The Perth Mint

If there’s a highlight for my travel trips last year, it would be Perth which I went in January 2009. So much fun for a 7 Days backpacking trip without itinerary on hand before the trip. This is the kind of trips that I would like to embark all the time.

One thing about me is that, I always leave my travel posts hanging. See, the last post I did for Perth was on Perth Day 2 – Rottness Island Fun. Okay, that was like 4 months after the trip, but still the excitements from the trip is still in me. Blogging it now brings back memories. I’m sure Jun and Rue would agree with me. Right boys?

It was somewhere in September 2008 that we decided to plan for a trip and well, got Jun and myself a ticket to Perth while Rue bought it later. When I informed CK that we’ll be making the trip to Perth, his reaction was “Why do you want to go over to that dead place?” or something along that line. It made me wanting to make the trip and prove him wrong, and I did. Perth is such a nice city…

These was the itinerary for the 7 days we had in Perth.
Day 1 – Perth City on Foot
Day 2 – Rottnest Island
Day 3 – Exploring the City, Leederville and Subiaco
Day 4 – Kings Parks, Swan Bells and Cottlesloe
Day 5 – Pinnacle Tours, City Night and Moon Cafe
Day 6 – Freemantle (Full Day)
Day 7 – Chillings and Duxton Hotel

If you ask me, the best of the 7 days would be Rottnest Island. Okay… how about I talk about the highlights of each day while I was there. Sure it will definitely entice you to make a trip down to Perth.

Day 1 – Remember we had no itinerary? The first day I decided to make a round in the city, on foot and the Boys agreed. The highlight of the day would be The Perth Mint, where we get to see how they make gold bars. It is the same day that we decided what to do for the rest of the 7 days.

Day 2 – We decided to make this a full day thing and Rottnest Island is where we planned to go. No tour package blah blah blah, but we did all this trip all on our own. Took a speed boat from Freemantle and off we went to Rottnest Island where the fun of cycling around the island began. You can read more on my trip here.

Day 3 – Free and Easy Day. Nothing much that we did… wait, actually, we walked a lot. Like… A LOT! From the city we traveled to Harbourtown, then I traveled to Leederville myself where I have an office there and finaly at night we had dinner at Subiaco with The Girl who was still in Perth that time.

Day 4 –We did some touristy visits to Swan Bells, Kings Park and the best was Cottlesloe. What’s in Cottlesloe? Superb beaches is what’s there. But, before we made our journey there by bus, which we went lost for a bit because of the map. Okay, maybe it was because of me, but hey, we managed to explore some new places… So, this is what Cottlesloe looks like.

Day 5 – It is the only day we did an organized tour and we paid for Full Day Pinnacles Tours where it took us to the Caversham Wildlife Park and Pinnacles. Imagine yourself in a 4WD coach and you are actually doing this (look below). Cool right? That’s the highlight of the day, other than that… throw in some visit to see Kangaroos and Koalas and Platypus.

Day 6 – Okay. I’m stuck… what to tell you about Freemantle? Hmmm.. Oh yeah. They have a Freemantle Prison which I never had a chance to visit. It was such a dramatic day where the rail system broke down and we had to take the feeder bus down. Impressed with their quick solution to their transportation mess, but that aside, Freemantle is actually a Port. So, seafood here is nice but price is also “VERY NICE”. Good place to chill, away from the city.

Day 7 – Our last day there was pretty much a relaxing one, because it’s a Sunday. We went for some last minute shopping and of course, what’s the best was the night that we put up at Duxton Hotel, Perth. Don’t ask for the price paid but please join me to thank Jun for spending us a night there.

So yeah… That’s about it for Perth from me for now. I can tell you so much more about Perth, but it would take me another few posts and maybe a few trips to Perth again (*hints*) to explore more on Perth. Yes, you hear me right. What’s more to do in Perth? Let me tell you what I would really want to do if I’m there next.

Walpole, where there is The Valley of Giants Tree Top.
Monkey Mia, visit the Shark’s Bay for Dolphins.
Margaret River, the Wine Region.
Mandurah, just another city which I want to visit.
and many many many many…. more….

You know, there is one person I envy right now would be Dr. Ling Shih Gang. He was the winner for Experience Extraordinary Taxi Ride for the second leg. You can follow his recent adventure here at Experience Extraordinary, Western Australia. Fully sponsored trip to the South West of Western Australia. How cool can it get? Can I get one too?

Plan your trip now as AirAsia flies to Perth. Click Here for AirAsia Schedules.

I’ve pretty much covered Perth in general, what about you?

I’ve given you some travel tips above, so start planning already!…

P/S: I’m definitely gonna continue my Perth Day 3 onwards. Pls chills…

It is our first day in Perth and while walking around the city, we decided to take an entry to The Perth Mint. The entrance into The Perth Mint cost us AUD$15 each person and the tour will take about 1 hour. When we arrived at The Perth Mint, the security guard asked us where we are from, for statistics. We told him that we are Malaysian and he said that he remembers Old Klang Road. He was dispatched here in Malaysia back then during World War II. He right palm is handicapped, maybe due to to his service in the army.

So, we arrived just in time to join a group for a tour.

Joining the group, we were told about the history of the mining industry in Perth. The guide also showed us the types of gold nuggets that were mined in Perth. The tour ended with a demonstration on how gold is melted and made into a gold bar.

Demonstration lasted for about 20 minutes just to see how the demonstrator pour out the liquids of gold into a cast, then cool it with water and then pour it back again into the boiling pot to melt it for next demonstration.

Of course, before leaving Perth Mint, we have to camwhore first.