Getting From the Airports

Perth's Taxi system uses station wagons, as well as large minivans, capable of seating 12 people. If your bike is still packed in a box, you could elect to get a Taxi. When calling for a Taxi, state that you have a large box. You may also find a larger taxi at the taxi rank at the airports. You should be able to get your bike box into the a station wagon or a large minivan taxi.

If you decide to assemble and ride your bike, then you can follow this guide, or pick your own way. There are several ways into Perth from the Airports. The International Airport is further away along a major highway, so I will start the guide there as the route will take you towards the Domestic Airport. If you are starting at the Domestic Airport, scroll down to the Domestic Airport start.

Hide/Show Map

Blue line denotes route from International Airport, Red denotes the domestic airport and Purple denotes the joined routes.

Starting From The International Airport

This route is probably the only direct route that I know of at this stage. Several different cyclists arriving at the International Airport have ridden along Tonkin Highway to where the Domestic Airport road connects. They have told me that the shoulder was wide, and the road not too busy. I have ridden this highway in the other direction, and it has a wide shoulder. For a local, this road is really busy except on Sundays, and has a few parts near traffic lights where care needs to be taken.

When leaving the International Airport there is only one way you can go. That is along Horrie Miller Drive. Continue along here until you come to the set of lights at the intersection with Tonkin Highway. Turn right and continue through the next set of lights. There is a fairly long ride as the road curves to the right, and then back to the left.

You will eventually see an off ramp to Great Eastern Highway on the left. You need to take this because if you continue on, you will end up on the bridge that crosses the Swan River, and there is no shoulder. So continue to the left and up the off ramp to Great Eastern Highway. As soon as you reach the traffic lights on Great Eastern Highway, turn left and get immediately onto the footpath. There is a reason for this, but firstly I need to get the Domestic Airport cyclists to this point, so jump ahead a few paragraphs to joined.

Starting From The Domestic Airport

Once you have reassembled your bike, there is really only one way out of the Domestic Airport. It is Brearley Avenue. Follow the signs that point to Perth. As you ride along Brearley Avenue, there is an initial roundabout, then you continue on until you reach Great Eastern Highway. You need to turn left. This is an extremely busy double intersection.

The safest thing to do here is as you reach Great Eastern Highway, turn left and go onto the footpath. Cross the bridge that crosses the Tonkin Highway below, then cross the next set of lights, which is the off ramp from Tonkin Highway, and the route that any cyclist from the International Airport would have taken to arrive at this point.

Joined

The reason that we need to be on the footpath, is that if you look down to your left, you will see a park. There is a tunnel under the highway with a cycle path. But first food! If you look across the busy highway, you will see the McDonalds sign. Don't bother trying to cross the highway, there is an easier way. Ride along the footpath until the park is level with the footpath, and you should be able to get onto the path in the park and roll down the incline and take a left into the underpass.

This cycle path will take you across to the North East path that runs along the railway line. The piece between here and that path is quite steep, sometimes littered with broken glass, has bollards, and is not well lit after dark, so I would not advise riding this bit after dark unless you have good lights.

As you exit the underpass under the highway, if you want to get McDonalds, you need to turn left, and follow the road path up to the McDonald's store. This is a 24 hour store, so the time of the day shouldn't matter. If not, then continue on down the path. Watch for the bollards in the path, and keep your eye out for a steep turn off to the right, which goes up onto the bridge.

If you continue straight on, you could go left at the river and ride along the river. The path disappears in places, so by turning right, and up onto the bridge path, it's easier to follow. So take the steep right, drop back into granny gear and ride up the path onto the bridge. You are separated from the traffic, and if you look to the left, you should be able to see the city skyline.

At the end of the bridge, there is a steep off ramp to the left, and then the path curves around to the right. Watch for broken glass and the bollards as you ride around here. The path will come to an end at a road. Turn right and you should see a bridge above the road. Ride up the road and turn left. You should now be on River Road.

Follow River Road up to it's dead end, and the path should continue along the on ramp of the highway to a set of traffic lights, which is Guildford Road. If you can't find the path, just before the end of River Road, turn right into Goongarrie Street, and then take the next left, which is Katanning Street. Follow it to Guildford Road. There is a 24 hour petrol station on the corner (Fill your stove?).

In both cases, you need to cross Guildford Road and get onto the cycle path on the other side of the road. Once on the path, you need to follow the cycle path left and under the Tonkin Highway bridge. You will see the path end because it's not complete, but take the left path, which brings you to a road. Turn right and follow it up and down the hills.

The road follows the railway line, which is visible on the right. You will eventually see Bayswater Railway Station on the right. You need to get into the carpark, and where the pedestrian tunnel goes under the line, you will see the start of the cycle path to Perth. You can follow the directions in reverse for the North East from here, as it's all cycle path into Perth.