Perth questions and recommendations?

[kyle]

Greetings

My partner and I will be heading to Perth for 4 nights in early October for a small break. The last time I was in Perth was back in October 2006. So with my partner this time, we are hoping to go to The Pinnacles, Rottnest Island and Margaret River. I was hoping to go to Monkey Mia and Wave Rock but it looks like I won't be able to fit it all in within those few days.

My current plan is to stay at Rottnest Island for 2 nights, then 2 nights in Perth (head to Margaret River one day and Margaret River the next day).

For the two nights in Perth, I am thinking of Sheraton Four Points. The other hotels like Hilton are oh so expensive. What's so special about October? I see from the other hotel thread that people are recommending Rendezvous? If it gets too expensive, I will just redeem my SPG points at 12K per night.

Enjoying good food is also on top of my agenda (mains in the $35-$40ish range). What are people's recommendations? I would like somewhere that we can go in without dressing up (i.e. tees/hoodies, shorts/jeans, sneakers/thongs are ok). Sorry, I don't know what the expectations of the Perth residents currently are in terms of dressing up because I can dress casually in most good restaurants in Melbourne.

As for Rottnest Island, are 2 nights too much? Is there that much to do? And I am one of those who suffer from internet withdrawal symptoms. How's the mobile reception? I am guessing Telstra 4G is out of the question?

If anyone's got any suggestions as to how to make my itinerary better, I am all ears. I'm trying to minimize the driving time each day as my partner hates sitting in the car for too long.

Thanks everyone.

 

[mannej]

October = school holidays over here plus the current demand will result in your exorbitant hotel fees

 

[Mumfreqflyer]

Once your flights are book, book your accomodation ASAP! Accomodation here in Perth books out fairly quick or you end up paying $300+ per night as there is not much left.

Rotto - do a day trip. If staying in the city you can get te ferry from barrack street. Try get the 7:00am ferry and last ferry back. Just make sure they leave and arrive at barrack street. I wouldnt bother doing an overnight at rotto and prob not in Oct as it can still be quite cool. 1 day on the island is enough time to hire a bike and cycle to sime of the bays, have a swim/snorkel, lunch at the pub and coffee at Dome.

Margaret River - its a 4 jour drive from Perth. Best bet is to head to the Swan Valley and visit some wine tatings, margaret river chocolate factory (yes in the swan valley), lunch at mash brewery or tasting plate and wine at Houghtons on the grass, lunch or Brookleigh estate and jts only 30-40 mins from Perth CBD!!!

Rendevous is old but they are doing up the rooms and it is on the beach. If staying during the week and not in school holidays then scarborough is better as traffic in the city is terrible!!!

I think for what you want to do staying in the city is better!

I would book Coco's for dinner but you cant get away with singlet and thongs there but its an amazing view over the city and you can catch a ferry again from barrack street jetty so you both can have a few drinks.

In all honestly, if singlet and thongs is your look you may find it hard to go out for dinners here as there are strict dress codes. We arent just a mining state full of bogans!

A sunday is fremantle if staying over the weekend is great as there are markets, street performers and lots happening here! Singlets and thins everywhere too!!!

That's all I can think of but any other questions, just ask away

oh and yes our mobile lies have just been connected so your Telstra 4G should work (tongue and cheek!)

 

[Mumfreqflyer]

And forget the pinnacles! They are stones out of the ground and would be a waste of a day for you!

 

[kyle]

Once your flights are book, book your accomodation ASAP! Accomodation here in Perth books out fairly quick or you end up paying $300+ per night as there is not much left.

I am planning to put in the cancellable SPG points booking first to make sure we have a place to stay at reasonable prices, then if cheaper prices come around later, will re-consider my options.

Rotto - do a day trip. If staying in the city you can get te ferry from barrack street. Try get the 7:00am ferry and last ferry back. Just make sure they leave and arrive at barrack street. I wouldnt bother doing an overnight at rotto and prob not in Oct as it can still be quite cool. 1 day on the island is enough time to hire a bike and cycle to sime of the bays, have a swim/snorkel, lunch at the pub and coffee at Dome.

The reason why I wanted to stay two nights is because I thought there would be more to do on the island than the Perth CBD. What's the dress code like on the island?

Margaret River - its a 4 jour drive from Perth. Best bet is to head to the Swan Valley and visit some wine tatings, margaret river chocolate factory (yes in the swan valley), lunch at mash brewery or tasting plate and wine at Houghtons on the grass, lunch or Brookleigh estate and jts only 30-40 mins from Perth CBD!!!

Sounds like a good plan... except I am the one driving as he's under 25, and he can't drink.

Rendevous is old but they are doing up the rooms and it is on the beach. If staying during the week and not in school holidays then scarborough is better as traffic in the city is terrible!!!

I stayed in Scarborough by myself back in 2006. A nice quick walk to the beach. At the moment, I'm leaning towards Sheraton Four Points.


