Good Morning Perth!!!
Discussion
Hi Perth PHers, of which I know there's more than one after monitoring this forum for a few weeks.
Just pitched up here a couple of days ago, but being a dyed in the wool long term expat I am used to finding myself in unknown territories. Mind you this place should work out well as there shouldn't be too much of a language barrier.
Can I make use of a bit of local intel please?
What's the traffic like in terms of commuting to a central (CBD I think, whatever that means!) office location from say a good suburb location?
I need to get a house sorted fairly sharpish, rental basis (with pets) only. Can I get any indicators for good (commutable) locations? Is it unreasonable to find somewhere say between the city and the coast?
Mobile phone providers? For now I got the Mrs. V and myself hooked up on Vodafone pre-paid deal as we're in a hotel for a month. Can anyone either endorse Vodafone our recommend a better provider for when it comes to contract time please?
Car rental companies, any suggestions or should I just go with one of the majors, Avis or Hertz say?
I've obviously got one or two more questions
, but that'll do for now!
Cheers,
V.
When's the next Perth PH meet???!!!
Just pitched up here a couple of days ago, but being a dyed in the wool long term expat I am used to finding myself in unknown territories. Mind you this place should work out well as there shouldn't be too much of a language barrier.
Can I make use of a bit of local intel please?
What's the traffic like in terms of commuting to a central (CBD I think, whatever that means!) office location from say a good suburb location?
I need to get a house sorted fairly sharpish, rental basis (with pets) only. Can I get any indicators for good (commutable) locations? Is it unreasonable to find somewhere say between the city and the coast?
Mobile phone providers? For now I got the Mrs. V and myself hooked up on Vodafone pre-paid deal as we're in a hotel for a month. Can anyone either endorse Vodafone our recommend a better provider for when it comes to contract time please?
Car rental companies, any suggestions or should I just go with one of the majors, Avis or Hertz say?
I've obviously got one or two more questions
, but that'll do for now!Cheers,
V.
When's the next Perth PH meet???!!!
The CBD is generally accepted as being the St Georges Terrace area.
Personally I would not bother driving in to the city, traffic can be horrendous and its cheaper to use the public transport.
You can bus or train in to the city from most suburbs in a decent amount of time; even as far south as I am in Rockingham I can get on a train and be in the city in 30 mins. Most suburbs have a bus that will get you to the nearest train station or you can drive and park there, they normally have a decent amount of free parking.
For your rental have a trawl on www.reiwa.com.au
I dont know what the situation is like now as we just bought a house but a year a go when we last looked for a rental it took us about 3 weeks to find anything decent that didnt already have 15 applicants.
Also note that at that time the agents were asking a weeks rent as an application fee which was cash only and refunded if your application was rejected. The catch was that the fee would only be returned in cash at their office and if they accepted your offer but YOU turned them down the fee would not be returned which effectively restricted you to applying one at a time and waiting 2 weeks for them to decide!
My own biased opinion is that Rockingham is a good area to be in...I am 10 mins walk from the beach, 2 mins drive from the shops and cafe strip, have a choice of train stations and its also a few degrees cooler than Perth.
Not sure I could really advise on phones but we have been on the '3' $29 cap for 4 years and I dont think we have ever had any issue to speak of. www.three.com.au
No idea on car hire :P
We had a Perth PH meet up a few weeks back in Fremantle which seemed to go down well. We keep muttering about another meet for beers, go karting or a run in to the Swan Valley region to hunt down somewhere that does proper Devonshire tea with clotted cream!
Personally I would not bother driving in to the city, traffic can be horrendous and its cheaper to use the public transport.
You can bus or train in to the city from most suburbs in a decent amount of time; even as far south as I am in Rockingham I can get on a train and be in the city in 30 mins. Most suburbs have a bus that will get you to the nearest train station or you can drive and park there, they normally have a decent amount of free parking.
For your rental have a trawl on www.reiwa.com.au
I dont know what the situation is like now as we just bought a house but a year a go when we last looked for a rental it took us about 3 weeks to find anything decent that didnt already have 15 applicants.
