Hi --

Local residents will do better, but I visited with my family last year at this time and I can provide a few driblets of info:

"Winter" in Perth / Freo means temperate days, slightly cool nights. Light cotton jacket / windbreaker will do you fine.

Maxicabs can be conjured at the airport on pretty short notice. I wouldn't bother prebooking.

Esplanade Hotel in Freo looks great... terrific location. We stayed at the Tradewinds about a mile outside the CBD and wished we hadn't.

Taxis in Freo are difficult to conjure, OTOH. At peak times it can take 20-30 minutes for one to answer the call, even when a hotel puts in the order.

Traffic between Freo and Perth can be slow -- we almost missed our departure flight because of a late-arriving shuttle plus backups on the Canning Highway arterial. Allow plenty of time on getaway day.

It's a fantastic area. Be sure to go drinking at Little Creatures, about five minutes' walk from the Esplanade Hotel on the water.