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Perth and surrounding areas

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  • 28-07-2014 9:06pm
    #1
    Gongoozler
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,263 ✭✭✭


    Myself and my boyfriend are heading to Perth in September and I just wanted to check out recommendations for places to go and things to do. We'll be there for 10 days, starting off in Perth itself and hoping to travel down maybe to Margaret River or Rockingham, then back up to Perth for the last few days. We're quite open to suggestions. We're animal lovers and not sitting on the beach types.

    So any suggestions welcome. Oh and wondering do we need to get any shots?


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    #2
    catbear
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,092 ✭✭✭catbear


    Top things around Perth.

    Fremantle: Fremantle prison and shipwreck museum are the top attractions, nighttime tour of the prison is supposed to be good.
    From Fremantle you can get the ferry to Rottnest which is worth it for the quokkas alone. Ferry half price on tuesdays.

    Penguin Island near Rockingham although I can't think of any other reason to hang around Rocko. You can get to Penguin Island by public transport cheaply, just allow two hours traveling from the city.

    The Museum of Western Australia in Northbridge is worth a visit just for the aboriginal wing alone.

    Cavisham wildlife park if you want to hang out with Roos etc...my personal favorite place.

    Then there's the beaches of Perth, they're all easy reached by public transport but the further north you go like Citybeach and Scarborough the longer it takes to get to them.
    Cottlesloe is on the Perth-Fremantle trainline, coogee beach is reachable by free bus in Fremantle.

    Basic rule is Perth is a massive low density sprawl so you got to allow time to get through it. Trains are preferable to buses. Buy a transperth card, around $10, it's good on all buses, trains and the ferry to South Perth, saves you both time and money. You can load it up on buses and at some train stations.

    Outside the Perth sprawl:
    Pinnacles, about two hours north of Perth by car.

    Margaret river is about a three hour drive from Perth, nice for a few days but the drive through the Jarra forest down to Denmark and Albany is the best part.

    Albany is about 4and half hours straight back to Perth.

    Edit to add: you don't need shots. You'll be here at a cool time of year, very low risk from any mosquito borne illness. I've been here three years and I've only seen one poisonous spider.


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    #3
    Gongoozler
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,263 ✭✭✭Gongoozler


    Two things, you said the drive through the forest on the way to Margaret River is the best part, but we're not renting a car so would the bus take us that same route?
    Also is Mandurah worth visiting?


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    #4
    catbear
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,092 ✭✭✭catbear


    I'm afraid I don't know about buses for that route. There is a tree climbing activity on that route which might be bookable as a tour from Margaret River.
    http://www.valleyofthegiants.com.au/

    To be honest Mandurah does nothing for me, it just seems another bit of urban sprawl by the ocean.

    One plus is that September is a great whale watching time.

    Public transport isn't great outside Perth and can be expensive.


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    #5
    amtc
    Registered Users Posts: 2,490 ✭✭✭amtc


    Pinnacles is amazing, and we ended up in the little town of Jurien Bay - talk about Summer Bay.

    Mandurah is really only another surburb ( I stayed on the train from Perth to see it an was highly disappointed)

    Alternatiively get a cheap Jet Blue flight and head off - I went to Alice Springs and from there by road by Ayers Rock


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    #6
    amtc
    Registered Users Posts: 2,490 ✭✭✭amtc


    To add in Perth - Hillarys Boat Harbour...

    Plus you have to do Rottnest! Particularly if you're into animals. They have these little quokkas. It's half an hour ferry from Perth and you have to cycle. Views are amazing

    I must say I've been to Perth 28 times so I have a fair clue about what to do and not do - pm me if you want to

    Probably worth taking in the Crown Casino as well - lots of bars and restaurants.


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    #7
    Karlos_Macca
    Registered Users Posts: 35 ✭Karlos_Macca


    What do you want to go to Rockingham for? Its just a suburb by the coast. Bit of a ****hole to be honest. Same with Mandurah. Its just turned into a bogan city. Not much really to see there.

    If you want to see Aussie wildlife where you can hold them and feed them try Yanchep National Park (Far northern suburbs - 1hr from city) and Whiteman Park (Northern suburbs - 25 minutes from city)

    Shots??? Nobody gets shots here except old people and kids for the flu etc....

    Best of Perth/South West WA would be:

    Kings Park - just for the obligatory photo overlooking the city
    Fremantle - for markets/harbourside/cafes/Little Creatures brewery, Prison
    Perth City - used to be really realy dull and ****, but it has come on leaps and bounds in the last couple of years. Lots of small bars now and decent shopping nowadays, but traffic is a nightmare, and still lots of constuctions on the waterfront
    Rottnest Island - Overpriced but you get to see Quokkas and can cycle around it and snorkle in pristine bays
    Hillarys Boat Harbour - decent marina, with a good aquarium
    Swan Valley - Vineyard region. Do a wine tour, only 20 minutes from the city. Can even get a boat from the city to take you up

    Elsewhere:

    Pinnacles - 2hrs north
    Margaret River - 3.5 hrs south - wine/breweries/beach short drive away
    Pemberton - 4 hrs south. Beautiful forrest, and tree walks.


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    #8
    Gongoozler
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,263 ✭✭✭Gongoozler


    Thanks for that mixed review.

    We're all booked up for Perth part one and two, with Margaret River for a couple of nights in between. We have one or two nights free and are considering looking at maybe camping in a national park. Any favourites anybody?


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    #9
    Karlos_Macca
    Registered Users Posts: 35 ✭Karlos_Macca


    Gongoozler wrote: »
    Thanks for that mixed review.

    We're all booked up for Perth part one and two, with Margaret River for a couple of nights in between. We have one or two nights free and are considering looking at maybe camping in a national park. Any favourites anybody?

    Depends on how far you want to travel...

    D’Entrecasteaux National Park is one of the best but its a decent trek from Perth...but I guess if you are down Margaret River way it isnt too far....just a journey back to Perth

    If you did have time, why not go to Ningaloo Reef? Its as good as the great barrier reef but hardly any development. 7 hr drive north though.

    For somewhere within 1-2 hrs from Perth you could try Dwellingup, and Lane Poole reserve. You are in the jarrah forrest, and can hike/bike/kayak, or sit around.

    Also there is Beelu National Park in the hills near Perth.


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    #10
    catbear
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,092 ✭✭✭catbear


    You could camp on rottnest which will allow you to see the stars clearly and not need a car to get there.


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