Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
with every cruise operator, so check ahead. Prices range from A$25 (US$16) on
the Rottnest Express up to around A$40 (US$26) for the other companies, and
about half price for kids. Most depart Fremantle; Boat Torque also does them
from Hillarys Boat Harbour (near the AQWA aquarium; see “What to See &
Do in Perth,” earlier in this chapter). The company provides coach connections
to Hillarys from Perth.
The
Aquarium of Western Australia
(
AQWA;
&
08/9447 7500
) runs
whale-watching tours on Wednesdays, weekends, and public holidays during the
season (Sept to early Dec) at 9am and 11:30am. Tours, limited to 12 people, are
on board an ocean rafter that gives “eye level” encounters with these magnificent
mammals. The cost is A$90 (US$59) per person and includes admission to
AQWA. Bookings are essential.
The Perth Tram Co.
(
&
08/9322 2006
) makes a daily loop of the city, the
casino, and Kings Park in replica 1899 wooden trams; hop on and off as often
as you wish. Tickets, which you buy on board, cost A$15 (US$9.75) for adults,
A$13 (US$8.45) for seniors, A$7 (US$4.55) for children under 15, and A$37
(US$24) for families. City-casino, city-Kings Park, and casino-Kings Park sin-
gle legs are also available. Join anywhere; the tram starts at 565 Hay St. at
9:40am and makes six 90-minute loops a day, with a commentary.
Feature Tours
(
&
1800/999 819
in Australia, or 08/9475 2900; www.ft.
com.au) runs half- and full-day coach tours to attractions in and around Perth.
ACTIVE PURSUITS
BIKING
Perth's superb bike-track network stretches for miles along the Swan
River, through Kings Park, around Fremantle, and all the way down the beaches.
There is a great 9.5km (6-mile) track around Perth Water, the broad expanse of
river in front of the central business district, that starts at the Swan River on
Riverside Drive and goes over the Causeway bridge, back along the other bank
and over the bridge at the Narrows back to the city. The state Department of
Transport's cycling division, Bikewest, publishes a range of useful bike-route
maps to the city. They are available in bike shops, most newsagents, and at
Map
World,
900 Hay St. (
&
08/9322 5733
).
Rental from
Koala Bike Hire,
located in the car park behind Fraser's restau-
rant in Kings Park (
&
08/9321 3061
), is A$5 (US$3.25) for an hour, or A$16
(US$10) for the day, which includes a helmet (required by law in Australia),
lock, and maps of Kings Park.
GOLF
Most convenient to the city is Burswood Park Golf Course, part of the
Burswood International Resort Casino,
across the river on the Great Eastern
Highway, Burswood (
&
08/9362 7576
for the pro shop). A nine-hole round is
just A$14 (US$9.10) weekdays and A$17 (US$11) weekends. A cart for nine
holes is A$22 (US$14) and club rental is A$17 (US$11).
Even more scenic are the 27 championship fairways designed by Robert Trent
Jones Jr. at
Joondalup Resort,
Country Club Boulevard, Connolly, a 25km
(15
1
⁄
2
-mile) drive north of Perth (
&
08/9400 8811
pro shop); and
The Vines
in the Swan Valley (
&
08/9297 3000
for the resort, or 08/9297 0777 for the
pro shop), which has two 18-hole bushland courses. Joondalup was ranked the
No. 1 Resort Golf Course in Australia by
Golf Australia
magazine in 2003. Kan-
garoos often come onto both courses. Expect to pay between A$35 and A$55
(US$23-US$36) for nine holes at either resort, and A$90 (US$59) at Joon-
dalup on weekends.
