Fremantle Travel Guide

Fremantle is a port city in Western Australia, located 19 kilometres (12 mi) southwest of Perth, the state capital, at the mouth of the Swan River on Australia’s western coast. Locally known as Freo, the town has a historic feel, with the Old Fremantle prison and numerous old buildings. It was the home of the America’s Cup for a short period.

Get Around

Market Street Cafes, Fremantle- © Tourism Australia- Photographer: Jeff Drewitz

You can get around most of central Fremantle for free on the CAT Bus which runs every ten minutes during daylight hours. It is orange with a large black cat on the side. Look for the CAT symbol at bus stops, and maybe even paw-prints on the footpath. The CAT Bus is wheelchair and pram accessible, including kneeling and ramps.

Alternatively, you can use your feet; most of Fremantle is fairly flat and good for walking or rent a scooter from Scootabout in Cliff Street.©

To Do

• WA Maritime Museum, Victoria Quay, (go to the end of Cliff Street, head for the waterfront and turn left’. You can’t miss it — a large white building with curved lines suggesting a hull), 08 9335 8921, [1]. Open 7 days 9.30am to 5.00pm. A wonderful collection of vessels, including the winged-keel Australia II, which won the America’s Cup. You’ll also find a full history of marine activity on the West Australian coast. $10 (children 5-15 $3, concession $5, family $22). A tour of HMAS Ovens, a retired Oberon-class submarine, is well worth the time.

• Round House, Arthur Head. Western Australia’s first permanent building. Built as a prison in the 1830′s, the Round House now serves as a small, but informative museum, that focuses on the convict lifestyle of the 1800′s. Now restored and updated with more detailed information, maps and volunteer guides (although the tour of the building is mostly self-guided). Entry is free, gold coin donations encouraged.

• Whalers’ Tunnel, located under the Round House, the Whaling Tunnel was built to provide easy access between the original Bather’s Beach port and the town of Fremantle. The tunnel has been restored in recent years, and now has detailed explanations of its construction, and local artifacts, making it a worthwhile self-guided tour.

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