If you’re footloose with one hour free in Perth’s (Boorloo) vibrant port town of Fremantle (Walyalup) you’ll easily fill your time and your cup with its eclectic mix of maritime, convict and colonial heritage, Indian Ocean sunsets and boho style.
Feature by Jo Baker
‘Freo’ is one of the best-preserved examples of a 19th-century port streetscape you’ll ever set foot in. Be sure to drop anchor at one of these spots before your cruise or flight departs, after check-in, between meetings or on your way to a live gig.
Cocktail o’clock with no socks
Just three blissful little steps from Fremantle’s Bather’s Beach sits Perth’s only coastal restaurant, bar and lounge with beach service. Kick back in a deckchair with a mojito in hand, kick your shoes off and sink your toes in that fine sugar-like sand for a sweet hour of barefoot luxury. Grab a front-row seat for one of the most laid-back Sunday sessions and best ocean sunset shows on the planet at Bathers Beach House.
Bathers Beach, Fremantle
Fossick for old-school cool
Make your footprint smaller, and a whole lot funkier, looking for timeless finds to take home from Western Australia's home of vintage, retro and antiques. Boho Freo boasts more than 20 gorgeous little fashion boutiques, charming bookshops, old-school record dealers and good old-fashioned thrift stores huddled around the central hub of Walyalup Koort. Many lovingly retain a piece of Fremantle’s original Georgian and Victorian-era architecture, and all curate unique collections of rare, original, first edition, pre-loved, new and upcycled treasures.
One iconic, historic one-stop-shop
Step into Federation Romanesque style and the original cobblestone Fremantle Markets that have been bustling for well over a century. Follow the locals and aromas of barista-brewed espresso and freshly baked artisan bread into The Yard for an authentic taste of local organic produce, cheeses, meats and seafood hauled fresh from the Indian Ocean. Then take a treasure hunt through The Hall - a mecca for independent local makers, artists and crafters, fashion and homeware designers and vintage curators. You’ll easily lose an hour and find something uniquely Freo here on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays or Monday public holidays.
Fremantle Markets, Fremantle
Escape busy and come back to yourself
Fremantle (Walyalup) is a friendly, free-spirited soul that balances blissful calm with an invigorating buzz. It invites you to take a deep breath of fresh salty air and a yoga class on the grass (or beach). It connects you with your plant-based and vegan tribe at Kapara Café and Raw Raw Raw and treats you to an A to Zen of healing vibes along its main streets of High Street, South Terrace and Queen Street. There’s everything from rejuvenating reiki and massage therapy to the alternative new-age worlds of Ayurveda and healing crystals to restore your inner and outer glow.
Taste the bites that lure big foodies
Sun-soaked, dripping in old-world charm and daring to be a little different, is it any wonder that Fremantle was the first city in Western Australia to bring alfresco dining to its streets? It’s that bold, outgoing cafe culture (and fresh seafood straight from the Boat Harbour) that’s lured top chefs and fuelled a unique, award-winning foodie scene bursting with flavour.
Sample locally-crafted nectars at Gage Roads Brewing Co or small-batch wines at H&C Urban Winery. Discover Freo’s harbourside fish and chips institution at Cicerello’s. Or dig into its Italian heritage at Vin Populi and multi-cultural melting pot at Emily Taylor. Can’t decide? Let the locals guide your tastebuds on a tailored Fremantle Food Lover’s Tour.
Cicerellos, Fremantle
To the 1800s and back
If these grand old port city streets could talk, they’d have you captivated for hours. But you’ve only got 60 minutes to spare. Lucky for you, there’s a team of enthralling storytellers at Two Feet & a Heartbeat who’ll curate the juiciest bits of local history, legends, street art, culture and World Heritage-listed landmarks into a fully customised immersive one-hour adventure.
Prefer to time travel at your own pace? Stroll beneath the Jacaranda trees and Moreton Bay figs to the grand old clocktower and picture-postcard roofscape in the heart of downtown Fremantle – Walyalup Koort. From here, all roads lead to more beautifully restored eclectic heritage.
Don’t miss out on FOMO’s funky blend of hawker-style food, recreational fun and Insta-worthy art installations. Browse a whole block full of boutiques in the Manning Building or take your pick of the shady Federation verandahs to sit with a coffee or cool craft beer and drink in the 19th century, one sip at a time.
Urban Art, Fremantle
Published February 2025.