Fremantle is located along the western part of Australia and officially serves as the port of call for the Greater Perth territory.
In 1829, this city was first occupied by the Swan River colonists.
The Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbor is a great place for walking.
In the evening and on weekends this part becomes quite lively.
Fremantle is a very pleasant town that is less than an hour’s drive from the central station of the state capital.
In Fremantle, you can also
take a cruise from the jetty of Perth
or only in one direction or back and forth.
The busy harbor is dotted with fishing vessels, private yachts, and passenger cruise ships.
The harbor is the most relaxing place in Fremantle, especially in the evening.
Along the waterfront are many different restaurants to suit every budget, which serves delicious seafood.
It has many cafes and it is pleasant to dine on the bay.
A holiday in this fascinating Marina is defined as being served with a fresh fish dish of your choice and a bottle of good Australian wine.
Best time to Visit Fremantle
The perfect times to go on a holiday in Fremantle are the months of April to May and September until November.
April to May manifest the best temperature, clear skies, cold nights, and agreeable weather.
The spring season is experienced from the months of September to November.
In these months, the sight of the wildflowers in bloom makes a refreshing scene and an excellent time to go out and enjoy the sun, warm climate, and a relaxing holiday in Fremantle.
The peak season for tourism heightens up at the start of the Christmas Season all the way to the New Year celebration.
The other busiest month for tourism is the week before Easter (April).
Hotel accommodations, flight deals, and tour packages skyrocket and if you’re travelling on a limited budget, avoid these peak season months.
Aside from keeping up with so many crowds on every attraction, the traffic also becomes unbearable.
Beautiful things to do in Fremantle
Here are the most visited attractions and things to do in the city of Fremantle:
Fremantle Prison
It is a wonderful experience to visit the Fremantle Prison which was active until about twenty years ago.
The complete tour also includes the exploration of the underground where there is a river on which you must explore by canoe and best done at night.
Visit the internal cells, the kitchens, the morgue, the halls of punishment, the courtyards, and the scaffold, all with the appearance of actors playing different roles.
The guide brings factual information about the history that took place there.
Part of the tour includes going into the tunnels that were built by the own prisoners to escape, and how it gets filled with water; the tour is done in small boats.
It is very educational, easy to understand, and the way the guides narrated the history with funny anecdotes makes the tour even more interesting.
It is quite far from the city center, but it is easily accessible by free bus.
The guided tour (20 AUD) of these well-preserved buildings is fascinating and will put you right in the mood.
This building is part of the history of
Australia and a must if you’re in Fremantle
.
You will discover chapel, isolation rooms and even the hanging room.
It may sound morbid, but it is a mine of information.
There are plenty of things to see, and admire works of art held by example.
This tour is not advisable for small kids.
The circuit is well done; the building is maintained and shows furniture and utensils that were used here in 1991 until the closure of the prison.
The tour of the prison, which was in use until the 1990s is really touching.
The guides are very prepared and will tell many anecdotes and many stories about the prisoners.
The impression it leaves is that we cannot close our eyes and pretend that certain things do not happen.
It‘s a sad place and if you are sensitive or emotional it is not the right place for you.
If you do not let yourself get emotionally involved that much by the things and/or if you want a different kind, then visit the prison; it is in any case an interesting experience.
Fun things to do in Fremantle
Western Australian Maritime Museum
In the Western Australian Maritime Museum , you will find, among other things the “mythical”
Australia II, t
he boat that won the America’s Cup in 1983.
The
United States held this Cup (the most important of all sports
events about sailing) for more than 132 years, so it was a great event!
When this happened all Australians were victorious and there was a nationwide celebration.
The museum has been expanded with a pavilion built especially for this “legendary” sailboat.
And if you are claustrophobic, you can also take the opportunity to visit inside the submarine (true) that is located next to the museum; it is an experience that does not happen every day so it is a must to try it!
It is a beautiful museum that helps to understand the relationship with the sea of the Australian people.
