The 7 Absolute Best Things To Do In Fremantle

We highly recommend you make your way just 30 minutes from Perth and discover the seven best things to do in Fremantle for a fantastic day out.

There has never been a better time to travel in your local area. So many travellers put this off in favour of going to exotic and far-flung places. But your local area can have as many secret and amazing sights and places as any foreign location.

The same applies to Fremantle in Perth. Lots of locals ignore the charms of this area, but if you’re looking for the best things to do in Fremantle, you’ll find a wide and fascinating variety.

Fremantle Prison

The Fremantle Prison is one of the most important historical sites in Western Australia, and one of the grimmer things to do in Fremantle. Built in the 19^th century, it remained in use until 1991 and carries a dark history.

Floggings, escapes, riots, and hangings all took place between its walls, which were originally built by convicts. This often-grisly history is now open to anyone who wants to explore this World Heritage Listed site.

You’ll find a variety of tours at the prison including:

• Night-time Ghost Tours.
• Tours of the tunnels that run underneath the prison.
• History tours.
• True crime tours exploring some of the prison’s more notorious inmates.
• Behind bars tours where you get treated like an actual prisoner (minus the flogging and hanging).

This is a truly fascinating site and a window into the city’s darker history, so make sure you include it in your Fremantle day trip itinerary.

Maritime Museum / Shipwreck Gallery

Fremantle is a port city, so it’s understandable that exploring its historical connection to the ocean is one of the most popular things to do in Fremantle. The Maritime Museum showcases the most iconic vessels from the city’s past – from leisure to sailboats. But the exhibits aren’t all that pleasant. On the WWII submarine slipway is the HMAS Ovens, a vessel from the Cold War-era and a memorial for the submariners who fought in the war.

The Museum also contains the Western Australian Museum’s Shipwreck Galleries, home to relics from hundreds of years of maritime exploration. Over the years, it’s become the Southern Hemisphere’s leading maritime archaeology museum and home to relics like:

• Timber from the Batavia, a flagship from the Dutch East India Company that wrecked off the Western Australian coast in 1629.
• Artefacts from the Dutch shipwrecks Zeewijk, Zuytdorp, and Vergulde Draeck.
• The de Vlamingh Dish, found on Dirk Hartog Island and inscribed with a record of the first Western Australian landfall in 1616.

Little Creatures

Little Creatures is an iconic pub and one of the most popular things to do in Fremantle. It has everything going for it – from a backyard area where you enjoy the sunshine to craft beer – and a delicious and not too expensive menu.

Basically, it’s the perfect place to kick back with some friends, have a few drinks, and relax in a vibrant and friendly atmosphere on a lazy afternoon. So, even if you’re only spending one day in Fremantle, make sure you put this on your itinerary.

If you are a beer lover the Little Creatures Brewery Tour is great fun. Over 90 minutes learn all about the process and ingredients and best of all get to taste the full range. It’s great value at only $25 and you can cancel up to 24 hours beforehand should your plans change.

Fremantle Market

When you’re trying to decide what to do in Fremantle, the market is an obvious choice. This is a market with a long history stretching back to 1897. It’s a favourite among locals and tourists alike.

Open on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Public Holidays from early to late, the market offers:

• Fresh local produce
• Stalls with delicious food from all over the world
• Clothes
• Handicrafts

Dedicated to showcasing the best in independent and indigenous art and products, this market is one of the best things to do in Fremantle if you want to experience the heart of the city. There are usually buskers and other entertainers around to entertain you with a song or show as well.

Street Art and Bon Scott statue

The Bon Scott statue was erected in memory of the famous AC/DC singer, whose family moved to Perth when he was very young. It’s one of the many monuments that you’ll find around Fremantle. This statue is one example of why wandering the streets looking for hidden pockets of street art is one of the most interesting things to do in Fremantle.

Fremantle has long been a hotspot for art and artists; you can’t walk more than a few metres without seeing something fantastic on an otherwise plain building. Some of the best places to see Fremantle’s urban art scene are:

• The East West Design Building.
• Gino’s Café.
• The rundown Woolstores building.
• The massive mural on South Terrace.
• South Beach Café with its fantastic ocean mural.
• Ootong & Lincoln’s zebras.
• The Alice in Wonderland wall in Westgate Mall.
• The giant octopus on Queen Victoria Street as you enter Fremantle.

Fremantle tram tour

One of the best things to do in Fremantle is also a great introduction to the area. The Fremantle tram tours depart every 15 minutes and take 25 minutes to amble around the streets, past all the best sites. It’s the ideal start to a Fremantle day trip when you don’t want to waste any time working out where everything is. 

Starting at the Fremantle Town Hall on the corner of William and Adelaide Street, the tram will take you past:

• Fremantle museums
• The Café Strip
• Local markets
• The Fremantle Prison

Along the way, the friendly drivers offer commentary on all of the sites and the best places to eat, drink, and hang out in the city.

Bathers Beach

Once known, rather sadly, as Whaler’s Beach, this area is adjacent to the fishing harbour and has become the art centre of Fremantle. It has the same relaxed atmosphere as other parts of the city and is one of the best things to do in Fremantle if you have a few hours and just want to wander until you find something amazing.

Here’s what to do at Bathers Beach:

• Go for a swim, of course!
• Stake out a chair and enjoy a quiet drink.
• Take the Manjaree Walking Trail and learn more about the local Aboriginal culture.
• Visit Kidogo Art House.
• Spend some time at the J Shed Studio, home to renowned artists for 25 years.
• Check out work by local Fremantle artists at the Art of Freo Gallery.
• Head to the Captains Lane Roundhouse Studios, a collection of heritage-listed cottages that contain several art studios.
• Check out or purchase some authentic Aboriginal art at the Walyalup Cultural Centre, or take a class there.
• Stop by the Kelp Bar for a drink at the end of the day.

Basically, if you’re trying to decide what to do in Fremantle, this is an excellent area to start in.

How to get to Fremantle

The most pleasant way is on the water – take a cruise from Perth – it takes about 75 minutes and includes commentary. There is no public ferry.

There is a train service from Perth to Fremantle that will cost you less than $10 and takes about 30 minutes.

You can find all the public transport options here.

The Takeaway

No matter what you enjoy doing on, you’ll find lots of things to do in Fremantle for a long or short break. Taking a Fremantle day trip or spending an afternoon doing something new can be nearly as rewarding as a holiday overseas, without all the trouble of big trips.

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