Self Drive Holiday Perth Blog : A Week Long Adventure

The Wacky Duo

Best. Holiday. Ever



The title would probably be reserved for places like skiing in the snowy Swiss Alps, relaxing on the beautiful sandy beaches of the Maldives, a culture-filled trip to Europe, or anywhere with Disneyland for the kids. However, associating it with Perth would fetch far in most eyes, especially since Perth was named one of the 10 worst cities on the planet!

Perth was NOT our original holiday destination.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, it became our alternative to our original self-drive tour in New Zealand that we planned months ahead. For Perth, I had only 2 weeks to prepare for the trip. Given that it was Winter and most of the amusement parks in Perth were closed during this period, our expectation was set at a low bar.

It was anything but dull during this one-week self-drive and hastily planned vacation. In fact, we are calling it our best holiday ever. Perth is perfect for families with young kids. Self-drive is a painless experience and adds flexibility to our holiday agenda. However, considering the short time spent in Perth, we had probably just scratched the surface.

Ride with us as we take you on a week-long adventure in Perth!

Warning: Super long post ahead! 

Looking for a longer holiday? Extend your holiday in Perth by a week with our Self Drive Magaret River One Week Guide.

Day 1: Checking in

We took the morning flight to Perth and reached Perth by 1 p.m. Flight time to Perth is a mere 4.5 hours. It was a short flight, but it took us from Sunny Singapore to Cool Perth. Someone just turned on the air-conditioner for us 24/7.
The adventure started when we collected our car keys from Hertz. Our choice of car was an SUV, the Nissan Qashqai. Given the travelling time spent on the room, we reckoned an SUV would be more comfortable for the rides.

The bill from Hertz is about $100 more than what was indicated on our online booking. However, we were told these additional fees were not included in the package. It was only much later that we realized that it was a holding fee that would be refunded at the end of the booking.
Nonetheless, it will not take a bill of $100 to ruin a holiday. So off we go.

It was a short ride into the City as we checked into our home for the week. Quest on James Street. It was a 2-bedroom apartment with free parking ( a must in Perth City as parking rates can be pretty expensive!

Since it was a weekday, most shops closed at 5-6pm. So, with limited places to go, we decided to venture out of the apartment and found a playground steps away from Quest.

It may be a short day, but it marked the relaxing spirit of the trip. It was a good break from the hustle and bustle of busy Singapore.

Updated 2018 - Quest on James Street has rebranded to Best Western Northbridge Apartment.
You can book the apartment from this link.


Day 2: Day trip to Swan Valley

Highlights: Breakfast at quirky Taylor art and coffee house, Caversham Wildlife Park, Margaret River Chocolate Factory, Winery, Coles

Swan Valley was an easy 30-minute drive to Perth City. Getting to your location is relatively easy. Either pop in the coordinates in your car GPS or your handphone GPS, and you will be there in a jiffy. We used Google Maps and the car GPS and found no difference. You can ditch the car GPS and rely on the handphone to save cost. $100 may not go a long way, but it will pay for a meal for 4 in Perth.

Taylor's art and coffee house

Our day began with breakfast at Taylor's Art and Coffee House. It was a quirky destination with one restaurant and a gallery in the exact location.

Inside Taylor's Art and Coffee House

Let's start with breakfast.

Who could resist a platter of eggs, mushrooms, beans, bacon and sausage?

It was a hearty ( but pricey) meal indeed.

As for the arts, you can view the impressive tree made up of waste from the sea.

There is plenty of artwork incorporated into the setting. You just need to look a little closer...

The space outside the restaurant is excellent for kids to roam about. There is even a sandpit for them to jump in and play.

Caversham Wildlife Park

Next up was a visit to Caversham Wildlife Park at Whiteman Park.

Seeing Koalas is a must in Australia; you could do it at Caversham.

The highlight of the Park is the Kangaroo feeding sessions. Plenty of Kangaroos are in the garden and are accustomed to humans. Feeding them was an easy task with the feeds provided. Farm shows, which feature sheep shearing and dogs mustering sheep, are held at specific intervals.

