Perth Travel Forum

Hi, we are going to Perth (2 adults and one 5 yrs old kid) from 9 to 16 Sept 2009 (8 days 7 nights).

We are still considering whether to go for a self drive package or just visit Perth City and nearby places eg. Fremantle,Mandurah, Cottesloe Beach, Scarborough etc.

1)Any suggestions on self drive eg. 5 days 4 nights (Perth-Albany-Pemberton-Dunsborough-Perth)? We got a few quotes approx. AUD1400 to AUD1620 for the package (car rental & accommodation for 3 pax)and including 3 nites stay in Perth. Is that reasonable price or any recommendation on other agent/website?

2)We are arriving at 5.40a.m. local time on 9 Sept and depart very early for 7.ooa.m. on 16 Sept 2009? what are your suggestion, shall we take taxi or shuttle bus or rent a car from airport to accommodation in Perth City?

3)What and how are the parking charges in Perth City and places nearby eg. Fremantle,Mandurah ? Is it advisable to drive in Perth or just take the public transportation,eg. bus, train or ferry ?

Thanking in advance for your suggestions and sharing with us.

Des

i have just got back from perth and although i was staying with friends who wanted to drive me around a lot i found the public transport in perth quite user friendly and cheap

i left on the red eye at 1 am and noticed heaps of taxis waiting to take new arrivals off to where they were going

you can trust the taxis in perth and perth is not a large city (unless you are staying in Mandurah)

you don't say where you are from so i don't know how different things are for you

i live in australia but it was my first time in western australia and it was quite a bit different actually to new south wales and victoria

Getting around Perth and Fremantle is easy without a car. There are free cat buses which go around the city centres.
To go further, an 'all day family' ticket can be used all day(outside of rush hour) on trains and buses and on the ferry across the river. It can take you down to Rockingham and Mandurah and on the buses there as well.

http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/

You could use the money you save by not hiring a car to go to Rottnest Island, Penguin Island and/or a couple of (day)coach tours from Perth.

There would be plenty to do to keep you occupied for aweek.

However, if you like travelling about a lot, the package sounds OK too.

The shuttle bus is available form the airport for every flight. It's best to book(this can be done on the internet)to arrange where you can be dropped off and to make sure of a place.

Car parking charges in the Perth and Fremantle will range from a couple of dollars an hour and upwards(less for all day parking), depending on where you go. Convenient parking is sometime hard to find. You will be charged for parking at hotels.

Some people here find driving into and around Perth difficult. They are usually people who are not from big cities and not used to heavy traffic.
Compared with BIG cities(Perth is less thna 1 and 1/2 million), driving around Perth is easy.

Outside of Perth and Fremantle, parking is usually free.

The roads south are good and have only moderately heavy traffic at peak times. It's mostly a pleasant drive.

Hi purpleshade & craic,
Thanks a lot, great advice from you'll. I am still considering whether to just spend 7 days in Perth and nearby area or go for a 5 days 4 nites self drive package to Albany-Pemberton and Dunsborough, remaining days in Perth..

Craic, we are from Malaysia, this is our 1st trip to Perth. We have been to Sydney and Melbourne before, also short trips.

regards

Hi If you rent a car do not prebook your accommodation as you will be restricted to that timetable. The Southwest of Perth will mot be busy early September.

Would not recommend renting a car at airport, parking in Perth city is expensive. Local transport in Perth is good with the train service taking you to Mandurah in 50 minutes from Perth Central Rail and Fremantle in 20 minutes.

A taxi from Perth International Airport to city airport would be approx $30 and on arrival the best option, litlle waiting. Make certain your accommodation is aware of your early arrival.

Good Luck,
Mike

Thank you Mikebb.

Might be renting a apartment in Perth city or Cottesloe Beach for 8 days 7 nites,approximately AUD 840.

However, not very sure how much the public transportation eg. train, bus & taxi will cost us (2 adults & 1 kid)for visiting from Scarborough, Cottesloe, down to South to Fremantle & Mandurah ...a second though is renting a car which is approx. AUD 35 to 50 daily.will also take your advice.

Still have time to plan ...

Details of fares on the Transperth website. All day family tickets will be MUCH cheaper than renting a car even as far as Mandurah.

Wahooo malaysia anywhere near KL as we coming over next month and a meet yeah! Well im biased i would only spend 3 days in perth at the most and head south. Perth being a city a lot of congestion not as much as KL tho. I'd say stay 2-3 nights tops then head south and spend a night in bunbury, visit the dolphins early morning, then travel further south and take in busselton and margaret river and as much as people say you can do in a day! Honestly you can't do albany and margaret river in a week with perth!!!! You will be driving everywhere and seeing nothing! You have to decide between albany and margaret river to get a real experience in a week if you wish to do perth!\
Having just been to KL in Feb and going back in may, i think you will appreciate maybe 2 nights perth then head south. im happy to forward on towns to visit of interest. Do please tell me budget as i can suggest a fab place for you and child to stay at budget along the way.

