for me to go to pubs and bars and restaurants by myself.

I'm looking more for day stuff, photo ops, unique sights, etc...

jaydee · 13-02-2009, 09:31 PM

You can get a Harley tour along the coast from Hillarys which is pretty good, Downundertours I think, if you don't mind going as a pillion, and Hillarys boat Harbour is one of our premier tourist spots.
Yep Rottnest Island (half hour ferry ride) is good as someone mentioned, catch a ferry from Fremantle or Hillarys, will cost about $90 return I think and it's a great day and the scenery is really great for photo opportunitys.
They also do helicopter joy flights from the river in Perth, Heliwest and thats close to the bell tower and the big ferris wheel at Barrack st jetty, you can catch a ferry from there across the river to south perth for a nice lunch at the hotel and a short walk to the zoo.

**cs123** · 13-02-2009, 10:38 PM

Go out to freemantle. Nice place. They even have tours of the old prison that I enjoyed http://www.fremantleprison.com.au/tours/tours.cfm

JerseyVics · 13-02-2009, 10:59 PM

cool, many thanks!

duaned · 14-02-2009, 08:39 AM

Perth is simply the best city in Australia IMO. My wife and I found it to be very clean, friendly people and loads of things to do. It's just such a shame it is so far away from the other main states.

zx10 · 14-02-2009, 09:10 AM

I went a few years ago. Did most of the things already mentioned above.

The zoo, rottnest and Freo are all great for photos ops.

The jail tour was fantastic, can even do specialised tours like escape tours of the tunnels below (only at night though).

There was a motor museum at Freo which had some cool old cars and bikes.

We did a tour down the river on a ferry which took us past millionaires row, some amazing mansions and the tour guides told us some great stories too.

Enjoy your trip, can't say enough about how beautiful a place Perth is.

mcnews · 14-02-2009, 09:26 AM

Motor museum at Freo is gone unfortunately but Freo is lovely place to spend the day, evening and/or night. Perth city is dead as I mentioned before but Northbridge is okay during the day but can be a little dodgy in some parts after dark so keep your wits about you. From Freo you can train it up to Hillarys or whatever if you like but personally I always found Hillarys and things up that way a bore, best thing up that way was Yanchep Marine Park but that packed up years ago. I would definitely base out of Freo if you can but unfortunately digs to stay can be harder to come by there etc.

Gabbs · 14-02-2009, 11:28 AM

If you are by yourself give northbridge a miss to many idiots around there at night. I was going to suggest you go to margs, and dunsborough but that depends if you have a hire car as well.

Geez Louise · 14-02-2009, 11:36 AM

I orginally come from Perth and went back in November for my high school reunion. We stayed in Fremantle at a place called The Painted Fish. It's an Eco friendly cottage right near South beach. Easy walking distance to Freo and transport is just about on your doorstop.

http://www.thepaintedfish.com.au/

If you are going in Feb ( hottest time to go) check out Adventure World. I love it there! Always a bit of fun

http://www.adventureworld.net.au/

Also, if you are into beaches, you can not go past Cottesloe Beach. One of the best beaches in Australia!

Gabbs · 14-02-2009, 12:36 PM

I suggest going to the cott on a sunday as well not a bad place for a nice beer and a perve.

JerseyVics · 16-02-2009, 06:29 PM

I have to postpone my trip because the appointment I wanted to get out of the way early this week has been moved to sometime in the end of the week... now I'm freaking bored out of my mind in Melbourne... I'm pretty much done sightseeing, and can't wait to go home! Ugh... and I'm here till December? Who wants to start a pool to see how long I'll last in Australia?... ugh!