Search for Car Hire Perth Airport

If you’re fed up with visiting the same east coast destinations all the time, don’t forget that there’s more to Australia than opera houses, theme parks and Great Barrier. Sydney and Melbourne might hog all the travel headlines, but on the other side of the continent there’s a world of amazing experiences that many Aussies and international visitors never get around to visiting. With a car hire from Perth Airport, Western Australia will be your oyster. The city of Perth itself has plenty to see and do, but that’s really just the start. The regions around this city are stacked with weird and wonderful sights, as well as all sorts of things to keep you busy, no matter what kind of trip you’re planning. 

But before you go traipsing all over Western Australia, you’re gonna need a vehicle. Hunting through all the different Perth Airport car hire suppliers can be a real chore, as there’s a bunch of different options to choose from, but luckily there’s a way to save yourself all that faffing around. AirportRentals.com.au lets you see all your options in one place and then book whichever deal is best for your particular trip. Clean and easy, so you can get back to doing something more fun with your time. 

Booking a Perth Car Hire

Booking a car rental on AirportRentals.com.au isn’t hard. It pretty much comes down to throwing in a few trip details like where you’re picking up from and dropping off to, and the dates of your here. After that you’ll see a bunch of deals from different suppliers - you can narrow down the selection by things like vehicle type, rental brand, etc - and once you’ve picked the best one, it’ll only be a few minutes before you’re done and dusted.

Car Hire Brands at Perth Airport

There’s no shortage of car rental brands at Perth Airport. A bunch of them are household names like Budget, Hertz, Avis and Europcar, while a few others like Firefly and Redspot aren’t quite as well known but you can often find some fantastic deals from these smaller brands.

Perth Airport Information

Perth Airport has four main terminals, but only three of them are used for local flights. 

● Terminal 1 is the international terminal, so if you’re flying within the the country, you won’t have to worry about this one. 

● Terminal 2 is used by a variety of different regional airlines, including Virgin, Alliance, Tiger and Regional Express.

● Terminal 3 is mainly for Jetstar flights, though some Qantas flights also use Terminal 3.

● Terminal 4 is the Qantas terminal, dedicated to domestic flights by Qantas, QantasLink and Jetstar.

Perth Airport provides free WiFi in Terminals 1, 2 and 3, as well as plenty of charging stations to make sure your devices are topped up, while Qantas provides 30 minutes and 500MB per day of free WiFi in Terminal 4. ATMs are in every terminal, so it won’t be hard to get hold of cold hard cash. There are even Tourist Information desks in Terminals 1, 2 and 3 - but hopefully this guide will mean you’re better prepared than that.

Driving in Perth and beyond

Driving in Perth and Western Australia really isn’t that much different to driving just about anywhere else in Australia - you don’t have to worry about any odd traffic maneuvers like Melbourne’s hook turns. On the off chance you happen to be reading this from outside Australia, you need to know one really important thing about driving here: unlike most of the rest of the world, Aussies drive on the left hand side of the road. It’s not too big of an issue once you know - just pay attention at intersections and you’ll be fine. If you haven’t hit the road in Oz before, take a look at our Australia driving guide for the full story. 

Getting from Perth Airport to the CBD 

It’ll take you about 20 minutes to get from Perth Airport into the CBD. It’s not a complicated route - just head out of the airport to the west on Brearley Ave before hanging a left on 94, the Great Eastern Highway. Keep going till you reach the turn off for the Graham Farmer Freeway (8) - this will take you right into the heart of the city. 

Road rules

Nothing too unusual here. Most built up areas have a 50 km/h speed limit, with 100 km/h being the norm on freeways and motorways - always keep an eye out for speed limit signs though, as this can vary. There are plenty of sneaky speed cameras around Perth too, so if you’re hoping for a trouble free holiday, make sure you stick to the limit. Like elsewhere in the country, drink driving is strictly illegal - the blood alcohol limit in Western Australia is 0.05, so if you’ve been drinking at all it’s safest not to drive. 

Perth Petrol Stations

You won’t need to mess around with fuelling up before your car rental away from Perth Airport - car rentals generally come with a full tank so you can drive away no worries. When you’re returning your rental, it’s a different story altogether. Unless your rental agreement specifically says something different, you’re gonna need to return your vehicle with a full fuel tank. BP Redcliffe is one of the closest petrol stations to Perth Airport, but it can tend to be pretty busy precisely for that reason. If you’d rather opt for a petrol station that’s a little further away, you could try Caltex Star Mart Belmont, Gull Petroleum on Belvidere Street or even Coles Express Cloverdale. 

