tom911

Put me down as a maybe right now dependent on currency exchange rates as we get closer--big factor for me as I'll do 10 days if I'm coming over. I have been to Perth a couple times over the years and have Perth, Fremantle and Swan River photos from 2010 HERE for those that want a preview.

I took this photo at a construction site in Northbridge. Will we be getting OzFest tattoos when we are there?

dedehans

Tom...I think you might be a good man to make suggestions to the DO planners. You are hitting on important excursions...please share your experiences.

Are you offering to bring some 3 day stay on tatts?

upup&away

Mwenenzi - very sensible to "pre-register" repeat offenders for Oz-fest 10,
and, yes, I am certainly in for Perth and already looking forward to the event.

I am currently in a very wet and rainly Far North Queensland.

I thought the seasonal "wet" ended in late April??

perthite

Looks like you have the river cruise to Fremantle covered off. Maybe you'll need to go the other way to the Swan Valley wineries (Actually, IMHO, the cruise to Fremantle is a bit more scenic)

tom911

I did the Captain Cook cruise down the Swan River to Fremantle. It's an easy walk over from the CBD. Trip is 75 mins long at $A25. This is one of many cruises they offer. There is a lunch trip at 1130 for $A62 but lunch in Fremantle would be much nicer. Plenty of pubs and restaurants there. I hit Kail's Seafood Restaurant on the waterfront last trip (not in the CBD but walkable) which is an "order at the window" place with indoor and outdoor seating, and have been to Mario's Italian restaurant in the city center twice.
http://www.captaincookcruises.com.au/

Leaving the ferry terminal in Perth:



Fremantle also has frequent rail access from Perth, so it's quite easy to get back to Perth. Could easily be down there for lunch, spend the afternoon walking around, and be back in Perth for the evening. The highlight of my visit is just walking around looking at the gorgeous buildings. There is also an indoor marketplace.

Marios Italian Restaurant:


Kails Seafood Restaurant:


Kails menu from 2010:
I have done a day trip over to Rottnest Island and saw quokkas and hiked around a few miles. Most of those that go over there from Fremantle via ferry hire bicycles and cycle around the island. Of course, you need good weather for that. If you look at my photos which adjoined OzFest in 2010 there was a lot of dark clouds and rain. I don't have these photos on-line.

For those wanting to extend their stay I have been as far north as Exmouth on a three day tour (789 miles from Perth--road houses for lunch, bunk houses for accommodations, and lots of open road). There may be a two day tour that just goes as far north as Monkey Mia (800km/500 miles). Heading south I've been to Augusta, 322km/200 miles from Perth, though along the way you pass Margaret River wine country which might be an alternative. I was traveling by bus so wine country wasn't in the cards for me. These photos aren't on line any longer.

perthite

Margaret River and the South West (Busselton, Augusta, etc) certainly lends itself more to a pre or post do activity given the distance involved.

To the North, Exmouth and Ningaloo Reef area have their attractions (but then given the distance, it may be worth flying there!

tom911

We're definitely talking covering some terrain to get north, but it's one of those road trips you don't forget. If I come over I might do it again on either side of OzFest. I did a tour package where accommodations were included.

perthite

Western Australia does have an issue in being so big, and things so far apart, that it does take some time to get between places. Certainly it is well worth doing (although having driven large chunks of WA, the drive can be boring from the drivers point of view!), just need to make sure you put enough time aside to do it.

SFSC

Please put myself and +1 in as platinum. This will be our first Oz Fest

goingbananas

Count me +1 in for probable (or Gold) in Perth. Haven't been there in years...Did Rail from SYD... Will try and tie it in with a trip to Kalgoorlie...since I will be going there in the near future....for the foreseeable future...

Is Fremantle on the agenda and/or Rottnest island?

Is Fast Eddy's still there? Great place to dine anytime day or night!!

mjm

Man those were thew days of fares to be sure.

I just had a look and the webpage I created in 2002 for registration for the first Do in SIN was indeed SIN Run. Which was/is a Do. So yes, indeed it has been the same thing with largely the same components for the entire time.



