Host City

Perth is located in the Southwest of Australia and is commonly referred to as the “friendly city.” Perth is the capital city of Western Australia, and is the only big city in the whole State. Built on the banks of the Swan River over 150 years ago, the city is a melting pot of many races and creeds, and likes to think of its self as a little more independent than the rest of Australia. It is a city filled with a range of museums, theatres and art galleries which demonstrates its rich culture and strong economy. With its clear skies and sunny climate, (it has over 300 days of sunshine each year!) Perth can be thought of as a tourist delight with a relaxing, easy going atmosphere. Some of its more famous attractions include Kings Park, Fremantle, Scarborough Beach and the Swan River. However, these are just a few of the many sights that Perth has to offer the visitor and local alike. As the gateway to the rest of Western Australia, whether it be the exciting South West Region or the enchanting and mysterious North West Region, Perth is becoming an increasingly popular destination.

Perth International Arts Festival curates and presents an annual arts festival of the highest international quality and starts the day after the Conference.

PIAF aspires to create new work and stimulate discourse about Western Australia and the place in a complex and political world.

The Festival’s ambition is to lift audience expectations and opportunities for Western Australian arts practice, contributing to a vibrant and resilient culture.

Founded in 1953 by The University of Western Australia, the Perth International Arts Festival is the longest running international arts festival in Australia and Western Australia’s premier cultural event.
The Festival has developed a worldwide reputation for excellence in its international program, the presentation of new works and the highest quality artistic experiences for its audience.

For 63 years PIAF has welcomed to Perth some of the world’s greatest living artists and now connects with over 500,000 people each year in Perth and the Great Southern.

For further information, please view the website: www.perthfestival.com.au.

History

The Nyoongar Aboriginal people are Perth’s indigenous inhabitants and have been the custodians of the land for tens of thousands of years. The first Europeans to discover the Western Australian coast were the Dutch in 1616. Perth’s incredible beauty was recognised by British settlers when Captain James Stirling founded the city in 1829.

Population

Western Australia has a population of 2,317,000 and is Australia’s fastest growing State. The capital city Perth is home to 1,696,000.

Airport and Transport

The domestic and international airport terminals are located approximately 32 km from Fremantle. A shuttle bus service meets all flights into Western Australia. Operating both to and from Perth Airport, the Perth Airport Connect shuttle buses will pick you up or drop you off right at the door of your Perth City or Fremantle hotel. For information and bookings, please visit www.perthairportconnect.com.au or call 1300 666 806.These buses are located at the front of each terminal.

Covered taxi ranks are located on the ground floor of both the International Terminal (T1) and Domestic Terminals (T2 & T3) and cost approximately AUS$60. It takes about 45 minutes from the airport to Fremantle.

Transperth operates a bus service to and from Perth Airport's Domestic Terminals. This bus stop in located in the bus lane, closest to Qantas Domestic Terminals.

Bus 37 operates daily between Kings Park and Domestic Terminals (T2 & T3), via the Esplanade Bus Port, Victoria Park Transfer Station and Belmont Forum Shopping Centre. The journey takes approximately 55 minutes. From the Esplanade Bus port you can catch a train to Fremantle that takes approx. 40 minutes.

Please note that Transperth does not operate bus services to Perth Airport's International Terminal.  The Perth Airport Connect shuttle service is available for passengers who wish to travel between both the International (T1) and Domestic Terminals (T2/3) and Perth City or Fremantle. 

To view maps and timetables or for further information on Transperth services please visit www.transperth.wa.gov.au.

For more information, please contact Transperth on 13 62 13 (Perth metro area) or +61 8 9428 1900.

Car Rental

Budget: 13 27 27
Hertz: 13 30 39
Avis: 13 63 33

Local Transport

Free Central Area Bus Transit (CAT) Services: Within the city centre of Perth and Fremantle you can enjoy free and easy transport on the modern CAT buses. Theses buses run on several routes, with numerous and easily recognisable stops, with real time passenger information, along the way. The CAT buses are a great way for delegates to move between their city hotel, the train station and other city and Northbridge attractions/venues, free of charge. A free CAT service also operates in the city of Fremantle.

Buses: Perth's public bus service (Transperth) also has a free transit zone within the city and operates a comprehensive service across the metropolitan area.

Trains: Perth has a modern train system with five lines: to Armadale in the south east, Fremantle in the west, Clarkson in the north west, Midland in the east and the new Southern Suburbs Railway line to Mandurah. The train system is simple to negotiate, clean and safe. A free transit zone operates in the city centre.

Taxis: Taxis are readily available from the domestic and international airports and throughout the city of Perth. Perth taxis offer safe, efficient and cost effective commuting for delegates and can be hailed on the street or ordered by telephone. The average taxi fare from the airport to Fremantle is approximately $60 (40 minute journey).

Traffic: Perth is blessed with a modern road network incorporating major highways and well planned feeder roads. It is rare to experience major traffic delays in Perth.

Cycling and walking: Perth has a comprehensive network of cycle and walk paths in the city and throughout the metropolitan area. There are some wonderful riverside routes at the doorstep of the city.

Eating Out

Fremantle has long been the centre of alfresco dining, great food and a mind boggling number of ways to drink coffee. You will find small bars, pop up bars, restaurants, breweries, cafes, tapas bars and bakeries all over the city.

Visitors will find a cosmopolitan range of food styles to choose from including Indian curry and Italian pasta, Japanese sushi and Asian stir-fry – and of course some great Mod-Oz cuisine, featuring succulent beef, lamb and seafood.

