Perth - Getting Around
A reasonably reliable network of public transport serves Perth and its environs, with free services operating on many city centre routes (known as the Free Transit Zone), and an easy to master network of nine concentric zones circling outwards from the centre.
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Bus
The free CAT (Central Area Transport) bus service in Perth CBD and Fremantle offers 10 minute services in the centre of the city and Fremantle. The route takes in Newcastle Street, Kings Peir and on to Subiaco. Just hop on and off wherever you see the CAT bus stops. Buses are, generally, larger than their suburban counterparts. Look for the distinctive panther logo sprayed along the buses' sides.
Taxis
Taxis can be problematic in Perth. They're not as frequent as you'd hope and are as rare as gold dust during peak times. The city's ranks are one way to wait for a ride - you'll find them outside the main entertainment precincts, hotels and transport interchanges. But if you really have to be somewhere, it's probably best to phone ahead and confirm a booking. Flagfall is usually around $3.50, with additional kilometres charged at around £1.50.
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Train
Most trains stop at the city's central station and head out to Fremantle, the suburbs and beyond. A new SmartRider system uses electronic passes, allowing for fast and convenient boarding. But you can buy a paper ticket at stations.
Tickets are valid for two hours, and can be used on buses or trains. A one day ticket costs around $8. It's probably wise to invest in a SmartRider (which work similar to a London Transport Oyster card: you simply charge it up with a set amount to be redeemed against future travel, at a 15% discount over cash fare prices).
If you're heading to the Esplanade area of town, you'll need the Mandurah line, which whisks you to the coast and the south of the city. Train services run every quarter of an hour or so during the day and cease around midnight.