Ten Best Free Things To Do In Perth

The crucial third Test begins in Perth tomorrow. For cricket fans with a spare day away from the action (or who need to escape the scenes on the field), here are some suggestions for the best things to do on little or no budget.

Free walking tours
See another side of Perth on a free i-City tour. Volunteer guides lead themed walks every Monday to Friday from the Information Kiosk in Murray Street Mall. Take a tour of the city’s gardens, follow an art trail or take in the gold rush history. The tours take up to two hours, and you can join in or leave anywhere along the way. Alternatively, download the free audio tours and maps and do it yourself.
See www.perth.wa.gov.au

Explore Fremantle by bike
Pick up a free bike at the E-Shed markets and explore the area’s heritage buildings, markets and fascinating maritime and convict history as well as a beach or two. Run by the Free Wheeling Freemantle initiative.
See www.fremantlewa.com.au

Free movies and yoga in Northbridge
There’s free entertainment in the Northbridge Piazza in central Perth, including free yoga and Tai Chi class in the mornings. If you haven’t got tickets to the WACA, you could perhaps catch the game here during the day. Otherwise watch a movie on the permanent LED screen in the evening.
See www.showmeperth.com.au for listings

Perth's Cultural side
The Perth Cultural Centre is in the heart of the city, and is home to a range of free state-owned attractions. Explore the stories and culture of the local Aboriginal people, unique flora, fauna and biodiversity at the WA Museum or see the country’s biggest aboriginal art exhibition at the Art Gallery of WA. There’s also free WiFi, markets and an urban orchard.
See www.perthculturalcentre.com.au

Cottesloe beach
There are 19 white sand beaches within easy reach of the city centre to while away a day on, but Cottesloe is one of the most popular. Surf or snorkel by day, or wait for the magnificent sunsets, when locals flock to the bars and cafes that line the beach. It becomes an outdoor art gallery in March with the free Sculpture by the Sea exhibition.
See www.sculpturebythesea.com

Lunch with a view
Kings Park, one of the largest inner city parks in the world, has great views of the city and the Swan River. Perched on Mount Eliza, the park includes 400 hectares of natural bushland, lookouts and botanic gardens which showcase the incredible array of flora from around the whole of the state. Take the Federation walkway through the eucalyptus tree tops, or see one of the Kimberley’s immense boab trees. There are free BBQ facilities. Free guided botany walks run daily (except Christmas Day).
See guided walks http://www.bgpa.wa.gov.au/services/tours/guided-walks
**Note: Currently these walks are cancelled due to high fire risk

Sample some of Perth’s fine craft beer
Little Creatures Brewery (cited by David Gower as one of the best places to go in the city) is set inside a massive converted boat shed right on Fishing Boat Harbour. Get an insider’s look at the process with free tours of the brewery at 1pm, 2pm and 3pm.
See www.littlecreatures.com.au

Taste the Swan Valley
Spend the afternoon touring the Swan Valley, the oldest wine region in Western Australia just 25 minutes’ drive from Perth city. Many local producers offer free samples for its wine, craft beer, cheese, chocolate and ice cream. Of course, you may find something you can’t go home without.
See Swan Valley food and wine trail

Learn to play the didgeridoo
Fremantle is home to Australia's largest specialty didgeridoo store. Didgeridoo Breath runs lessons and workshops for beginners through to advanced players. You can get a 15pminute session for free.
See www.didgeridoobreath.com

Explore the city for free
You can get around the city using the free CAT (Central Area Transit) bus. Three separate lines navigate the city’s key attractions from Northbridge to East Perth and West Perth. Additionally, a free transit zone operates in the city area where passengers can travel for free on any bus. Look for the red FTZ logo on bus stops to identify the free travel boundaries.
See www.transperth.wa.gov.au
These suggestions are courtesy of Tourism Western Australia

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/australiaandpacific/australia/10513251/Perth-Ten-of-the-best-free-things-to-do.html

By Jolyon Attwooll

Need a hotel in Perth? Come and book a stay at Metro Hotel Perth

Metro Hotel Perth offers guests a wide range of stylish and spacious hotel accommodation, with most rooms enjoying spectacular panoramic views of the Swan River and Perth city. The hotel is close to Perth’s major tourist attractions, Perth Zoo, Kings Park and the river foreshore. The Burswood Casino complex is 2.5 kms from the hotel as is the famous West Australian Cricket ground. Located within walking distance from the hotel are many fantastic restaurants offering a wide variety of international cuisines.

