Things to do in Fremantle, Perth

Jump to: Places that are worth a visit, Places you could give a miss

Fremantle is a thriving bustling community of art, culture, and history. There is something here for everyone. Fremantle, initially the Swan River Colony was officially established in 1829, when the first ship (the HMS Challenger) arrived at the mouth of Swan River. After years of struggle, the Swan River Colony became a penal colony, with the first ship arriving in 1850. After this, Fremantle saw rapid growth in both population and infrastructure, as most of the prisoners were sent there for labour. Many of the historic buildings that are still standing in Fremantle today, were built by those prisoners in the 1800s. Now, Fremantle is a vibrant town, full of culture. Every street is drenched in history, with beautiful lime-stone and brick houses. Whilst the main streets are very busy and fun, the outer streets are still and calm, but somehow have an Italian village atmosphere. There are also several museums and some beautiful beaches that are worth checking out.

There is also a direct train from Fremantle to central Perth, and many buses running throughout the town, but ensure you have a SmartRider card to get discounted fares! You can also pay with cash, however, you will not get change and tickets are more expensive.

Places That Are Worth A Visit

Fremantle Prison

First built from 1852-1859, Fremantle Prison was built by convict labor who arrived on the first ships. The buildings are made from limestone quarried on the sight. The Museum goes into the deep history of the site, the building, and the prisoners held there. It tells numerous stories, the most interesting I found was about some of the daunting escapes and troubles with prisoners. Along with the history and information available to read, visitors can also walk through some of the buildings and learn about their numerous uses, as well as walk through the famous Fremantle Prison Gatehouse. There is also a nice cafe to have lunch, and a few digital information sites where visitors can search up an inmate’s name and learn about them – perfect for family history or local history research.

All of the above is available for free, however, there is the option to pay for a tour that takes you past the gates and into the prisoner barracks. There are also a few other tour options, including the tunnels tour, which I didn’t personally do, but it looks quite interesting, and a tour that also takes you to the Round House. The range of admission types means there is an option for various budgets and interests. Tickets can be booked here.

Bathers Beach

Bathers Beach is a beautiful and calm beach in the heart of Fremantle. It is perfect if you are walking around town for the day or near the museums and need to freshen up, as it is near many tourist spots, including some on this list. There are also many cafes and restaurants around, as well as Esplanade Park, which has a ferris wheel, and is a great place for families and a picnic. Bathers Beach House is a great restaurant option; there are lounge chairs right on the beach which are still serviced like a classic restaurant table, only you’re on the sand and lying down! One thing to be aware of at Bathers Beach is that there is sometimes a bit of seaweed, however, in my opinion, it is much calmer and more relaxing than South Beach.

South Beach

South Beach is where to go if you’re after culture and the Fremantle spirit. The beach itself is very long and split across several smaller beaches, including 2 dog beaches where dogs can run freely all day. The water at South Beach is very warm and pleasant, and every time I have gone there, the gentle breeze makes the temperature just right for relaxing if you don’t want to get in. The park nearby is usually full of people, especially at dusk. There are all sorts of live music, games, and dancing; the culture really comes alive. Because of its location, South Beach is also perfect for watching the sunset, and often has very still, cloudless evenings.

Shipwreck Museum

Throughout its history, Fremantle Port has wrecked many ships due to its challenging geographical location. Shipwreck Museum shares some of these stories, as well as those from many other ships found in Western Australia. This museum is truly an archeologist’s dream, with so many artifacts kept in astonishing conditions. Many of the artifacts come from the Dutch shipwrecks Zuytdorp, Zeewijk and Vergulde Draeck. The most impressive find in the museum is the wrecks from Batavia, which wrecked in 1629. The original timbers are on display in the museum, along with some very intriguing stories. The museum building itself is full of history and is an old 1850s Commissariat building.

Coogee Beach

Such a beautiful beach! This one is a 10-minute drive from Fremantle or roughly a 20-minute bus, but it is so worth it! The water is stunning and so blue, it’s like Fiji. The sand is beautiful, and the beach stretches on forever, so there is plenty of space for everyone to sit, or go for a long stroll. There is a large cafe, toilets, and lockers near the main area of the beach, and a popular jumping and fishing wharf further up. Unlike South Beach and Bathers Beach, Coogee Beach is better for families as it doesn’t get as deep so fast. There are also a few ocean pools making it even more safe. Coming from Fremantle, I would make this a day trip as there is also a walking trail and some lovely cafes to visit.

True Crime Tour

Fremantle has a deep criminal history and a dark legacy. Take a guided tour through the town to explore the past and learn about some of this dark history. Enjoy the contrasts between the now calm and picturesque town and its not-so-bright past. Tickets can be booked here.

