Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

SIDE TRIPS FROM PERTH 451
Bedford Ave., Rottnest Island, WA 6161. & 08/9292 5011. Fax 08/9292 5188. rottnesthotel@axismgt.
com.au. 18 units (all with shower only). Peak (Dec 21–Jan 31) A$180–A$200 (US$117–US$130) double; summer
(Feb to mid-Apr and Sept–Dec) A$140–A$170 (US$91–US$111) double; autumn (Apr–May)
A$150–A$170 (US$98–US$111) double; winter (June–Aug) A$100–A$120 (US$65–$78) double. Extra person
A$40 (US$26). Crib A$15 (US$9.75). Rates include continental breakfast. Ask about mid-week packages in
winter. AE, DC, MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant; 2 bars; beer garden; barbecue. In room: TV, fridge, no phone.
Rottnest Youth Hostel As well as dorm rooms, this 54-bed YHA/Hostelling
International-property has private family rooms furnished simply with a double
bed and double bunks. Located in Kingstown, 1.2km (less than a mile) from
Thomson Bay, it is housed in 1936 barracks that were used by the Australian
Army until 1984. It serves cheap meals, provides a barbecue, and has a TV/video
room with 24-hour Internet access and a fireplace. Bookings essential. A free bus
will pick you up when you arrive.
Kingstown Barracks, c/o Post Office, Rottnest Island,WA 6161.& 08/9372 9780. Fax 08/9292 5141. 9 units,
none with bathroom. A$46 (US$30) double, twin, or family. A$20 (US$13) per person in a 10-bed dorm. A$11
(US$7.15) child under 18. MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant.
IN PURSUIT OF THE GRAPE IN THE SWAN VALLEY
20km (13 miles) NE of Perth
Twenty minutes from the city center of Perth is the Swan Valley, home to two
of Australia’s best wine labels. In all there are 30 or so wineries along with
wildlife parks, antiques shops, a few arts and craft galleries, several good restaurants,
and Australia’s best golf resort. Some restaurants and wineries close Monday
and Tuesday.
Lord Street from the Perth city center becomes Guildford Road and takes you
to the historic Art Deco town of Guildford at the start of the Swan Valley. Drop
into the Guildford & Swan Valley Visitors Centre, 111 James St., Guildford
(near Meadow St.), WA 6055 (& 08/9379 9420; www.swanvalley.com.au). It’s
open daily from 9am to 4pm. Several companies (see “Whale-Watching Cruises,
Tram Trips & Other Tours” above) run day tours and cruises from Perth.
TOURING THE WINERIES & OTHER THINGS TO DO
Most Swan wineries are small family-run affairs, but an exception is Houghton
Wines, Dale Road, Middle Swan (& 08/9274 9540), Western Australia’s oldest,
biggest, and most venerable winery. The big-beamed timber cellar has old
winemaking machinery on show, and there are beautiful picnic grounds (especially
nice in Nov when mauve jacaranda trees blossom gloriously), a cafe, and
an art gallery selling works by local artists. Open 10am–5pm daily except Good
Friday and Christmas. The other big-name winery is Sandalford Caversham
Estate, 3210 West Swan Rd., Caversham (& 08/9374 9300). You may want to
take its 90-minute winery tour, which takes you along walkways over the hi-tech
production areas. The A$15 (US$9.75) fee includes a tasting of premium wine
and a wine-education kit. It runs three times daily. The winery also has a good
gift shop, a pretty vine-covered casual dining area, and a pleasant restaurant.
Both wineries’ cellar doors are open daily for free tastings from 10am to 5pm.
If you have kids, call at the Caversham Wildlife Park (& 08/9274 2202).
After a move in 2003 to a new site in Whiteman Park, West Swan, it has smart
new homes for its collection of 200 species of mostly Western Australian wildlife.
You can stroke koalas (but not hold them), cuddle wombats and joeys (baby kangaroos)
sometimes, feed kangaroos, pet farm animals, and take a camel ride. It’s
open daily from 9am to 5pm, closed Christmas. Admission is A$12 (US$7.80) for