Click here to view hotel: http://www.metrohotels.com.au/perth-hotels/metro-hotel-perth-13

Victorious Australia Bringing Same Squad to Perth for 3rd Ashes Test

Australia will take the same 12-man squad to Perth for the third Ashes test this week after humbling England by 218 runs to win the second match in Adelaide on Monday.

Selector John Inverarity said in a statement that uncapped fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile and 12-test paceman Doug Bollinger would also be in Perth on standby and would train with the squad for the test match "should they be required."

Australia fielded the same team in Adelaide that thrashed England by 381 runs in Brisbane, the first time in a year that the team has been unchanged for consecutive tests.

Coach Darren Lehmann was reluctant to mess with a winning formula for the WACA, where their pacemen will hope to wreak maximum damage against a shell-shocked England side on a bouncy wicket.

"At the moment, all good," Lehmann said of his bowlers' fitness for the third match starting on Friday.

"(If they're) 100 percent, they'll play. If not, they won't.

"From our point of view, we've just got to keep what we're doing now. Not change too much. Just make sure we adapt to Perth conditions. As you've seen, we adapted very well from Brisbane to here, and now we go back the other way."

Australia lead the five-test series 2-0 and can wrest the Ashes away from holders England with victory in Perth.

Australia squad: Chris Rogers, David Warner, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke (captain), Steve Smith, George Bailey, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris, Nathan Lyon, James Faulkner 

Grease comes to Perth

Grease is the word in musical theatre land, with Australian producer John Frost announcing the popular show is heading to Perth and Adelaide.

The high-energy musical, which has already enjoyed successful seasons in Brisbane and Sydney and is soon to open in Melbourne, will head to South Australia and WA in winter next year.

Frost said he was delighted that Grease was continuing its tour of the country.

“Rarely have I seen audience reactions like the ones we have been receiving every night for Grease, with everyone in the aisles dancing and singing along,” he said in a statement.

“Grease truly is Australia’s number one party musical, and now I’m delighted to give audiences in Perth and Adelaide the chance to sing-a-long and dance with Rob, Gretel, Todd, Bert and the gang on stage.”

The musical is based on the 1978 film starring Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta and features all the songs, including You’re The One That I Want, Grease Is The Word, Summer Nights and Greased Lightnin’.

Leading the cast in the iconic roles of Danny and Sandy are Rob Mills and Gretel Scarlett.

The musical also stars Bert Newton as slick veteran disc jockey Vince Fontaine and Todd McKenney as Teen Angel.

Grease will begin at Perth’s Crown Theatre on June 21, 2014, followed by a season at the Festival Theatre in Adelaide from August 3, 2014.

Source: http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa/20214229/grease-comes-to-perth/

Power Pack at Metro Hotel Perth

Metro Hotel Perth is offering this Power Pack Accommodation Package for $249.00*

Going to the Tennis?

• Stay in an Executive Riverview Room
• Start the day with two fully cooked buffet breakfasts
• Pack up your complimentary sunscreen
• Two Powerade drinks
• Two Sun Visors

Enjoy the Hopman Cup Tennis!

Book this Power Pack at Metro Hotel Perth

View Metro Hotel Perth

Terms & Conditions:

• Subject to availability
• Offer is for two occupants only.
• Not available in conjunction with any other special
• Offer valid 28/12/2014 to 04/01/2014

View this Metro Hotel Accommodation Package

Perth's Chinatown Gets $2m Revamp

The West Australian government will spend $2 million to revitalise Perth's Chinatown precinct with lanterns and road stencilling.

As part of the revitalisation, Chinese New Year celebrations will be expanded into Chinatown laneways in 2014 with a $50,000 state government grant to the Chung Wah Association.

Premier Colin Barnett said on Sunday the aim was to create a more vibrant precinct for families, locals and tourists.

"Chinatown is a popular location for people of all ages and an important business precinct in Northbridge that has been rundown for some time," he said.

"This investment will transform the area to its former glory of the 1980s and ensure it remains an exciting and culturally important destination for years to come."

The Chinatown precinct is bound by Nicks Lane and Roe and James Streets in Northbridge, and includes 13 restaurants and businesses.

The wider Perth City Link project will create five new connections between the city and Northbridge, which will encourage more people to pass through the Roe Street area every day, the premier said.

The project is expected to be complete by the end of 2015.

New A380 flights from Perth

New A380 flights from Perth

Emirates the world’s largest international airline, is set to launch A380 super jumbo services to Perth from March 1.

According to Canberra sources the airline has slots approved for the 496-seat A380 to replace one of its tripe daily Boeing 777 services.