Also note that at that time the agents were asking a weeks rent as an application fee which was cash only and refunded if your application was rejected. The catch was that the fee would only be returned in cash at their office and if they accepted your offer but YOU turned them down the fee would not be returned which effectively restricted you to applying one at a time and waiting 2 weeks for them to decide!
My own biased opinion is that Rockingham is a good area to be in...I am 10 mins walk from the beach, 2 mins drive from the shops and cafe strip, have a choice of train stations and its also a few degrees cooler than Perth.
Not sure I could really advise on phones but we have been on the '3' $29 cap for 4 years and I dont think we have ever had any issue to speak of. www.three.com.au
No idea on car hire :P
We had a Perth PH meet up a few weeks back in Fremantle which seemed to go down well. We keep muttering about another meet for beers, go karting or a run in to the Swan Valley region to hunt down somewhere that does proper Devonshire tea with clotted cream!
Thanks for all the info Deviant.
Bit of an eye opener on the housing topic.
Well I suppose everywhere has it's... erm... nuances.
Company has given us a month in the hotel, then I suppose it's gonna be cardboard city!
Sounds like I'd better get me @rse in gear either way.
Coming from the UK, a looong time ago and having done the 1 hour plus there and back tube and bus run in the 80's, the thought of using public transport is giving me the serious cold sweats!
I guess we'll have to look into that a bit more closely.
Cheers,
V.
Bit of an eye opener on the housing topic.
Well I suppose everywhere has it's... erm... nuances.
Company has given us a month in the hotel, then I suppose it's gonna be cardboard city!
Sounds like I'd better get me @rse in gear either way.
Coming from the UK, a looong time ago and having done the 1 hour plus there and back tube and bus run in the 80's, the thought of using public transport is giving me the serious cold sweats!
I guess we'll have to look into that a bit more closely.
Cheers,
V.
I'm with Vodafone. Its ok but wish i was with Telstra. Mainly because the coverage outside the metro area is pants. I was initially with Telstra and had no problems
Agree with Deviant on the driving into the CBD. Train service is clean, safe, on time and plenty cheap enough. If you want to spend 30 mins in traffic, depending on locality, $25 a day on parking + fuel then you're a more patient person than i am! I lived 45km's from the city and it takes 30 mins to get in to the CBD at a cost of $4 each way.
I dont mean to be judgemental but given your cars and therefore potential wealth, you might be looking at west of the city, and there are some lovely areas such as jolimont, wembley, floreat where you might find renting a nice house easy, but at a price. Try the rental part of www.realestate.com.au for more info.
Agree with Deviant on the driving into the CBD. Train service is clean, safe, on time and plenty cheap enough. If you want to spend 30 mins in traffic, depending on locality, $25 a day on parking + fuel then you're a more patient person than i am! I lived 45km's from the city and it takes 30 mins to get in to the CBD at a cost of $4 each way.
I dont mean to be judgemental but given your cars and therefore potential wealth, you might be looking at west of the city, and there are some lovely areas such as jolimont, wembley, floreat where you might find renting a nice house easy, but at a price. Try the rental part of www.realestate.com.au for more info.
Commuting by public transport is a whole different game here...as mentioned its clean, safe, on time, regular and for once is actually cheaper than driving in and parking.
For regular travel you will need a Smartrider. You buy it from the newsagent and use it to 'tag on' and 'tag off' the public transport and you are just charged on how many zones you have travelled. You can set it up to top up by direct debit.
For regular travel you will need a Smartrider. You buy it from the newsagent and use it to 'tag on' and 'tag off' the public transport and you are just charged on how many zones you have travelled. You can set it up to top up by direct debit.
I commute to the CBD every day, and the trains, are safe, clean and on time, there is no way I would drive into the city, it would double my commute time, and parking is sooooo expensive at $25 a day. Plus it takes ages to get out of the CBD at 5.30. Train is a no brainer really.
As said before, get your self a smart rider, I load mine up at pay day with $50 and it lasts 2 weeks. That's 2 days parking in the CBD!!!!
We need to get the next meet up sorted. I would really like the karting, but am up for anything really.
As said before, get your self a smart rider, I load mine up at pay day with $50 and it lasts 2 weeks. That's 2 days parking in the CBD!!!!
We need to get the next meet up sorted. I would really like the karting, but am up for anything really.
