Lovin' It & Livin' It Down Under

Where do I begin to talk about Australia? There are so so so many things to do that no matter what type of person you are, you will find something that just rocks your world! You must come here before you die . . . From scuba diving to swimming with dolphins to viewing the most incredible stars and partying your brain out, you will not be disappointed in Aussie.

There are so many things to do in Perth and the surrounding area that you could spend months here and never hit it all-- whats better is that the things to do at night are completely different than those you'll do during the day. Here are a couple of things you MUST do while you're here: King's Park at night, The Cott on a Sunday, a cocktail in Subi, go out in Northbridge, head to Little Creatures, swim at City Beach, go to Rottnest Island, eat at Sorrento Quays in the Hillarys and go to Margaret River.

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

Public transportation actually works Down Under and is extremely easy to manage. Even though there aren't ticket coppers on every train, it's advisable to buy a ticket because the one time you don't, there they'll be.

In Fremantle you can hope on the big orange buses and get around the city for free. The CAT is great and stops at most key places such as the train station, the Maritime Museum and Notre Dame University. It's a great way to get a tour of the city and not have to pay for it...

I don't have a car so I have to rely on my own to feet to get around. It's actually easier because parking can be gruesome!! Plus you never know what you may stumble upon when you turn down a random corner...

If you have a car it's no worries, but parking can be a nightmare and be forewarned . . . they have, out of nowhere, just totally random breath checks, so if you've been drinking, DO NOT drive.

This was the best hostel in Perth by far. I'll have to give it the Nomad hostels as they seem to win every time!

You are right in the center of Northbridge, so stumbling home from pubs at the end of the night is quite quite easy, and you can simply follow your neighbors...

I don't know if it was simply the name of the place or what, but I was the only American in a hostel full of British. I think there were two Swiss and one German, but other than that, it was all British. Not that that's bad, just something to keep in mind if you are trying to get away from what you have at home...

We stayed in Room 12, which was the best, as it was a six-bed dorm right over the front door so our windows opened onto the street and we could see who was coming and going at all times.

The bar downstairs has GREAT deals at happy hour - only $2 for a Coldie, and tequila shots were only $4 each. Other than chillin' at the bar, there isn't much that the hostel does for you to keep you there, but then again, Perth is a big city that deserves to be explored.

There is 24-hour Internet access at $1/10 minutes, a swimming pool, and air-conditioning in all the rooms. There is also a brand-new section that has been added on, but the rooms are a bit far away from what's going on. If possible, ask to be in the old section...

If you want to experience Fremantle then you must go down to Little Creatures.

They have won numerous awards for their beer, which is brewed on site. Imagine your typical beer brewery, maybe a Humperdinks to compare for the Yanks, well this is it. It's located right on the water and if the weather is right you can see the dolphins swimming off shore.

The staff is extremely eclectic and hail from all over the world. In one visit, we were served by a Canadian, an American, a Kiwi, and a Swede. Who'd of guessed we were in Australia!

The food is good and covers all your basics. I'm not big on mussels, but supposedly they are phenom. Me, personally, I like the chips and the pizza with botulism. Or at least that's what I call it. It's tomato, basil, and some type of cheese that I just don't know how to say, so I always try and stir them up.

Supposedly they have even been rated the best place to take a date in Freo . . . go check it out for yourself!

WARNING: The Pale Ale has been known to give you funky dreams. Don't ask me why or what exactly it is, but I swear if you have a couple of those, you'll be dreaming big time!

Make sure you check out their website.

The Freo Markets combine every kind of local market you could imagine and put it all in one place . . .

The Markets are only open on the weekends (Fri-Sun) and on Monday Public Holidays. I've found the best fruit in town at the markets and now I don't shop at the grocery for it. The prices are great and it is the freshest I've found.

Bagels are hard to come by in the small little port town, but I have managed to find them at Annie's Bread Stall. They are the real thing -- kosher bagels that have been boiled. They are a bit expensive ($4 for 4 frozen), but if you are a bagel lover like I am, you'll splurge. The are located in stalls 88 and 97.

There are a lot of neat Aboriginal art stalls so take some time to explore. There is also a really neat photographer that is on the Henderson side of the markets in stall number 84. He has taken pictures from all over Australia and has some great shots.

There is pretty much anything and everything you could ever look for at the Markets and prices go from the cheap to the expensive. This is a major tourist attraction, as they've been around since 1897, so it will always be packed. Make sure you give yourself some time to explore becuase you won't want to rush thru this place. There are over 150 stalls in the markets and the Victorian building which houses it all was listed by the National Trust and Heritage Council in 1980.

You can check out their website if you need or want more information . . .

Normal opening times:
Friday 9am-9pm
Saturday 9am-5pm
Sunday 10am-5pm

Monday Public Holidays:
10am-5pm.