Other museums, playgrounds, and even a tram ride in Whiteman Park exist. You can spend a whole day at Whiteman. However, since we had limited time, we decided to skip the rest of the attractions and continue to explore Margaret River.

After a 5-minute drive, we reached The Margaret River Chocolate Company.

If you are a chocolate lover, this place would be heavenly,

Especially when you have 3 huge bowls of FREE chocolate for tastings.

There is a cafe there, too, and the white-hot chocolate was divine.

For wine lovers, you will enjoy the wineries found in Swan Valley. Free tasting is available at most wineries, too. In addition, there are plenty more things to do at Swan Valley, such as Swan Valley Cuddly Farm, the Maze, reptile farm and more.

A repeated trip in the future is a must... at least for us.

Our last stop was at Coles. If you live in an apartment, we recommend a trip to Coles to stock up on food and drinks. A trip to a restaurant can be an expensive affair. Our breakfast alone costs almost $90 for 4. A full 3 meals a day would set you back by $300.

We got freshly cooked chicken and pizzas for dinner back at the apartment to mitigate the cost. It cost us less than $30, but it tasted great!

Day 3: Exploring Fremantle

Highlights: The Blue Boat House, Fremantle Market, Fremantle Prison, Fremantle Seafood, King's Park

En route to Fremantle, we stopped at The Blue Boat House (Crawley Edge Boatshed). If you are driving, park at Perth Dinghy Sailing Club and take a 5-minute stroll.

This is the most photographed spot in Perth. The iconic Blue Boat House would be an excellent spot to take OOTD ( Outfit of the Day)
After a 15-minute photo session, we headed off to Fremantle Market.

Fremantle market

On the way to Fremantle market, we spotted several buildings that seemed to need to be put in the right place in London. The early colonial buildings still stand tall and proud, giving Fremantle an old-school European charm.

Fremantle was a perfect getaway for a day trip for someone who admires old historical buildings more than modern skyscrapers.

Fremantle Market is a charming place with a combination of shops selling (mostly) Aussie-made stuff, eateries and a fresh market. If you spot something you like from there, we advise you to get it as you would probably not find one anywhere.

Fremantle Prison

Drivers note that car parks can be found in the multi-storey carpark adjacent to Fremantle markets or around the compound of Fremantle Prison.

Fremantle Prison is an easy 5-minute walk from Fremantle Market. This was the most extensive intact convict Prison in Australia. It had seen the last of the convicts in 1991. Today, it is Western Australia's only World Heritage Site.

There are different tours conducted around Fremantle Prison. From the relatively tame Doing Time tour to the eerie Torchlight tour on the selected evening, there is bound to be a tour to suit different groups.

We took the relatively docile Doing Time tour. It felt a little spooky in parts, especially when we visited the death row section. Kids should be OK during the day, but the creepy night tour is not recommended for their age.

Read our review here.

At least the boys got to view life in a real prison. This would discourage them from chasing a life of crime when they grow up. Seeing the 2-by-1-meter room without TV or iPad insight is a great deterrent. After one visit, The Wacky Duo agreed unanimously that they would walk the righteous path in the future.

I would bring them here again if they started to turn to the dark side.

You could also head to one of the museums found in the vicinity. But, unfortunately, we had to skip that for this trip due to limited time.

In a nutshell, we needed more time for this trip. So the next time we come, it will be for at least 2 weeks.

We did make a pit stop at the famed Kailis Waterfront Fremantle to taste their renowned fish and chips. There are other Seafood restaurants around, but Kailis would be one of the most popular ones in Fremantle.

We took the seafood platter, which was big enough to fill the 4 of us.

Fremantle is a good 45 minutes away from Perth City. By the time we head back, we probably have less than 30 minutes of daylight left. That did not stop us from driving to King's Park for a bird's eye view of the City of Perth.

King's Park is a charming place to picnic and watch the world go by.