The A380 flight is scheduled to arrive at 5.25pm and depart at 10.30pm.

To see a virtual reality view of the A380 click here.

Emirates had planned to operate the A380 from Perth from mid year but delays in the installation and integration of the new aerobridge has put that back to March next year.

However, that A380 was allocated to Brisbane.

While the new service is slated from March 1 it may slip depending on A380 deliveries.

Emirates operates the world’s largest fleet of A380s with 39 in service and the airline had 51 on order.

But this week it ordered another 50 taking the total backlog for the airline to 101.

The Emirates A380 has 14 first class suites, 76 business class beds and a lounge bar on the upper deck and 406 economy class seats on the main deck.

At this week’s order announcement Emirates President Tim Clark said that the A380 “remains highly popular with our passengers.”

“It is still one of the most efficient aircraft to operate today in terms of fuel burn and emissions per passenger, and it gives us the flexibility in some cases to meet passenger demand in slot-constrained markets.”

One of the most popular features of the A380 is the quiet cabin and the plane is more stable than most in turbulence.

The Emirates A380s are mobile phone and email capable and have over 1500 entertainment options.

Emirates has been associated with Europe’s largest passenger aircraft since April 2000 when it was the first airline to announce plans to purchase the super jumbo.

The A380 is a major part of the airline’s ambitious expansion plans outlined by Mr Clark earlier this month.

“By 2020, we will have more than 250 aircraft serving some 70 million passengers across six continents. It will make us the largest airline on the planet by international passenger traffic,” Mr Clark said.

“However, being the biggest airline in the world is not really the end goal. Our aim has always been to connect travellers from around the world to Dubai, and other destinations with just a single stop via our hub.

“The strategic location of Dubai makes it possible for us to serve almost 90 per cent of the world’s population with non-stop flights.”

Over a third of the world’s population lives within a 4-hour flight from Dubai, and two-thirds are within an 8-hour flight.

Today, Emirates operates nearly 3,200 flights globally per week to 135 destinations in 76 countries.

The airline has 50,000 staff made up of 160 nationalities

Breast Cancer Awareness Month at Metro Hotel Perth - October

On average, 37 Australian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer today.

Metro Hotel Perth is collaborating with the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) to help spread the word regarding breast cancer awareness and continued support for breast cancer research.

For the month of October, Metro Hotel Perth has changed their building spotlight from blue to pink (see photos below) - to highlight the importance of vital research into prevention, detection and treatment of breast cancer.

Global Illumination campaign is a unique initiative involving thousands of individuals, families, schools and businesses across Australia to put the spotlight on breast cancer awareness by illuminating buildings, monuments and landmarks around the world in a blaze of pink light!

Breast cancer is the third leading cause of death in women in Australia*, and continued research for prevention strategies, early detection, and cures or treatments are paramount in saving and prolonging lives. *Australian Bureau of Statistics

As the years pass, researchers, scientists and doctors are getting closer and better at treating and possibly finding a cure for breast cancer. But it takes time, people, dedication and funds to continue this progress: this is where the National Breast Cancer Foundation needs our help - because fundraising saves lives.

Twenty years ago, 30% of women diagnosed with this disease lost their lives. Today, that rate has halved - due to research. Through continued fundraising support, we hope to see the death rate drop even more significantly, so that in the future, breast cancer no longer strikes fear in women and their loved ones.

Here's what you can do to help:

• To find out where your donations go when you give to the NBCF, here is their page: http://pinkribbonbreakfast.org.au/info/where-your-money-goes

• If you are interested in raising funds for the NBCF, information and support can be found here: http://www.nbcf.org.au/Support-Us/Raising-Money.aspx

• For tips, ideas and tools regarding creating your own fundraising event, see here: http://pinkribbonbreakfast.org.au/info/ideas-and-tools

• Can't give money but have the time? Why not volunteer at the NBCF: http://www.nbcf.org.au/Support-Us/Volunteer.aspx

• Don't have the time? You can still help by being part of the research to help beat breast cancer! It can be as little as filling in a form. See here for NBCF research projects that you can participate in (even if you are time-poor!) https://www.register4.org.au/index.php/About-us/about-us.html

So no matter where you are in Australia, you can be part of the community to bring awareness to this disease and together let's find a cure.

Are you in Perth and want to see the Metro Hotel Perth building lit up beautifully in pink? Here's where to find us: 61 Canning Hwy, South Perth WA 6151 Australia

For more information on breast cancer and the NBCF, here's their official website: http://www.nbcf.org.au

Article by Metro Hotel Perth
Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/metrohotelperth