Welcome to Perth.
I live 20km north of the city and commute by car every day.
My office is on the corner of Newcastle street though which is far enough away from the Terrace to find reasonable parking. I pay $6.10 a day to park.
I find it quicker to drive into work than using public transport (but I start work at around 7am so I beat the rush hour traffic).
I personally can't stand public transport but have to agree with earlier comments that it is a world apart from the UK.
The northern line is very crowded though so you can't always get a seat on the train (even at 7am).
I've got my mobile, house phone and internet with AAPT as it was the only company that didn't want me to sign a 24 month contract.
www.nomorebirds.com.au are located in town and are quite cheap for car hire (if you don't mind driving a white Corolla automatic).
Have a look on www.transperth.com.au for estimated times from A to B using public transport (including any changes between train and bus). Useful for working out the commute times from where you want to live.
I live 20km north of the city and commute by car every day.
My office is on the corner of Newcastle street though which is far enough away from the Terrace to find reasonable parking. I pay $6.10 a day to park.
I find it quicker to drive into work than using public transport (but I start work at around 7am so I beat the rush hour traffic).
I personally can't stand public transport but have to agree with earlier comments that it is a world apart from the UK.
The northern line is very crowded though so you can't always get a seat on the train (even at 7am).
I've got my mobile, house phone and internet with AAPT as it was the only company that didn't want me to sign a 24 month contract.
www.nomorebirds.com.au are located in town and are quite cheap for car hire (if you don't mind driving a white Corolla automatic).
Have a look on www.transperth.com.au for estimated times from A to B using public transport (including any changes between train and bus). Useful for working out the commute times from where you want to live.
Fiddlemesticks said:
I'm with Vodafone. Its ok but wish i was with Telstra. Mainly because the coverage outside the metro area is pants. I was initially with Telstra and had no problems
Agree with Deviant on the driving into the CBD. Train service is clean, safe, on time and plenty cheap enough. If you want to spend 30 mins in traffic, depending on locality, $25 a day on parking + fuel then you're a more patient person than i am! I lived 45km's from the city and it takes 30 mins to get in to the CBD at a cost of $4 each way.
I dont mean to be judgemental but given your cars and therefore potential wealth, you might be looking at west of the city, and there are some lovely areas such as jolimont, wembley, floreat where you might find renting a nice house easy, but at a price. Try the rental part of www.realestate.com.au for more info.
Hi FMS, thanks for the response.Agree with Deviant on the driving into the CBD. Train service is clean, safe, on time and plenty cheap enough. If you want to spend 30 mins in traffic, depending on locality, $25 a day on parking + fuel then you're a more patient person than i am! I lived 45km's from the city and it takes 30 mins to get in to the CBD at a cost of $4 each way.
I dont mean to be judgemental but given your cars and therefore potential wealth, you might be looking at west of the city, and there are some lovely areas such as jolimont, wembley, floreat where you might find renting a nice house easy, but at a price. Try the rental part of www.realestate.com.au for more info.
Yes, Vodafone was recommended to me by one of our telecomms guys. I don't know how much bush walkabouts (
) I'll be doing, we'll see how it goes.Driving, well I'm in QV1 and it's been mentioned that access and escape is a bit easier from the west or north west. As opposed to bus/train, given Della's later comments, I'd better keep a watching brief.
One last thing, I'm not a rich bastid, I'm a poor bastid after my time in Dubai (longish story). Dubai cars prices are unimaginably cheaper compared even to the UK much less here.
deviant said:
Commuting by public transport is a whole different game here...as mentioned its clean, safe, on time, regular and for once is actually cheaper than driving in and parking.
For regular travel you will need a Smartrider. You buy it from the newsagent and use it to 'tag on' and 'tag off' the public transport and you are just charged on how many zones you have travelled. You can set it up to top up by direct debit.
I also can see the standard of public transport here at least appears to be in a different world to that experienced in the past in the UK (in the 80's anyway) but it's left me so mentally scarred I can't see myself doing the bus/train commute without some form of serious counselling... or being completely off my face!!! For regular travel you will need a Smartrider. You buy it from the newsagent and use it to 'tag on' and 'tag off' the public transport and you are just charged on how many zones you have travelled. You can set it up to top up by direct debit.
toomuchbeer said:
I commute to the CBD every day, and the trains, are safe, clean and on time, there is no way I would drive into the city, it would double my commute time, and parking is sooooo expensive at $25 a day. Plus it takes ages to get out of the CBD at 5.30. Train is a no brainer really.