If time permits, visit Synergy Parkland with dinosaur-themed play equipment or the Lotterywest family area for kids under 6.

Sadly, we did not have the luxury of time (again). However, that did not stop the boys from enjoying the beautiful lawn in the Park.
Fancy an alternative?
You can leave the car and book a relaxing day tour to explore Perth and Fremantle at a reasonable price from Klook.

Day 4: Pinnacle Day tour with Exploretours Perth

Highlights: Get close to Koalas at Yanchep National Park, visit a lobster factory, savour yummy lobsters, explore the Pinnacles and slide down Lancelin Sand dunes

Okay, I cheated.

It was supposed to be a self-drive tour, but I decided to give myself a break and checked the family into a day trip instead.

Book your Pinnacle tour here from Klook.

We could probably do this portion on our own. What stopped me was that I thought I needed to drive through miles of desert road to reach Pinnacles.

Hey, it's the family's first trip to Perth, so it was forgivable that I had such notions in my head.

It was an easy trip, with the first stop at Yanchep National Park to see Koalas and Kangaroos. It was our second encounter with them during this trip, and it was not our last either!

There was something new for the trip: a visit to the Lobster Shack. The Lobster Shack is open to the public, so you can make it independently if you are self-drive.
The self-tour around the Lobster factory was right. You walk around a big room and see Lobsters in different sections.

That was about it.

The trip's highlight is not the tour but the Lobster itself. The lobsters are available in different grades. The grades determine the size of the lobsters. We had the Grade A Lobsters. Grade A does not mean the lobsters are the most expensive. On the contrary, the grade points to the most miniature lobsters on the menu. It may be the smallest, but it was the freshest lobster I had ever tasted!

Yummy!

Lobster meal at the Lobster Shack

After lunch, we headed down to the Pinnacles.
The Pinnacles are interesting, with plenty of limestone rocks around a desert patch. The initial fear of driving in the desert itself is a complete farce. The roads leading to the desert are (ahem) paved. You get to move around the desert, but it was an easy ride with a path that guided you in a loop. You would find it almost impossible to get lost.

Before the sunset, we drove to Lancelin Sand Dunes for the last activity of the day.... sliding down the sand dunes. It may look daunting initially, but it was a tonne of fun.

Since it was Winter, the day ended quickly. It was already pitch dark when we made our way back to Perth. If you are driving, note the time as the stretch of road leading to Perth has NO street lights.

Klook.com interested in a Sand Dunes Experience without a self-drive?
Book your Pinnacle tour here from Klook.

Day 5: Perth City

Highlights: Mends Street Breakfast, The Bell Tower, Scitech, Myers, Timezone

The day started a little gloomy with rain. Thankfully, the rain did not last long, and we managed to head across Swan River for breakfast.

The next time we plan another Perth holiday, this is where we would love to stay. It felt a lot more relaxed compared to living in the City itself.

Breakfast was at one of the restaurants along Mends Street. After a few days, we realised it would be futile to search for Bee Hoon. So, we had to make do with the standard eggs and bacon menu.

Next up was a trip to The Bell Tower. We had wanted to ring the Bell, but unfortunately, we were there on a bad day, and the bell-ringing session was not open to the public. Check The Bell Tower schedule before a visit if you plan to ring the bells.

Not wanting to lock ourselves up in the Bell Tower, we decided to head to another location.

The rain came again, and we headed towards Scitech Perth. Actually, I gave the boys a choice. Immerse themselves in culture with a visit to Perth Museum or explore interactive exhibits at Scitech, Perth equivalent of the Science Center.

It was an easy decision for the boys. Unfortunately, we ended up in Scitech for the rest of the day. However, it was a good choice, as hours were spent exploring Scietech.

Day 6: Road Trip Margaret's River Day 1

Highlights: Adventurescape, Busselton Jetty, Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse

We saved the best part of the trip for the last. At first, I contemplated a day trip to Margaret's River and back to Perth. Thankfully, my senses got to me at the last moment, and we decided to make it a 2-day trip instead of one. In hindsight, we should double the time spent here, as there are plenty of things to do for the kids.

