Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

PERTH 441
site of the 1987 America’s Cup challenge. Just before that, the city embarked on
a major restoration of its gracious but rundown warehouses and derelict Victorian
buildings. Today “Freo” is a bustling district of 150 National Trust buildings,
alfresco cafes, museums, galleries, pubs, markets, and shops in a well-preserved
historical atmosphere. It’s still a working port so you will see fishing boats unloading,
and yachts gliding in and out of the harbor. The ambience is so authentic
that locals make a beeline for the place every weekend, resulting in a hubbub of
buzzing shoppers, market stall-holders, java drinkers, yachters, tourists, and fishermen.
Allow a full day to take in even half the sights—and don’t forget to knock
back an ale or two on the veranda of one of the gorgeous old pubs.
ESSENTIALS
GETTING THERE Parking is plentiful, but driving can be a pain, as many
of the streets are one-way. Most attractions are within walking distance, so take
the train to Fremantle station and explore on foot (or hop on the free CAT bus;
see below).
A nice way to get to the port and see Perth’s suburbs at the same time is on
cruises run by several companies once or twice a day from Barrack Street Jetty.
See “Whale-Watching Cruises, Tram Trips & Other Tours” later in this chapter
for cruise operators.
GETTING AROUND The silver Fremantle CAT bus makes a running loop
of local attractions every 10 minutes Monday through Friday from 7:30am to
6pm, and on weekends and holidays from 10am to 6pm, except Christmas, Boxing
Day (Dec 26) and Good Friday. It is free and departs from the train station.
Fremantle Trams (& 08/9339 8719)—an old tram carriage now on wheels,
not tram tracks—conducts various tours of 45 or 90 minutes, departing 10 times
a day from Fremantle Town Hall from 10am, with the last tour at 4pm. Tickets
cost A$10 and A$15 (US$6.50 and US$9.75) adults, A$9 and $14 (US$5.85
and US$9.10) seniors; and children 15 and under ride free if traveling with two
adults. The popular Friday night Ghostly Tour includes a fish and chips dinner
and admission to a range of attractions, and costs A$35 (US$23) adults and A$30
(US$20) children under 15. You must book for Friday nights but not for other
tours, and your ticket will include a range of discounts and bonuses at other Fremantle
attractions.
VISITOR INFORMATION The Fremantle Tourist Bureau is located in
Town Hall, Kings Square at High Street, Fremantle, WA 6160 (& 08/9431
7878). It’s open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 5pm (until 4pm Sat in
winter) and Sunday noon to 4:30pm. The best website is that of the Fremantle
Council, www.fremantle.wa.gov.au.
SEEING THE SIGHTS IN FREMANTLE
You will want to explore some of Freo’s excellent museums and other attractions
below, but take time to stroll the streets and admire the 19th-century offices and
warehouses, many now painted in rich historically accurate colors. As soon as you
arrive, wander down to the docks—either Victoria Quay, where sailing craft
come and go, or Fishing Boat Harbour off Mews Road, where the boats bring
in their catches—to get a breath of salt air.
Freo’s best shopping is arts and crafts, from hand-blown glass to Aboriginal
art to alpaca-wool clothing. Worth a look are the assorted art, crafts, and souvenir
stores on High Street west of the mall; those in the E Shed markets on
Victoria Quay (open Fri–Sun only, and public holidays that fall on a Mon,