Perth Travel Forum

Hi, we will be travelling to Perth in mid June for 6 days 5 nites. Would like to seek for more advice:

1) Any idea how to get to Karri Valley Resort from PERTH Airport at 6am+ & any transport back from Karri valley Resort to PERTH City, Criterion Hotel?

2) We will be checking in to Criterion Hotel on Fri afternoon. Any idea where to go? Any best Nite market?

3) Any Cheap Parking near Criterion Hotel?

4) Any Cheap tour to Margrate River? Or can public transport us to M.River?

5) Any other better places for couple?

THANK YOU so much..
Cheers!

Karri Valley Resort is in the small town of Pemberton, 335 kilometres from Perth. The only way to get there from a 6am arrival at the airport would be to hire a car and drive yourself or arrange for a taxi. Otherwise there are three buses a week, on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. The bus returns to Perth on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

Check this website for the timetable
http://www.transwa.wa.gov.au/portals/0/resources/timetables/SW2.pdf

Perth itself does not have a night market. The shops in the central city stay open until 9pm on Friday evening. Fremantle Markets stay open until 8pm on Friday. The train ride from Perth to Fremantle takes 30 minutes.

http://www.fremantlemarkets.com.au/

It is 180 kilomtres from Pemberton to Margaret River, and Margaret River is 260 kilometres from Perth. If you hire a car to drive to Pemberton (Karri Valley Resort) you could return to Perth via Margaret River rather than taking a seperate tour. With only 6 nights in Western Australia you would be very rushed to visit these places seperately.

This website will give you a lot of information about how to get to Margaret River either by driving yourself or by public transport

http://www.margaretriver.com/pages/how-to-get-here/

Here is an example of a one day tour to Margaret River from Perth

http://www.easyridertours.com.au/tours/margaret-river-1-day-tour

Karri Valley Resort is in the small town of Pemberton, 335 kilometres from Perth. The only way to get there from a 6am arrival at the airport would be to hire a car and drive yourself or arrange for a taxi. Otherwise there are three buses a week, on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. The bus returns to Perth on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

Check this website for the timetable
http://www.transwa.wa.gov.au/portals/0/resources/timetables/SW2.pdf

Perth itself does not have a night market. The shops in the central city stay open until 9pm on Friday evening. Fremantle Markets stay open until 8pm on Friday. The train ride from Perth to Fremantle takes 30 minutes.

http://www.fremantlemarkets.com.au/

It is 180 kilomtres from Pemberton to Margaret River, and Margaret River is 260 kilometres from Perth. If you hire a car to drive to Pemberton (Karri Valley Resort) you could return to Perth via Margaret River rather than taking a seperate tour. With only 6 nights in Western Australia you would be very rushed to visit these places seperately.

This website will give you a lot of information about how to get to Margaret River either by driving yourself or by public transport

http://www.margaretriver.com/pages/how-to-get-here/

Here is an example of a one day tour to Margaret River from Perth

http://www.easyridertours.com.au/tours/margaret-river-1-day-tour

Karri Valley Resort is in the small town of Pemberton, 335 kilometres from Perth. The only way to get there from a 6am arrival at the airport would be to hire a car and drive yourself or arrange for a taxi. Otherwise there are three buses a week, on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. The bus returns to Perth on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

Check this website for the timetable
http://www.transwa.wa.gov.au/portals/0/resources/timetables/SW2.pdf

Perth itself does not have a night market. The shops in the central city stay open until 9pm on Friday evening. Fremantle Markets stay open until 8pm on Friday. The train ride from Perth to Fremantle takes 30 minutes.

http://www.fremantlemarkets.com.au/

It is 180 kilomtres from Pemberton to Margaret River, and Margaret River is 260 kilometres from Perth. If you hire a car to drive to Pemberton (Karri Valley Resort) you could return to Perth via Margaret River rather than taking a seperate tour. With only 6 nights in Western Australia you would be very rushed to visit these places seperately.

