2 hours ago
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September 22, 2025 — 12:53pm
Western Australia’s gritty port city has transformed itself into a heritage, hipster and dining destination, and has more character and quirkiness than Perth.
Who goes there
Between 30 and 40 ships visit Fremantle each year, allowing you a decent choice between boutique luxury, expedition or fun-filled big ship experiences. Among companies that call in are Coral Expeditions, Oceania, Ponant, Princess, Seabourn, Scenic and Silversea. Some are on Western Australian itineraries, others connect Fremantle with eastern Australia or Asia.
Sail on in
Ships glide past the red North Mole Lighthouse, dodging ferries to Rottnest Island, and into the Inner Harbour at the mouth of the Swan River. It’s an industrial rather than pretty scene, the harbour lined by railway tracks and stacked shipping containers. You’ll often see locals ship-spotting along Victoria Quay and at North and South moles.
Berth rites
Fremantle Cruise Passenger Terminal has a cafe, bar, tourist information booth and luggage storage but doesn’t need to detain you long. The train station is a 15-minute walk along the waterfront but is also connected by a continuously operating free shuttle when ships are in port.
Before and after
Fremantle is a homeport where many cruises start or finish. The boutique Hougoumont Hotel, quirky Warders Hotel Fremantle and unexciting but serviceable Esplanade Hotel Fremantle by Rydges are among accommodation options. You could consider staying in Perth, a convenient half-hour away by train.
Going ashore
Thanks to its 250 heritage buildings, central Fremantle has a curiously European feel. Some of the best-preserved buildings are found around Kings Square, and between Marine Terrace and Phillimore Street. The Round House is an old British fort with good views and an interesting history recounted by amiable volunteers. Fremantle Prison is Australia’s most intact convict establishment, and the lively Fremantle Arts Centre inhabits another eye-catching convict-built building.
Don’t miss
The WA Maritime Museum is just along the Inner Harbour from the cruise terminal. You can inspect the 1983 America’s Cup winner Australia II and tour a World War II submarine. Not far away is the WA Shipwrecks Museum, which includes the wreck of the Dutch sailing ship Batavia that ran aground off the West Australian coast in 1629 in a fascinating (and horrible) tale of early European contact with the continent.
Get active
Fremantle is flat, which makes for easy walking and cycling. Esplanade Youth Plaza is a good place to let children loose. The closest beach is Bathers Beach, while South Beach a bit further away has a buzzy atmosphere thanks to eateries, pubs and a brewery. For wind and kite surfing, head to Fremantle’s northern beaches such as Port Beach or Leighton Beach.
Retail therapy
If you have money to spare, you can buy West Australian gold, diamonds and South Sea pearls. High Street has many souvenir shops, with alpaca-wool products, hand-blown glass and Aboriginal art making the best buys. You’ll find plenty of other more eclectic boutiques, bookshops and artists’ studios in town. Then browse through Fremantle Markets, where you can pick up carved emu eggs, boomerangs or fine quality Aboriginal art. Other stalls in the market tempt with everything from German sausages to Turkish pide and Vietnamese spring rolls.
Further afield
Shore excursions take you to Perth, to Caversham Wildlife Park, to Rockingham for dolphin and sea-lion watching, and to the Swan Valley for cellar doors. The most popular option is Rottnest Island, which features salt lakes, pristine beaches, breezy coastal headlands and crystal-clear turquoise waters. It has many coastal bird species and abundant land species, including colonies of seals and sea lions and famously cute quokkas. Marine life includes turtles and stingrays and the world’s most southerly corals.
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