Recommend me a hotel in Perth and things to do.

[Miss.September]

We're going to be staying one night in Perth. Looking for something central, clean, nice! Doesn't have to be self contained. Needs car parking.

Also, how long does it take from the CBD to the Perth Airport by car?

What are the absolute musts to see. We're going to be there for a full day. Have never been before.

[onthefly]

Maybe 20min by car to city. NFI about hotels, sorry.
King's Park is nice, near city.
Fremantle is interesting, accessible by train from city
Are you on your own or with kids?

[Miss.September]

With kids.

We're staying two weeks. Going to be based in Bunbury, so we'll do places like Freo and Margaret River from there. We're going to stay the night in Perth the night before we fly out.

[raffy]

I've stayed at a few of the motor lodges along the great eastern highway, they are decently priced, nice and clean and most of them have pools etc. they are also near the airport and a stones throw from the CBD as well.

As for things to do, as a kid I loved Perth zoo, whitemans park, kings park and scitech and when we get back there I take my kids to these places and they have only gotten better

[onthefly]

Freo is ages from Bunbury. Anyway, my kids like sci tech and the zoo, there's another zoo sort of thing at whiteman park. it's exxy but you can pet and feed kangaroos. there are also tram and train rides at whiteman park, if your kids are like mine and love that sort of thing.
Museum in the city.
There are other little museums around the place - taxidermy, trains, etc
Wine, cheese and chocolate in the swan valley, though if you've done margaret river you can probably give that a miss

Yeah, those motor lodges are a good bet, probably. convenient location and easier getting in and out than in city.

[JLeigh29]

I second Kings Park...the Naturescape there is awesome, and of course, all free. You could easily fill a day there. Zoo is nice, but small compared to Melbourne (so might disappoint if you're comparing it). Are you coming at Christmas? London Court in the City does 'snow' every lunch time around Christmas. Beaches are worth a trip. And I'd consider taking a ferry from Barrack St Jetty to Freo...a nice trip on the river (and remember Freo is only 20 mins from the city - much further from Bunbury). Whiteman Park is great too - train/tram rides, playground, picnic area, museum and Caversham Wildlife Park. Remember it could be 40 degrees in Summer though - makes for a hot day outside! Scitech is fun and inside.

We stayed at the Mercure in the City recently. Nice, very kid friendly.

City to the airport is a good 20 mins, depending on time of day.

[Miss.September]

We'll be coming April next year.

I'm not fussed about the time from Bunbury to Freo - I really want to see Freo but don't want to spend our only day in Perth itself to go to Freo ITMS.

Thanks for the suggestions. Will check out the hotels. Kings Park sounds lovely.

[Swamp princess]

Must do fish and chips for dinner at the beach while watching the sun go down.
Rottnest island is great.
If you are in Bunbury venture further south and check Valley of the giants. The tree top walk is incredible.

[MummyNaomi]

Go visit my little bro for some free accommodation.... although he lives in Warnbro with is miles from the heart of Perth

However when you are down south, check out Rockingham Foreshore, we spent a day there, Master B had a ball, beautiful parks full of playgrounds right on the beach (think Semaphore in Adelaide .... or was that Sephamore? LOL )

And yes, Kings Park is lovely, there is (was, it was a while ago?) this massive big lookout which had the most amazing views of Perth, Swan River etc, hopefully its still there

We went to the Perth Zoo, I really cant remember it, was unremarkable compared to the ones in the other capital cities. I do remember doing a lunch cruise on the Swan River from Perth to Freo and back which was great.

When you check out Freo, there is HEAPS to do... so make a day (or two) out of it!

[JLeigh29]

I live 10 mins from Freo....what's there to do that can fill in a whole day?? Seriously, would love ideas!

April is a perfect time of year to come, weather-wise. The lookout at Kings Park is still there, plus you can climb the fire tower and the kids picnic/play area is great. Lottery West I think it's called.

I second Rockingham for a day trip too. We've just done Penguin Island off Rockingham - great day out. Not sure what it'd be like in April, but there were baby seagulls everywhere and the beaches are lovely to explore.