Thanks Buffybird & Purpleshade,

Great advice from you'all.

looked at Transperth website too, just not very sure whether any time limit for the Family Rider, is it valid for a few hours or whole day long? It also cover train service to & fro Perth - Fremantle, right, any time limit?

Buffybird,welcome to Malaysia. Coming with family or friends ? How often do you come to KL ? will consider your suggestion, thanks a lot .

We visited with our two girls in feb 09, it was just to be my husband and self for this trip but our son has returned home and we bringing him with us. We stayed at mayview glory hotel and loved it, clean and well located and most of all not expensive.

Hm email me with your idea of itinerary and i'll see what i can suggest, oh and also tell me what interests you as a family, ie wildlife for your kid. I know wine tasting popular but you won't be able to take much back so i'd concentrate on sights etc.

Where are you hiring your car from? The airport or are you using public transport before hiring and heading out of the city. I'd take a taxi to hotel, do perth for 2-3 days via public transport, then take hire car and head south. (yeah i know i will always plug the southwest)

Cheers Heather

An all day family ticket lasts the whole day, on as many buses and trains as you want outside of rush hours.

Hi buffybird,
Still have not made up our mind,whether taking the self-drive package (5 days 4 nites) or just relax ourselves in Perth and nearby area from Scarborough to Cottesloe down to Mandurah and Margater river etc. by renting a car.

Received 2 quotes for self-drive approx. AUD 1600+ to AUD 1700+ from Goway and Dicovery West respectively. 1st package includes 4 nites stay at Perth and remaining 3 nites in Albany-Pemberton-Dunsdorough. The other includes 3 nites in Perth, remaining 4 nites in Albany-Pemberton-Bunbury. The packages inclusive of unlimited mileage, car renting and hotel accommodation for the 8 days 7 nites for 3 pax, excluding meals and petrol expenses.

Any suggestion on self-drive agent with cheaper quotes ? I find the self-drive itinerary a quite tight, right ? Still initial planning, has not confirmed our booking.

I think we would not go for hiking or wildlife activities, not that adventure. Just prefer some sightseeing and appreciate the beautiful beaches and maybe visit Perth Zoo.

regards.

What are the names of the hotel accommodation in Perth and country areas they are offering in the package. The location is important in Perth, if it is in the city does the accommodation provide free parking?

Doubt if you need a vehicle for the first few days in Perth, Fremantle, Perth City etc you can do on the metro train.

Mike

I say this alot, you really have to decide if albany is your destination of choice or bunbury-margaret river. It takes 5 1/2 to get to albany and alot of it is just driving and few towns, but albany is scenic. On the other hand if you travel to margaret river you have the wineries and a few wildlife parks for your kid. With more towns your kid won't be as bored as you can stop more frequently.

For the briefness of your stay as in Western Australia a lot of driving is called on i would recommend 2-3 days in perth using public transport. Then hire a car and travel the two hours to bunbury by sept our new forrest hwy will be open and travel much faster. Oh do take note for your child the new highway has no parking bays so toilet before setting off a must as stopping will be hard beside the road.

If you leave perth say about 3.30-4pm you will arrive with some daylight hours to see the city, get up early and go to the dolphin centre (7am ish) Stand in the ocean and watch the dolphins swim about 1m away from you, explore bunbury then late afternoon head to busselton. Spend the night in busselton and walk the jetty and do the discovery centre at the end, your child will love the windows that show the ocean floor and natural species swimming around. Then again late afternoon head to margaret river if wineries interest or go more inland and do the country towns, i can suggest some for you if you interested.
Four days or even three will allow you to see alot without exhausting your child and having the tantrums that go with tiredness.

There are numerous wildlife parks, one in bunbury & dunsborough to be seen, also the eagles etc. I must warn though the southwest of WA is much more laid back and easy going then perth!!!!! Oh if pemberton and the forrest interests then go perth, bunbury, busselton, pemberton-manjimup, perth. It is very doable, but putting in albany you will spend to much in travel time.

As to cost i find it excessive, a car hire depending on size i would allow maybe $65 for a medium size, there is only three of you, hotel accommodation can range from $90-$120 for 3*. Just go for a car hire company that doesn't charge extra for km. Maybe as suggested you posted what hotels etc they are using it would help, Im happy to suggest some local to me in the southwest. Ive lived this area for last 20 years and know pemby, busso, bunbury area well.

Do check your travel insurance as this usually covers the extra per day insurance cost.