I think for what you want to do staying in the city is better!

I would book Coco's for dinner but you cant get away with singlet and thongs there but its an amazing view over the city and you can catch a ferry again from barrack street jetty so you both can have a few drinks.

In all honestly, if singlet and thongs is your look you may find it hard to go out for dinners here as there are strict dress codes. We arent just a mining state full of bogans!

A sunday is fremantle if staying over the weekend is great as there are markets, street performers and lots happening here! Singlets and thins everywhere too!!!

So with Coco, t-shirt, jeans and sneakers should be ok? It seems that Perth has more venues enforcing dress codes compared to Melbourne?

I am more the t-shirt guy rather than singlet (don't have the muscular arms ).

Ok, Fremantle sounds like the 'right' place to be except my trip is from Tuesday and flying out Sunday and I've been known to go barefoot often. (Ok, I was in the VA MEL lounge in March wearing t-shirt, shorts and thongs surrounded by business types in suits).

That's all I can think of but any other questions, just ask away

Thanks for that.

oh and yes our mobile lies have just been connected so your Telstra 4G should work (tongue and cheek!)

Very nice...

And forget the pinnacles! They are stones out of the ground and would be a waste of a day for you!

I was hoping to take some good pictures there with my new camera. Is there anything else around there that's worth going? I am trying to work out on my first day arriving in PER on whether to head straight to The Pinnacles, or go to Rottnest Island (flight arrives at around noon).

 

[Kef]

I read somewhere the reason hotel prices in Perth are so expensive is because there are not enough hotels its demand and supply hence the high room rates.

 

[Danger]

I haven't been inside but the Four Points is near-on an eyesore from the outside. That said, it is in a good location.

i would try the Hyatt who regularly have decent rates on weekends, including a $99 F&B package. The hotel also has a number of restaurants.

if your ages are up to about 30 or so, Perth city has plenty of places to go out where jeans and tees are fine. Places like Amplifier, Tiger Lils and Capitol cater to a young crowd while the Belgian Beer Cafe, Aviary and Carnegie's are for a sights older but still young crowd. Again, jeans and tees are fine, and all of them are in the city, predominantly Murray Street.

I was hoping to take some good pictures there with my new camera. Is there anything else around there that's worth going? I am trying to work out on my first day arriving in PER on whether to head straight to The Pinnacles, or go to Rottnest Island (flight arrives at around noon).

Head straight to Fremantle. There are some decent photo opportunities, including boats and ships and the like, and the ferries from there to Rottnest will be slightly cheaper. Getting to Freo would be an expensive taxi ride, however, so you could potentially take a taxi to the Barrack Street jetty in the city and catch the ferry to Freo, then take a wander around before setting off for Rotto. I'm not sure about luggage storage options, though.

 

[Mr_Gimlet]

Greetings
Enjoying good food is also on top of my agenda (mains in the $35-$40ish range). What are people's recommendations? I would like somewhere that we can go in without dressing up (i.e. tees/hoodies, shorts/jeans, sneakers/thongs are ok). Sorry, I don't know what the expectations of the Perth residents currently are in terms of dressing up because I can dress casually in most good restaurants in Melbourne.

It's not that great an experience unfortunately, the high labour costs mean service is pretty average because of high turnover, and prices are quite high to cover rents and said staff. If you drink coffee, it will get expensive.

As a Melburnian, I have a few regular haunts in Perth. There is great HK-style duck in Northbridge (Good Fortune Roast Duck House is my favourite) and some pretty good low cost Asian, especially Malaysian. Regional Chinese hasn't really hit Perth yet, they are mainly Guangdong style. Going up the price bracket, the best restaurant by far is Amuse. But it will cost you. I often hang out at Must Winebar, its a bit like the City Wine Shop/ European. (There's also a branch in Margaret River)

I have never felt the need to dress up for dinner in Perth.

 

[kyle]

October = school holidays over here plus the current demand will result in your exorbitant hotel fees

I read somewhere the reason hotel prices in Perth are so expensive is because there are not enough hotels its demand and supply hence the high room rates.

I haven't been inside but the Four Points is near-on an eyesore from the outside. That said, it is in a good location. i would try the Hyatt who regularly have decent rates on weekends, including a $99 F&B package. The hotel also has a number of restaurants.

But the prices I'm seeing are absolutely ridiculous compared to what I pay when I go on holidays in Qld. Hyatt charges $355 on 2 Oct, and $245 on 4 Oct. That old looking Hilton is even worse. $539 for a Queen room? I don't think so. I've got SPG points in the account ready to use, hence Sheraton is on top of my list.

 

[mannej]

But the prices I'm seeing are absolutely ridiculous compared to what I pay when I go on holidays in Qld. Hyatt charges $355 on 2 Oct, and $245 on 4 Oct. That old looking Hilton is even worse. $539 for a Queen room? I don't think so. I've got SPG points in the account ready to use, hence Sheraton is on top of my list.

Difference is we are talking about Perth here, not Qld

 

[Mr_Gimlet]

I regularly pay 280 for the Holiday Inn, and that's with a very big corporate

 

[kyle]

if your ages are up to about 30 or so, Perth city has plenty of places to go out where jeans and tees are fine. Places like Amplifier, Tiger Lils and Capitol cater to a young crowd while the Belgian Beer Cafe, Aviary and Carnegie's are for a sights older but still young crowd. Again, jeans and tees are fine, and all of them are in the city, predominantly Murray Street.

Head straight to Fremantle. There are some decent photo opportunities, including boats and ships and the like, and the ferries from there to Rottnest will be slightly cheaper. Getting to Freo would be an expensive taxi ride, however, so you could potentially take a taxi to the Barrack Street jetty in the city and catch the ferry to Freo, then take a wander around before setting off for Rotto. I'm not sure about luggage storage options, though.

Thanks for the suggestions. Will definitely look into them. I love good food. While I'm in that age bracket, my partner is much younger, yet we don't go out clubbing any more or do much drinking, so the casino or having a quiet night are probably going to be our night time activities.

We will have a rental car, but if we spend a day at Rotto, then it will be a waste of that day's rental

 

[Mr_Gimlet]

Take the train to Freo

 

[ShaneN]

Take the train to Freo

I agree. Freo is an easy train trip from the city. Great for heritage, architecture, boats, ships food and drinking. Could easily spend a day there. If you like beer try the Little Creatures brewery and restaurant. You can catch a ferry from Fremantle to Rottnest.

Alternately, spend all day in Freo, then the next day take the ferry from Barrack Street to Rottnest.

If you want to go further afield, rent a car for the last couple of days, not the whole stay. Distances are long - Pinnacles is 200 km from Perth and Margaret River is 270 km.

All accommodation is expensive, a product of the mining boom.

 

[Cynicor]

Places like Amplifier, Tiger Lils and Capitol cater to a young crowd while the Belgian Beer Cafe, Aviary and Carnegie's are for a sights older but still young crowd. Again, jeans and tees are fine, and all of them are in the city, predominantly Murray Street.

Just a heads up- these are not restaurants and do not do anything near good food.

$35-40 is a standard main price at most good establishments so it is hard to pick an amazing restaurant based on price.

I think the Trustee and the Heritage are both nice and you could probably get away with more casual wear, possibly. Can't really think of places with great food that are very casual unfortunately.

And Dunsborough/Margaret River is closer to 3 hours than 4. Don't drive like a Grandma and you'll be fine

 

[kyle]

Just a heads up- these are not restaurants and do not do anything near good food.

$35-40 is a standard main price at most good establishments so it is hard to pick an amazing restaurant based on price.

I think the Trustee and the Heritage are both nice and you could probably get away with more casual wear, possibly. Can't really think of places with great food that are very casual unfortunately.

And Dunsborough/Margaret River is closer to 3 hours than 4. Don't drive like a Grandma and you'll be fine

Both the Trustee and Heritage buildings look very beautiful from the photos on the websites and certainly some interesting stuff in the menus. I think a bistro/brasserie should be ok for casual wear.

 

[sage]

I noticed that you had wanted to do Monkey Mia to see the dolphins but you are going to Margaret River. In that case, consider the dolphin experience at Bunbury (half way to Margaret River).

For a casual dinner in the CBD you cannot beat Greenhouse. No serious dress code that I know of but great food in an interesting venue.

Also I can highly recommend the new Jamies Italian which opened a month ago. The food is simple but excellent. And all for prices that you would consider normal over East but are cheap for Perth.

 

[The Rok]

Tony Roma's on Hay Street, next door to Hugo Boss. Best ribs in Australia, good staff, pricy but definitely worth it.

 

[shifty]

My 2 cents worth... I would just do a day trip to Rotto and not stay any nights there. Get the ferry from the city instead of Fremantle and that can double as your river cruise.

If you like food and wine head south for a few days to Margaret River, maybe stay in Dunsborough as well. I don't know if you could fit in heading down south and than also north, possibly unrealistic without rushing about everywhere. South is better IMHO.

Train from Perth to Fremantle is easy, that said if you have a car use that.

Swan Valley was mentioned before - that's a good suggestion. Check out the city view from Kings Park as well.

 

[kyle]

Ok I've finalised my accommodation bookings - four different hotels over four nights. Pullman Bunker Bay ($259 with breakfast), Four Points by Sheraton (12K SPG points/$282), Crown Metropol ($214 after Webjet $30 discount), Hyatt Regency (Deluxe room $259 with breakfast and self-park). Let's see if I get any upgrade at Four Points with SPG Gold using an award redemption.

Will just go to Rottnest for the day with bike hire.

Now working thru the itinerary and restaurants...