The restaurants around Fishing Boat Harbour serve some of the best freshly-caught local fish visitors can taste, anywhere from traditional fish and chips to more upmarket seafood dining. Also located at Fishing Boat Harbour is the newly opened Bathers Beach House, Perth's only absolute beachfront restaurant and bar, just three steps from the beautiful white sands of bathers beach in the heart of Fremantle.
Along the Cappuccino Strip of there’s a wide variety of cafés and restaurants with outdoor tables and shady sun umbrellas – the perfect place to relax with a coffee, enjoy a meal and taste some local Western Australian wines.

Fremantle is the home of WA craft beer with award winning boutique breweries and a huge selection of WA craft beers on tap in many pubs including Little Creatures at Fishing Boat Harbour; The Monk Brewery and Kitchen and Sail & Anchor inner city pubs.

For those on a budget, the Fremantle Markets (open Friday, Saturday and Sunday)or a visit to the nearby food hall is a great choice. Food halls offer a variety of cuisines including Chinese, Japanese, health food and English roasts, making them a good choice for families.

The Fremantle Markets is one of the city’s most iconic and visited places. Located at the southern end of the Cappuccino Strip the markets is housed in a grand Victorian-era heritage building that was constructed in 1902 and completely restored in 1975. It was then added to the Western Australian Register of Heritage Places.
Over 150 stalls under one roof take up almost the entire city block that is bounded by Parry Street, South Terrace, William Street and Henderson Street Mall. There are several entrances to the markets, the main ones are off Henderson Street Mall, South Terrace and Parry Street.

Inside the main building visitors can browse an eclectic variety of market permanent and casual market stalls selling every kind of market ware you can imagine, from handmade soaps, hand printed t-shirts, souvenirs, local artworks to jewellery and giftware, music, fashion, shoes and exquisite antiques and collectables.
At the William Street end visitors will find some of the best and freshest fruit and vegetables, fresh bread, tasty morsels and fresh flowers.

The outdoor area between the inside permanent stalls and the fresh produce is known as the Yard. Visitors can enjoy a huge range of culinary delights, sample local produce, have a massage or simply enjoy the atmosphere and the flavour of the markets.

Musicians, acrobats, jugglers, magicians, comedians and more perfect their performance and skills by busking at various pitches inside and outside the markets including the Fremantle Market Bar tucked away in the northwest corner.

Shopping

The expression ‘bought in Fremantle of course’ says something about the unique nature of a shopping experience in the port city.

Visitors can expect to find a range of unique, independent boutiques and shops alongside mainstream chain stores all within a traditional High Street format and set amongst the stunning heritage architecture of Fremantle.

The main city precinct is home to several arcades offering vintage and retro fashion, exquisite jewellery, hand crafted gift items, bookstores, galleries and studios. Other precincts worth exploring include Wray Avenue, South Fremantle, North Fremantle and East Fremantle’s George Street.

MANY 6160 is a new concept department store in King’s Square in the old Myer building that offers men’s and women’s designer fashion, street wear, vintage fashion, skin care, exhibitions, a hair salon, cafe and much more.

Fremantle is open seven days a week. Some smaller boutiques have varied opening hours. Late night trading is on Friday night to 9 pm.

There are numerous treasures to be uncovered by shoppers among Fremantle’s retail landscape.

Time

Western Standard - UTC/GMT + 8 hours – applies to the whole of Western Australia including Perth, and is the same time zone as Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Taipei.

Weather

Perth, Western Australia enjoys hot and dry summers and slightly wet winters, altogether characterising a temperate climate. It experiences all of the four seasons every year. During ordinary days, Perth weather is depicted in dry heat paired with a cooling breeze that usually comes in the afternoon. This cooling breeze is often referred to as the "Fremantle Doctor".

In February, you can expect an average minimum temperature of 18C and an average maximum temperature of 30C.

Language

English is Australia’s national language. Multi-lingual interpreters are available at international entry points, major hotels and department stores.

Passport and Visa

A valid passport with a visa is required for all non citizens of Australia. Delegates seeking to attend a conference in Australia should, in most cases, apply for a short-stay business visitor visa. Please visit the Department of Immigration website for more information www.immi.gov.au/e_visa/visitors.htm.

Currency

Currency is Australian Dollars (AUD or A$). Exchange facilities are available at Perth International Airport, city banks and currency exchange kiosks. International class hotels will also exchange major currencies for guests. The most frequently accepted credit cards are Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Diners Club.

Taxes & Tipping

A general Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 10% applies on goods and services
purchased in Australia. This is included in the ticket price displayed in retail outlets. Travellers to Australia may reclaim the GST under the Tourist Refund Scheme on departure. There is no tradition of tipping in Australia: it is therefore not expected and service is given with a smile.

See and Do

There is always something happening and so much to see and do in Perth, here are a few suggestions.

The 'Cappuccino Strip' is named for the many cafés and resident barista's that prepare an almost unending variety of coffee's.

Nearby are the lively and historic Fremantle Markets featuring more than 150 stalls offering fresh produce, tasty local treats, jewellery, souvenirs, fashion and home wares.

Wander around Perth’s most popular attractions like the Swan Bell Tower and the iconic Kings Park. Enjoy a cruise on the river and browse the city’s shopping malls and the chic King Street strip.

Western Australia is also well known for its sandy, white beaches and is only 20 minutes from the Perth CBD. For more information visit www.experienceperth.com.