Holidays by train from Perth
By
The Prospector passenger train traverses a variety of landscapes en route to Kalgoorlie.(Wikipedia: DBZ2313)
While many of us might be used to jumping in the car, trains offer a different experience for holidays from Perth.
For those wanting to get away, longer train trips can be an enjoyable part of the holiday, allowing you to see the changing landscapes of Western Australia without needing to keep your eyes on the road.
It can be a time to settle and relax, without the early arrival times, boarding hassles — and sometimes anxiety — associated with air travel.
Whether it’s longer trips, or shorter ones across the city for a bakery pie, here are five ideas for train trips both within the Perth and Peel region and beyond.
The ‘desert’ trip: Kalgoorlie
Kalgoorlie’s Hannan Street is named after Paddy Hannan, the prospector who found gold which sparked the gold rush.
The red-earth landscape around Kalgoorlie is not technically a desert but a woodland of eucalypts, including the salmon gums named after the soft-pink colour of their bark.
The Prospector train will take you on a 650-kilometre journey to the historic gold-mining city, where you’ll find the main strip of Hannan Street lined with spectacular heritage buildings dating back to the gold rush of the late 1890s.
A train arriving in the heart of Guildford, where historic hotels, antique shops and eateries can be found on Guildford Road. (ABC News: Gian De Poloni)
Across the road from this train station on the Transperth Midland line is a cluster of shops and cafes that range from the trendy to the weird and wonderful.
In the space of three blocks, there are cluttered antique shops, art galleries, second-hand book shops, upscale cafes and old-school bakeries and, unexpectedly, a museum of taxidermy.
For history-lovers, the Swan Guildford Historical Society does tours of the Colonial Gaol, built by convicts in 1841, and Taylor’s weatherboard cottage.
Getting there
The cost and travel time depends where in the city you’re coming from, but it takes about 20 minutes from the Perth city train station. That particular route would cost less than $5 for adults and children over four, and around $2 concession. Children under four travel for free.
Getting around and where to stay
This is an easy day trip if you’re already in Perth, but there are a few historic-style hotels and bed and breakfasts in the area for those considering a staycation.
The beachside minibreak: Rockingham
Rockingham holds an annual beach racing carnival on the foreshore around November.(Supplied: City of Rockingham Facebook )
Whether you want to lie on the beach or rocket across it on a jetski, Rockingham is all about that seaside life.
The calm waters of Rockingham beach are great for kids and there’s a cafe strip for brunching or afternoon ice creams that runs along the foreshore and picnic area.
Dolphin swims, cruises and jetski tours run from the waterfront, while the nearby museum chronicles Rockingham’s varied history. According to the Rockingham Historical Society, the area was originally named for a nearby shipwreck, and became a major port in the late 1800s.
Source: ABC News
