Overview – Why This Matters
This article provides a first-hand account of caravanning in Perth during the winter, offering a weatherproof itinerary including the Karrinyup Waters Resort and the Perth Mint.
You will learn about the resort’s amenities, dining options and the unique experience of the Perth Mint Gold Tour at the historic Perth Mint.
Review of Karrinyup Waters Resort Facilities and Camping
When we arrived in Perth, we knew it was winter, but we didn’t know the style of winter that Perth had in store for us. Day after day of rain and wild winds, not exactly the type of weather that would entice you to roam around.
Camping up at Karrinyup
We were staying at Karrinyup Waters Resort which is on the north side of Perth. Peter and I had been there years before when they were just starting to open up the park beyond the lagoon. Now it is all open and we chose to go right down to the end of the park and set up on the back fence. It was a good choice with lots of room, peace and quiet.
Family Amenities and Jumping Pillows
The park has some great play areas, and two jumping pillows. One is at the end of the park, but it closes down some time after dark, and all the kids go back to their van so it wasn’t a problem. There is a pool and large spa pools that are heated year-round and plenty of amenities blocks throughout the park which was really good on rainy cold days!
On-site Cafe Dining
One thing we really liked was the cafe on the park. Mid-morning would often see us up at the cafe having ‘smoko’, and we had dinner there a couple of times. Really lovely area, and excellent food. I heard there are upgrade plans in place for the cafe, to increase the capacity. That’s a good idea because it is very popular.
Guide to Perth Mint Tours and Gold Pour Experience
One tourist thing that shone bright amongst the rain was the Perth Mint. It used to be a Royal Mint and it used to make money – literally. Now it isn’t Royal and it doesn’t make money – well except for one huge coin.
A Mint with No Money?
The funniest thing about paying the entrance fee was that the Mint is a cash free area, everything is done on credit card. Imagine that, a Mint that doesn’t handle money!
What they do now is show off gold. We joined in with a tour, so we got to see all the best bits and pieces. Mind you, if you have a spare fortune or two there are some great gift ideas of gold, diamonds and other exotic stones in the shops in the Mint.
Historic Gold Exhibits
Our tour guide was very energetic and loved his topic. We saw models of huge gold nuggets, most of which were melted down and sold. Then we saw the largest gold lump still in existence, which is smaller than the other big ones, but it is still in one piece.
We also saw a massive gold coin with a street value of $1,000,000. It was made for Queen Elizabeth the last time she visited Perth. The value of the gold is a lot more now but the street value hasn’t changed. Imagine going in and buying $1m worth of things and paying for it with one coin!
Live Gold Pour Demonstration
We also got to see our guide pour an ingot of gold, and it goes from boiling hot liquid gold to cold enough to hold without gloves in about 2 minutes. It’s quite extraordinary.
When it comes to highlights in gold it has to be a set of scales. Not scales to weigh gold, but to work out how much each person is worth in gold. Of course I had to have a go at that and am happy to tell you that on the gold price for the day, I was valued at $8,395,625.
Perth may not have had the best of weather for us, but we had a wonderful time at the Karrinyup and in the City. We do have to go back because, once again, we missed out on Rottnest Island and the quokkas.
Key Takeaways
Highlights and Practical info:
- Gold Pour: Watch a guide pour boiling hot liquid gold into an ingot.
- Personal Value: Use the scales to see what you are worth in gold.
- Resort Dining: Enjoy excellent food at the on-site cafe at Karrinyup Waters.
Karrinyup Waters Resort
- Location: Karrinyup Waters Resort in Gwelup is 15 minutes northeast from Perth.
- Amenities: The resort features multiple amenities blocks and two jumping pillows.
- Pet Policy: Karrinyup Waters Resort enforces a strict no-pet policy.
Perth Mint
Payment: The Perth Mint is a strictly cashless venue, card only.
- Tours: The Perth Mint Gold Mint Tours run four times a day, seven days a week.
FAQ
Q. Is the Perth Mint a cash-free venue?
A. Yes, as Alison discovered, the Mint is a cashless area where everything is done on credit card – ironic for a place that used to make money!.
Q. Where is Karrinyup Waters Resort located?
A. The resort is located in Gwelup, approximately 15 minutes northeast of the Perth CBD.
Q. Can I see gold being made at the Perth Mint?
A. Yes, guided tours include a demonstration where a guide pours boiling hot liquid gold into an ingot, which cools enough to hold in about two minutes.
