Ultimate Guide to Perth for Backpackers
Launch point for the other half of Australia, beautiful Perth is one of the most isolated cities on earth. Ringed by white sand beaches and the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, Perth was once a quiet town. However tourism and industry has ensured it is now a thriving metropolis which works well as a hub for backpackers who want a smaller city offering but also want to enjoy a vibrant nightlife at the same time. It is also known for its fantastic food and in particular Fremantle, the port town situated southwest of the city centre is a place you simply cannot miss.
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Orientation
Backpackers will find the heart of Perth’s CBD lies in St. George’s Terrace with the main hub for hostels and nightlife in Northbridge which is as name suggests – north of the bridge in the CBD. King’s Park on the west side of the CBD is lush and green and a favourite for a summer BBQ (including permanent BBQs available for use). The city itself is quite compact offering everything a backpacker could want on foot but the beaches and suburbs are quite spread out. Fremantle for example, is about 25 klm and 30 minutes away by train from the city and is still well within the suburbs.
Maps
Maps are available at the Western Australia Visitor Centre at 469 Wellington St if your hostel has run out. Apart from maps you will find the people there really helpful with all kind of information.
Weather
If you are looking for somewhere with constant sunshine and heat then Perth is your best bet with its Mediterranean-style climate. December to February are particularly hot and you wouldn’t be surprised to find a two-week stint of temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius. Sometimes it does rain in the scorching heat causing high levels of humidity. In Winter, the temperature never really drops very low so you will find a year-round climate you could really get used to.
Internet access
In Perth, free wifi can be found everywhere with many city cafes and restaurants offering this amenity. But, if you want a good connection coupled with peace, consider the state library (at Perth Cultural Centre) as your top option.
Where to stay
Only the best Perth hostels by location as voted by you. (We left all the 3 star and below places off our list and there are lots of them!)
Witches Hat Backpackers at City 📌
Spinners Backpackers at City 📌
Hotel Bambu at City 📌
Western Beach Lodge at Scarborough Beach 📌
Public Transport
When you land in Perth by air (which is likely unless you’re on an epic cross-Australia road trip), you’ve got a few options to get into the city: train, bus, or rideshare like Uber. The train is your best bet for a quick and easy way to the city.
Transperth: This is Perth’s well run public transport system, covering trains and buses. The Transperth Journey Planner tool can help you plan ahead your journey. They’ve got a travel card called SmartRider, available at Terminal 1 International in the airport. Alternatively, there’s the DayRider pass for unlimited travel throughout the day. Lastly, if you don’t like buying the cards, you can opt to pay cash fares.
The main train hub is Perth Station, located next to the Wellington Street Bus Station on the northern fringe of the CBD. The City Busport near the Esplanade caters to the southern suburbs, including Fremantle.
CAT Bus Service: Perth offers a free ‘central area transit’ zone with CAT bus services—something every perfect city should have! These buses, color-coded for different zones, are perfect for exploring the city and getting your bearings, especially in your first couple of days.
Best Eats & Drinks
The Sunday Sesh is a major event in Perth which takes place, yes you guessed it, every Sunday. The favourite haunt for this particular day for most backpackers is Fremantle as it is right beside the beach. Wednesday nights in Perth are also hopping as it’s student night and you will many deals in bars spread across the city.
- Brass Monkey – a Northbridge haunt (in the city), this place is a little bit more swank and filled with a few local Perthians if you want to mix. They offer All Day Every Day Specials drinks with price ranges from $7-25. Thursday to Saturday is Local’s Hour drink specials from 5 pm to 6 pm.
- Mustangs – the true backpacker bar in Perth, along with live music it offers a smashing deal on Wednesdays you can get a meal with a drink for $5. Be warned though, it does fill up fast.
- Little Creatures – is located in Fremantle. This is definitely somewhere a little more uppy but it does awesome food and they brew their own great beer so it is a must-go in our opinion even just to experience the ‘beautiful people’ vibe.