This website will give you a lot of information about how to get to Margaret River either by driving yourself or by public transport

http://www.margaretriver.com/pages/how-to-get-here/

Here is an example of a one day tour to Margaret River from Perth

http://www.easyridertours.com.au/tours/margaret-river-1-day-tour

Great answer Leyla. Yes the Karri Valley Resort is a long way south of Perth. You are probably better off staying at the Criterion Hotel in Perth for a couple of days first without hiring a car. See Perth for a couple of days, then hire a car and go south to the Karri Vally Resort via Margaret River. Whilst in Perth, don't forget to go to Kings Park. Cheers, Ann :o)

I would think yes a couple of days in perth then head country ie Karri Valley Resort. If hiring a car (which i think is the best option as it allows to you to stop at the towns along the way,) it will take 3 1/2 hours without stops. From Karri Valley i would head through nannup to margaret river then head back to perth from there. You will be doing alot of extra travelling if you decide to do these trips separately. On the way back from Margaret River you could stop in Bunbury and see the dolpin centre. Oh do note: Busselton Jetty which is the longest has just recently been closed due to being unsafe, maintainance is beginning soon.

Karri Valley Resort is located in Pemberton 3.5hrs drive from Perth, you will need to catch the TransWA GS3 timetable, this is a train from the Perth train station that leaves at 9.30am and gets into Bunbury at 12pm. You then catch a conecting bus to Pemberton and Karri Valley should pick you up from the Pemberton station at 2.41pm, This timetable only goes on mon, tues, thurs sat and sun. The other days it runs but does not stop at the Pemberton Visitors centre. It will cost around $40 one way
There are buses that leave from the East Perth Terminal best too check with transwa www.transwa.wa.gov.au you can also book online again it will cost around $40 one way

To get to Margaret River it is best to catch South West Coachlines. www.southwestcoachlines.com.au as TransWA has a horrible service to Margaret River.

If I were you I would hire a car and do a full loop around as Margaret River is only a couple of hours from Pemberton, you will also get to see much more and not waste so much time on public transport!!

Hi TheWanderingCamel

Thank you for your precise reply and assistance.
I am still figuring out how to read the timetable haha.

Due to my flight schedule I have no choice but to travel down to Pemberton on the 1st day. Oh Gosh, I didnt know that Fremantle is 30 mins (via train) away from my hotel.. Do you have any idea how much does it cost for an adult? and is that for juz 1 way or any 'whole-day' ticket? ( I tried looking at the website but somehow I still couldn't catch it..)

Most likely I will not visit Margaret River, couldnt affort to waste the time on travelling as I need to check in the Criterion Hotel on the next day at 2pm.

Is the weather below 15 degree celsius in mid june?

Lots of ppl are recommending Harbour Town n Subiaco Pavilion Markets for shopping.. what say you? Is there any hop-on CATS bus to reach there? Are those places open till late?

Thanks alot for your help..

Hi buffybird

Thanks for your info. It's indeed useful... So i presume Cottesloe Beach is not closed? I intend to take a train there. Oh how about Northbridge? Is that a good shopping place? Which Shooping centre is the best?? And what can I see at King's park? :I

cheero!

Public transport fares in Perth allow you to travel for 2 hours on buses and trains and to transfer between them - the cost depends on how many zones you want to travel through. Perth to Fremantle is 2 zones and will cost you $3.50. DayRider tickets are available, these allow you to travel on all transport after 9am on weekedays, all day on weekends. The cost varies according to the number of zones you want to travel through. It's all made very clear when you buy your ticket at the station.

Hi discobunny

Wow! Thanks for telling me coz I hate bad services! haha
I have decided to hire a car on the 1st day from EUROCAR (via discoverywest.com.au) any feedback from their service? I will be picking up at Perth Airport and head down straight to Karri Valley for a nite stay.

