Planning a trip to Perth? Don’t miss out on the beautiful port town, Fremantle, or ‘Freo’ in Western Australia. It has a long maritime heritage, stunning Victorian architecture and unique remnants from Australia’s colonial days.If you are looking for unique things to do in Fremantle Perth, we’ve highlighted the best bars, markets, and sights in this beautiful city.
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Table of Contents
1. Sail to Carnac Island
One of the hidden gems in Fremantle, is the stunning Carnac Island. It is around 10km away from town, and is home to some of the most crystal clear waters and a population of Australian sea lions! You can only get to this pristine island via boat, and going on this half day sailing trip is one of the best things to do in Fremantle!
Enjoy cruising on a catamaran across the calm waters with snacks and refreshments (or BYO your own bubbly), spot the Australian Sea Lions either lazing on the island’s beach or swimming around the boat. You can jump into the ocean and make use of the provided snorkels, or make use of the stand up Paddleboard’s and kayaks.
Carnac Island is also known as one of the most deadliest islands, due to its large population of Tiger snakes, so make sure you take caution!
2. Enjoy a coffee on the Cappuccino Strip
South Terrace has been named the ‘Cappuccino Strip’ because… you guessed it.. there are a range of amazing cafes lining the street! This is one of the best things to do in Fremantle if you love coffee and people watching.
Just take a stroll along the street and you’ll find a great cafe to spend the morning at, or try out a couple and compare notes! We loved the coffee at Kerfuffle Co, and they had some delicious Portuguese tarts that rivalled the ones we had in Lisbon!
The strip also has an Italian influence with pizza and pasta restaurants being some of the local favourites. Located in the center of town, it’s a great place to explore, soak in the classic architecture and the local city buzz.
3. Join a local walking tour
We love joining walking tours as it is a great way to get to know the ins and outs of a places history and culture. This 2 hour walking tour includes local insights into the best-hidden bars, restaurants, street art, and places to visit in Fremantle.
There’s a maximum of 10 people per tour so you’ll get a nice small group experience, and you’ll walk approximately 4km in total visiting the Fremantle attractions.
4. Enjoy a frothy beer at a Fremantle Breweries
If you’re looking for the best breweries in Perth, Fremantle is home to a few of them:
- Otherside Brewing has a colourful use of industrial space. The brewery offers great food and live music.
- Little Creatures Brewery is a large scale brewery located by the Fremantle fishing boat harbour where you can see things done at scale, yet there’s still very much a craft feel. They have a great selection of beer, ciders, and great pizza.
- Running with Thieves is a South Beach brewery/distillery which has a combination of industrial and edgy with a hint of flare. The all in one stop has a restaurant, retail store, distillery and brewery!
5. Visit Rottnest Island (Wadjemup)
Visiting Rottnest Island is one of the BEST things to do in Perth. One of Western Australia’s iconic sites, ‘Rotto’ has 63 beautiful beaches to explore, and is home to the cutest animals in the world, Quokkas!
There’s a couple of different ways to get to the island and explore the sites:
You can easily do a day trip and get to the island by ferry (Rottnest Express, Rottnest Fast Ferries, SeaLink Rottnest Island). Departing from Fremantle, the ‘Quokka 1’ sealink ferry is the newest environmentally-friendly boat going to Rottnest Island, and costs approximately $79 AUD round trip (this includes the boat fare, and the island entrance fare). On arrival you can choose to explore by bicycle, bus, or walk, however we recommend pre-booking for ease. Here are some options:
- Rottnest Island Ferry and Bus Tour: This tour includes return ferry tickets, island admission fees, a 1hour 45 minute bus tour, and free time to explore the island (we recommend you choose the slot with the morning bus tour so you can have time to revisit any spots you loved on the tour).
- Rottnest Island Ferry and Bike Hire: This tour includes return ferry tickets, island admission fees, and bike hire for the day. You can actually ride around the whole island in 3-5 hours (22km). If you are looking to do this, it could be worth upgrading to the e-bikes on the day, or if you want to cruise on a normal pedal bike, you can enjoy some of the shorter cycle routes too.
Alternatively, you can stay over night so you can make the most of the island and visit some of the more remote beaches. Samphire Rottnest has modern, aesthetic rooms and a great pool area, and Discovery Resorts, has luxury glamping tents that you can stay in!
6. Dine at Fremantle’s conscious restaurants
We love to find cafes and restaurants that are taking steps towards sustainability, and Freo is home to some great conscious eats:
- Ethos Deli + Dining Room, has a focus on seasonal produce and takes on a zero waste approach.
- Manna Wholefoods And Cafe have a great bulk food section, eco products, and delicious vegan eats on their menu.
- Raw Raw Raw, at the Fremantle markets is the fully vegan stall with great wraps, salads and treats.
- Bun Mi Cafe has a delicious vegan banh mi on their menu, along with tasty rice paper rolls and bowls.
Sadly, the amazing ‘Mother’ conscious cafe is now closed.
7. Join a yoga class at YogaLab
Located above the H&C Urban Winery, YogaLab is a creative space that hosts various styles of yoga training and practice, from vinyasa to flow, yin and asana practice. The space itself has an open warehouse feel with white brick and indoor plants.
8. Visit the Fremantle Markets
One of the best things to do in Fremantle over the weekend is to visit the Freo markets (open Friday, Saturday & Sunday 8 am-6 pm).