The Maritime Museum is a good experience because it helps to understand the colonization of the country and the tribute that the sea has requested; a wild and stormy sea.
There are many interesting historical artifacts, including the numerous shipwrecks that occurred and can be found in the area.
It is a small museum with nicely arranged presentation and serves as a really good complement to the Shipwreck Galleries of Fremantle.
This is a nice museum, lots of light, equipped with a good restaurant as well as a fun and museum shop.
It is doable for the elderly, fun for the teens and also very nice for small children.
It is a remarkable and fascinating
museum (with an entrance fee of 10 AUD), symbol of the past and present of Western Australia
, which displays actual size boats and sheds all maritime activities of the région.
It is very interesting and fun for children.
There is even a play area for small boats under the hanging.
The museum is where everyone must go to understand the history of Australian sailing, great for those who love boats, but also for history buffs!
What else to do in fremantle?
The Shipwreck Galleries
A tour of The Shipwreck Galleries is a visit that features the most important part of Australian history.
The exhibit shows the fragments collected from the shipwrecked vessels and shown like pieces of a puzzle, resulting from research leading to what
happened in the past and knowing more a little piece of Australia
.
It is a great experience for those who love marine history and navigation.
It is a very informative museum with friendly and competent explanations.
One learns a lot about the different conquerors that colonized this part of Fremantle whether they were Dutch or English.
The museum is free, which is nice.
And the best way to beat the summer heat and spend time in air-conditioned room – a priceless pleasure.
Among other things, the museum carries a lot of interesting information, a large number of exhibits which are all worth knowing when in Fremantle.
My favorite Fremantle attractions
Little Creatures Brewery
The Little Creatures Brewery is a famous place in Fremantle with great local food and freshly brewed craft beer.
The staffs are fun and the atmosphere is very friendly.
It is an experience to try, especially if you’re travelling with family or friends.
It’s nice to have a cold glass of beer and a sumptuous dinner while overlooking the busy port of Fremantle.
The anchovies and mushroom pizza is a delight and matches the homemade cider beer crafted in this area.
This place is always busy, full of families and beautiful people.
It is very hard to miss and if you’re in Fremantle,
be sure to check this unique brewery
.
More stuff to do in Fremantle
Duyfken 1606 Replica
When in Fremantle, do not miss the opportunity of seeing the Duyfken 1606 Replica
.
If you have already visited the Little Creatures you will already have a glimpse of this vessel.
Guided tours must be arranged in advance to have access to this maritime replica.
The ship has the original dimensions and even the ballast of the old original brick that was also used in Batavia.
Furthermore, the ship is ready to sail and you can see that the ship is carrying spices.
Duyfken is a relatively small boat, which was sent from Jakarta in 1606 by the Dutch East India Company in the exploration of the first European to set foot on land in this new continent.
However, the official discovery is
attributed to another Dutchman Dick Hartog, which in 1616 off the coast of Western Australia
“discovered” this antique vessel.
Although it is a replica, a visit produces an original experience.
Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbor
Anyone who visits Perth must make an obligatory visit to the Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbor .
The town has its own charisma, very cozy, and close to the harbor is a great promenade filled with a variety of restaurants and shops.
his is also the best place to watch the dramatic colors of the sunset in Fremantle.
The location is quite busy, especially on weekends, but there are always tables available.
The site is more than nice; it has an incredible peace, especially if it’s a beautiful sunny day.
Spend some time there and you will know why it has a great sense of tranquillity and relaxation.
The view is not only beautiful; it has several options for food.
Famous Places to see in Fremantle
Fremantle Markets
While walking the festive and cheerful streets of Fremantle, it is impossible not to get in front of this building with a red roof that looks like a fortress and retains an architectural feature of historical interest.
The large pavilion with a pitched roof is divided into two areas: the Yard and the Hall, which houses many stalls selling local produce and crafts also.
The Fremantle
Markets is the most famous market in the west of Australia
.
The market is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
There you can find not only the freshest food, but also very interesting crafts and souvenirs.
