Ten Best Free Things To Do In Perth

The crucial third Test begins in Perth tomorrow. For cricket fans with a spare day away from the action (or who need to escape the scenes on the field), here are some suggestions for the best things to do on little or no budget.

Free walking tours
See another side of Perth on a free i-City tour. Volunteer guides lead themed walks every Monday to Friday from the Information Kiosk in Murray Street Mall. Take a tour of the city’s gardens, follow an art trail or take in the gold rush history. The tours take up to two hours, and you can join in or leave anywhere along the way. Alternatively, download the free audio tours and maps and do it yourself.
See www.perth.wa.gov.au

Explore Fremantle by bike
Pick up a free bike at the E-Shed markets and explore the area’s heritage buildings, markets and fascinating maritime and convict history as well as a beach or two. Run by the Free Wheeling Freemantle initiative.
See www.fremantlewa.com.au

Free movies and yoga in Northbridge
There’s free entertainment in the Northbridge Piazza in central Perth, including free yoga and Tai Chi class in the mornings. If you haven’t got tickets to the WACA, you could perhaps catch the game here during the day. Otherwise watch a movie on the permanent LED screen in the evening.
See www.showmeperth.com.au for listings

Perth's Cultural side
The Perth Cultural Centre is in the heart of the city, and is home to a range of free state-owned attractions. Explore the stories and culture of the local Aboriginal people, unique flora, fauna and biodiversity at the WA Museum or see the country’s biggest aboriginal art exhibition at the Art Gallery of WA. There’s also free WiFi, markets and an urban orchard.
See www.perthculturalcentre.com.au

Cottesloe beach
There are 19 white sand beaches within easy reach of the city centre to while away a day on, but Cottesloe is one of the most popular. Surf or snorkel by day, or wait for the magnificent sunsets, when locals flock to the bars and cafes that line the beach. It becomes an outdoor art gallery in March with the free Sculpture by the Sea exhibition.
See www.sculpturebythesea.com

Lunch with a view
Kings Park, one of the largest inner city parks in the world, has great views of the city and the Swan River. Perched on Mount Eliza, the park includes 400 hectares of natural bushland, lookouts and botanic gardens which showcase the incredible array of flora from around the whole of the state. Take the Federation walkway through the eucalyptus tree tops, or see one of the Kimberley’s immense boab trees. There are free BBQ facilities. Free guided botany walks run daily (except Christmas Day).
See guided walks http://www.bgpa.wa.gov.au/services/tours/guided-walks
**Note: Currently these walks are cancelled due to high fire risk

Sample some of Perth’s fine craft beer
Little Creatures Brewery (cited by David Gower as one of the best places to go in the city) is set inside a massive converted boat shed right on Fishing Boat Harbour. Get an insider’s look at the process with free tours of the brewery at 1pm, 2pm and 3pm.
See www.littlecreatures.com.au

Taste the Swan Valley
Spend the afternoon touring the Swan Valley, the oldest wine region in Western Australia just 25 minutes’ drive from Perth city. Many local producers offer free samples for its wine, craft beer, cheese, chocolate and ice cream. Of course, you may find something you can’t go home without.
See Swan Valley food and wine trail

Learn to play the didgeridoo
Fremantle is home to Australia's largest specialty didgeridoo store. Didgeridoo Breath runs lessons and workshops for beginners through to advanced players. You can get a 15pminute session for free.
See www.didgeridoobreath.com

Explore the city for free
You can get around the city using the free CAT (Central Area Transit) bus. Three separate lines navigate the city’s key attractions from Northbridge to East Perth and West Perth. Additionally, a free transit zone operates in the city area where passengers can travel for free on any bus. Look for the red FTZ logo on bus stops to identify the free travel boundaries.
See www.transperth.wa.gov.au
These suggestions are courtesy of Tourism Western Australia

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/australiaandpacific/australia/10513251/Perth-Ten-of-the-best-free-things-to-do.html

By Jolyon Attwooll

Need a hotel in Perth? Come and book a stay at Metro Hotel Perth

Metro Hotel Perth offers guests a wide range of stylish and spacious hotel accommodation, with most rooms enjoying spectacular panoramic views of the Swan River and Perth city. The hotel is close to Perth’s major tourist attractions, Perth Zoo, Kings Park and the river foreshore. The Burswood Casino complex is 2.5 kms from the hotel as is the famous West Australian Cricket ground. Located within walking distance from the hotel are many fantastic restaurants offering a wide variety of international cuisines.