Road trips from Perth

Exploring the area around Perth (and the city itself) will keep you busy for a wee bit but there’s so much in Western Australia to see and do that you’ll be itching to hit the highways and discover for yourself what makes this part of the country so unique. Take a squiz below to find a spot that suits your style. 

● Esperance

There’s no denying it - Esperance is a real beauty. The beaches here are as idyllic as they come, with bright blue water and golden sands - it’s also close to the Great Ocean Drive (not the Great Ocean Road, which is southeast of Melbourne) which will treat you to stunningly unspoiled stretches of coastline. Esperance is also just to the west of the breathtaking Cape Le Grand National Park. 

● Margaret River

A little less than 3 hours drive from Perth you can find a slice of Western Australian paradise. This is a must for anyone who calls themselves a foodie or a wine lover, as Margaret River produces some of the best wines in the West and is littered with cellar doors - wine tour ahoy! The region’s cuisine doesn’t lag behind either, with top-notch eateries all over the show - and the famous Gourmet Escape food and wine fest once a year.

● Nambung National Park

There’s no way you can mention Nambung without talking about the eerie limestone spires known as the Pinnacles. You’re never going to get the chance to walk on another planet, but here you can get pretty damn close. There’s more to this area than just weird rocks though. Snorkelling, swimming and fishing at the nearby beaches is always popular with visitors and if you’re around in August, September or October, you’re really in for a visual treat as the wildflowers are in bloom. 

Perth Airport Car Rental Pick Up Depots

Yeah, I know. Rental depots are pretty boring. But don’t close the tab just yet - we’ll get this out of the way shortly, and some of the info might actually help you out. 

The majority of the car hire suppliers in Perth have their own rental desk (or work from another brand’s desk) within the Perth Airport terminals. The main exception is Ace Rentals which has a pick up depot a little ways from the airport - but you can catch a complimentary shuttle right from your terminal to the pick up point. Rental brands with depots inside Perth Domestic Airport include Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz Redspot, Thrifty, and AutoEurope.

Perth Airport Accommodation

Sometimes you might be visiting Perth not in order to go driving off to far flung corners of Western Australia but simply to take care of some business in and around the city. In that case, all you’re probably looking for is a car to get around the city and someplace to stay near the airport. The Sanno Marracoonda Perth Airport Hotel certainly isn’t fancy but it does have a reputation for friendly staff and clean rooms - plus it’s very close to the airport. BEST WESTERN PLUS Ascot Serviced Apartments are close to the airport as well, and are known as a quiet and comfortable, if basic, place to stay. Crown Promenade Hotel is a little further away from Perth Airport (a little over 7 kilometres) but it’s undoubtedly a more luxurious option for those who’d like to relax in style. 

Perth Events

Perth is a long way from Australia’s famous cultural centres of Melbourne and Sydney, but never let it be said that the west coast doesn’t keep up its end of the bargain when it comes to exciting events. Perth has its own thriving arts, culture and community events scene, and planning your trip to line up with one or two events that tickle your fancy can really make your time in the city memorable. For those who crave a bit of culture, the Perth International Arts Festival (PIAF) has your fix. This is the longest running cultural fest in Australia, featuring dance, theatre, music visual arts - and even a few other fests rolled in, like the Lotterywest Film Festival and the Perth Writers Festival. 

Festival Fromage doesn’t have a long history like PIAF but for cheese lovers, this young festival is a dream come true. Cheese is front and centre here, with artisan cheese-makers holding pride of place supported by local liquor producers, brewers and chefs. To choose your own cheese adventure, make sure you’re in town around November. 
Sometimes all you need is a good laugh, and the annual Perth Comedy Festival will set you up with more than a few chortles. Held every year in April/May, the fest attracts a motley bunch of international and local comedy stars who’ll have you belly laughing the night away in no time. 

For foodies, April is the month to visit this city, thanks to Eat Drink Perth. This event showcases the best of Perth’s cuisine over the course of several weeks - markets, food trucks, masterclasses, dessert degustations… the variety of delicious dishes on offer across the city is staggering.