No purchase is difficult to escape.
Besides being a great culinary journey, with stands from different countries where you can sit and eat.
Try having a coffee at the stand of the entrance, where you can choose the type and essence of coffee that you want to taste.
A visit can lead you to discover so many things, starting at the old architecture of the building which is very charming as well as fresh local foods, organic produce, all the qualities of spices, clothes, and lavender essential oils, T- Shirt crafts handmade sweets and also the presence of musical events, dining areas and bars.
One of the best things about the Fremantle Markets is its commitment to the promotion of art and products of the Aborigines.
The items sold are created by local artisans offering independent Aboriginal art, artifacts, boomerangs, didgeridoos and souvenirs of Australian Aboriginal artists.
You can also see demonstrations of music using the authentic didgeridoo and how to use the boomerang by professional ones.
The market is on the road between the station and the prison.
It is one block full of craft shops, food, and souvenir shops.
It is a clean and organized place.
In short, a visit here will satisfy everyone’s curiosity about the Aborigines, their culture, craft, and creativity.
Simply beautiful, quaint, full of stalls and eating places with a few bucks!
You can find everything you need in a cheerful and colorful setting, a great reason to visit Fremantle!
The Roundhouse
The Roundhouse in Fremantle is one of the first solid buildings in the city.
It was conceived as a prison fortress from 1857 until 1900.
Because of its location on a rock by the sea you have a very good view of the coast and the city.
Some exhibits recall the rough time that the first white inhabitants suffered and endured in this prison.
Follow the explanations of the local guide; this prison is worth the visit.
It is one of the
oldest and permanent buildings in Western Australia
with a panoramic view of Fremantle and the busy harbor.
Every day at 1:00 PM the cannonball fire blanks from the balcony overlooking the sea to keep the tradition alive.
South Beach
South Beach is a totally relaxing spot and one of the nicest beaches around Perth.
This has nothing to do with the prospect or the size of the beach, but the fact that it happens to be serene and not frequented by hawkers makes it more interesting to stay and unwind with.
It is bordered by a beautiful garden full of trees and good for the hottest hours especially with the children!
It is also
dog friendly and there are umbrellas and sunbeds for rent
.
It is a great place to swim, get a tan and even picnicking on the lawn under the trees.
The only downside is that the water temperature is too cold.
Rottnest Express
The Rottnest Express is a modern ferry with suitcases and bicycles.
It offers bike rental with delivery to the port designated.
The ticket includes biking for a day for $99.
You should take the first ferry that leaves at 7:15 AM from Fremantle to have the whole morning available for the bike tour.
The return trip is good and brings you back at 14:15 PM to the terminal where you started.
The cost of the ticket is worth all the time and effort for this exciting ferry, Rottnest Island, and biking tour.
They are very punctual both in flight and on the back.
The bike is ok (with 9 speed gearbox) and has three gears and it’s also good to walk on the island.
The snorkel masks and fins, sunscreen, cameras, and sandwiches are included in the tour package.
Whether you want to hike there or prefer to travel by bike around or take the bus, the Rottnest Express is the fastest way to explore the Perth’s popular destination.
The day tour is not exactly cheap, but it is worth nevertheless to make this trip.
On the island there are many water birds, lizards and Quokka (very small kangaroos found only on this island) that can be seen and take photographs with.
The ferry is a great way to see Perth from the sea.
The comfort and accommodation on board is good; you can buy sandwiches and drinks.
The ticket may be a bit expensive, but if you take it as an adventurous excursion, it is worth the money.
Fremantle City is blessed with the fishing boat harbor filled with ships docked in its waters.
This port is also a destination for tourists from all over the world who are eager to discover the wonders of Western Australia.
This city is very pleasant with a view of the sea and the ships at the mooring block.
A city with so much history to share, it is a definite must to know every attraction and treasure the important role Fremantle played in securing the independence of this country.
From the harbor, museum, the food, the market, the weather,
everything here is beautiful with lots of choices of things
to buy and scenic places to see.