Start with a calm buffet breakfast at Mercure on Hay; ask reception in advance for halal or vegetarian-only options if you need guaranteed halal choices for elders. The hotel buffet typically opens early for guests and offers seated dining with easy access for seniors.
Head to the Hay Street/Murray Street CAT stop and hop on the free CAT bus (any colour) — CATs are free, frequent, wheelchair- and senior-friendly with priority seating. Yes, you can hop off at any official CAT stop to explore and hop back on later; drivers cannot stop between stops, so plan to use the marked stops.
Hop off at Murray/Hay Street Mall to browse shops and enjoy the many benches and shaded seating areas dotted along the pedestrian malls — minimal walking required and plenty of places for parents to rest between short walks.
Catch the CAT a short ride to Elizabeth Quay/Barrack Street Jetty; CAT buses make crossing the CBD easy for seniors and avoid uphill walking. Stay seated until the bus reaches the official stop and disembark onto level paved areas with benches nearby.
Enjoy an easy riverside walk at Elizabeth Quay and take photos of the Bell Tower from outside — lots of benches and covered seating are available, flat pathways for wheelchairs and walkers, and public toilets nearby. Note: we’re only viewing the Bell Tower externally to keep things relaxed and avoid museum-style visits.
Have lunch at Annalakshmi (vegetarian Indian on/near the river) which is ideal for halal diets because it’s strictly vegetarian — call ahead to confirm opening hours. Alternatively hop on a CAT for one stop into Northbridge where a cluster of Turkish/Middle-Eastern and South-Asian restaurants typically offer halal choices — ask your hotel concierge for the current halal-certified pick.
If energy allows, take the short Transperth ferry from Elizabeth Quay to South Perth (Mends St) — step-free boarding and benches on the foreshore make it easy for seniors; otherwise continue CAT hopping to Northbridge or other CBD stops to rest on benches and explore cafes. Ferry services run frequently during the day but check the latest timetable at the wharf or via Transperth.
Relax on the South Perth foreshore with excellent skyline views: there are many benches, flat paved pathways, sheltered picnic areas, and nearby cafés for a sit-down cuppa. Toilets and level access are available close to the jetty, which is helpful for elderly parents.
Return to Elizabeth Quay by ferry or catch a CAT back into the CBD; pick a café with ground-level seating for afternoon tea — Mends St Village cafes or CBD cafes near Hay/Murray have accessible seating and benches outside for resting.
Catch the CAT back to the Hay Street area and return to the Mercure for a rest — CATs run frequently through the afternoon but check the service times for later evening runs. The hotel is a short flat walk from the main CAT stops.
For dinner, either return to Northbridge (easy on the CAT) to dine at a well-reviewed Turkish/Middle-Eastern restaurant that typically offers halal meat (ask staff or request halal certification), or choose a vegetarian restaurant in the CBD to avoid any uncertainty about meat sourcing. Both options have ground-level, seated dining suitable for seniors.
Return to Mercure on Hay to relax. If anyone wants a short flat stroll, Hay Street Mall nearby has benches and evening lighting; otherwise enjoy the hotel lounge.