Perth

[Bender]

3 weeks to go and counting! We're going to Perth for a week and a bit, staying with family (damn, no broadband), and looking for things to do and good places to eat.

We've been to Perth quite a few times over the years, so have done stuff like:

• CBD/Harbourtown shops (meh, pretty much the same as anywhere else in oz),
  Fremantle (including a tour of the old jail - recommended, and haunted),
  King's Park (nice!),
  Subiaco (good for a look, expensive for shopping),
  New Norcia (long drive on an oold Corolla, but well worth it).

Can anyone recommend the best beach for watching the sunset over the ocean, and we're looking for some reasonably priced places to eat (more into good food than flash decor)? And any other ideas for things to do would be greatly appreciated.

[Morrolan]

go and see the Pinnacles. a bit of a drive to the North, but quite worthwhile.

[expat yorkshire]

Go to Rottnest , it is one of my favourite places in Australia .

[daffodil]

Watch out for the quokkas (sp?)!

Have you been to The Margaret River ? Around 3 hour drive, lots of great vineyards to visit - Voyager Estate, Vasse Felix to name just a few and loads of nice places to eat that escape me for now.

Highly recommend it.

[FurBaby]

nice places to stop over on the way to or from Margaret River:-

Lake Clifton
http://www.westaustralianvista.com/thrombolites.html
- lots of birds, flowers, etc in the area too

Busselton
http://www.australiassouthwest.com/en/M ... efault.htm
- the Jetty is seriously windy, the wooden boards are in disrepair, and the
Underwater Observatory was closed 'til further notice' when we were
there 2 years ago! but it's a fun though blustery walk ...

Margaret River vineyards with wine tasting and excellent lunches:-

Vasse Felix
(oldest vineyard in the region)
http://www.vassefelix.com.au/frames.htm

Clairault
http://www.clairault.com.au/

Margaret River region interesting places to visit:-

Ngilgi Cave
Yallingup, off Caves Road (10 km from Dunsborough)
http://www.mybunbury.com/ngilgicave.html
- the cave is a bit of a up-down hike, so only go if you're relatively fit!

Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse
http://www.lighthouse.net.au/liGhTS/WA/ ... aliste.htm
(not as famous at the Cape Leeuwin one, but closer to Dunsborough for
ease of access)
- on a clear day, you will be able to see pods of whales in the distance!
- whale-watching boat tours are hit-and-miss, while we were at the
lighthouse and along the surrounding walking trails, we saw a boat
chasing whales but it was always too far behind ... we got a better
view of the whales than they did!
- they have a resident Goanna named 'Stumpy' who sometimes greets you
at the entrance!

Canal Rocks
http://www.thisperthlife.com/2006/07/canal_rocks.html
- majestic views, climb the rocks if you can, do NOT bring baby up the rocks!

Cape Lavender
http://www.capelavender.com.au/
- lavender farm, lovely place, good stop for tea

Olio Bello
http://www.oliobello.com/
- olive oil tasting! and you can buy back fantastic flavoured oils
- the bizarre thing is, so many S'poreans go there that UOB cardholders get 10% discount

Gunyulgup Galleries
http://www.gunyulgupgalleries.com.au/
- lovely setting, super-expensive art, free ranging kangaroos in the
pastures out back!

[nev]

I'll second the Rottnest recommendation.

Also, don't miss Albany.

If you're willing to travel, Ningaloo Reef for whale shark watching.

[Bender]

Thanks to all who gave suggestions, especially FurBaby [smilie=merci.gif] [smilie=merci.gif] [smilie=merci.gif] for the fantastic and comprehensive list!

Busselton and the Lighthouse sound good (I have a 'thing' for lighthouses - just love them), and we're going to try and make it to Albany and Rottnest. We'll do Margaret River next time we're over that way and meeting up with people from Singapore who want to go to Marg River. I'm not really that into wineries myself, more of a beer & bundy drinker.

Just found out there's free wi-fi in the part of the CBD where the big resources companies are based, so won't be totally reliant on steam-powered internet.

12 workdays to go, and counting!

[Bender]

Oh, nearly forgot - we'd really like to do the sunset at the beach thing...

Can anyone recommend the best beach for watching the sunset over the ocean?

I've heard that Cottesloe is the best for this - is that right?