Woodman Point Regional Park

Woodman Point Regional Park is by far my favorite thing to do in Fremantle. Located 10 minutes drive from Fremantle, there is a loop trail that starts at Coogee Beach Carpark which takes you to the point and back again. This trail is paved the whole way, and is wide enough for both bikers and walkers. It took me 4hrs total, but that was with lots of stops and swims. The walk along the way is stunning, with beautiful views of the blue water and Coogee Beach. Fisherman’s Beach is at the end of the trail and is a beautiful place to sit, swim, and snorkel. It is a long beach and the fishing tends to stay at one end, so don’t let that put you off! It is my favorite beach in the area; So picturesque. On the way back, you can follow the path or walk along the beach for a different view.

Rottnest Island Day Trip

A day trip to Rottnest Island is a must. The island is full of beautiful blue beaches, an intriguing history, and abundant wildlife, including the famous Quokkas. There is plenty to do on the island, from fine-dining, snorkeling, cycling, or one of the many free guided walking tours. Ferries to the island can be quite expensive, with an island entry fee on top. I’ve managed to find one of the cheapest options which included your ferry both ways, and the island entry fee, for the price of a one-way ticket. Tickets can be purchased here.

Whalers Tunnel & Roundhouse

Whalers Tunnel & Roundhouse are right next to each other so I would do them in the same trip, especially because they don’t take long. Whalers tunnel is cool to walk through and read about the history, and the same with roundhouse. Whilst these two aren’t at the top of my list, they are right next to bathers beach, museums, and central Fremantle, so are worth a visit whilst your there. They both tell very interesting stories about vital parts of Fremantle’s history, so if you’re someone who reads the plaques, they’re more worthwhile visiting. There is the option to book a guided tour of the round house, which also includes admission to the prison. Tours can be booked here.

Maritime Museum

The Maritime Museum is a great place to visit and learn about Western Australia’s maritime and naval history. There are heaps of old boats and artifacts to look at, and you can even go inside one of the boats. The location of the museum has a nice backdrop of the ocean and harbor. Depending on the time of year, there may also be other exhibitions, such as the Josephine’s Garden exhibition and a photography exhibition, which were on display when I went. Information about the special exhibitions will be on their website, and I recommended booking in advance for these. Whilst this museum is amazing, it’s focus is primarily maritime, so there are lots of kids, and may only be interesting if maritime is your thing.

Fremantle Arts Center

The Fremantle Arts Center is housed in a beautiful, old stone building, one of the many built by convicts in the 1800s. Initially used as the Fremantle Lunatic Asylum and Invalid Depot, the building then became a women’s home, technical school, and finally the Fremantle Arts Center in 1973. The building and grounds are full of rich history and are a peaceful place to look around or have a picnic. The gallery and exhibitions are smaller than I expected, however, they too are very powerful. The Fremantle Arts Center also hosts events and live music, especially in February during the Perth Festival.

Places You Could Give A Miss (In My Opinion)

Fremantle Markets

The Fremantle Markets are a popular tourist destination, and are recommended in almost every website and brochure I found. Whilst they do provide some nice food grocery stalls, the markets are very noisy and overcrowded, and therefor, are not a nice place to spend lots of time, unless you thrive of busy and fast-paced environments. If you do choose to go, do not expect any fancy or boutique market stalls, most of them are Asian/overseas import stalls.

South Mole Lighthouse

South Mole Lighthouse has some interesting maritime history and played a vital role in Fremantle’s harbor. The walk to the lighthouse is alright; It provides good views of the ocean, Fremantle town, and Bathers Beach, however, there is no path, and many cars. Members of the public are able to walk close to the lighthouse, but can not go in or right up to it, as it is fenced off. If you have never seen a lighthouse before, I would give it a go, but if you have, I would recommend giving this one a miss.

Omeo Wreck

Omeo Wreck had so many amazing reviews, however, my experience was not great. From above, the wreck is cool to look at, but once you’re in the water, it is too murky to sea anything, which defeats the purpose of it as a snorkel trail. I think the only time this would be a good experience is on a completely flat day, otherwise the waves stir up too much sand. However, if you’re at Coogee Beach already, might as well check it out, but I wouldn’t make a special trip for it.

Lake Mt Brown

Despite some beautiful showing a gorgeous lake, you cannot actually see the lake from the walking track. The tracks you from one carpark, around the lake, and then either to the same carpark or one on the other end. However, the grass and foliage is too thick to actually see any water whilst walking around the lake. The walk up Mt Brown is a little nicer; It’s a short walk (about 30 minutes each way) and offers beautiful views of the ocean once you reach the summit. However, the track is not the most interesting, and is easy to go the wrong direction at times. The surrounding area of Mt Brown is also not that pleasant. It is mostly industrial, with many factories, and a main highway. I also did not feel very safe there, and discovered afterwards that it is ranked badly in the government safety ratings.

High-Street Mall

High Street Mall came up on all my searches when looking for things to do in Fremantle. Whilst there is nothing wrong with it, High Street Mall is just a classic street mall with the usual cafes and shops. If you’re looking for a nice place to shop and eat, or explore the town, this is a possibility, but I wouldn’t say there is anything special about High Street Mall.

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Things to do in Fremantle, Perth