Sculpture by the Sea in Cottesloe is Perth’s take on an immensely popular outdoor sculpture tradition. Every October/November more than a hundred artists exhibit beautiful, strange and inspiring works along the coastline, drawing massive crowds.

Food & Wine

Perth’s appetite for top-notch food is growing fast, but there’s recently been a shift in the kind of eateries that are thriving here. Larger old school restaurants which offer traditional menus along the entree/main/dessert lines are dropping off in popularity and being replaced by smaller venues that focus on a particular specialty. 

If you’re the type who likes to save on restaurant bills and cook up your own tasty creations, make sure you pop down to Murray Street Mall in the CBD for Perth Home Grown. This one of the best spots in the city to get your hands on fresh, locally grown produce along with spices, herbs, sauces, oils and a bunch of other ingredients to help you make some next level nosh. 

The suburb of Northbridge is undisputably one of the best places in the city to go if you’re keen to sample Perth’s restaurant scene. The kinds of cuisine on offer come from all corners of the world, with an authenticity that comes from the many immigrants to settled here post-war. For something a little more casual, Subiaco (affectionately known as “Subi”) has a chic collection of bars, restaurants and coffee shops. 

Geography, Culture & People

Perth is the only major Australian city to sit by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, and surrounds the Swan River as it widens before reaching the sea. The Darling Ranges lie to the east, which attracts mountain bikers and wine lovers alike. 

As you can see from just the handful of events we’ve mentioned, Perth has a rich cultural tradition, and has been sculpted as a city by the ethnic diversity of its citizens. Naturally Aboriginal culture is also an important facet in Perth and Western Australia in general - indigenous peoples have lived in this area for tens of thousands of years and have certainly left their mark.

Attractions

If you can work one of the city’s many events into your itinerary, that’s great - but even if you can’t, there’s plenty of things to see and do in Perth all year round. If you’ve got a few anklebiters in tow, Perth Zoo should be one of your first ports of call. Open every day since it started in 1898, the zoo has grown to include three main zones aiming to mimic animals’ natural habitat: Australian Walkabout, Asian Rainforest and African Savannah. The opportunity to get up close to exotic animals will excite kids - feed a giraffe, touch a bearded dragon, get up close and personal with a tortoise - these experiences are ones they’ll never forget. 

Kings Park and Botanic Garden is a brilliant spot to unwind toward the end of your trip once all the excitement is over and you just need a place to reset and recharge. Kings Park is on the western end of the CBD, and the Botanic Garden sits inside the park and gives visitors both beautiful views and the chance to escape from the rush of city life.

Cottesloe Beach is probably Perth’s favourite place for sun and sand. One and a half kilometres of golden sand just fifteen minutes from the CBD provides a temptation too strong to resist when the sun comes out - not to mention the grassy Cottesloe Esplanade, perfect for a picnic, and the boulevard boasting restaurants, cafes and bars.

To get to grips with the history of Western Australia, you don’t have to think twice about where to go: the Western Australian Museum has been presenting the state’s heritage to the public for more than a hundred years and gives you the opportunity to delve into the fascinating past of this colourful place.

Pretty much every big city has zoos and museums, but not everywhere you go has its own mint. The Perth Mint will introduce you to the magic of gold. Watch molten gold being poured to make bullion, see largest coin ever made (one tonne of pure gold!) and engrave your own medallion.

Public transport

You probably aren’t going to have to faff about with public transport, seeing as you’ll be picking up a car hire from Perth Airport, but every now and again you might find it’s worth your while to get around via public transport. Transperth handles pretty much all the trains, buses and ferries in and around Perth - if you think you might be using public transport a wee bit, it could be worth picking up a Transperth SmartRider card, as this will make paying easier and sometimes cheaper. Keep an eye out for Transperth CAT buses, free services that run around the CBD, Fremantle and Joondalup. 

Weather

When it comes to weather, visitors to Perth are in for a treat. This is the sunniest capital city in Australia, with an average of almost 9 hours of sunshine per day. Occasionally you’ll get thunderstorms coming through in summer, but it’s mostly fine while winter tends to be mild but a bit wetter. At the height of summer temperatures head up over the 30 degree mark, while in summer it rarely gets lower than 16 degrees or so.