Don't Miss Burswood Chinese New Year Fireworks

For those that have caught the fireworks bug from the Australia Day Skyworks, there is one more must-see fireworks display for the year. You cannot miss the Burswood Chinese New Year Fireworks which is arguably more "spectacular" than the Australia Day fireworks even though its much, much smaller. The fireworks are put on as part of the Burswood Annual VVIP Golf Tournament which invites the high rollers from Asia to Perth for a Chinese New Year golf tournament.

This year's fireworks will be on NEXT Friday 4th February 2011 around 8:30pm. The best place to see it is probably here.There is also a fireworks display at 9:50pm on this coming Tuesday night also at Burswood so just keep an eye out in case THIS is the CNY fireworks.

For those that missed it, here are the 4th February fireworks in Burswood.

EDIT for 2012 - This year's fireworks will be on the Saturday 29th January 2012. There is a little confusion as to when the fireworks will take place, with the Movies by Burswood stating that there may be an intermission for the fireworks during the screening of Happy Feet 2 which would place the fireworks start time at around 9pm. However, in other places the start time is 10:20pm which seems to be after the movie. A quick call to Burswood has confirmed that the fireworks will be at 10:20pm lasting 15 minutes.See the fireworks for 2012 here.

2014 Burswood Chinese New Year Fireworks

Best Places to Change Money in Perth

With the Australian dollar at an all-time high, many will be travelling overseas so the question is how do you get the best currency exchange rate in Perth? From my experience, the best rates tends to be with Bankwest. You can try BestExchangeRates.net to find out the best prevailing rates if you want to double check.

However, Bankwest branches only hold currency that is on hand from other people exchanging money during the week. At the end of the week, any outstanding foreign currency gets moved to the main St Georges Terrace Bankwest Headquarters. So the best thing is to go straight to the Bankwest headquarters to change money.

EDIT: Changes have been apparently made in Bankwest's policy which means branches no longer change foreign currency. You can only order foreign currency online and pick it up from a branch, otherwise, you should go straight to the Bankwest HQ on St Georges Tce.

Another place that seemed to be giving a relatively good rate was the American Express exchange at 645 Hay Street, Perth near London Court. If you are a platinum card holder we were told you can save 1%. Do you know a better rate? leave comments below.

New to Perth? Search our website for all the tips you can only get from a local. Here are some of our "Perth's Best" posts

• Perth's best restaurants
• Perth's best cafes
• Perth's best credit card deal
• Perth's best seafood buffet
• Perth's best way to use public transport with Google Maps
• Perth's best groceries tip to save 5% off Coles and Woolworths 

Awesome Perth Skyworks 2011 from South Perth

So what did you think of the Australia Day fireworks in Perth last night? Personally I thought that South Perth was a great place to see the fireworks, with a pretty manageable crowd there for the massive number of police officers in duty. At one stage I saw thirteen cops patrolling the foreshore and then later, about 30 of them all gathered in one place standing around. There was nowhere near as many people as there used to be on the South Perth foreshore with excellent vantage points still available especially between Queen Street and Mill Point Close. Bike riders mainly gathered at the north end of South Perth whilst most drivers stayed near the Mends Street Jetty. A Christian church handed out free glowsticks to kids and "Try this Quiz" Christian reading material to entertain the patient crowd.

Crowded section of mostly families near Coco's and the Mends St Jetty

No problem convincing people to tip out their alcohol 

Channel Nine's Angela Tsun doing a live cross from South Perth

The drunken incidents were down by official accounts. In total, there were 23 arrests, 14 summons, 47 move-on notices and 39 liquor infringements handed out. 36 people were charged with drink-driving offences. Getting out of South Perth was a nightmare, with over-polite drivers mainly to blame holding up traffic by trying to turn right onto main roads like Labouchere Road and other main exits out of the area. People catching the train from the city side were home extremely fast and as a nice surprise to many (although this is what they have been doing in the past few years) Transperth was not charging people for catching the trains home.

The fireworks itself were pretty spectacular. Close to half a million dollars went into 31,000 shots of pyrotechnics over half an hour which is the biggest skyshow in Australia on Australia Day each year. Here is a clip of the last five minutes. Let us know what you think of it and if you went, what did you think of the event as a whole from where you were?

