Guide To Perth Airport (PER)

Hiring a car is a great option if you're flying into Perth. Image: Getty

What’s the best way to get to and from Perth Airport?

If you’re arriving at or departing from Perth, there are several different ways to travel to and from Perth Airport. Below you’ll find a brief overview of your transport options.

Car hire

Whether Perth is merely the beginning of an epic Western Australia road trip, or you just feel more comfortable having your own set of wheels, car hire is an excellent idea. You can arrange your car hire here, or you can do it yourself direct through Perth Airport. Your car will be ready and waiting for you at the airport, with car hire counters located at all four terminals. You’ll find a wide array of cars available for rent, including compact, midsize, luxury and 4WD vehicles.

Perth Airport parking

Parking at Perth Airport can be broken down into Long Term parking, Short Term parking, Fast Track parking and Regional Terminals parking.

Long Term: For longer stays, you’ll find convenient Long Term parking locations at both the T1/T2 and T3/T4 airport precincts. There’s a free shuttle bus from Long Term car parks to the terminals, which runs every 10 minutes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Short Term: If you want to leave your car at the airport while you jet off to another WA destination for a few days, short term parking is ideal. These car parks are closer to the terminals than Long Term parking, located just a couple of minutes away.

Fast Track: This is Perth Airport parking at its most convenient, although you’ll pay a little extra for the privilege. Fast Track Business Parking is the airport’s premier T3/T4 car park, just a 1-minute walk to check-in. You don’t have to be travelling for business, however. The Fast Track car park is also perfect if you’re taking a holiday and just want to park as close to the terminal as you can. Any one of the 230 exclusive, wide bays can be reserved in advance by booking online.

Regional Terminals: Western Australia is a big state with several regional airlines, and therefore has a separate parking destination for anyone travelling with Cobham, Maroomba, Skippers or Network airlines.

Taxi

Transport to or from Perth Airport by taxi is probably the easiest option. Taxi ranks are located at the front of all the terminals and are on hand 24/7 to pick up arriving passengers. What’s more, it only takes about 20 minutes to get to Perth City centre by taxi.

Just follow the signs to the nearest taxi rank as you make your way through the airport to the exit. Note that Perth Airport adds $3 to your fare if you catch your taxi from the terminals, which goes toward the upkeep of the taxi facilities.

Based on a fare at 8am on a Tuesday, some approximate one-way taxi fare prices* from Perth Airport are below:

To Perth city centre, $43

To Fremantle, $67

To Scarborough, $70

To Joondalup, $97

To Armadale, $65

To Cockburn, $67

To Mandurah, $174

* Source: Swan Taxis Fare Estimator, as noted on the Perth Airport website

Rideshare

Both Uber and Ola ridesharing services are available at Perth Airport, with dedicated pick-up bays within easy walking distance of each terminal. It’s recommended that you don’t order your Uber or Ola ride until you have collected your baggage and are leaving the terminal. As with taxis, a $3 airport fee applies to all pick-ups at Perth Airport.

Public Transport

Bus service Transperth is likely to be the option for the cheapest travel to and from Perth airport. Transperth operates regular bus services to Perth City and other local areas from the airport, and have an online Journey Planner which will help you plan your trip.

To and from T1/T2: Bus Route 380 (named after, you guessed it, the Airbus A380) runs daily between Elizabeth Quay Bus Station in the city centre and T1/T2. This service has dedicated luggage racks for convenience, and only makes limited stops. Connections to other services are available from Elizabeth Quay Bus Station; Victoria Park Transfer Station; Burswood Train Station and Belmont Forum Shopping Centre.

To and from T3/T4: The most direct route to the city by bus is to take Bus Route 40, which operates every day via the Great Eastern Highway and terminates at  Elizabeth Quay Bus Station.

Picking up and dropping off by car

Perhaps you’re being picked up at Perth Airport by family or friends, or dropping people at the airport to catch a departing flight. Pick up and drop off is easy.

For the most unhurried pick up or drop off, you can park your car in the Short Term car park and walk into the terminal.

If you prefer to wait in your car, you can park and wait for free, for up to one hour in any of the Long Term car parks. Just take a ticket upon entry to the car park and insert the same ticket as you leave the car park within the hour – there’s no need to validate it. Then, when your friend or family member has arrived, head to the ‘immediate pick-up’ bays at the front of the terminal.

Express pick-up and drop-off is also a feature of T2, granting drivers a 5-minute window to collect or drop off their passenger before they are charged an overstay fee.

How do I transfer between terminals?

It’s important to arrive at the correct terminal if you’re departing from Perth Airport, because the T1/T2 precinct and the T3/T4 precinct are a short 15-minute drive apart. Your Flight Centre Travel Expert will be able to advise you on the terminal you need to get to.

If you do need to transfer between the terminals, it’s very easy. Perth Airport operates a free, 24-hour terminal transfer bus.

From T1/T2 to T3/T4

Between 6am and midnight, the bus departs every 20 minutes (at 10 minutes, 30 minutes and 50 minutes past the hour).

Between midnight and 6am, the bus departs at 25 minutes and 55 minutes past the hour.

From T3/T4 to T1/T2

Between 6am and midnight, the bus departs every 20 minutes (on the hour and at 20 minutes and 40 minutes past the hour).

Between midnight and 6am, the bus departs at 15 minutes and 45 minutes past the hour.