Travel to Perth
Flying to Perth
There are no direct flights to Perth from the UK, but there are plenty of options involving one stopover, including flights with Cathay Pacific (via Hong Kong), Emirates (via Dubai), Etihad Airways (via Abu Dhabi), Malaysia Airlines (via Kuala Lumpur) and Singapore Airlines (via Singapore). The cheapest deals tend to be available between mid-April and mid-June. Flights from the USA also involve a stopover in South-East Asia or the Middle East. Non-stop service from London to Perth on Qantas Airlines will begin in March 2018.
Flight times
From London - 19 hours 30 minutes (including stopover); New York - 25 hours (including stopover); Los Angeles - 22 hours (including stopover); Toronto - 25 hours (including stopover); Sydney - 5 hours.
Travel by road
Traffic in Australia drives on the left. The minimum driving age is 17. Unless otherwise indicated, the speed limit in Western Australia for metropolitan areas is 50kph (31mph), while on motorways the speed limit is 100kph (62mph). In open areas outside built-up areas, it's 110kph (68mph).
Foreign driving licences are valid as a visitor, but they must be in English or you need a translation. Australia has very strict laws on drinking and driving, and seatbelts are mandatory.
Outback Western Australia can be extremely hot. Drivers crossing desert areas can arrange to travel in convoy. Do take a large supply of drinking water, in addition to fuel, spare tyres and an emergency kit.
The Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia (RAC WA) (tel: +61 8 9436 4444; www.rac.com.au) provides further information.
Emergency breakdown services
The Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia (RAC WA) (tel: +61 8 9436 4444; www.rac.com.au) provides further information.
Routes
Main routes into Perth are the Great Eastern Highway 94 (from Fremantle and Kalgoorlie-Boulder), Wanneroo Road (from Geraldton), Southwestern Highway 20 (from Bunbury) and the Albany Highway 30 (from Albany). If you’re driving direct from Adelaide, Melbourne or Sydney, travel via Kalgoorlie, joining the Great Eastern Highway.
Coaches
The main coach operators are Greyhound (+61 7 4690 9850; www.greyhound.com.au) and the Transwa (+61 8 9326 2600; www.transwa.wa.gov.au). Destinations are varied and include Esperance, Geraldton, Mukinbudin, Albany, Bunbury and Collie. Services arrive at the East Perth Terminal, Summers Street, East Perth.
South West Coach Lines (tel: +61 8 9261 7600; www.southwestcoachlines.com.au) departs from the Esplanade Busport, 3 Mounts Bay Road, to Bunbury and Margaret River.
Time to city
From Geraldton - 4 hours 30 minutes; Kalgoorlie - 6 hours; Adelaide - 28 hours; Melbourne - 36 hours; Bunbury - 2 hours; Albany - 4 hours 30 minutes; Sydney - 41 hours.
Long journeys should be broken up and it is not advised to drive outside daylight hours when wildlife is more likely to be around. If you come across an animal in the road, hit your horn and brake. Do not go off the road.
Travel by Rail
Services
Trains are a great way to get around Australia with some spectacular routes offering the chance to travel long distance and take in the view.
Local connections and trains to the south leave from the centrally located main city station, Perth Railway Station, Wellington Street (opposite Forrest Place). The slightly less convenient station is East Perth Terminal, Summers Street, with train services to the east and some long-haul services.
For general information on rail journeys in Australia, try www.railaustralia.com.au, or contact the relevant service provider directly.
Operators
Great Southern Railways (tel: 1800 703 357, in Australia only, or +61 8 8213 4401; www.greatsouthernrail.com.au) operates some of Australia’s great train journeys across the country, including the Indian Pacific which runs between Sydney and Perth via .
Transperth (tel: 136 213, in Australia only; www.transperth.wa.gov.au) operates intra city rail services and Transwa (tel: 1300 662 205, in Australia only; www.transwa.wa.gov.au) operates intra state trains to Kalgoorlie, Northam and Bunbury.
Journey times
From Sydney - 3 nights; Kalgoorlie - 6 hours 45 minutes; Northam - 1 hour 35 minutes; Bunbury - 2 hours 25 minutes.
