Getting Around Perth

The Transperth Website gives you a full explanation of how Perth, Western Australia's  transportation tickets work.  You can visit the website anytime,  but, my objective for this page is to provide you a summary of how to get around Perth as a  Tourist.

How do Transit Zones relate to my Fare?

Fares depend on how many transit zones you travel.  This  Transit zone PDF map comes from Transperth and below is the Cash Fare table.

2 Sections  $2.00              (one ride only)
1 Zone        $2.90               (up to 2 hours expiry)
2 Zones      $4.40
3 Zones      $5.20
4 Zones      $6.20
5 Zones      $7.70               (up to 3 hours expiry)
6 Zones      $8.70
7 Zones      $10.20
8 Zones      $11.00
9 Zones      $11.80
Day Rider   $11.80            (used for the whole day)Family Rider   $11.80


Your standard ticket has an expiry of 2 hours if you're traveling one to four zones and an expiry of 3 hours  when you're traveling more than four zones.  

If you use a Day Rider (for one person) or a Family Day Rider (for upto 7 people having a maximum of 2 adults), then you could have that one ticket for the whole day!  So, yes, as a tourist, you'd probably be more inclined to using the Day Rider tickets.

The Day Rider ticket is available after 9am on weekdays and all day during weekends and holidays.  

The Family Day Rider tickets are available:

• all day during weekends and public holidays
• after 6:00 pm during Mondays to Thursdays, while after 3:00pm on Fridays
• after 9:00 am in Zones 1 to 4 during school holidays (Mondays to Fridays)
• after 8:30 am in Zones 5 to 9 during school holidays (Mondays to Fridays)

Are there cheaper ways to go around the city?

Yes!  Welcome Free Transit Zones (FTZs)!  In Perth City, there are FTZs which allows you to travel for free around the city.  As long as you hop on and hop off within the FTZ, then you don't have to pay for the fare.  The FTZ logo on the bus stops helps you identify the boundaries of the FTZ.  

Let's make it even simpler and introduce the CAT Buses! Unlike the standard buses, the Cat Buses have a big cat plastered on their bodies.  Riding any CAT Bus is free and it can take you to Perth must see attractions.  Perth, Fremantle, and Joondalup each have CAT bus systems.  I'll show you each of these places in this website but for now, here is a printable PDF map  of the CAT buses route for Perth.


Smart Rider: To Use or Not To Use?

If you're staying for just a week or two, then I wouldn't advice you to get a Smart Rider.  The Smart Rider card gives you a few cents discount on your fares but before you can have Smart Rider Card, you have to pay $10 for the card and add a load of $10.  That's a total of $20 for just $10 worth of fare.


References:
Transperth Website