b8b

Hi all,

After searching, I didn't find much info that pertains to my situation, except this old thread from 2006, which was also helpful but I expect many costs have risen since then.

My DW and I will be arriving (*A) into Perth on a weekday in March at 4:30 PM and leaving at 11:10 PM. Is this enough time to leave the airport, see some sites and/or experience local culture and flavor, and return to the airport in time for departure?

Any advice, suggestions, personal experience, transportation cost estimates, etc. are very much appreciated.

Up In The Air

It's definitely achievable (I'm there now for an overnighter) – but would not be an inexpensive excursion. A taxi from the airport to the CBD is about 40AUD and takes about 30 minutes.

It's all a matter of personal taste: I'm staying in the Burswood Crown casino complex and frankly it's not my cup of tea. Restaurants here are very expensive (indeed), the least expensive steak of all costing around 40AUD and glass of wine around 12AUD. (I paid 9.50AUD for a 750ml bottle of sparkling mineral water!)

I'm off to the Perth Cultural Centre in a few minutes' time while some people in the hotel will be nursing their hangovers and counting their losses. Horses for courses.

Mwenenzi

City centre is close to dead at night, apart from Northbridge. Also have a look at Fremantle.
And post 6 in http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/commu...26-2013-a.html

harvyk

Good luck getting out to Freo from the airport and return within 6 hours and not spend an arm and leg on it. You'd be looking at over $120 (return trip) on taxi's alone.

There are quite a few bars which are open in the CBD, but personally I don't know if they would be truly worth the cost of getting from / to the airport for the 4 hours or so you'd have in the city.

Unfortunately 6 hours put's it into the "you could, but it'd be expensive and probably not worth it" category.

b8b

Would renting a car perhaps make it more affordable, or is driving and parking difficult?

Haven't had a chance to visit Australia yet, and I know this isn't really a visit, but still would like to be able to see enough to at least say I've been

Mwenenzi

Parking after 5:30 pm should not be problem. But you would driving in peak traffic from the airport. Australia is right hand drive. Driving with jet lag or after drinking alcohol is not recommended. Allowing for getting out of the airport and check in you will not have much time as post 4 above.

harvyk

Just out interest, what sort of transit is it?
I'm assuming that you are at least arriving by International since you mentioned *A. Are you also departing International or a Domestic flight? The reason why I ask is depending on what you are doing you may need to clear customs (and have a valid visa) to enter Australia, and if you are departing Internationally again you'd need to allow time for outbound customs. Depending on how long all that took, by the time you actually got anywhere interesting you may find you'd only have about an hour before you needed to get back to the airport.

CPMaverick

I did this exact thing in 2009 except I had 1 more hour than you (3:30p to 11:00p). I was also making a domestic connection so I didn't have to clear customs either way.

It's definitely do-able but as others have said it is a hassle or expensive (or both!). Unless things have changed in the last 3 years there isn't any great inexpensive way to get to the CBD. Taxis are expensive and the bus takes forever.

I was unemployed so I took the bus (also, the queue for the taxi was about 75 people deep!). It was kind of fun to see the locals and listen to the dialects, but it took over an hour to get to the CBD. Once there, I walked through King's park and down some trails to the Swan river, where there is a walking / cycling trail. It was a beautiful day, and I really enjoyed it (WAY better than the airport lounge...). I then had a couple pints before heading back to the airport.

On the way back I took the bus again, and some older Australian drunk lady yelled a bunch of racial slurs at an Indian girl, then some other younger people screamed at her. So that was pretty entertaining.

In short, I say go for it, if you are adventurous. You won't have time for a nice dinner but you can see something worth seeing. I think you'd need a taxi at least one-way, it will help you a lot with time and comfort, if a bit more boring. But if you want to try the bus on the way to the CBD it may save you some waiting for a taxi and you'll see a little slice of the 'regular' Perth.

Thinking about it now; I am certain I didn't have my bags with me, but no idea what I did with them. There must have been lockers in PER somewhere.

b8b

Thank you for the colorful experience, CPMaverick! This sounds interesting and a fun way to experience the "real" culture.

We'll have to clear customs, so I don't know how much longer that will take... any input on that could be helpful, also clearing security for airside entry on departure.

CPMaverick, do you recall where you caught the bus at the terminal? How much it was? What bus to catch? How long did it take to get there and back on the bus? I will google these things as well, just thinking out loud...

CPMaverick

I don't recall the bus route, and odds are it's changed since then anyway. I know it went south through the suburbs before west into the city.

I did notice there is now a shuttle service from the airport to CBD. http://www.perthairportconnect.com.au

Are you going onward within Australia or will you need to go through customs again when you depart?

b8b

Heading onward internationally, so will have to go through customs (*A Gold in J on *A though, is there a shorter line for customs/security?) - does that add a lot of time?

Thank you for the information and sharing your experience!

CPMaverick

I haven't left PER internationally but typically it does mean you should arrive 2 hours before departure. Customs on both ends does add a bit of time to your layover. Check with the airline for exact rules.

Sometimes the intl flights arrive early so here's hoping!

harvyk

So after spending last week in Perth...

I would allow an hour from landing to curbside, and I'd allow 1.5 hours from checkin to boarding. I know that certain airlines issue out express passes for customs, so flying J you'll probably be issued one on arrival, and issued another one on check-in.

Your looking at about half an hour each way from the airport to the CBD via taxi and it cost me $35 to get from Perth CBD to the airport last Thursday night.

Along James St in Northbridge (very near the CBD) there are loads of restaurants, so you'd probably have time to get there and have a decent dinner before heading back to the airport. (Had dinner there last Wednesday night, was very pleasant).

henry999

Keep in mind, too, that at that time of year the sun goes down at about 6:30 PM, so by the time you get out of the airport and into town you're not going to have a lot of daylight left and much (most?) of what you see will be 'city lights'.

cheers,

Henry

b8b

Great info - thanks all!

We'll be there a week from this Friday night. Might just take a cab in and out just to check it out (do they Uber down under?)

Looking forward to it.