Perth, WA

[Sean]

Anybody been there?

I may be visiting next year.

[Croc]

Hi Sean. Yes I have. Long way from anywhere but the drinks are good.

 

How long do you have there and can you get time to explore further afield?

 

Cheers

Mike

[panamericano]

Trivia question. Silly, I know, but...Is there anywhere our Croc has NOT been to?

[Croc]

Sure! I have not visited you. What’s the guest room situation at Chateau Panamericano like these days?

 

Another day, another country. My view today.

 

[Sean]

Hi Mike,

 

As a generally well-traveled Aussie, I felt sure you must have been to Perth at least a few times! My business there is for a portion of one day, so I’ve booked there for a week in late summer. Staying near the coast, and planning a visit to “Rotto” and Bon Scott’s gravesite. Pointers, tips, warnings?

 

Really looking forward to this trip. Way OT for this forum, but…this is where the big crocs hang!

Edited November 6, 2019 by Sean
I’m basically an idiot

[xcarguy]

Trivia question. Silly, I know, but...Is there anywhere our Croc has NOT been to?

 

.....Arkansas:jester:

[Croc]

Hi Mike,

 

As a generally well-traveled Aussie, I felt sure you must have been to Perth at least a few times! My business there is for a portion of one day, so I’ve booked there for a week in late summer. Staying near the coast, and planning a visit to “Rotto” and Bon Scott’s gravesite. Pointers, tips, warnings?

 

Really looking forward to this trip. Way OT for this forum, but…this is where the big crocs hang!

 

 

For a start, if you go down to the ocean beach near Perth you will not find a croc. You will possibly get eaten by a very large great white shark (no I am not kidding). Sharks ate all the crocs. Crocs live further north in WA. WA has the most fatal shark attacks in Australia - 25% of all attacks are fatal. The USA has 3 times as many shark attacks as Australia but only a fraction of one percent are fatal. Sharks are not dangerous in the USA. Jaws was a bit of fake news. Why? Soft gums possibly? Population not as well marinated for eating? Fake tan products taste terrible?

 

If you do go for a swim then it is essential you 'man up' and wear the traditional Australian bathing costume called a "budgie smuggler". If Australian politicians can wear them then so can you.

 

 

No particular order but here are my ideas:

 

 

• Central Perth is like a cornfield belt city - not much happening, although it is far more interesting than Little Rock, which I have also visited. People are really nice in Perth too. They know how to drink lots and stay sober. To see it just take the hop on hop off bus - that covers the basics.
  

 

• Fremantle is a really good place to spend an afternoon walking around - you have the harbor, UNESCO Historical Prison, a brewery, lots of waterfront restaurants to eat at, afterwards a beach to swim and be eaten at, maritime museum, shipwrecks museum. Bon Scott is in Fremantle cemetery (who knew you were an ACDC fan!). This is where I stay when I go to Perth. Its only about a 20-30min drive from Perth central.
  

 

• Rottnest Island as you identified is a good choice. So much to do here. Quokkas are just wonderful things - love them! Your challenge is to get a selfie with a quokka - actually not that hard since they love to pose for photos.
  

 

• A long day trip would be to go to The Pinnacles near Cervante. 3 hour drive north of central Perth. Swan Valley wine area is that way - spot of lunch?
  

 

• If you are really into wine then a similar distance south is Margaret River.
  

 

• Penguin Island - a boat tour led by a good naturalist will have you spotting sea lions, dolphins, penguins, birds, etc. Good snorkeling out there too. Just as good as Rottnest but not as well known and smaller.
  

 

• Whale watching boats used to sail out of Fremantle - its seasonal so may not be running.
  

 

• Star gazing. The night sky is magnificent in outback Australia. Perth counts as outback since it is essentially a desert city. Get well out of town one evening to admire it. The further out into the desert you go the more impressive it is. They used to do sunset dinner tours of the Pinnacles with star gazing afterwards.
  

 

 

If you were staying for longer and could get further afield then the obvious sites would be:

• Shark Bay/Monkey Mia - dolphins, wildlife, national parks
  
• Broome
  
• Ningaloo for the whale sharks - this is seasonal
  
• Touring the Kimberley/Bungle Bungles - plenty of salt water crocodiles around the Kimberley.
  

Edited November 6, 2019 by Croc

[Sean]

Crikey! That’s a comprehensive reply. Thank you, sir!

 

Years ago, I was snorkeling while on vacation at Chichi-jima in Japan’s Ogasawara island chain, where the waters teem with sea life including multiple species of sharks, though there has never been a shark attack there. Sure enough, a shark much larger than me swam by maybe 8-10 feet away from me, and just kept going. When I told the local guy that took me there about it, he told me he took me to that spot because of the high probability of seeing a shark there, but I shouldn’t worry because no attacks here, etc. I pointed out that maybe the sharks in that area just don’t like Japanese food, and longed for a taste of meat basted in Guinness, like me? He admitted he hadn’t thought of that.

[S1Steve]

We’re going diving tomorrow inMexico, looking for Whale sharks. Should be fun to see something the size of a school bus swim next to you.