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Courtesy of John Handford, here is some advice on how we
might use our time in Perth. There are some interesting links
at the bottom of his email.
From: Peter Handford
To: Handford, John - BEEB
Sent: Wednesday, July 03, 2002 3:09 AM
Subject: Re: Perth Attractions
Dear John
These are my initial thoughts. I will ask Pauline whether
she has any other ideas when I see her tonight.
Kings Park is the sort of place you walk round, quietly enjoy,
look at the trees and flowers, admire the view, have picnics
etc. In other words, not obviously what the average 17 or
18 year old wants to do, though it is possible to hire bicycles
and spent time cycling around it. It would be good to experience
it briefly: see tram tour suggestion below.
There are lots of things to see and do in Fremantle: museums
(including the maritime museum, and Fremantle Prison, now
a museum - see where they used to do the hanging etc), shops
etc etc, and an enjoyable day could be spent there, but in
terms of organizing something for the Tuesday my recommendation
would be Rottnest.
It is possible to go there by ferry for the day, hire bicycles,
cycle round the island, go on a “Guns and Tunnels”
tour (World War II guns), see some real live marsupials (quokkas)
wandering around, stroll on the beaches, even swim (given
that they are all Poms and won’t notice it is the middle
of winter). Ferries leave from Perth (Barrack St jetty) at
8.45 am and 9.45 am, returning 4.00 pm (Boat Torque), or from
Fremantle, which could be reached by getting on a train from
Perth (takes about 25 mins, but you also have to take account
of the time to get from their hotel along Wellington Street
to the train station) at 7.30 am, 9.00 am and 10.00 am (Boat
Torque) or 7.30 am or 9.30 am, returning 4.30 pm and 7.30
pm (Rottnest Express). The ferry trip from Perth involves
cruising down the Swan River to Fremantle, which itself is
worth doing. A same day return costs $40 [ABOUT
£15] (Rottnest Express, Boat Torque probably
about the same). There would also be bike hire costs. There
are no cars on Rottnest, so cycling is pretty safe.
One alternative for the Monday afternoon might be a cruise
round the city by tram. There are replica trams (motorized)
which do 90 minute scenic cruises round Perth, with commentary,
and there are stops at various points round the city including,
I am sure, some in Wellington Street not far from where they
are staying. It is also possible to charter a tram. The tram
website advertises an evening cruise in Fremantle including
fish and chips and in Fremantle the fish come straight out
of the sea.
One other suggestion would be the zoo. Perth Zoo is pretty
good and contains all sorts of Australian birds and animals
that you wouldn’t see in the cities. From where they
are staying, it could be reached by a free bus ride (CAT service)
to Barrack St jetty, ferry ride across the river, and a short
walk. There is a new Orang-Utan exhibit, and a new discovery
trail.
It is also possible to do guided tours of the WACA (cricket
ground).
For the evenings, there are restaurants etc in Northbridge,
which is just across the railway from where they will be staying,
also pubs, night clubs etc though this sort of thing would
probably be frowned on, and I would have considerable reservations
about allowing young lads to be roaming around in that area
after about 8.00, especially if I were
in charge of them: there are occasionally fights, assaults
etc late at night.
Some websites:
Rottnest*
Fremantle*
Tram and other
transport round Perth*
Tram charter
hire*
Perth Zoo*
Peter
More External Links (Courtesy of Bob Melling)
Dolphins*
Perth Festival*
Wesfarmers
Art Diary*
Mix 94.5 (Perth
Radio Station)*
Met
Office Weather Forecast for Perth*
Lonely Planet
Website: Perth*
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