[FurBaby]

yes, it's rather pretty there, although it can get a bit crowded on the slopes just before sunset!

go a bit earlier, grab yourself a couple of ice creams, find a nice spot and settle in for the show ...

[JJ]

Or go to the Indiana Tea House and get a table right by the window for the perfect sundowner glass (bottle) of vino and dinner. Perfick.

[BFG]

Agree with JJ - the Indiana tea house is jolly good.

[Bender]

ooh - almost forgot: Little Creatures in Freo for beer. mmmmmm... beer.

[nev]

Ohhh Fast Eddy's Freo for the ribs... yum... and the full fry-up after a night out
It's open 24 hours, 7 days a week BTW.

Oriel in Subiaco for fab desserts and coffees (and food of course!! pancake!). Also 24 hours.

And how can anyone not eat at Billy Lee's (Chinatown) when in Perth. Fab Chinese food, even better than a lot of the "best" places in Singapore. You know what they say, all the best Chinese chefs have emigrated to either Australia or Canada....

[Bender]

Woo hoo! Holidays have started. And this afternoon I had the pleasure of telling my boss I won't be back. I have a new job!

[Pinklepurr]

Congratulations! Have a great holiday in Perth too!

[Fat Bob]

Oh, nearly forgot - we'd really like to do the sunset at the beach thing...

Bali is quite good for this.....

[Spike]

I'll second the Rottnest recommendation.

Also, don't miss Albany.

If you're willing to travel, Ningaloo Reef for whale shark watching.

If you're going to Rottnest I recommend going by private air taxi. I went with DQ a few years ago, just her, me and the pilot. I sat up front and mentioned to the pilot that I'd enjoyed a couple of flying lessons in my past. With that, he said, "Ok you have control and head for the island dead ahead while I do some paperwork." Highly illegal but Spike gleefully grabs the controls and plays Biggles, which is probably why it took two of us to release DQ's grip on the arm rests when we landed.

[Bender]

...sounds to me like a good reason NOT to go by private air taxi

well here we are in sunny Perth. With me being an insomniac early riser and still on east Oz time, all is quiet in the house as everyone else sleeps on. One of the neighbours has thoughtfully left their wireless network unsecured, but I'll use the prepaid dialup I bought before coming to Perth as much as possible so as not to abuse the neighbour's broadband. Except maybe for bidding on ebay, 'coz dialup is just too glacial and there are one or two things I'm keeping an eye on.

Flight over was smooth, and service was average (death to Neil Perry, his Qantas menu leaves a lot to be desired), but there were some kids on the flight who cried and screamed all the way. I don't have kids, but I think that to avoid p**ssing off an entire planeload of people and to save the kid such trauma (the continuous screaming must be hard on the poor kid, never mind the parent), I'd consider giving them something just to make them a bit drowsy to get them through the flight. Parents of kids may have other thoughts on this, I'd be interested to know how people deal with this.

Sunday in Perth, shops don't open today, so we'll be catching up with family and friends.

[Morrolan]

i don't know what causes babies to scream on a plane other than discomfort from the pressure differentials on their ears.

we are lucky in that our son so far never made a fuss on planes.

[Bender]

strangely, the babies (and there were a few) were good - it was toddlers that drove everyone nuts, howling and carrying on, and especially the ones that the parents seemed to 'give up' on and allow to roam.

[Morrolan]

it was toddlers that drove everyone nuts, howling and carrying on, and especially the ones that the parents seemed to 'give up' on and allow to roam.

i can't understand how parents can just 'walk away' from their social responsibility like that.

[Fat Bob]

Maybe the Government should step in and take away their social responsibility?

Need a licence to drive a car, own a dog but not to have children. Something wrong there!

[canuck]

what are you going to do regulate sperm production? you are being silly FB.

not that I don't believe some people should be sterilised (and no I am not referring to you personally)

[Bender]

Howdy from Perth. Went to Freo today, planning to have lunch at Fast Eddy's. Bad news Nev, It's closed and gone!

So we went to Little Creatures Brewery, and ended up staying most of the afternoon after a lager lunch! Nice place to spend the afternoon on a hot day - it's right on the docks and there was a gentle, cool breeze blowing off the water and through the place.

[Bender]

Last day in Perth today, but not the last day of the holiday. Flying back home this afternoon. Update on Fast Eddie's: it's a franchise, and there are various ones now, mostly in/around the shopping malls.