What is your secret for getting home quickly after the Skyworks? We would especially like to hear experienced drivers trying to get out of South Perth :)

Leave your thoughts in the comments below

How to Avoid Alcohol Zones for Skyworks 2011

Are you allowed to bring alcohol to the 2011 Skyworks in Perth? Depends on where you are sitting and what time it is. This year is probably the most controversial of years with the government deciding on setting up BYO Picnic areas where people are allowed to bring alcohol. 

Personally, I am planning to avoid these areas and I cannot imagine a family wanting to sit in this area because of the potential for violence and the fact that police are not allowed to confiscate alcohol leaves this area in a bit of legal limbo. 

Alcohol zones The  two BYO Picnic (alcohol allowed) zones are in Kings Park and on the City foreshore indicated in the map below in red. However, consuming alcohol is only allowed between 6:30pm - 8:30pm. If you intend to be in these areas, be a good Australian and drink responsibly.

South Perth - Alcohol free zone There is a complete ban on alcohol on the South Perth foreshore making that the ideal destination for young families who do not intend to consume alcohol. Hope that helps...

Click on the image to enlarge

Roads closed around Perth Skyworks

The following main roads will be CLOSED for the Perth Skyworks event.

6.00 am to midnight
Mill Point Road EXIT from Kwinana Freeway (northbound)


12 noon until midnight
Riverside Drive / Mounts Bay Road EXIT from Mitchell Freeway southbound
Riverside Drive ENTRY to Mitchell Freeway northbound
Mounts Bay Road ENTRY to Kwinana Freeway southbound
Riverside Drive ENTRY to Kwinana Freeway southbound
Riverside Drive - William Street to Mounts Bay Road (Point Lewis Rotary)
Please note: Narrows Bridge will have a reduced speed limit of 60 km/h in place from noon to midnight.

3.00 pm to midnight
Mill Point Road EXIT from Kwinana Freeway (southbound)

Tomorrow's Perth Skyworks Program

You may be at work right now, wondering what your plans are going to be tomorrow and where you will watch the fireworks. If you have decided to go to Australia Day's biggest fireworks display in Australia (apparently), this is the program around South Perth, City and Kings Park tomorrow. Where are you planning to be? Leave a comment and feel free to add your thoughts throughout the day tomorrow where many others will too.

The Australia Day timetable counting down to the Skyworks at 8pm.
Time	Event	Location
All day	Say cheese! Skyworks Photo Comp	Along the Swan River
7am	MIX 94.5 Australia Day broadcast live from the City of Perth	Perth Foreshore
8am - 10.30am	Citizenship Ceremony in South Perth	Sir James Mitchell Park
9am	Citizenship Ceremony in Victoria Park	Memorial Gardens
11am	City of Perth Australia Day Citizenship & Awards Ceremony	Council House, Perth
11am - 12.30pm	Bran Nue Dae Movie Screening	Sir James Mitchell Park
12.30pm - 3.30pm	Perth Criterium	Riverside Drive
12pm - 7.45pm	Too Solid Music Festival	Supreme Court Gardens
12pm - 6pm	The Great Australia Day Duck Pluck raffle	Perth Foreshore
1pm - 8pm	Celebration Zone South Perth	Sir James Mitchell Park
2pm - 8.30pm	Barrack Square Family Entertainment Area	Barrack Square
3pm - 8pm	Variety WA's 'Coins for Kids' tin shake	Foreshore
3pm - 8pm	Reduce Reuse Recycle Zone	Langley Park,  Esplanade and Sir James Mitchell Park
3.30pm - 7.55pm	Air BP Air Show	Perth Skies
4pm - 6pm	Global Harmonies	The Esplanade, Perth
4pm - 7.45pm	Youth Zone	Langley Park
4pm - 8pm	Peter Hughes Burn Foundation SafeFlame Candles	Perth Foreshore
4pm - 8.30pm	MIX 94.5 Listener Party	Perth Foreshore
5pm - 7.30pm	Water Regatta	Perth Water
6.30pm - 8.30pm	BYO Picnic Zone	The Esplanade, Perth and Kings Park
8pm - 8.30pm	City of Perth Skyworks 2011	Perth Water
10.30pm	City of Perth Skyworks delayed telecast (subject to programming)	Channel Seven