As said before, get your self a smart rider, I load mine up at pay day with $50 and it lasts 2 weeks. That's 2 days parking in the CBD!!!!
We need to get the next meet up sorted. I would really like the karting, but am up for anything really.
Thanks also TMB... and I hear you. But... As said before, get your self a smart rider, I load mine up at pay day with $50 and it lasts 2 weeks. That's 2 days parking in the CBD!!!!
We need to get the next meet up sorted. I would really like the karting, but am up for anything really.
PH Meet...
XJSJohn said:
with usernames like Deviant and Toomuchbeer you are going to fit in just perfectly in Perth i recon Vanya Afterthought, now we're the same time zone you must be closer, plan on buzzing this place soon, why don't you!
Hell you could even do it on one of yer gin-palaces!!!
Della said:
Welcome to Perth.
I live 20km north of the city and commute by car every day.
My office is on the corner of Newcastle street though which is far enough away from the Terrace to find reasonable parking. I pay $6.10 a day to park.
I find it quicker to drive into work than using public transport (but I start work at around 7am so I beat the rush hour traffic).
I personally can't stand public transport but have to agree with earlier comments that it is a world apart from the UK.
The northern line is very crowded though so you can't always get a seat on the train (even at 7am).
I've got my mobile, house phone and internet with AAPT as it was the only company that didn't want me to sign a 24 month contract.
www.nomorebirds.com.au are located in town and are quite cheap for car hire (if you don't mind driving a white Corolla automatic).
Have a look on www.transperth.com.au for estimated times from A to B using public transport (including any changes between train and bus). Useful for working out the commute times from where you want to live.
Thanks Della.I live 20km north of the city and commute by car every day.
My office is on the corner of Newcastle street though which is far enough away from the Terrace to find reasonable parking. I pay $6.10 a day to park.
I find it quicker to drive into work than using public transport (but I start work at around 7am so I beat the rush hour traffic).
I personally can't stand public transport but have to agree with earlier comments that it is a world apart from the UK.
The northern line is very crowded though so you can't always get a seat on the train (even at 7am).
I've got my mobile, house phone and internet with AAPT as it was the only company that didn't want me to sign a 24 month contract.
www.nomorebirds.com.au are located in town and are quite cheap for car hire (if you don't mind driving a white Corolla automatic).
Have a look on www.transperth.com.au for estimated times from A to B using public transport (including any changes between train and bus). Useful for working out the commute times from where you want to live.
See that's what I mean... different strokes for different folks. To be fair though I did ask for advice and none of it can be faulted.
I saw that transperth website yesterday... looks really good, clever stuff in my eyes. I'm even using it to get from the hotel to the office!
Based on my latest research I'm now concentrating my efforts north-westish, say Scarborough, Osbourne Park, Doubleview (my kinda place eh XJS???).
Any comments foul or otherwise???
Working in QV1 - That must be Worley Parsons then is it?
Plenty of work in engineering over here at the moment.
I'm at Hatch over the other side of the railway tracks which makes it a bit quicker to get in and out using the car.
I was also in Dubai for a few years (returned to the UK in 2000). I noticed quite a change when I passed through in 2006 and another huge change when I passed through in March this year.
Driving isn't much fun there now. When I was there the Sheik Zahed road was 4 lanes each side. I think it's 6 each side now and another couple roads the same in parallel. Petrol was cheap though!!!
Plenty of work in engineering over here at the moment.
I'm at Hatch over the other side of the railway tracks which makes it a bit quicker to get in and out using the car.
I was also in Dubai for a few years (returned to the UK in 2000). I noticed quite a change when I passed through in 2006 and another huge change when I passed through in March this year.
Driving isn't much fun there now. When I was there the Sheik Zahed road was 4 lanes each side. I think it's 6 each side now and another couple roads the same in parallel. Petrol was cheap though!!!