Cheers Heather

The hotels that were offered in the Package are :

Package 1 :
Sullivans Hotel Perth (4 nites); Comfort Inn Albany : Best Western Pemberton Hotel & Best Weetren Dunsborough
Packegae 2 :
My Place Colonial Accommodation (2 nites) ; Forest Lodge Resort Pemberton; Quest Margaret River ; All Seasons Santuary Golf Resort Bunbury & Kings Perth Hotel (2 nites. We could choose other hotels in the Discovery West Programme
Thanks.

Hi Buffybird,

Where r you going to visit in KL, how many days ? In fact, i am not so familiar with the hotel that you are going to stay, just came to know from web info only. You could visit the nearby area, eg. Chinatown, Shopping Center such as Bukit Bintang Plaza, Sungai Wang, Lot 10, Time Square etc.
Any plan to visit Genting Highlands? maybe just 2 to 3 hours by bus from KL.
Have enjoyable trip...

I quite like package two..... I do think it could be done alot cheaper but.

We are returning on may 3rd just for 4 nights. We loved chinatown, did Beraya times square, both towers etc hop on/off bus. We will probably do the same as we had our girls last month and this time have the son.

Hi Des, I'm abt to rent a car from http://www.discoverwest.com.au/car-hire/ It's much cheaper than any other.... Try this. Btw, my accommodation and resorts I booked from this web too!

Hi, if we are driving South to Bunbury, Busselton and Margaret River,can we go on our own to wineries etc. or we must go on local tour ? Any charges for entrance fees to wineries, Dolphine centre and Discovery centre etc.?

Thanks

Hi Vitascape, where are you from ? Did check the Discovery West Website on accommodations, also checked on wotif.
Quite a number of car rental from website, however not sure which is ok. the rate also vary depanding on types of vehicles and no. of days.

Yes you are able to enter wineries without a tour, do note to check which ones open on which days. Some do charge a small cover charge but not normally. Look for the cellar sales sign, this means you can purchase the wine tasted.

The Dolphin discovery centre does also have a cover charge with concessions available, i would recommend that you get to the centre at 7-7.30am if you want to see the dolphins up close in that they swim 2-3 feet away from you.

Depending on the star level of accommodation you want, or for that fact the type you want im happy to suggest a few places. It might be good to try a caravan park type where you can sit and watch your child play and he can then interact with some children. Most are very friendly.

Hi Buffybird,

Thank you for your information and suggestion. It is really helpful! We will follow your advice and suggestion - self drive head South to Bunbuty, Busselton and Margaret River.

Have you visited shopping malls KLCC and Pavillion in KL ? If you'll go to Chinatown again, you may try the famous herbal drink "Lin Chee Kang" there, eat some local food eg. Hokkien Noodles and Ikan Bakar(local type baked fish), if you like...
Have a enjoyable trip with your family...

Hi Des, Im fr SIN. I guess the discoverywest is pretty ok . Will it be more exp if you book from Wofit?

Hi there,

We did KLCC and Beraya, didn't have time for sunway etc maybe in three weeks. Since our hotel across from chinatown we were there everynight, loved the atmosphere and shopping, also that it is covered for the rain.

If you wish to visit gnomesville let me know, your child will love it as im sure you will too, i have a miny picture on my homepage to give you an idea.



Cheers Heather

Hi Heather,

If you are interest in shopping,other than Sunway Pyramid, you could also try 1 Utama. Other shopping mall close to 1 Utama such as Ikano and The Curve which are linked to each other and Cineleisure (Cinema)and Tesco Hypermarket. There are also free buses to Ikano from Kelana Jaya LRT station every 1 hr. Sorry can't meet up you all in KL, we will be travelling to South, Johor over the 1st week of May weekend.

If you have time, please consider to visit Genting Highlands (just stay 1 nite will do). You could take bus from KL Sentral to Genting, quite convenient.

The Gnomesville looks interesting, thanks.

I know im limited in time when it comes to the city of KL, it amazes me in that the busses go in figure 8's. We there from the 3rd to the 7th so if you do get time to meet it would be great.

Gnomesville well you have to come down to bunbury by only two highways. either way its easy to get to us. Gnomesville will take a twenty minute drive out there, maybe 30 to see and 20 back. Your child will love it and the rural experience a great adventure. Im more then happy to meet and take you. Plus show you the sights of bunbury etc. Look at sirgaw's pages and you will get an insight.

I would look at big4 caravan parks and taking a cabin instead of a hotel room. This will give your kid a chance to play and you will have kitchen facilities. In bunbury i'd suggest koombana caravan park its opposite the beach and close to town in fact so close to the dolphin centre its a nice 500m walk in the morning. For busselton i'd look at kookaburra caravan park as its again central and opposite the park/beach. Margaret river go more for a hotel, i have no experience there but google to find something or let me know and i will locate for you.

Cabins are cheaper or about the same as staying as such at the sanctuary golf course, but at least child friendly.

Cheers heather