As the ride towards Margaret's River was a good 3 hours from Perth City, we decided to make several pit stops before we reached the hotel. The first stop is Adventurescape, a new playground about an hour's drive from Perth. This is a good stop for kids to stretch their legs and get so tired that they will fall asleep for the next leg.

After all, I can take only so much ' Are we there yet?' while driving.

Busselton Jetty

After another hour or so, we reached Busselton Jetty.

There is a Jetty there with a train ride to the end of the pier that brings you to an underwater observatory at the end of it. Unfortunately, the underwater observatory was closed when we were there.

Busselton Jetty is a place where budding photographer likes to hone their skills. So naturally, the little one decided that HE would be the photographer for the next shot.

Not too shabby.

(Disclaimer: Edited in Lightroom)

After a quick lunch, it was off to Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse, a mere 20-minute drive away.

We booked the above and below passes so we could tour the lighthouse.

The pass includes entry to the nearby Ngilgi Caves, an easy 15-minute drive away. We guarantee you will be wowed without going to the limestone cave. Ngilgi Caves is the first cave that was opened to tourists in 1900!

Ngilgi Caves

Since then, other caves have been discovered in Margaret's River. There are over 150 caves in the region; the famous ones are Ngilgi Caves, Lake Cave, Mammoth Cave and Jewel Cave.

After a long adventure, we finally went to Margaret's River town.

Our home for the night was the beautiful and modern Margaret River Forest located at the edge of town. It was a 2 story inter-terrace. We wished we had stayed there much longer.

Need a room at Margaret Forest?

Make a booking here.


Day 7: Margaret's River Day Trip 2

Highlights:
Whale Watch, Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, Cheeky Monkey Brewery

Our last day at Margaret's River started with a bang. We headed towards Augusta and took a whale tour with Whale Watch Western Australia. Before this, we had been on another whale-watching time on the Gold Coast. It was a great experience then, but it pales compared to what we witnessed on this tour.

We were greeted with pods of whales from all directions within minutes of departing from the pier. There were pods of 2 or 3 whales swimming next to us, while at a distance away, we caught a glimpse of a whale breaching. All in all, we spotted over 20 whales.

To cap off the experience, one particular whale entertained us with its breaching. He did it over 8 times within 50 meters of our boat. This was precisely what he looked like below.
We were awestruck.

Best whale watch to date.

Whale Watch at Augusta is only for selected times of the year. We were there in June to catch the whales. See the highlights of our whale watch here.

After the exhilarating experience, we took 5 minutes to drive to Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse.

Initially, I had planned for a lighthouse tour. However, the plans were shelved, given the long trip back to Perth. However, we have decided to be back in Margaret's River shortly. There are many things, such as farm stays and caves, that we have yet to explore.

Locals will tell you you should attend the wineries if you head to Margaret's River. We spotted more open or more wineries along the journey and stopped at one for lunch.

Cheeky Monkey

The one we decided to head to is Cheeky Monkey. However, it is not a Winery but a Brewery!

No wines but beers on the tap.

No matter, the famous cheeky burger helps. Besides, since I am driving, I can't drink anyway.
As for the kids, a brewery or winery does not matter to them. Not when there is a playground on site for them to explore.

Soon, it was time for a 3-hour ride home. Unlike the initial trip, there was no pit stop as the boys and mommy fell asleep in the car. As for me, it was one of the most pleasant and peaceful rides I ever took. At least no one asked.

'Are we there yet? '

If you plan to do the same, we recommend a pit stop about 20 km before you reach Perth City. This stop has McDonald's and Red Rooster. The address follows BP Service Centre, Lot 191, Paparone Road, Baldivis, WA 6171, Australia.

You could pick up some dinner before returning to your apartment/hotel in Perth. Trust me, you would need it as you are too tired to head out after a 3 hours drive.

Updated (Sep 2017) - We love Margaret River and decided it warrants a week's visit.

