Pub to pub in Perth by bus, boat and train

There’s impressive variety of pubs — old world, new world, and distinctly Perth — scattered all throughout the vast cityscape of the greater metropolitan area of the WA capital.

And most of the best are easily accessible via the fine public transport network stretching across the city and region.

No such exploratory excursion is more historically inspiring for visitors and locals alike than the ride on a Transperth train from Perth’s airy central station to the bustling port of Fremantle, which has greeted seafaring visitors from very far across the globe since the middle of the 19th century.

Aside from Freo itself, along this 30-minute journey one can sample long-standing refurbished namesake pubs in Subiaco and Claremont (plus the Albion in Cottesloe) as well as one-of-a-kind Rodney’s Bait ‘n Tackle at Mosman Park, which has a bar literally shaped like a boat.

For a highly noticeable contrast of suburban styles, you could instead take a ride northward from Perth Underground to the two vibrant sub-centres of modern Joondalup and historic Leederville, each with pleasant walking environments adjoining their stations perfect for sampling their amply wide-ranging sets of pubs, bars and restaurants.

For even greater variance you can ride the rails through the eastern suburbs from the maze-like jumble of streets in evolving Midland to the tidy leafy historic grid of Guildford, where you can stroll to WA’s oldest pub (the 1841 Rose & Crown Hotel) along with the reborn 1886 Guildford Hotel and — if in need of a change of pace — one of Australia’s most unique museums in the eclectic Academy of Taxidermy.

Similarly, the Armadale Line can offer a glimpse into quirky namesake locals at Gosnells (with its own tram carriage inside) and Carlisle. The inner part of the corridor is also well situated to accommodate a walking tour of East Perth from the sparkling Stadium and grand Camfield (Australia’s largest pub) over the Swan River to cosy cove-side pubs (including the modern Royal on the Waterfront) on the long stroll to Claisebrook Station.

If instead you prefer sand and sun you can take advantage of Perth’s excellent public bus system and ride the frequent route 990 from Perth Busport to bright lively Scarborough Beach, perhaps with an interim stop at pleasant Mount Hawthorn and its 1932 corner landmark the Paddington Ale House. The bus system (route 177/178) also unlocks the full length of diverse Victoria Park and its vibrant mix of eclectic international eateries, bustling cafes and classic traditional pubs, the latter including the Balmoral Hotel, Victoria Park Hotel and Broken Hill Hotel all standing proudly alongside Albany Highway.

Don’t like paying for transport? In that case you can try hopping on and off the westbound arc of the free Red CAT bus to your choices of many options along a compact city tour from East Perth’s Grosvenor Hotel across the CBD to bustling Shafto Lane, roughly centred on the landmark 1882 Royal Hotel with its wraparound covered balcony.

If on the other hand you have a full day to burn you can ambitiously opt for a tour that combines both buses and trains, such as one along the 70-kilometre-long Mandurah Line making use of convenient local bus connections at both Rockingham and Mandurah Stations to access their highly contrasting town centres.

Or maybe like Perth’s founders you are a sea-goer at heart and would prefer a relaxing afternoon taking in both sides of the scenic Swan River. For that you can utilise Transperth’s convenient ferry service which can carry you from the likes of the modern Reveley (named for Perth’s first city engineer) at Elizabeth Quay over to South Perth for the 1898 Federation masterpiece the Windsor Hotel plus a brief history lesson about local public transport (the “Ferry Tram”) at the foot of Windsor Park.

For a deeper dive into vast rugged WA you may wish to consider a weekend excursion on Transwa’s handy Prospector train to the infamous outback mining town of Kalgoorlie, potentially with an overnight stop at the Wheatbelt farming centre of Northam for a notable contextual contrast. Although a seven-hour total journey from East Perth Terminal, you can easily pass much of the time just by relaxing with a drink and keeping an eye out for emus in the unfolding landscape..

And once you make it back to the western shores at Fremantle, Scarborough or Cottesloe Beach — or anywhere along the beautiful WA coast — you should take a moment to gaze off into the vast blueness of the Indian Ocean and then wander the fine line that separates civilisation from the seemingly endless expanse beyond. Just be careful not to fall off the edge.

+ Frank Jaskiewicz is a transport planner and engineer who has lived in Perth, on and off, since 2021.

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Frank Jaskiewicz’s eBook called Great Public Transport Pub Tours Perth has detailed itineraries for 10 bush and train tours of pubs, and includes other places of interest.

Itineraries, with maps and full notes, include those for the Fremantle Line, Bus 990 Scarborough Beach, the South Perth ferry, Joondalup line, bus 177/178 Victoria Park, Midland line, Red CAT Perth City, Armadale line and East Perth, Mandurah, and the Prospector (to Kalgoorlie). There is also an index of pubs.

It is a publication of TransitAdvisor and is $5 in the Apple Books store, or at Google Play.

Apple Books: books.apple.com/us/book/id6738331444Google Play: play.google.com/store/books/details?id=vWwyEQAAQBAJ