2011 WA Australia Day Fireworks Guide

If you are wanting to find out where and what time fireworks start on Australia Day this year, you have found the complete list here for all fireworks displays in Western Australia. Below, the list includes the scheduled start times, where it will be held and for what purpose (surprisingly they all say Australia Day celebrations). Hope you have a great Australia Day. South Perth will be our destination as nothing beats the Perth Skyworks :) Please leave a comment with a link to your YOUTUBE video of any fireworks displays you get to see on Australia Day and let us know how it went.


26/01/2011 8:00 PM
PORT HEDLAND HARBOUR
PORT HEDLAND WA ON
BARGE APPROX 200 M
NORTH OF FINUCANE
WHARF
PORT HEDLAND AUST DAY
CELEBRATIONS

26/01/2011 8:30 PM
GREY ST KALBARRI WA 6536
KALBARRI FORESHORE
KALBARRI AUSTRALIA DAY
CELEBRATIONS

26/01/2011 8:00 PM
IAN BOGLE RD GERALDTON
WA 6530 SOUTH EASTERN
BREAKWATER CHAMPION
BAY
GERALDTON AUSTRALIA DAY
CONCERT

26/01/2011 8:00 PM
ARMADALE RD ARMADALE
WA 6112 ARMADALE
SHOPPING CENTRE CNR
ORCHARD RD
CITY OF ARMADALE -
AUSTRALIA DAY
CELEBRATIONS

26/01/2011 9:00 PM
CARNARVON ST BROOME
WA 6725 MANGROVE HOTEL
MANGROVE HOTEL
AUSTRALIA DAY
CELEBRATIONS

26/01/2011 7:30 PM
MINDARRA DR NEWMAN WA
6753 BOOMERANG OVAL
NEWMAN AUSTRALIA DAY
CELEBRATIONS

26/01/2011 8:00 PM
GUILDFORD RD ASHFIELD
WA 6054 ASHFIELD
RESERVE
BASSENDEAN AUSTRALIA
DAY CELEBRATIONS

26/01/2011 8:00 PM
WHITLOCK ISLAND
CARNARVON WA 6701
CARNARVON AUSTRALIA DAY
CELEBRATIONS

26/01/2011 8:30 PM
NORTH RD ALBANY WA 6330
ALBANY LEISURE & AQUATIC
CENTRE SPORTS GROUND
ALBANY AUSTRALIA DAY
CELEBRATIONS

26/01/2011 8:30 PM
KOOMBANA DR BUNBURY
WA 6230 VACANT LAND CNR
CASUARINA DR - ALSO TOP
OF BUNBURY TOWER AND
BARGE IN LESCHENAULT
INLET
CITY OF BUNBURY
AUSTRALIA DAY

26/01/2011 8:00 PM
SWAN RIVER BETWEEN
PERTH CBD AND SOUTH
PERTH & VARIOUS CBD
ROOFTOPS
PERTH AUSTRALIA DAY
SKYWORKS

26/01/2011 8:00 PM
MARINE TCE FREMANTLE
WA 6160 SOUTHERN
BREAKWATER GROYNE
FREMANTLE SAILING CLUB
AUSTRALIA DAY
CELEBRATIONS - FREMANTLE

Perth Petrol Going Up

Driving around last night you would have noticed an unusually high number of cars piling into petrol stations as the media pushed a story about petrol prices peaking to two year highs this week. Just to help you out, here are some of the cheapest places to get petrol today taken from Fuelwatch.wa.gov.au, a website you all should be familiar with by now.

