Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SAILING
The tallest Tall Ship in Australia, the lovely three-masted barquen-
tine
STS
Leeuwin II
(
&
08/9430 4105;
www.leeuwin.com), sails from B Shed
at Victoria Quay, Fremantle, when it is not out on voyages around Australia. You
may be one of up to 40 passengers, but you still get the chance to try your hand
at sailing the way it used to be done. Day trips—usually on weekends—are from
10am to 3pm and cost A$99 (US$64) for adults and A$55 (US$36) for chil-
dren under 12. The ship sometimes does 3- or 4-hour sails in the mornings,
afternoons, and at sunset.
Experienced sailors can sail on Wednesday afternoons in summer from about
3 to 5pm with members of the
Royal Perth Yacht Club,
Australia II Drive,
Crawley (
&
08/9389 1555;
ask for the sailing administrator), if there is a place
available. It's not spinnaker sailing on Wednesdays, so the action is at an easy
pace. All-white dress standards apply.
SCUBA DIVING & SNORKELING
Just 19km (12 miles) off Perth, Rot-
tnest Island's corals, reef fish, wrecks, and limestone caverns, in 18m to 35m
(59- to 115-ft.) visibility, are a gift from heaven to Perth divers and snorkelers.
Contact
Rottnest Malibu Diving
(
&
08/9292 5111
) on Rottnest Island (see
“Side Trips from Perth,” below) to rent gear or join a dive trip.
Diving Ventures,
at 384 S. Terrace, Fremantle (
&
1800/655 330
in Australia, or 08/9430 5130;
www.dventures.com.au/dv.shtml), also conducts dive day trips from Perth to
Rottnest Island, and also to the wreck of the HMAS
Swan,
located off Duns-
borough in the state's Southwest, a 113m (246-ft.) long destroyer which was
scuttled for divers' pleasure a couple of years ago. This trip costs A$160
(US$104) with two dives, including all gear. The company also does 3-day live-
aboard trips to Ningaloo Reef, and “introductory” dives for any adventurer
without dive qualifications who wants to try the sport in the company of an
instructor. The company also rents scuba gear and conducts dive courses. It has
a city outlet at 222 William St., Northbridge, in Perth (
&
08/9228 2630
).
SURFING
You will find good surfing at many city beaches, Scarborough and
Trigg in particular. See the “Hitting the Beaches” section, earlier in this chapter.
Rottnest Island (see “Side Trips from Perth,” below) also has good breaks.
Mur-
ray Smith Surf Centre,
Shop 14, Luna Maxi Mart, Scarborough (
&
08/9245
2988
), rents long boards for A$20 (US$13) for half a day or A$30 (US$20) for
the day, plus a A$100 (US$65) refundable deposit. They also rent body boards.
Surfing WA
(
&
08/9448 0004
) runs 2-hour surfing classes for A$110 (US$72)
per person on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Boards, wet suits, and sunscreen
are provided.
THE SHOPPING SCENE
Most shops are located downtown on the parallel
Hay Street
and
Murray Street
malls,
located 1 block apart, and in the network of arcades running off them
such as the Plaza, City, Carillon, and the Tudor-style
London Court
arcades.
Off Murray Street Mall on Forrest Place is the
Forrest Chase shopping com-
plex,
housing the Myer department store and boutiques on two levels. Add to
your collection of international designer brands on posh
King Street.
If you want to avoid the chains, spend half a day in
Subiaco
or “Subi,”
where Hay Street and Rokeby Road are lined with smart boutiques, art galleries,
cafes, antiques shops, and markets. The Colonnade shopping center at 388 Hay
St. showcases groovy young Aussie fashion designers in its Studio 388 section.
Fremantle's shopping is mostly limited to a good selection of crafts, markets,
and Aboriginal souvenirs.
