Getting Around

By Public Transportation

Transperth (www.transperth.wa.gov.au) runs Perth's buses, trains, and ferries. For route, bus stop, and timetable information, call tel. 13 62 13 in Western Australia, or drop into the Transperth InfoCentres at the Plaza Arcade off Hay Street Mall, the Perth Train Station, the Wellington Street Bus Station, or the Perth Esplanade Busport on Mounts Bay Road. You can transfer between bus, ferry, and train services for up to 2 hours (Zones 1-4) or 3 hours (Zones 5-9). Travel costs A$2.30 (US$2.10/£1.05) in one zone (to Subiaco, for instance), and A$3.40 (US$3.20/£1.60) in two, which gets you most places, including Fremantle, with discounts for kids ages 5 to 14.

SmartRider is an electronic ticketing system, which can save up to 25% off the cash fare, but it involves a basic A$10 (US$9/£4.50) cost plus a minimum A$10 (US$9/£4.50) travel component, so it's of doubtful value to most tourists. Check the website or an InfoCentre for more information. To use the passes, you need to validate them in the machines on the bus, train platform, or ferry wharf. A DayRider ticket can be purchased to allow 1 day of unlimited travel after 9am on weekdays and all day on weekends and public holidays for A$8.40 (US$7.60/£3.80). A FamilyRider pass is valid for unlimited all-day travel to any destination and back, for a group of up to seven people, with a maximum of two adults, but only on weekends and public holidays, or from 9am during school holidays, also for A$8.40 (US$7.60/£3.80).

Take a Free Ride -- A welcome freebie in Perth is the availability of free public transport within the city center and some nearby areas. It's a great facility. There are the free CAT (Central Area Transit) buses, and there is the Free Transit Zone (FTZ). You can travel free on all buses within this zone any hour, day or night. For free train travel in the FTZ, a SmartRider must be used, but it's not practical for most visitors. The FTZ allows free travel to Kings Park, Northbridge, east to major sporting grounds, and anywhere within the city center. Signs mark the FTZ boundaries; just ask the driver if you're unsure. FTZ boundaries for trains are City West station on the Fremantle line and Claisebrook on the Midland and Armadale lines.

By Bus -- The Wellington Street Bus Station (close to Perth Train Station) and the Perth Esplanade Busport on Mounts Bay Road are the two main arrival and departure points. The vast majority of buses travel along St. Georges Terrace. You must hail the bus to ensure that it stops. Buy tickets from the driver. Buses run from about 5:30am until about 10:30 or 11:30pm, depending on the route.

The best way to get around town is on the free CAT buses that run a continual loop of the city and Northbridge. The Red CAT runs east-west every 5 minutes, Monday through Friday from 6:50am to 6:20pm, and every 25 minutes from 10am to 6:15pm weekends. The Blue CAT runs north-south, between Northbridge and Barrack Street Jetty every 7 minutes from 6:50am. The last Blue CAT service is at 6:20pm Monday through Thursday, but on Friday it then runs every 15 minutes from 6:20pm until 1am Saturday. Saturday it runs from 8:30am to 1am the next day every 15 minutes, and Sunday every 15 minutes from 10am to 6:15pm. The Yellow CAT runs between East Perth and West Perth every 10 minutes from 6:50am to 6:20pm weekdays, and every 30 minutes 10am to 6:10pm weekends. There are no CAT services on public holidays. Look for the silver CAT bus stops with the black cat on them. Transperth InfoCentres dispense free route maps. For beach services, check the website.

Perth Tram Co. tours are a good way to get around, too.

By Train -- Trains are fast, clean, and safe. They start at about 5:30am and run every 15 minutes or more often during the day, and every half-hour at night until midnight. All trains depart from Perth Station or the adjacent Perth Underground Station. Buy your ticket before you board, at the vending machines on the platform. There are five lines: north to Joondalup; northeast to Midland; southeast to Armadale; southwest to Fremantle; and south to the resort town of Mandurah.

By Ferry -- You will use ferries to visit South Perth and Perth Zoo. They run every half-hour or so, more often in peak hours, every day from 6:50am weekdays and 7:50am weekends and public holidays, until 7:36pm (or until 9:30pm Fri-Sat in summer, Sept-Apr) from the Barrack Street Jetty to Mends Street in South Perth. Buy tickets before you board from the vending machine on the wharf. The trip takes approximately 7 minutes.

Bring Your Bike, Too! -- You are allowed, even encouraged, to take your bicycle on Perth's suburban trains and ferries -- free. The limitations are to avoid the Monday to Friday peak services -- toward the city between 7 and 9am, and away from the city between 4 and 6:30pm -- and to not have your bike at Perth Station during these times.

By Taxi

Perth's two biggest taxi companies are Swan Taxis (tel. 13 13 30) and Black & White Taxis (tel. 13 10 08). Ranks (stands) are at Perth Railway Station and at the Barrack Street end of Hay Street Mall.

By Car

Perth's signposting is reasonably good for helping drivers find their way around. The major car-rental companies are Avis (tel. 08/9325 7677), Budget (tel. 08/9480 3111), Europcar (tel. 08/9277 9144), Hertz (tel. 08/9321 7777), and Thrifty (tel. 08/9464 7444). All except Hertz also have outlets in Fremantle.