Located in town this indoor market is an eclectic collection of food and artisan crafts. There are live performances and a range of activities for kids and adults. You can stock up on some great locally grown fresh produce or sample some unique delicacies – like the famous banh mi croissant from Viet Kites.
9. Have some Caribbean inspired food and rum at the Jungle Bird
Looking for something a little different in town? One of the things to do in Fremantle that’s off the beaten track in try out the Caribbean inspired bar, Jungle Bird.
The vintage, tropical decor and classic rum cocktails make it an interesting stop. They also serve up jerk chicken, Jamaican rice and peas, and saltfish fritters.
10. Experience the Freo Live Music Scene
Perth has been the home for some popular Australian bands like San Cisco and Tame Impala, so you know you’re likely to experience a vibrant live music scene. If you’re looking for the best things to do in Fremantle at night, visiting one of these bars is a great choice:
- The Duke of George Bar is a New Orleans themed venue that specialises in southern style comfort food and bluesy jazz.
- Freo.Social has been named Freo’s newest oldest venue. There’s always a range of great events and shows on each week, and the venue has a beer garden, a side bar, and an entertainment hall.
- Mojos bar is another great spot to listen to local live music, where you can find bands playing throughout the week.
- Clancy’s fish pub is a great casual spot where you can find independent local musicians on the regular.
- Fremantle Art Centre offers free live music on Sunday afternoons in the front garden. It’s the perfect spot for an afternoon, just bring a rug and a picnic basket and enjoy the music!
11. Enjoy the Western Australia Sunsets
Head to the beach for sundown to admire that stunning sunset over the ocean. Bathers beach house is a great spot to watch the sunset with a bevy in hand in a beautiful setting. If you want a good vantage spot, check out the rooftop bars at Madalenas and the National Hotel, or take a picnic up to Monument Hill.
12. Visit the boutiques on George Street
George Street is one of the prettiest streets in Fremantle. The well-maintained brick buildings and beautiful greenery makes it a perfect place for an afternoon stroll.
There are plenty of small boutique shops that sell a range of clothing and homeware goods including, Atelier on George, Savvy Brands, and a great florist called Floral Army.
13. Check out Fremantle’s bar scene
There’s no doubt about it, you can get some great wine in WA. Exploring the vibey bars are one of the best things to do in Fremantle at night!
- H&C Urban Winery is Perth’s first ‘urban winery’, located right in the heart of Fremantle. There’s a cellar door, a restaurant, and a fully operational winery in this warehouse style space lined with brick walls and beautiful indoor plants.
- Nieuw Ruin is a small bar with a whole lot of wines! Their wall is stocked with over 300 bottles of wine, so you are likely to find a new favourite vino.
- The Strange Company is a popular, very aesthetic spot, with a large wine list, and small tapas-style plates. They get live music on occasion and have a great list of cocktails.
- Republic Of Fremantle is a distillery that makes their gin from a unique canvas – Verdelho grapes! You can enjoy a tasting flight at their distillery bar, or you can learn how to make your own bottle of gin or some delicious cocktails in their ‘gin school’ classes.
- The Old Synagogue has four venues to choose from, the Arbor has a beer and wide garden, spread across multiple levels and a rooftop, L’Chaim is an intimate cocktail bar, Mr Chapple has some tasty brekky options and drinks, and Tonic and Ginger offers delicious Southeast Asian fusion dishes.
- Patio bar has lo-fi wines and tasty eats in a green open air setting.
If you are thinking of exploring Western Australia, there are some great wineries and Airbnbs in Margaret River.
14. Visit the Sunshine Harvester Works
The buzzy food hall is home to some great local vendors, from Jamaican eats, to melt in your mouth Bao buns, refreshing Gelato and more. It’s got a bougie feel, but you can get food at a good price. You can also find the Union Brewery and Distillery here which offers a range of craft beers, gin, whisky and limoncello, a great option if you’re looking for unique things to do in Fremantle!
15. Enjoy the views from Sweetwater Rooftop Bar
A Stylish rooftop bar with a tropical/Asian feel. Sweetwater bar has a great range of food and cocktails. The venue is bright and airy with a lot of indoor plants and views out to the cityscape. They have a range of set menu offers including a divine Sunday bottomless brunch.
Best Places to stay in Fremantle
Planning to stay a while in Freo? There are some beautiful Perth Airbnb, hotel and apartment stays. Here are some of the best accommodation options for your stay in Fremantle:
- Warders Hotel is a beautifully restored heritage listed building (from 1851), turned small boutique hotel. It was actually the accommodation place of the warders of the Fremantle prison, thus the name. Tastefully reimagined, you can find aesthetic minimalist rooms, plus there’s a small gin bar in one of the cottages called “Gimlet”, and a great restaurant serving asian inspired dishes.
- Silver Street Studio is a stylish, eclectic stay in South Fremantle. It’s got a great open-air outdoor dining area, plus an outdoor bathtub, a gorgeous loft bedroom and a beautiful rustic kitchen.
- Tradewinds Hotel and Suites has modern studio rooms and 2-bedroom apartments. The hotel is right next to the Swan River, and has a pool, courtyard and restaurant. It’s also only 5 minutes walk to the iconic Fremantle Rainbow Sea Container art installation.
- Be.Fremantle has a range of comfortable self contained apartments with balconies that look over either the Fishing Boat Harbour or Challenger Harbour.
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