Read about our Self Drive Margaret River experience and 25 activities for kids in Margaret River.

Day 8: Goodbye Perth!

Perth Zoo

Saying goodbye to Perth was not easy, so we headed to the zoo after checking out the hotel. Our flight was in the afternoon, so we had enough time to squeeze in one last tourist spot.

Perth Zoo has everything from the mini dinosaur-looking chameleon to the T Rex.
The T-Rex may not be honest, but they moved and were life-sized!

We did say our goodbyes to the Kolas before we left.

Perth was a great city to visit for us. Compared to other cities, there are more natural attractions to explore than manmade attractions. There are theme parks in Perth, but they are closed for Winter. Truth be told, we do not miss them at all. Perth had wowed us so much that we thought of getting a small apartment there to make it our holiday home.

We will be back in Perth!

Need more suggestions?
 

Here are 25 top attractions in Perth for kids

Tips for Perth
It is easy to live in Perth. Here are some tips to make your holidays easier.
1) Get your SIM card at the airport.

There are Optus and Vodafone outlets at the airport. We got Optus because they have a deal at $2 per day. The reception was pretty good throughout the trip. Before your trip, check the respective telco sites for the best sale.

Do note the SIM cards do not allow tethering ( at least ours does not). If you need a shared connection, Changi Recommends outbound wifi as a must based on our past experiences.

#update 2017: If you are travelling to Margaret Rivers, the Telstra Card works the best as it covers most areas. Optus do have reception issues in Margaret River.

2) Rent a car
It is almost a must if you stay in Perth. Forget about renting the GPS unit, as Google Maps works just as well. Do note, however, the speed restrictions in the City. The traffic police are very ' on the ball', and you could be fined if you exceed 1 km of the speed limit.

Remember, it is the speed limit, not the speed target. So drive like a turtle; no one will honk at you.
Driving is on the same side as in Singapore, so everything should be clear for Singapore drivers.

These are the guidelines for child seats for those going with young kids.

• Birth to under six months to be restrained in a rearward-facing child restraint (e.g. infant capsule).
• Six months to under four to be restrained in a rearward or forward-facing child restraint with an in-built harness.
• Four to under seven to be restrained in either a forward-facing child restraint or booster seat restrained by a correctly adjusted and fastened seat belt or child safety harness.

For more information, refer here.

*Do note that some portable booster seats are not allowed in Australia.
Refer here to the approved child seats.

Source: Kmart

Consider getting a booster seat in Australia instead of renting one.
This booster seat from Kmart is retailing at AUD49. It is foldable, and you could use it for other self-drive travels. Best of all, it is Australian Approved!

3) Get a pocket full of coins
You would need it for parking. Parking is by meter, so do get your coins ready. As parking is expensive, do prepare a lot more cash.

4) Stay in an apartment with a car park

Apartments will be a better deal than hotels. You get more spaces and bedrooms to roam about. A family of 4-5 should be comfortable in a 2 bedroom set up. Some apartments come with free parking, so it is a great deal. Getting an apartment with car parking is also helpful as you are not guaranteed a parking spot, especially in popular places.

You can book your apartments here from booking.com.

5) Shop for groceries early if you get an apartment.
With a meal averaging $20-$30 with drinks EACH, it is best to prepare some meals on your own. If you are willing to splurge, no problem, go ahead. If not, getting some food from Coles is a good alternative. Coles is also stocked with freshly cooked chicken, shepherd's pie, and more for a complete meal. Staying in an apartment will be great as you have a proper meal dining table.

6) Learn to relax
Do very little or do a lot. It does not really matter. The pace in Perth is much slower compared to Singapore. So just take a deep breath, relax and enjoy Perth!


Drop us an email if you want us to plan your holidays. We can customise an itinerary according to your requirements for a small fee.

Disclosure
All expenses on this trip are from our own pockets. If you like what we do for this post, support us by clicking on the affiliate links above. All the costs will be the same as the website. TWD will get a small remuneration for the tours/rooms booked in return.



Information correct as of July 2016