The next day we will head down to Perth and return car at Gordon Street after checking in the hotel. The reason why we are unable to hire the care for few days is due to their closure in weekend. We are not able to return the car , says on Sun.. to PERTH Airport?? That's impossible..

Garden City or Morley shopping mall is a night shopping on Fri ??

Thanks for your time.. :)

Cottesloe is about halfway between Perth and Fremantle, it's a stop on the train line. It will take you about 10-15 minutes to walk from the station to the beach.

There is a CAT bus that will take you to Harbour Town. I think it stays open until 9 on Friday night.

Northbridge is more a night-time entertainment area than a daytime shopping one. It's only a few minutes walk from where you're staying.

Hi TheWanderingCamel

Thanks again.. that's great.. we shall see how it goes when we are at the station...

Morley and Garden City are open on Thursday evening, Perth city centre is open on Friday.

I'm amazed the Europcar still don't open on Sundays!

Thrifty http://www.thrifty.com.au/locations/westernAustralia.php.htm do.

You could deal directly with them online or by phone, or go through webcarhire

http://www.webcarhire.com/car-hire-australia.htm

We have used webcarhire for car rentantals in several countries and have always found them to be very reliable. I have no personal experience with Discover West but I do remember a VT member had quite a problem with them not so long ago.

Avis and Budget can also arrange early pickups and Sunday returns for you. Check this website

https://carhire.com.au/car-rental/Perth%20Airport/

King's Park has hundreds of acres of natural bushland to walk through, several different garden areas, magnificent views of the city, a treetop walk, an interesting fine craft shop, a beautiful restaurant, many memorial statues, barbecues, picnic pavilions, etc, etc. It is one of Perth's top attractions

http://www.bgpa.wa.gov.au/o/content/section/4/27/

And back to your car hire - I would book it as soon as you decide just how you are going to spend your time here in WA. The car hire firms are usually all pretty heavily booked.

Subiaco Pavillion Markets are closed and have been for some time!

Subiaco Station St Markets are open as are Fremantle Markets on Fridays Saturdays and Sunday!

Also Bridgetown is a really lovely place to check out either on your way down or way back from Pemberton.
In fact most of the little towns on the way to Pemberton are really lovely!

I just re-read post, um how long you spending in perth and how do you want to spend in country WA. Do bear in mind our new forrest highway may be opened when you here, it says mid 09...... anyway karri valley about 3 hours as we have a lot of roadworks down here at the moment and i don't see that changing, The SW is made up of a multitude of interests ie wineries, national parks, forrest treks, little towns, and cities. what do you want to see particularly and i will give suggestions.

And off course if you want to meet i will take you to gnomesville.
Check out my homepage for a preview.
Cheers H

Hi Hi Buffy bird,

We have still yet to finalise our itinerary, somehow we will be visiting the following:

1) Karri Valley Resort
2) Habourtown
3) Hay Street Mall
4) Murray Street Mall
5) Frementle Market
6) .........

Humm still planning... its so nice of you to offer us in meeting up.. our expectation is low, we juz need to getaway and have a relaxed-trip.. I will update you again..

Check out Captain Cook cruises. They have a wide range of cruises you can do from day trips to the wineries, to nice evening dinner cruises to a return trip to Fremantle. www.captaincookcruises.com.

Yo there,
At least you didn't put the swan valley on that itinerary, I have no idea why people would want to go there, however, un update for you, the forrest highway is expected to be open mid june, they say this will cut the travelling time from bunbury to perth by 45 minutes yeehaaaaa. From Bunbury to Karri Valley resort takes approaxiametly 2 hours mind you, you may want to have a look around some of the towns on the way.

Cheers Heather

Hi,

I recommend you consider some coach tours down south, you will see much more of the "must see" sights in a short time than if you hire a car and do not know the area.

Check out tour coys: Australian Pinnacle Tours, Aussie Perth Tours, Western Travel Bug. Web page links can be found on my Perth page, transport tip. Even if you hire a car check out the links as they will help identify the places to visit.

Good Luck,
Mike