Tours From Perth

With the Indian Ocean surf beaches beckoning from the west, the peaceful Darling Range on the east

and the Swan River meandering through Perth from Fremantle to the Swan Valley vineyards, there are many enjoyable trips within easy reach of Perth.

Ferry Cruises

From the Barrack Street Jetty, ferries leave regularly to Fremantle, Rottnest Island and Swan Valley.

Other cruises will take you to the historic riverside home Tran by. From Wednesday to Saturday nights, in season, you can have dinner aboard a vessel that leaves the Barrack Street Jetty in the early evening

and returns at midnight. Daily ferry services to Rottnest Island, Perth’s pop¬ular hideaway and once the site of the infamous Rottnest Native Prison, also leave from Hillarys Boat Harbour and from Fremantle.

See: Rottnest Island.

Fremantle

19 km from Perth via the Stirling or Canning highways

A visit to this fascinating old port can make an interesting round trip by car if you return via the opposite

side of the river. Fremantle is also easily accessible by bus, train and boat. Just 10 minutes from

Fremantle is Adventure World, a fun park featuring a wide variety of entertainment. Adventure World is

open most weekends, and daily except Christmas Day and Good Friday, between October and April.

Serpentine Dam

54 km from Perth via the South Western Highway

Picnic beside the Serpentine Dam, which is set among peaceful hills and beautiful landscaped gardens of

wildflowers.

Pioneer Village, Armadale

29 km from Perth via the Albany Highway

Pioneer Village is a reconstruction of the days of the gold rush and features gold panning and live

theatre. Nearby is Araluen Botanic Park, with its beautiful gardens and waterfalls. Close to Armadale,

Tumbulgum Farm features a farm show, an Aboriginal cultural show and Showcase WA, which offers

WA- made products for purchase. At nearby Gosnells, the Cohunu Koala Park renowned for its koalas

also has a wide range of other Australian fauna.

Historic Guildford in the Swan Valley

18 km from Perth via Guildford Road or the Great Eastern Highway

On the way, visit the Craft Centre at Mount Lawley, and the rail museum in Bassendean. At Guildford,

die old court house and gaol in Meadow Street houses a folk museum (open Sundays), next door is the

Village Potters gallery. A 40-kilo- metre heritage trail starts at the Success Hill Reserve and retraces the

steps of Captain Stirling on his 1827 search for a site for the new setdement. Just north-east of Guildford

in Ford Street, West Midland, is Woodbridge, a gracious mansion overlooking the river, beautifully

restored and furnished by the National Trust. Whiteman Park, 7 km north of Guildford, has train and

tram rides, and the Trade Milage, where trades people ply traditional skills. There are numerous

wineries in the area, including the historic Houghtons Wines. Craft shops, galleries and antique shops

also abound.

John Forrest National Park

28 km from Perth on the Great Eastern Highway

This huge bushland park in the Darling Range features walking trails, streams, waterfalls and a safe

swimming pool for children. Three kilometres east of the park is the old Mahogany Inn (1837), now the

oldest residential inn in Western Australia. At weekends enjoy a Devonshire tea.

Mundaring Weir

42 km from Perth via the Great Eastern Highway

This water catchment area, which pro-vides water for the goldfields over 500 kilometres away, is

surrounded by picnic areas. The O’Connor Museum explains the construction and operation of this

complex water scheme. Kalamunda History Village is nearby.

Walyunga National Park

35 km from Perth via Guildford Road and the Great Northern Highway

The Avon River flows through this beautiful bushland park, renowned for its wildflower display in spring.

It is a popular picnic spot and there are sign-posted walking trails. Each year in August, the Avon

Descent, a major white-water canoeing event is held here