Fremantle

Things to Do

• Enjoy a coffee or eight on the cappuccino strip.
• Drop the soap on a tour of the Old Fremantle prison. Try Old Fremantle Prison.
• Indulge yourself in some of the many boutique beers in the pubs and check out the live music on offer.
• Eat ‘world’s best’ fish and chips at Fishing Boat Harbour
• Amble through the historic Fremantle Markets (Fri – Sun)
• Laze by the sea at South Beach, Bather’s Bay (aka McDonalds Beach) or Leighton.

Fremantle is Perth’s old port town and is much loved for its festive atmosphere. Fremantle was the final destination for so many European migrants and its unique street café culture bears evidence to this. Freo, as it’s endearingly called by locals, is fun and happening, but also laid back and easy. This mix is nicely complemented by backpackers who have come to establish a base here, and there are five well equipped hostels which are all centrally located.

One of Freo’s most famous attractions is the Fremantle Markets. The main building here houses fresh fruit and veg plus local arts and crafts stalls, while the outdoors annex is abuzz with a quality food court and bar. Go shopping then grab something tasty to eat. The markets are open Friday-Sunday.

Another pivotal attraction here is Freo’s integrated waterfront location. Fremantle Harbour is a delight on a summer’s day. Nearby is Esplanade Park which is a shady expanse of green that plays host to many festivals throughout the summer.

A somewhat eerie attraction is the Fremantle Prison. No longer operating as a gaol, the prison has been converted into a tourist attraction and hosts one of Western Australia’s most exciting adventures: The Tunnels Tour. The Tunnels are a maze of daunting dark catacombs 20 meters underneath the prison. Well worth a look-see. Check out the Old Fremantle Prison

Another great place to check out is the Roundhouse Gaol. This is where the first convicts were placed in holding cells when they got off the boat. The place is heritage listed, and like many heritage buildings in Fremantle, it is reputed to be haunted.

The impressive WA Maritime Museum, complete with submarine, is located at Victoria Quay and the Maritime Museum Shipwreck Galleries can be found on Cliff Street. On the port side of the harbour you’ll find the E Shed Markets (open Fri - Sun) and Rottnest ferry terminals.

Many of Freo’s historical buildings, such as the Fremantle Arts Centre were built by early English and Irish convicts out of the local limestone - imagine building your own prison!

For cooling off in summer, Bather’s Beach (aka McDonald’s Beach) is a central option. South Beach, Freo’s favoured swimming spot, is a 25 minute stroll south of the harbour along Marine Terrace, or you can catch an orange CAT bus there for free. Handy to town is the Fremantle Leisure Centre on Parry Street, with two huge pools (one indoor, one out, but both heated), gym facilities and a large, shaded grassy area.

For ultra cheap shopping check out the op-shop strip along the Parry Street end of High Street. Op-shops are run by charity organisations and sell donated clothes, shoes, pots, pans and all sorts of stuff you may find handy or humorous while you’re on the road.

Freo Eats & Entertainment

The ‘Cappuccino Strip’, along South Terrace the bustling cafe hub of Freo, is fantastic for people-watching. Landmark cafes here include Gino’s, Dome, Benny’s and Interfoods. The clientele are as faithful as they are individual and after a couple of days you’ll start seeing familiar local faces, and recognise their dogs, didgeridoos and bicycles.

Freo has some of the best night life in the West, with loads of live music venues, good pubs and late night clubs and cafes. There are several stylish bars on South Terrace, such as Benny’s and Madonna’s, and on the waterfront at Fremantle Harbour, like Little Creatures.
 
Federation style hotels, many offering their own micro-brewed ales and beers, can be found throughout Freo and include the Sail and Anchor and the Orient.
The Norfolk Hotel and Clancy’s Fish Pub - behind the Film and Television Institute on Adelaide Street - have a buzzing outdoor Sunday Session.

Several nightclubs on the Freo strip play mainly dance music. Mojos in North Fremantle (just over the bridge), Fly by Night Club (in a converted air plane hanger on Parry Street) and Kulcha (above Dome café in South Terrace) are premier live music venues. The Fremantle Arts Centre also often has free live music performed by local bands in the courtyard on sunny Sunday afternoons - check out www.fac.org.au for details. Many Freo pubs provide live music, bands or Djs, particularly on weekends, without a cover charge.

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