Vanya said:
XJSJohn said:
with usernames like Deviant and Toomuchbeer you are going to fit in just perfectly in Perth i recon Vanya Afterthought, now we're the same time zone you must be closer, plan on buzzing this place soon, why don't you!
Hell you could even do it on one of yer gin-palaces!!!
the boat that i (half) own is worth $10k sing ... and has a beer eski .... nothing more !!!Thing fast passage time to perth is about 3 weeks .... or 4 1/2 hours by Tiger Air!!!
Definitely planning a trip to see the Doctor, and have been quietly monitering the perth PH meets to see when they get thier act together
... deffo up for a long weekend jolly!!Della said:
Working in QV1 - That must be Worley Parsons then is it?
Plenty of work in engineering over here at the moment.
I'm at Hatch over the other side of the railway tracks which makes it a bit quicker to get in and out using the car.
I was also in Dubai for a few years (returned to the UK in 2000). I noticed quite a change when I passed through in 2006 and another huge change when I passed through in March this year.
Driving isn't much fun there now. When I was there the Sheik Zahed road was 4 lanes each side. I think it's 6 each side now and another couple roads the same in parallel. Petrol was cheap though!!!
Hi again Stuart, it's now Chevron that are taking my latest pound of flesh.Plenty of work in engineering over here at the moment.
I'm at Hatch over the other side of the railway tracks which makes it a bit quicker to get in and out using the car.
I was also in Dubai for a few years (returned to the UK in 2000). I noticed quite a change when I passed through in 2006 and another huge change when I passed through in March this year.
Driving isn't much fun there now. When I was there the Sheik Zahed road was 4 lanes each side. I think it's 6 each side now and another couple roads the same in parallel. Petrol was cheap though!!!
You're right it does seem like there's more engineering work than enough and there's still more to come.
I feel like I'm hearing more Brit (should that be pom?) accents than Aussies so far!
IMO Dubai is not improving, trust me I tried to put the positive spin on it. Fuel is obviously magnificently cheap and so are car prices. Shk Z is now fully 12 lanes wide (mostly) but it makes no real difference as the driving standards of certain immigrants are so low the traffic flow gets ruined or if not happy with that they crash into each other making the evening commute regularly 2 hours plus instead of 30 mins.
I had previously worked in Abu Dhabi and liked it alot, knew of Dubai from then, but I can say I was glad to leave to a certain extent.
BTW nice set of cars.
XJSJohn said:
Vanya said:
XJSJohn said:
with usernames like Deviant and Toomuchbeer you are going to fit in just perfectly in Perth i recon Vanya Afterthought, now we're the same time zone you must be closer, plan on buzzing this place soon, why don't you!
Hell you could even do it on one of yer gin-palaces!!!
the boat that i (half) own is worth $10k sing ... and has a beer eski .... nothing more !!!Thing fast passage time to perth is about 3 weeks .... or 4 1/2 hours by Tiger Air!!!
Definitely planning a trip to see the Doctor, and have been quietly monitering the perth PH meets to see when they get thier act together
... deffo up for a long weekend jolly!!Long weekend jolly is what most of us could use for sure bud... watch this space... hopefully.
Vanya, welcome, Ive been in town 13 months on Woodside LNG over the road from you. Assume your on Gorgon (the project that never proceeds:-)
Roads and traffic here re a doddle compared to UK and I drive in ecah day, I too have deep seated hatred for sharing my space o public transport. It can be efficeient just depends whether you are on a bus or train route.
I was based in City Beach and now moved to Mount Claremont. Parking OK just need to be in before 7.15am to get best (cheapest) spots.
Re places to live it all depends on social needs, do you have school age kids?
Give me a call if youd like a chat just call Worleyparsons and ask for Mark Hetherington
Roads and traffic here re a doddle compared to UK and I drive in ecah day, I too have deep seated hatred for sharing my space o public transport. It can be efficeient just depends whether you are on a bus or train route.
I was based in City Beach and now moved to Mount Claremont. Parking OK just need to be in before 7.15am to get best (cheapest) spots.
Re places to live it all depends on social needs, do you have school age kids?
Give me a call if youd like a chat just call Worleyparsons and ask for Mark Hetherington
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