Car hire in Perth

Hiring a car in Perth - useful information

Getting around Perth by car

The best way to get around central Perth is by public transport, with buses, ferries and trains running regularly. The centre of Perth is a Free Transit Zone, with travel on buses within this are free all day. Western Australia is a big state and there’s so much to see outside of Perth. The easiest way to see it all is by hiring a car and driving yourself.

Traffic in Perth isn’t as heavy as in other Australian cities but it does get heavy at peak hour. If you can, avoid driving around Perth between 7am and 9am and between 4pm and 6pm when the traffic is at its worst.

Road rules to be aware of

If you’re not familiar with driving in Perth, there are a few road rules you should brush up on before you get behind the wheel:

You can’t touch your mobile phone while driving. You can only touch your phone to receive or end a call, if the phone is secured in a phone cradle or it can be operated without you needing to touch it. You can use your phone for navigation as long as you don’t need to touch it. For all other functions, you need to pull over and park your car before you touch your phone.

You can’t turn on a red light, at most intersections even if the way is clear. There are a few intersections in Perth where you can turn left at a red light after coming to a complete stop, and these are clearly signed. If there’s no sign permitting it, you can’t turn left on a red light.

You can’t do a U turn unless there’s a sign permitting it. You can’t do a U turn at intersections with traffic lights unless there is a ‘U turn permitted’ sign. Anywhere else you can do a U turn if its safe, provided there isn’t a ‘No U turn’ sign.

Pedestrians sometimes have right of way at intersections. Pedestrians will sometimes get a green light at the same time as turning traffic. You must wait for any pedestrians to cross the road before you can turn.

You must park ‘facing the direction of traffic’, which means the car must be parked facing the direction it would be if it were driving down that road. In Australia where we drive on the left side of the road, this means the passenger side of the car needs to be closest to the kerb.

Top destinations to drive to in and around Perth

1. Swan Valley. 40 minutes from Perth - A short drive from Perth will see you in the Swan Valley wine region. Make your way along the Swan Valley Food and Wine Trail to check out some of Western Australia’s best wineries, breweries and cafes.
2. Serpentine Falls. 1 hour from Perth - Take the 16km Kitty’s Gorge walking trail through the Serpentine National Park, then cool off with a swim at Serpentine Falls and the nearby rock pools.
3. Fremantle. 30 minutes from Perth - No trip to Perth is complete without a visit to the 19th Century port town of Fremantle. Browse the Fremantle Friday markets, see some of Australia’s oldest buildings, like the Fremantle Prison and Fremantle Round House, and learn about the towns maritime history at Fremantle Maritime Museum.
4. Shoalwater Island Marine Park. 1 hour from Perth - Swim with dolphins, kayak with seals and take a ferry across to Penguin Island to visit some tiny fairy penguins. You can also snorkel in the clear waters and enjoy a picnic on the shady lawns (just make sure you take your rubbish away with you!)
5. The Pinnacles. 2.5 hours from Perth - For something entirely different head north to the desert landscape of Nambung National Park. See sandy monoliths and wildflowers that stretch almost to the ocean.
6. New Norica. 2 hours from Perth - Established in 1847 by Benedictine Monks, this is Australia’s only Monastic Town. Visit the old buildings, learn about monastic life at the museum, and join the monks at one of their seven daily prayer sessions in the chapel.

Best time to visit Perth

Perth’s weather is hot all year around. Summer gets very hot with average temperatures sitting around 31 degrees celsius (87.8 fahrenheit), and in winter it only drops to an average of 18 degrees celsius (64.4 fahrenheit). This makes it a great destination at any time of year, but you’ll need to be prepared for heat and stay sun smart with sunscreen and lots of water.

There are also plenty of sporting events, festivals and performances to enjoy, whatever time of year you visit Perth.

Perth calendar highlights

January

Fringe World Festival - Running throughout January and February each year, Fringe World features performances in everything from theatre to comedy, cabaret, circus and more at venues right across Perth.

February

Perth Festival - Running annually since 1953, Perth Festival is a curated arts festival featuring some of the best artists from Western Australia and the world.

South West Craft Beer Festival - Head to the Margaret River region for this celebration of local craft beer. You’ll have the opportunity to try over 120 craft beers from more than 20 local brewers, plus enjoy great food and live music.

March

Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe - The beautiful Cottesloe beach is transformed into an outdoor sculpture gallery with works by over 70 artists from around the world.

April

Donnybrook Apple Festival - A celebration of the delicious produce of the Southwest region, featuring entertainment, wine tasting, and the chance to buy and try some great local produce.

May

Margaret River Readers and Writers Festival - Held on the beautiful Voyager Estate Winery, the festival features established and emerging storytellers sharing ‘wild, weird and wonderful’ stories.

Margaret River Pro - Watch the world’s top surfers compete in the powerful surf near Margaret River as part of the World Surf League Championships Tour.

July

Revelation Perth International Film Festival - Take in one of over 120 international films at one of Perth’s favourite cinemas, galleries, cafes or bars.

August

Nannup Flower and Garden Festival - It’s well worth the 3 hour drive from Perth for this four-day event featuring stunning floral displays, markets and entertainment.

September

Perth Royal Show - Running for over 100 years, the Perth Royal Show features agricultural competitions, rides, showbags and animals.

November

Perth International Jazz Festival - Local and international jazz artists put on a program of incredible performances at venues across the city.

Western Australia Gourmet Escape - Enjoy the best of Western Australia at a range of culinary events held across Perth, Swan Valley and Margaret River.

December

Christmas Pageant - Get in the festive spirit with one of Perth’s favourite traditions. A parade of floats brings the magic of Christmas to the streets of central Perth.