122.7	United South Lake	49 Berrigan Drive	SOUTH LAKE
123.1	Coles Express Canning Vale	280 Bannister Rd	CANNING VALE
123.1	Caltex Woolworths Canning Vale	Cnr Amherst & Nicholson Rds	CANNING VALE
123.1	Caltex Woolworths South Lake	752 North Lake Rd	SOUTH LAKE
123.1	Coles Express Highgate	1-5 Guildford Rd	MT LAWLEY
123.1	Coles Express Mount Lawley	Cnr Walcott & Fitzgerald Sts	NORTH PERTH
123.1	Caltex Woolworths Mirrabooka	53 Yirrigan Drive	MIRRABOOKA
123.9	Caltex South Lake	Cnr North Lake Rd & Omeo St	SOUTH LAKE
124.9	Caltex Glen Forrest	1400 Great Eastern Hwy	GLEN FORREST
124.9	Caltex Starmart High Wycombe	Cnr Abernethy & Grogan Rds	HIGH WYCOMBE
124.9	Caltex Starmart Mundaring	5895 Great Eastern Highway	MUNDARING
125.7	United Northbridge	31 Fitzgerald Street	NORTHBRIDGE
125.9	Caltex Starshop Bentley	Cnr Manning & Wyong Rds	BENTLEY
125.9	Caltex Starshop Wangara	Cnr Hartman Dve & Ocean Reef Rd	WANGARA
125.9	Caltex Starmart Cannington	1346 Albany Hwy	CANNINGTON
126.4	United Mt Lawley	791 Beaufort Street	MT LAWLEY
126.7	United Quinns Rock	Cnr Tapping Way & Quinns Road	QUINNS ROCK
126.7	United East Victoria Park	916 Albany Hwy	EAST VICTORIA PARK
127.7	United Leda	Cnr Feilman Drive & Gilmore Avenue	LEDA
127.7	United Edgewater	Cnr Joondalup Drive & The Gateway	EDGEWATER
127.7	United Mindarie	Cnr Marmion & Hester Ave	MINDARIE
127.7	United Hepburn Heights

Garden City Food Court Opening later

While we have been lamenting the reduced hours that Fast Eddy's is now open, it is good to see some positive changes to opening hours in Garden City's food court. From now on, the food court will be open till 7:30pm Monday to Friday and 9pm on Thursdays. It may not be a massive change in our city but its a step in the right direction.

The New Burswood Atrium

Its taken a while but we finally checked out the new refurbished Burswood Atrium which has undergone a multi-million dollar upgrade to include an open kitchen and a fresher look. On entering into the foyer of the Intercontinental Hotel, the difference was already exciting! The Spice Lounge looked much more inviting and the copper board or whatever that used to block the lifts was finally replaced.

As mentioned in an earlier post, the prices have gone up and it seems so has the variety of food. There are now more cooks on hand to prepare Peking Duck, serve you carvery and bash together a "cold rock" type ice cream concoction with lollies or whatever.

 Watch the cooks putting together your meals 

 More comfortable seating arrangements

Old Chinese style decor gives the Atrium a more refined look

Seafood lovers would be interested to know that peeling prawns are a thing of the past. However, on the day that we went, there was only oysters, salmon and prawns available (where are the mussels / crabs??) Oysters were quite fresh tasting and the prawns were pretty decent.


Other interesting additions to the menu include roti prata and malaysian curry, more baked and roasted dishes and more dim sum selections that before. The seating has definitely increased and now pushes out toward the hotel foyer. Some eager fans have noticed many of the Hopman Cup players coming back for return serves at the Atrium with Novak Djokovic spotted quite a few times. If you are a keen buffet goer, leave your thoughts below about your experience at the new Atrium. 


Some changes to be aware of

• Tea and coffee is no longer included in the price
• Different prices apply on nights where there are shows on, I think Hopman Cup is considered a "show"
• Entertainment book cards (25% off Atrium) and Priority Privilege cards (one free buffet per table) are still accepted 

 Oysters, salmon and pre-peeled prawns

 Dessert with a favourite addition - waffles!

 Burswood serving up the seafood in style

An explosion of culinary variety 

 The Peking Duck was fantastic! 

Every sweet deviation you can think of

Happy New Year!

Hope you all have a happy new year! There is nothing much open today in Perth and for 2nd and 3rd January thanks to archaic shopping hours this year. Fremantle Markets is open and so are all fast food outlets like McDonalds etc.

Here is the first sun rise of 2011 from Kings Park this morning taken by me.