By Sarah Burns, UK
Travel Documents You'll need passports and an entry visa as well as your travel insurance and driving licence. It's a good idea to take two copies of each, one to take with you and one to leave at home with someone else.
I left
a cold damp England, three children, a husband (wondering how he was going
to cope!), housework and the school run and boarded a flight to Perth
with my two year old daughter, Lois. We booked back in November 2002 and
flew out on Singapore Airlines from Heathrow for a seven week stay with
friends who had emigrated last year. This
was the first time I had travelled abroad without my 
husband
let alone with a two year old and luggage. Flying out in January you arrive
in the middle of Summer in Australia and we wondered how Lois would cope
with the long flight and the heat of the day. I have to say that she was
brilliant – playing with toys and games on the stretch to Singapore
and sleeping from Singapore to Perth. It is easy to find your way around
Singapore airport so let me lay to rest any fears or anxiety you may have.
There are places there to take a rest, have a shower in a hotel and enjoy
a cool drink. There is a parent's room with changing facilities, a playground
and a rooftop swimming pool. Assistance is never far away and the customer
service desk is ready to help.
Any
time is good time in Western Australia because in a state this large different
parts are at their best at different times throughout the year. The south
is most popular December to February when it's warm enough for swimming
and being outdoors. In the centre it's very hot while in the far north
summer is the wet season. September to November (Spring) or March to May
(Autumn) offer the the greatest flexibility for a short visit as you can
combine highlights of the whole state while avoiding the extremes of temperature.
The other consideration is the Australian school holidays and travelling
outside these times will avoid higher prices and crowds. Check with the
Western Australian Tourism Commission or fabhols.com for holiday dates
but as a guide the main holiday period is late December to late January.
There are other two-week breaks mid to late April, mid to late July and
early to late October.
Western Australian hospitality is warm and friendly and people appear happier. Shopkeepers welcome you when you enter their establishments and they really do understand what customer service is all about. You'll find some bargain clothing, especially for children so travel light and allow room in your case for some purchases.
Of
course, few travel all the way to Perth to just go shopping. I travelled
to meet with friends who were able to guide me around and point me in
the direction of 
child-friendly
attractions that didn't empty the bank account and leave my husband hungry
back home. Most evenings we enjoyed a relaxing walk along a stretch of
coastline ending with a BBQ. (Wherever you go you'll find a number of
gas BBQ cooking facilities made available by the local council on beaches
and parks ready to light up and use for free.) Lois was very at home in
the water and enjoyed visits to park and play areas dotted along the coast.
There
are no shortage of interesting attractions for families and during our
stay we took a trip along the Margaret River to meet some more friends
and enjoy the scenery. There's plenty to do and see in this particular
region including wineries, wildlife centres, museums, boating, water sports
and caves. We also enjoyed Perth Zoo (see below), the Perth Mint (where
I was able to purchase a gold coin with engraving to commemorate our visit),
Freemantle and the Swan Bells Tower in Perth for some excellent views.
Public transport consists mainly of buses although there is a railway.
You can, of course, hire a car although we travelled with our friends
and made use of local buses.
WA is a state packed with wonders, many of which are just being discovered. Seven weeks may seem a long time but we felt we only scratched the surface. Somehow it's difficult to resist the lure of a return visit to sample some more delights from award winning restaurants, spend a few days relaxing on a perfect beach, enjoy some spectacular scenery and experience, first hand, a cosmopolitan of wildlife. This has been the trip of a lifetime.
Fab
Tips
1. Take plenty of sun cream, a hat, sun
glasses and cool clothing (although these can be bought if you forget
anything) and drink plenty of water.
2. Travel light and leave some room in your luggage allowance - clothes
are great value in Australia so you can buy a few to take home. And
you'll want room for a cuddly koala and a boomerang!
3. Perth Airport has some great looking clothes at very reasonable prices.
4. Credit card is a very convenient way of paying - check with your
bank what's on offer. Withdrawing cash was also easy with a small transaction
charge.
