Living in Perth and Fremantle

Perth

Western Australia is the largest state in Australia and occupies some 2.5 million square kilometres, approximately one-third of the Australian land mass. Within this large area, there are several distinct regions, each with quite different climatic conditions.

The southern half of Western Australia experiences its four seasons at opposite times of the year from countries in the northern hemisphere. It is predominately a Mediterranean climate with cool wet winters and warm dry summers. The north of the state lies in the tropics and experiences dry winters, summer rains and cyclonic activity.

The City of Perth

Perth is the capital city of the State of Western Australia and has a population of nearly 1.5 million people, which is more than 75% of the State's population. It has a warm, sunny climate with annual rainfall of 880mm, most of which falls between May

and September. It has the highest number of average daily sunshine hours of any major Australian city. Humidity and pollution levels are low.

The metropolitan area of Perth has approximately 60km of coastline with some of Australia's best beaches. Water sports and other sports are well catered for by the physical landscape, weather and suburban infrastructure.

Perth is a major tertiary education hub with five universities with a combined enrolment of nearly 80,000 students.

Fremantle

Fremantle is Western Australia's principal port, situated 20km from the Perth central business district. It is ideally located at the mouth of the Swan River on the shores of the Indian Ocean.

Fremantle is a thriving tourist centre, attracting hundreds of visitors each week.

Living expenses

Perth has one of the lowest costs of living of any city in Australia. As a general guide, undergraduate students could expect to spend around AU$200 to AU$250 per week on living expenses, not including tuition fees.

Approximate Accommodation & Living Costs

Hostel AU$30-$50/night/person
Rental one bedroom AU$120+ week/person
2 bedroom unfurnished apartment AU$150+ /week
For more information please contact the Housing Office: housing@nd.edu.au

Consumables

Food AU$80+/week
Gas, electricity, water, telephone AU$30+/week
Public Transport AU$15/week
Laundry, dry cleaning AU$10/week
Clothing, toiletries, entertainment AU$60/week
Consumables will depend on own individuals lifestyle  

Holiday activities

There are boundless opportunities for students to experience life in Western Australia, both in and outside the Perth metropolitan area. This is a guide to some of the more popular activities available to students.

  • A day trip to the famous Pinnacles, site of ancient rock formations
  • A day trip to, or overnight stay on Rottnest Island, just off the coast of Fremantle
  • A day trip to Penguin Island, where you can see penguins and seals in their natural state
  • A weekend trip to the Margaret River wine region, in the South-West of Western Australia (3.5 hours drive)
  • The Margaret River region also has some of the best surfing conditions in Australia, especially during the winter months
  • The Pemberton and Manjimup area, three hours away by car, has some of Australia's largest and oldest trees
  • Four-hour flights to Sydney or Melbourne, on the East coast of Australia
  • Whale watching and SCUBA diving on the Ningaloo Reef, eight hours drive from Perth or Broome
  • Feed the dolphins at Monkey Mia (7 hours drive) from Perth.
  • The Bungle Bungle ranges in the Kimberley Region

Further information on living in Western Australia is available from the following sites: