A Guide To Perth International Airport
A Guide To Perth International Airport
The airport is the 4th busiest in the country and its location on the west coast makes it an important gateway for the rest of Australia to the rest of the Indian Ocean, such as South East Asia, India, Dubai and South Africa. Because of some recent growth in passenger numbers, there are currently plans to redevelop the airport.
Airlines that serve the airport include Qantas (Australians national carrier), Sky West and the low-cost carriers Virgin Blue, Jetstar and Tiger Airways.
How to exit Perth International Airport
The airport’s International Terminal is located 17kms from Perth city centre. You will find the rental car desks on the ground floor to your left as you exit the arrivals area. After you exit the terminal building turn left and walk 200 metres until you find the Car Rental area. After picking up your rental car you can head south along Horrie Millar Drive. After 4kms, you can turn right onto Tonkin Highway and after another 1km you can mount the Leach Highway. You can stay on this highway for about 3 kms where you will need to turn right onto Orrong Road, continue straight on this road even when it becomes Graham Farmer Freeway. Then finally turn left onto William Street and this should bring you all the way into the city centre.
Located on the other side of the runways and with less of a round about route the Domestic terminal is located 12kms from the city centre. After coming off your plane you should see the car rental desks: in Terminal 2 in front of you and slightly to the right or in Terminal 3 directly in front of you from the arrivals hall. Once you have you car you can head out of the airport along Brearley Avenue. When you arrive at the Great Eastern Highway, you can turn left towards the city centre. After about 5kms you can take the off ramp to join the Graham Farmer Freeway. After 5 more kilometres you can turn left onto William Street and this should bring you all the way into the city centre.
If you aren’t picking up a car at the airport then your public transport options include getting a taxi or getting a bus. There are taxi ranks outside both sets of terminals. You may be asked to provide the fee before you depart, a fare to the city centre should be in and around AUS$33 from the International Terminal and AUS$26 from the Domestic Terminal.
There are a number of Public Bus options that depart from the Domestic Terminal; if you wish to avail of a bus from the International Terminal you can get an inter-terminal shuttle that can bring you to the domestic terminal. As of mid-October 2008, there are 3 routes that serve the domestic terminal. These are: Bus 36, which runs from the Esplanade Busport, Perth city to Midland via the domestic terminals; Bus 37, runs from Kings Park to the domestic terminals, via Perth city; and Bus 40, runs from the Esplanade Busport, Perth city to the domestic terminals.
There is also an Airport City Shuttle which takes a route through the city that passes many of the more popular hotels, motels and hostels in Perth all along Northbridge, the Central City, East Perth, West Perth, Mill Point Road and Great Eastern Highway. The shuttle departs the International Terminal 1 within 45 minutes of every arrival (costs AUS$20 1-way and AUS$30 Return) and with 30 minutes of each arrival in the Domestic Terminals (costs AUS$15 1-way and AUS$25 Return). You can get better rates for bigger parties as well
Getting to Perth International Airport
The airport is easily found by following the signs with the aeroplane symbol on them. Just remember that if you are taking an international flight or a domestic one you will have to take different routes. The routes are similar as far as the end of the Graham Farmer Freeway.
For the International Terminal, continue along Orrong Road, turn left onto Leach Highway, turn right on Tonkin Highway and then left again onto Horrie Miller Drive. For the Domestic Terminal you would turn right along the Great Eastern Highway and then turn right onto Brearley Avenue.
You can try taking a taxi which will get you there directly or you can try a public bus, Bus routes 36, 37 and 40 all pass through to the Domestic Terminal. There are no public buses to the International terminal.
What is at Perth International Airport?
The airport has 3 terminals; Terminal 1 which is the International Terminal and Terminals 2 & 3 which are Domestic Terminals.
The International Terminal is completely seperate from the Domestic terminals and is served by Qantas. You can’t walk between them (it’s about 10kms by road) so if you are transferring you will have to take a shuttle bus. These shuttle buses are run to coincide with flights; there is a cost of AUS$8 though Qantas usually will give vouchers.
So what can you find while you are at the airport waiting for your flight? Well on the ground floor of the International Terminal you can find the primary customs area as well as the baggage carousels for arrivals.
On level 1 you will find a number of cafes and restaurants that are ideal for grabbing a quick bite before a long flight. In the central area you can find a large duty free shop, an Australian clothing store, a surfwear shop and along the outside wall there is a Tie Rack, a Luggage shop, a Bureau de Change and two jewellery shops. Other retail shops on this level include a Souvenir shop, a News & Books store and in the last corner before departures a bar.
Level 2 is mostly lounges for the main airlines that are based here but there are a few duty free, souvenirs and other shop on this level. This is your last chance to buy stuff before boarding your plane. On the level above this there is a viewing platform and nothing else.
If you are flying within Australia then you will be heading out from the Domestic Terminals. Both Terminals 2 and 3 are actually in the same building but once you have pass through customs you won’t be able to pass between them. Remember that passengers should check-in approximately 45 minutes prior to their flight departure time (90 minutes id you have a direct onward international connection).
In Domestic Terminal 2, you can find 2 ATMs located near the main entrance. For foreign money you can find a Foreign Exchange Bureau located on the ground floor of Terminal 2, adjacent to the security screening point. This is also where you will find the car rental desks. Up on the next floor, the Departures lounge, you will find some internet facilities, a newsagent, a bar and a café. The next floor up again is the Qantas Club lounge.
In Domestic Terminal 3, there is an ATM located at the front of Terminal 3, opposite the taxi rank. For internet services you will find them located on the ground floor and first floor of Terminal 3. There are food and beverage facilities available 3 including a Hub convenience/RELAY store and Dome cafe.
By: Mairead Foley
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Mairead Foley writes for www.Novacarhire.com/ where you can book car hire at airports, ferry ports, rail stations, cities and towns all over the world.
Visit Novacarhire.com for all you need to know before you take to the roads in Australia, like where to go and what to see with your car hire. Book your Car hire Perth now.
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