Summer season · Perth · December to February
Burswood Summer Notes
The Walk Back: Optus Stadium to Burswood After the Match
When the match ends and the stadium floodlights fade, you have two choices. You can join the heavy crowds squeezing toward the train platforms, or you can turn south across the water toward the quieter lights of Burswood.
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Crossing the Water in the Warm Air
Leaving Optus Stadium on a warm summer evening is a distinct Perth experience. While thousands of spectators funnel toward the train lines at Stadium Station, stepping onto the Matagarup Bridge offers a completely different tempo. Pedestrian access to Burswood Park from the city is available via the Causeway or Matagarup Bridge.
By secondary state sources, the walk between Optus Stadium and the resort grounds takes roughly fifteen to twenty minutes. On a hot night, the breeze moving off the river is immediate. The wide footpaths give you space to walk at your own pace while watching the illuminated arches of the bridge reflect in the dark water below. The city skyline sits quiet on the western horizon, separated from Burswood by the dark expanse of the river basin.
It is a gentle buffer between the roaring energy of a match or major concert and the rest of your night. You move past Burswood Park before the bright glass entries of the hotel towers come into view.
Timing Dinner Around the Final Siren
Planning food on an event night requires a light strategy. Most stadium fixtures finish after standard restaurant service hours, which means trying to sit down for a three-course dinner at eight or nine in the evening can be tricky if you have not booked in advance.
If you prefer a structured meal before the event, reserve an early table at spots like Rockpool Bar & Grill, Silks, or Nobu within the complex. Leaving early gives you time to finish dinner before strolling down the foreshore path to the stadium gates without rushing in the heat. To explore all venue options, review our summary of restaurants across the property.
If you prefer to eat after the siren, the property has late options designed for post-match crowds. The Merrywell sits beside the outdoor beer garden and serves relaxed pub dishes late into the evening. For faster dining, the Urban Food District in the main complex offers quick options including Burgers by ES, Side Piece Pizza, and Tekka Bar. If you simply want a quiet drink before calling it a night, 42 by Don Julio—a late-night venue located inside TWR—is now open for evening drinks.
Retreating to the Quiet of Your Room
The main benefit of booking a room at the resort on a stadium night is eliminating the long commute home. While standard city traffic gridlocks along Victoria Park Drive and Great Eastern Highway, you simply walk through the cool lobby and take the lift straight to your floor.
Each of the three hotels offers a different setting for winding down after the match:
- Crown Towers Perth: Features 500 rooms with expansive floor plans. It offers a comfortable setting to unwind immediately after returning from the foreshore.
- Crown Metropol Perth: Holds 405 rooms (by secondary listings) surrounding a central atrium layout. Rooms facing the river or city offer elevated views of the stadium lit up in the dark. Note that the Metropol lobby is currently undergoing a revitalisation into a lounge space.
- Crown Promenade Perth: Holds 291 rooms (by secondary listings) providing a practical, comfortable base with crisp, modern layout options.
All three properties observe a standard check-in time from 3:00 pm and check-out at 11:00 am. Keep in mind that late check-out is generally unavailable on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, or during special event periods when hotel occupancy is high.
Practical Details for Match Night Stays
If you are driving to Burswood for a stadium stay, the resort provides over 4,000 parking bays operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Free open-air parking is available at car parks P3, P6, and P8. Paid undercover parking is available at P2 Multi-Level, P4 Riverside, and P1 Undercroft, which includes electric vehicle charging bays. Valet parking is also available at the main hotel entries for an published fee.
For guests arriving via train, Burswood train station sits on the Armadale and Thornlie lines on the northeastern edge of the park. The property operates a complimentary shuttle bus that picks up outside the food court and drops off at Burswood station. The shuttle runs Sunday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 7:55 pm, and Friday through Saturday from 9:00 am to 8:55 pm (except Christmas Day, Good Friday, and ANZAC Day morning).
To learn more about structuring a summer stay around match fixtures, read our overview of stadium nights or consult our guide on beating the heat across a full resort day.