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Travel to Perth

Flying to Perth

There are no direct flights to Perth from the UK, but there are plenty of options involving one stopover, including flights with Cathay Pacific (via Hong Kong), Emirates (via Dubai), Etihad Airways (via Abu Dhabi), Malaysia Airlines (via Kuala Lumpur) and Singapore Airlines (via Singapore). The cheapest deals tend to be available between mid-April and mid-June. Flights from the USA also involve a stopover in South-East Asia or the Middle East. Non-stop service from London to Perth on Qantas Airlines will begin in March 2018.

Flight times

From London - 19 hours 30 minutes (including stopover); New York - 25 hours (including stopover); Los Angeles - 22 hours (including stopover); Toronto - 25 hours (including stopover); Sydney - 5 hours.

Travel by road

Traffic in Australia drives on the left. The minimum driving age is 17. Unless otherwise indicated, the speed limit in Western Australia for metropolitan areas is 50kph (31mph), while on motorways the speed limit is 100kph (62mph). In open areas outside built-up areas, it's 110kph (68mph).

Foreign driving licences are valid as a visitor, but they must be in English or you need a translation. Australia has very strict laws on drinking and driving, and seatbelts are mandatory.

Outback Western Australia can be extremely hot. Drivers crossing desert areas can arrange to travel in convoy. Do take a large supply of drinking water, in addition to fuel, spare tyres and an emergency kit.

The Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia (RAC WA) (tel: +61 8 9436 4444; www.rac.com.au) provides further information.

Emergency breakdown services

The Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia (RAC WA) (tel: +61 8 9436 4444; www.rac.com.au) provides further information.

Routes

Main routes into Perth are the Great Eastern Highway 94 (from Fremantle and Kalgoorlie-Boulder), Wanneroo Road (from Geraldton), Southwestern Highway 20 (from Bunbury) and the Albany Highway 30 (from Albany). If you’re driving direct from Adelaide, Melbourne or Sydney, travel via Kalgoorlie, joining the Great Eastern Highway.

Coaches

The main coach operators are Greyhound (+61 7 4690 9850; www.greyhound.com.au) and the Transwa (+61 8 9326 2600; www.transwa.wa.gov.au). Destinations are varied and include Esperance, Geraldton, Mukinbudin, Albany, Bunbury and Collie. Services arrive at the East Perth Terminal, Summers Street, East Perth.

South West Coach Lines (tel: +61 8 9261 7600; www.southwestcoachlines.com.au) departs from the Esplanade Busport, 3 Mounts Bay Road, to Bunbury and Margaret River.

Time to city

From Geraldton - 4 hours 30 minutes; Kalgoorlie - 6 hours; Adelaide - 28 hours; Melbourne - 36 hours; Bunbury - 2 hours; Albany - 4 hours 30 minutes; Sydney - 41 hours.

Long journeys should be broken up and it is not advised to drive outside daylight hours when wildlife is more likely to be around. If you come across an animal in the road, hit your horn and brake. Do not go off the road.

Travel by Rail

Services

Trains are a great way to get around Australia with some spectacular routes offering the chance to travel long distance and take in the view.

Local connections and trains to the south leave from the centrally located main city station, Perth Railway Station, Wellington Street (opposite Forrest Place). The slightly less convenient station is East Perth Terminal, Summers Street, with train services to the east and some long-haul services.

For general information on rail journeys in Australia, try www.railaustralia.com.au, or contact the relevant service provider directly.

Operators

Great Southern Railways (tel: 1800 703 357, in Australia only, or +61 8 8213 4401; www.greatsouthernrail.com.au) operates some of Australia’s great train journeys across the country, including the Indian Pacific which runs between Sydney and Perth via .

Transperth (tel: 136 213, in Australia only; www.transperth.wa.gov.au) operates intra city rail services and Transwa (tel: 1300 662 205, in Australia only; www.transwa.wa.gov.au) operates intra state trains to Kalgoorlie, Northam and Bunbury.

Journey times

From Sydney - 3 nights; Kalgoorlie - 6 hours 45 minutes; Northam - 1 hour 35 minutes; Bunbury - 2 hours 25 minutes.

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Book Accommodation

Featured Hotels

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The Great Southern Hotel

This hotel is located in Northbridge, the main cultural and entertainment neighbourhood in Perth, and a short walk from the city centre. The mid-size, affordable hotel features 94 rooms, a no frills restaurant and late-night bar.

Royal Hotel

Located right in central Perth this quirky hotel offers comfortable accommodation with a reasonable price tag. Perhaps the best part of Royal Hotel Perth is its location steps from transportation stops and close to major shopping malls boutiques art galleries theatres cinemas and other local attractions.

West Beach Lagoon

Leisure travellers will get bang for their buck in the self-contained one-or two-bedroom apartment at West Beach Lagoon, located off Scarborough Beach on Perth's Sunset Coast. The resort offers a spa, waterslide, and beautiful scenery, with Perth's city centre only a car ride away.

Hotel Northbridge

Hotel Northbridge is a comfortable boutique Perth hotel in a renovated old Australian pub with wide verandas. The studio-style rooms have a large double corner spa in every room. Stylish and with great service and an award-winning restaurant, the hotel is a very convenient place to stay as it is located just minutes from Perth's city centre and the Northbridge cultural district.

Miss Maud Swedish Hotel

Miss Maud Swedish Hotel is a slice of Sweden in the middle of Perth. A boutique family hotel, it has a charm and character all of its own, and guests are made to feel welcome and appreciated. The rooms are cosy and comfortable, and the ground floor restaurant serves a hearty Swedish smorgasbord, including free breakfast for hotel guests.

Rendezvous Observation City Hotel

Situated right on Scarborough Beach, Rendezvous Observation City Hotel offers panoramic ocean views of the Indian Ocean. There are 333 guest rooms (including six suites), two restaurants and four bars, a heated tropical lagoon pool and spa, a health club, steam room and tennis courts. Perth city centre is only 15 minutes away but you'll feel a million miles away.