Click here to view hotel: http://www.metrohotels.com.au/perth-hotels/metro-hotel-perth-13

Victorious Australia Bringing Same Squad to Perth for 3rd Ashes Test

Australia will take the same 12-man squad to Perth for the third Ashes test this week after humbling England by 218 runs to win the second match in Adelaide on Monday.

Selector John Inverarity said in a statement that uncapped fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile and 12-test paceman Doug Bollinger would also be in Perth on standby and would train with the squad for the test match "should they be required."

Australia fielded the same team in Adelaide that thrashed England by 381 runs in Brisbane, the first time in a year that the team has been unchanged for consecutive tests.

Coach Darren Lehmann was reluctant to mess with a winning formula for the WACA, where their pacemen will hope to wreak maximum damage against a shell-shocked England side on a bouncy wicket.

"At the moment, all good," Lehmann said of his bowlers' fitness for the third match starting on Friday.

"(If they're) 100 percent, they'll play. If not, they won't.

"From our point of view, we've just got to keep what we're doing now. Not change too much. Just make sure we adapt to Perth conditions. As you've seen, we adapted very well from Brisbane to here, and now we go back the other way."

Australia lead the five-test series 2-0 and can wrest the Ashes away from holders England with victory in Perth.

Australia squad: Chris Rogers, David Warner, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke (captain), Steve Smith, George Bailey, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris, Nathan Lyon, James Faulkner

Grease comes to Perth

Grease is the word in musical theatre land, with Australian producer John Frost announcing the popular show is heading to Perth and Adelaide.

The high-energy musical, which has already enjoyed successful seasons in Brisbane and Sydney and is soon to open in Melbourne, will head to South Australia and WA in winter next year.

Frost said he was delighted that Grease was continuing its tour of the country.

“Rarely have I seen audience reactions like the ones we have been receiving every night for Grease, with everyone in the aisles dancing and singing along,” he said in a statement.

“Grease truly is Australia’s number one party musical, and now I’m delighted to give audiences in Perth and Adelaide the chance to sing-a-long and dance with Rob, Gretel, Todd, Bert and the gang on stage.”

The musical is based on the 1978 film starring Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta and features all the songs, including You’re The One That I Want, Grease Is The Word, Summer Nights and Greased Lightnin’.

Leading the cast in the iconic roles of Danny and Sandy are Rob Mills and Gretel Scarlett.

The musical also stars Bert Newton as slick veteran disc jockey Vince Fontaine and Todd McKenney as Teen Angel.

Grease will begin at Perth’s Crown Theatre on June 21, 2014, followed by a season at the Festival Theatre in Adelaide from August 3, 2014.

Source: http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa/20214229/grease-comes-to-perth/

Power Pack at Metro Hotel Perth

Metro Hotel Perth is offering this Power Pack Accommodation Package for $249.00*

Going to the Tennis?

• Stay in an Executive Riverview Room
• Start the day with two fully cooked buffet breakfasts
• Pack up your complimentary sunscreen
• Two Powerade drinks
• Two Sun Visors

Enjoy the Hopman Cup Tennis!

Book this Power Pack at Metro Hotel Perth

View Metro Hotel Perth

Terms & Conditions:

• Subject to availability
• Offer is for two occupants only.
• Not available in conjunction with any other special
• Offer valid 28/12/2014 to 04/01/2014

View this Metro Hotel Accommodation Package

Perth Predicted to be Bigger Than Brisbane

Join the crowd: Perth population tipped to hit three million. Picture: Lee Griffith/The West Australian

Perth will overtake Brisbane to become Australia's third biggest city in 15 years, population projections reveal.

Three million people are expected to call Perth home by 2028, putting fresh pressure on the city's infrastructure and housing supply to keep pace with the growth.

The capital's swelling population will almost double WA's total population from 2.4 million people to 4.7 million by 2040.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the nation's population is growing faster than previously thought.

Five years ago it had projected Australia's population could get as high as 62.2 million by 2101 but it has revised that to 70 million.

It is based on the highest population growth scenario of women having two babies and annual migration of almost 280,000 a year. Using its mid-range growth assumptions, the ABS forecasts the population will double to 46 million by 2075.