The secret is the crabs and food courts. Keeps 'em coming back every year.

perthite

Fast Eddy's is still around. Good for an all day breakfast or feed any time. They fill a role, the food is ok, but not sure they will ever win any culinary awards!

lowjhg

Lets see what happens if i put in a suite upgrade to my current executive king spa suite at the hyatt

harryhv

Updated May 14
Even if you're planning staying at the Hilton it's time to book. Mr & Mrs harryhv have booked the (cancellable) function rate at the Hyatt but may change to the Hilton:

Prices for the Fri/Sat/Sun nights 24-27 May
5-star
Hilton 135/135/135 on lastminute.com.au/secret 5 dots, but they've been renovating the lifts & cafe
Hyatt function rate, 182.75, call (+61) 131234 and quote BQWT, or BQWB with b'fast
Hyatt "Bonus 99" 3 nights for $627 incl $99 F&B
Hyatt club floor 265/265/265 5-dot secret hotel on lastminute.com.au
Pan Pacific 180/218/218 5-star secret hotel on lastminute.com.au
Duxton 209/229/229 on perth.duxtonhotels.com
4-star
Novotel 119/119/119 4.5-star secret hotel on lastminute.com.au
Mercure 120 x3 on lastminute.com.au
Rydges 133/149/172 on priorityguestrewards.com.au
Travelodge 118 x3 on needitnow.com.au
Holiday Inn 172/172/172 priorityclub.com

Secret hotel notes:
Pan Pacific - on lastminute com au, it's the secret hotel with 5 stars ("near Swan River"). It's not 5 dots, that's either the Hyatt ("elegant & spacious rooms") or the Hilton ("1km from Kings Park") or the Fraser Suites ("Perth CBD - East")

Hyatt - 5 dots, "elegant & spacious rooms", offers you a club-floor

Fraser Suites - 5 dots, "city centre - East", is at the edge of town

Crown Metropol (Casino) - a bit seedy to be 5-star, but plenty of golf nearby

Hilton - If using hilton com, book each night separately.

There are other 5-star hotels but they're either poorly located (Richardsonl, Wyndham) or expensive (Best Western).

4-Star
Novotel - Lastminute com au, it's the secret hotel with 4.5 stars ("near the park")

Rydges - priorityguestrewards.com.au, join up (free) to get the regular prices. Book each night separately.

Travelodge - Lastminute com au, it's the secret hotel with 4 stars ("centre of the CBD") but actually the listed rate is the same

There are many other 4-star hotels but they're either poorly located (Crowne Plaza, Peninsula) or horrid (too many to mention, Perth hotels can get away with a lot in this boomtime economy)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

For Hilton week-nights especially Tue & Wed, or any Perth hotel midweek prices are astronomical, best to use points+cash booking as far ahead as possible. Monday nights Rydges has an under-$200 price for members, join up, it's free.

If you're just looking for somewhere central to stay at a reasonable price there are some apartments in East Perth which are on a free shuttle-bus route. Check lastminute.com.au, select Perth then East Perth, for the Mont Clare apartments, the Regal Apartments or - if you're not planning watching TV - the Alderney apartments. If you don't mind slumming it there are acceptable 3-star properties in town: Perth Ambassador and the Comfort Hotel East Perth (not the Comfort-Wentworth Plaza, that's a pub.) Also the Ibis but you'll need an Accor sale to get a decent rate.

Properties to avoid: Ascot Quays, Seasons, the Criterion, Miss Maud, anything in Northbridge. Have also had poor experiences at the Crowne Plaza, the IC which is out of town at Burswood, and Kings hotel.

On Lastminute.com.au for weekend nights only you will find a 4-star secret hotel advertised as "right in in the CBD" (center) in the $100 range which is the Travelodge - quite ok, but fierce internet charge. There's another 4-star secret hotel sometimes, priced $120-$150, usually that's the Mercure.

There's also a 4.5 star secret hotel on Lastminute.com.au which is the Novotel, they usually have a $135 rate on Fri and Sun but nothing for Sat.

UPDATE - Wotif and Lastminute now have 4 "secret" 5-star properties, three with 5 dots and one (the PanPac) with 5 stars.

1. The ex-Sheraton, now Pan Pacific, 5 stars, description mentions "Close to the historic Perth Mint".

2. The Hilton - 5 dots, and the short description at the end mentions "1km from Kings Park"

3. The Hyatt - 5 dots, and the description mentions "spacious room". Often offers the option of a room on a Club floor.

4. The "Fraser Suites", 5 dots, (a new development about 2km from town), 5 dots, says "this hotel is located in the Perth CBD (East)."

serfty

Thanks for the advice - other than wotif/Lastminute I'll look to it.

I exclude whatif/Lastminute as then I am not entitled to points earning, status benefits, nor stay/night credits (although sometimes things may 'slip through the cracks, so to speak.).