Perth Australia
Perth sits on the Swan River near the Indian Ocean coast, about 2,700 km from the next Australian city of comparable size, which makes it one of the most remote major cities in the world. That isolation shapes the visit: flights are long from almost everywhere, but the city is compact, sunny for most of the year, and unusually easy to get around once you arrive. It is the base for Western Australia’s mining and resources industry and holds five universities including the University of Western Australia and Edith Cowan University, both active in information security research. Kings Park, one of the largest inner-city parks anywhere, looks over the centre from a rise on the far side of the river.
- Kings Park and Botanic Garden - 400 hectares on Mount Eliza with the best view over the city and river, and spectacular during the spring wildflower season.
- Fremantle - A well-preserved port town 30 minutes down the river or by train, with the Fremantle Prison World Heritage site and a good market.
- Rottnest Island - A short ferry from Fremantle, car-free, with beaches and the quokkas it is now famous for.
- Cottesloe Beach - The classic Perth beach, 20 minutes from the centre.
- Perth Cultural Centre - The state art gallery, museum and library grouped together in Northbridge.
- Swan Valley - The state’s oldest wine region, about 30 minutes north-east.
Perth Airport (PER) is about 12 km east of the centre and connected by the Airport Line train in roughly 20 minutes. It has direct long-haul service to London and to several Asian hubs, plus the full domestic network, but be realistic about travel time: Perth is four to five hours from Sydney and Melbourne and considerably more from anywhere outside Australia. Build in a recovery day.
The CBD is small and walkable, and the free CAT bus loops through it in several colour-coded routes. Perth also has a free transit zone covering the central area, so short trips cost nothing. Trains run out to Fremantle, the northern suburbs and the airport on the Airport Line. The University of Western Australia is about 15 minutes from the centre by bus; Edith Cowan’s Joondalup campus is further out and best reached by train.
September to November and March to May are the comfortable windows. Spring, from September, brings the Western Australian wildflower season, which is genuinely worth planning around. June and July, when both ACISP and IFIP SEC have run, are Perth’s winter: mild at 18 to 20C but the wettest months of the year. Summer from December to February is hot and dry, often above 35C.
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The CBD is the obvious base: it is small, it holds nearly all the hotels, and the free transit zone and CAT buses mean you can move around the centre without paying a fare. St Georges Terrace and Adelaide Terrace form the main hotel strip, with the eastern end closer to the river and the western end closer to the shops. Northbridge, just north of the railway, is where the bars and restaurants concentrate and is walkable but noisier. Be aware the Perth market skews expensive and four and five star: genuine budget options in the centre are thin, so if cost matters look at East Perth or the airport corridor. Rates climb during mining industry events and the spring wildflower season.
Our picks in Perth
A curated selection of hotels chosen for location, value, and fit for conference travellers.
Aloft by Marriott Perth
27 Rowe Avenue, Rivervale, Perth WA 6103, Australia
Four-star across the river in Rivervale with a pool and some Swan River views, on the way to the airport - the...
Duxton Hotel Perth
1 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000, Australia
Five-star on St Georges Terrace opposite the Perth Concert Hall, with a grill restaurant strong on Western Australian wine - best for...
Pan Pacific Perth
207 Adelaide Terrace, Perth WA 6000, Australia
Large five-star on Adelaide Terrace that doubles as a conference venue, with an outdoor pool and a well-regarded Peruvian restaurant - the...
Parmelia Hilton Perth
14 Mill Street, Perth WA 6000, Australia
Long-established Hilton at the western end of the CBD with an executive lounge and a contemporary brasserie - suits business attendees who...
QT Perth
133 Murray Street, Perth WA 6000, Australia
Design hotel in the middle of the shopping precinct, fitted out in local jarrah timber and brass with a rooftop bar -...
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