Best things to do in Fremantle

On the UNESCO World Heritage List as one of 11 Australian Convict Sites, Fremantle Prison paints a vivid image of the country's penal-colony history. Convicts built the prison in the 1850s. Today you can explore the prison on a guided tour, including a torch-lit option. Navigate tunnels 20 m (65 ft) beneath the ground on foot and by boat. The prison art gallery sells pieces created by current and ex-prisoners in Western Australia.

Scarborough Beach is known for great year-round surfing, which made it the site of Australian Surf Life Saving Championships several years in a row. The beach is located within an entertainment district with bars, restaurants, and nightclubs and can be easily accessed from Perth by bus or car. The long stretch of white sand, lapped by warm blue water, attracts local families, as well as tourists from around the world. Crowds pick up on the weekends, when the strip of sand becomes colored with bright towels. There are very few trees here, so consider bringing an umbrella or small tent for shade.

WA Maritime Museum houses a notable collection of historic objects and boats, including the winged-keel Australia II, which won the America's Cup in 1983. The museum presents a full history of marine activity on the Western Australian coast and offers tours of HMAS Ovens, a retired Oberon-class submarine, one of the site's most popular attractions. The Museum houses several galleries that explore WA's maritime relationship and features temporary exhibitions, including museum exclusives, world premieres, and national and international tours.

Take a tour through Western Australian maritime history as you explore vessels salvaged from the sea at the WA Shipwrecks Museum. This museum is recognized as the foremost maritime archaeology museum in the Southern Hemisphere. See relics, such as cannons, hulls, and engines, from shipwrecks, dating back to the 17th century. Keep an eye out for the original Dutch vessel Batavia, which sank off the coast of Western Australia in 1629. Convicts built the museum in the 1850s, and today it sits in the heart of Fremantle's historic West End.

Equally appealing to both tourists and locals, Fremantle Markets remains one of the finest shopping destinations in Western Australia. Bringing together over a century of history and heritage, the markets now host over 150 stalls run by craftspeople, vegetable growers, food producers, fashion designers, and merchants. Look for the fresh produce section to stock up on tasty treats and snacks, or head straight for the food court to have your fill of globally popular street specialties.Snoop around Fremantle Markets to buy indigenous souvenirs like boomerangs and didgeridoos. Explore the 150 vibrant shops and discover why the market was listed in the Register of Heritage Places. Built in 1897, the market is lined with small shops selling crafts in the indoor hall and fresh produce in outdoor yard. Walk past street performers and enter the market through the ornate stone arches. The rough washed limestone of the walls and the high iron roof add to the charm. A walk at the market is a good way to spend a rainy day since it is covered. Try the kangaroo jerky.

If you want to know how good the lifestyle of many of Perth's residents is, head to Cottesloe Beach. Only 15 minutes from the city center, this 1.5 km (1 mi) expanse of golden sand meets clear Indian Ocean water ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and surfing. Enjoy a picnic and watch a game of cricket on the grass of the nearby Cottesloe Esplanade. The town of Cottesloe has a slow pace, but also plenty of restaurants and cafes where you can sample fresh seafood specialties.

Given the country's history as a penal colony, it might not surprise you that Western Australia's oldest public building is a former prison. Built in 1830, the rotund white-brick The Fremantle Round House originally housed convicted prisoners before becoming a police lockup. The chief constable and his family began to occupy the building in 1900. Today, you can tour the seaside building and ask knowledgeable volunteer guides questions. Head to the upper deck for scenic views of the Fremont coast and offshore islands.

A brewing company established in 2000, Little Creatures takes its name from a song lyric by the band Talking Heads and refers to the live yeast cells that turn sugars in malt wort into alcohol. The brewery building was originally constructed to house yachts participating in the 1987 America's Cup. It then housed a crocodile farm for a few years. The brewery has won a number of awards for beer excellence. Drop by for a meal at the brewery's restaurant and a taste of some of the brewery's most popular brands, such as the original Little Creatures Pale Ale, Rogers (an amber ale), or Pipsqueak (an apple cider).