Under the same medium scenario, Perth's current population of 1.9 million is tipped to rise to three million by 2028 and pass Brisbane.

What makes Perth's rapid population increase even more staggering is that it will overtake Brisbane in just 15 years, even though the Queensland metropolis will have the second fastest growth rate of any capital city in the country.

Curtin University professor of sustainability Peter Newman said Perth should be able to absorb an extra 1.1 million people if it got the infrastructure right.

“We will cope with it if we plan for it,” he said. “Melbourne and Sydney are exporting people to Brisbane and Perth, but we’re just getting more of them.”

He advocates future housing development in Perth to focus on 8-10 storey-high buildings in sub-centres based around new and existing train stations.

Professor Newman said Perth was poised to become a global city as it becomes the headquarters for energy and mining giants in the region, which would provide employment.

But it was also critical to attract jobs in the “knowledge economy” such as software developers and university researchers so the city was not just relying on the resources industry.

Urban Development Institute Association WA chief executive Debra Goostrey said industry and government were closely monitoring housing supply to prevent a repeat of last decade’s squeeze that drove up property prices.

While new land was being released, Ms Goostrey said there were emerging signs of some skilled labour shortages that could slow down construction.

She also said governments needed to keep up infrastructure investment to accommodate the swelling population.

“It definitely has it challenges but for people living in Perth this is a fantastic opportunity to build a very vibrant city that people want to come and live in,” Ms Goostrey said.

Destination Melbourne – Popular With Visitors from West Australia

Each year, more than a million West Australians* fly across Australia to visit the eastern states, the largest proportion of whom choose Victoria as their destination of choice. 

This number is growing – 10 per cent more West Australians visited Melbourne in 2012 when compared with the previous year.

Whether it is for work, holiday, shopping, to eat out at some of the country’s best restaurants or to attend one of the many sporting and cultural events, there is no doubt that Melbourne has it all.

And with three airlines now vying for passengers and up to 15 flights direct from Perth to Melbourne daily, flying to Melbourne has never been easier or more affordable. 

From $150 each way, West Australians now have the perfect excuse to fly across Australia and enjoy all Melbourne has to offer – even just for the weekend. 

Metro Apartments on Bank Place offers inner city apartment style accommodation that lives up to the city’s European charm. Tucked away down a cobbled laneway,  the surrounding heritage-listed piazza introduces you to Melbourne’s charming lanes and city precinct with its range of cafes, restaurants and enticing shopping. 

Bustling by day and alive with al fresco dining by night, Bank Place is situated a short stroll away from all of Melbourne’s sought after attractions: Bourke Street Mall, Federation Square, Southgate Centre and Crown Casino. 

Hop on one of Melbourne’s famous trams to spend the day at the MCG or the National Gallery of Victoria, and take in a show at the Victorian Arts Centre – only a short ride away by taxi or tram. 

The property offers 46 apartments, a choice of either studio or one-bedroom suites, as well as a split level, two bedroom penthouse. All suites include a kitchenette and laundry facilities. 

*Tourism Victoria Origin Market Profile,Year ending Dec 2012

To book, contact Metro Apartments Bank Place on +61 3 9604 4321 or call the toll free Central Reservations line on 1800 004 321. Alternately, bookings can be made online at www.metrohotels.com.au

View this Press Release and all Metro Hotels News

Perth's Chinatown Gets $2m Revamp

The West Australian government will spend $2 million to revitalise Perth's Chinatown precinct with lanterns and road stencilling.

As part of the revitalisation, Chinese New Year celebrations will be expanded into Chinatown laneways in 2014 with a $50,000 state government grant to the Chung Wah Association.

Premier Colin Barnett said on Sunday the aim was to create a more vibrant precinct for families, locals and tourists.

"Chinatown is a popular location for people of all ages and an important business precinct in Northbridge that has been rundown for some time," he said.

"This investment will transform the area to its former glory of the 1980s and ensure it remains an exciting and culturally important destination for years to come."

The Chinatown precinct is bound by Nicks Lane and Roe and James Streets in Northbridge, and includes 13 restaurants and businesses.

The wider Perth City Link project will create five new connections between the city and Northbridge, which will encourage more people to pass through the Roe Street area every day, the premier said.

The project is expected to be complete by the end of 2015.