5. Take some Singapore Dollars for a drink/snack when you arrive at
Singapore airport.
6. Sign up to One Tel before you go – if you’re leaving
family behind they can call you really cheaply from the UK. Call 0800
957 1000 or visit www.onetel.co.uk
for more information.
7. Plan your travel insurance before you book so you know what’s
around.
8. For children pack a few small toys for the flight.
9. Remember a change of clothing in your hand luggage as well as wash
things and baby changing bits and bobs. If you forget toothpaste and
toothbrush Singapore Airlines give them out as standard issue (along
with a pair of socks!)
10. Develop your films in Australia so they are ready to show your friends
as soon as you get home.
11. Remember a plug adaptor. Voltage is 220-240V and you’ll need
an adaptor if traveling from UK, Europe or USA. Check with the Western
Australian Tourism Commission if travelling from
another region.
Must
See Attractions (check out the Lonely Planet
guide for WA)
Perth
Mint became
Australia's biggest gold refinery when it opened in 1899. It is now a
museum and sales outlet for gold products and the building is one of the
best examples of colonial architecture of the Victorian era. You can have
a guided tour, watch gold being poured, hold a 400 oz gold bar, see coins
being manufactured and inspect the world's largest collection of natural
gold specimens. The Perth Mint Shop and Gold Exhibition are open from
9am to 4pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturday, Sunday and public
holidays. Hourly gold pours are held from 10am to 3pm weekdays and 10am
to noon on weekends and public holidays. Entry
to The Perth Mint Shop is free, while a small admission fee applies to
the Gold Exhibition. (www.perthmint.com.au)
has plenty to interest children and adults - Lois loved it. (www.perthzoo.wa.gov.au)
The Zoo has changed dramatically over the course of its
104-year history - always offering visitors something new along the way.
It began operations in October 1898 with two lions, a tiger and just six
staff and has opened its gates to the public every single day since then.
Today,
the award-winning world class Perth Zoo is home to more than 1500 animals
representing over 220 different exotic and Australian species.
With its magnificent gardens, the Zoo covers a total of 19 hectares and attracts more visitors per head of population than any other capital city zoo in Australia. A major tourist attraction, Perth Zoo is also an important conservation agency, renowned for its successful breeding programs for endangered exotic and native animal species.
The Zoo’s animal and plant collections are managed by highly skilled specialist staff who help ensure that visitors are provided with an unforgettable living conservation experience. Visitors can enjoy various keeper talks and guided tours around the Zoo, which is divided into a number of distinct zones. more...
Art Gallery of Western Australia houses the state's preeminent art collection and ia a must for any Perth visitor.
Aquarium of Western Australia (formally Underwater World) is north of the city at Hillary's Boat Harbour, Sorrento Quay. There is a fabulous 98m underwater tunnel aquarium displaying 2500 examples of 200 marine species including sharks and stingrays. Visit their web site at www.aqwa.com.au
Coast
around Perth - lovely sandy beaches for paddling, swimming and
building sand castles. There are plenty of opportunities to surf too!
Freemantle Some super places to eat, shop or visit a few attractions including Freemantle Prison, Western Australian Maritime Museum and harbour. www.whatson.com.au is a useful web site.
Swan Bells, Perth While visiting this city take a trip to the Swan Bells bell tower (www.swanbells.com.au). Charges: AUS $6 adult, $3 child (4-15 yrs). Great views and excellent value for money.
Margaret River www.margaretriverwa.com This is a region well worth a tour with plenty to see and do including wineries, wildlife centres, museums, boating, water sports and caves.
- 52 detailed maps, including coverage of national parks
- tasting and tippling: a section on WA's wineries
- colour guide to the state's wildflowers
- creature comforts: budget beds to luxury retreats
- tips for watching wild things
-
it's a big country, but with 160 maps we've got it covered
-
spectacular colour field guide to Australia's native animals
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surf, dive or sail; hike, bike or ski – we'll show you how
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hundreds of accommodation options, from bush camping to five-star resorts
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full-colour guide to Aboriginal art