As the halfway mark looms ever closer, the ongoing battle between England and Australia is rapidly approaching boiling point. Pub battle grounds have been drawn. Steaks have been eaten. Tears have been cried. And beers (oh, so many beers!) have been clinked and cried over …
The score is close (or so those Aussies would like to believe!), the clock is ticking and the excitement is mounting second by second. Why? Because the THIRD ASHES TEST SERIES is just days away!
For those who have been lucky enough to book your hostel in Perth, we’ve put together a Perth Ashes city guide on where to watch the match, how to get around and what to do once all the action is over.
This is the third blog post in our five-part guide to the Australian Ashes cities – Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney. Check back soon for updates and information on those final two sunny cities…
16-20 December at The WACA
Daily: Transperth offers two free services from Perth city to the WACA ground.
Catch the Red CAT from Murray St in the city and disembark at bus stop 6 (WACA) on Hale St (corner of Nelson Crescent).
Catch the Yellow CAT from Wellington St in the city and disembark at bus stop 7 (WACA) on the corner of Hale and Waterloo Streets.
Other: Additional Ashes transport will also be available. Please see the WACA website for details.
While Perth may not be the most famous capital city to host the Ashes in Australia, this doesn’t mean the locals are any less passionate about the cricket! You shouldn’t have any trouble seeking out a sports bar to plant yourself while the third test series action unfolds…
The Lucky Shag: As official headquarters of Barmy Army supporters, The Lucky Shag will be a haven for Brits Down Under! With a notorious name and unrivalled location, this knockabout pub combines an unfussy design with million-dollar views and a boisterously blokey clientele. Following it’s renovation in 2009, The Lucky Shag offers 10 large plasmas as well as a giant light-up big screen on which to watch the game…they’ve even installed TVs in the toilets for those who’ve had one beer too many! Barrack St Jetty, Perth.
Barracks Bar: Looking for somewhere to stay in Perth, where you can also watch the match, down a pint and be within walking distance of the WACA Oval? Here it is! Book in at The Old Swan Barracks hostel and celebrate The Ashes in style at Perth’s newest backpacker bar. Make new friends as you sample some quality beers and watch the match on three large flat screens. Head down here on a Thursday evening for $5 (€3.67) pints and a free BBQ! 6 Francis St, Perth.
Subiaco Hotel: A perfect mix between traditional sports pub and contemporary bar, the Subiaco Hotel has become a favourite haunt of many Perth locals. Sports fans will love the perennially lively atmosphere at Bianca’s Bar, with its large plasma screens, pool tables, live entertainment and 20 varieties of beer on tap. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, head to the onsite restaurant for some seriously gourmet grub – from saffron and orange roast chicken to twice-cooked pork belly or the more traditional fish and chips. 465 Hay St, Subiaco.
Grosvenor Hotel: Arguably the best pub east of Perth’s CBD, the Grosvenor Hotel is only a short bus ride from the WACA grounds on the free Red CAT route. Check out the old fashioned sports bar for an abundance of plasma TVs, big screens and a variety of beers on tap. You could also head to the onsite restaurant for a range of traditional Australian meals, from a steak sandwich to kangaroo pie and Bourbon bangers and mash. 339 Hay St, Perth.
The Moon and Sixpence: As the most authentic British pub on Australia’s East Coast, The Moon and Sixpence is sure to attract a host of English expats cheering on the Barmy Army. Capturing the spirit of old world England, the pub offers warm log fireplaces, on tap British beers, and an extensive range of traditional ‘pub grub’ fare including Yorkshire pudding, stuffed turkey and venison sausages. 300 Murray St, Perth.
Haven’t managed to get your Ashes tickets in time? You can still enjoy all the cricketing action as it happens thanks to Channel 9’s Travelling Live Site. Spectators will be able to watch the third Ashes test match on a massive super-screen at various sites around metropolitan Perth. All the action starts from 10am on Thursday 16 December at Scarborough Beach Reserve.
Pay a trip to one of Perth’s beautiful beaches – Cottesloe Beach is a hot favourite (although adventurous travellers may prefer Scarborough for surfing or Swanbourne for an old-fashioned nudist romp)!
Take a trip back in time! Freemantle Prison was built in the 1850s by British convicts who were brought to Australia to colonise it. Today, the prison offers adventurous Tunnels Tours through its labyrinth of passageways located 20 metres below ground. Discover original blast holes, oil lamp recesses and artefacts as you scour this underground maze by boat and on foot.
There’s nothing quite like a good old-fashioned meat pie. We hear that the best ones (along with the best seafood pies, lasagne pies, kangaroo pies, crab and feta pies…really, any pies you could think of!) can be found at Miami Bakehouse, just south of Perth in the suburb of Falcon, Mandurah.
Check out the Western Australian Maritime Museum on Victoria Quay in the suburb of Freemantle. There are many historical artefacts and shipwreck displays to be seen in the six themed galleries, each one focusing on human endeavours that shaped the country.
Still looking for a budget hostel in Perth? Check out our Ashes 2010 Accommodation Guide for some great last-minute ideas.
Thanks to ~Prescott, End of level Boss, Ric James, Jovana_Nz, CosmoPolitician, Michael_Spencer and P Donovan for the images off flickr.
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