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Guide · Western Australia ·

Perth weekend guide: Kings Park, Fremantle and Cottesloe

By the Australia Travel Escapes editorial team · Who we are

This Perth weekend guide fits three places into two days: Kings Park on Saturday, then Fremantle and Cottesloe Beach on Sunday. The train does the long leg for you, so you will not need a car. Each stop is close to a station or a short bus ride from one.

Plan on a relaxed pace. Perth is a spread-out city, and the best parts of a short stay are a good view, a market and a beach, with plenty of time to sit down in between.

Saturday morning: Kings Park

Start high. Kings Park sits on a hill just west of the city centre and looks over the Swan River and the towers of the business district. It was officially opened on 10 August 1895 as Perth Park, and it took the name King's Park in 1901. It is one of the oldest public parks in the city and it is free to enter.

Walk the paths under the tall trees, then head for the Western Australian Botanic Garden inside the park. It opened in 1965 and shows the plants of the state, which is famous for its wildflowers. September is the right month for it. The park holds a festival each spring when the wildflowers are out. Check the dates with the park before you go.

Look for the State War Memorial too. Its cenotaph was unveiled in 1929, and it is a quiet place with a wide view to the south-east. Allow two to three hours in total, and bring water and a hat.

Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Kings Park, Western Australia.

Saturday afternoon: the city and the river

After lunch, come down into the city. The park is on the edge of the central area, so you can walk or take a short bus ride. The Swan River foreshore is a good place to spend the late afternoon. Walk along the water, watch the ferries and find an early dinner.

Stay near Perth station if you can. Your Sunday starts there, and an early night helps. Trains to the coast leave from the same station every day of the week, but times differ on weekends, so look at the Transperth timetable the night before.

Sunday morning: the train to Fremantle

Take the Fremantle line from Perth station. It runs about 19 km to the port town and is fully electric. The line is old. It opened on 1 March 1881 as the first suburban railway in Perth, and regular electric trains began in September 1991. Buy your ticket at the station and keep it until you leave the platform at the other end.

Fremantle is a port town with a lot of old stone buildings. Two sights are worth your morning. The first is Fremantle Prison. Convicts built it between 1851 and 1859, and it closed as a prison in 1991. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2010, as one of the Australian Convict Sites. Guided tours run inside the prison, so book ahead if you want a set time.

The second is Fremantle Markets, at the corner of South Terrace and Henderson Street. The hall was built from 1897 and has been used as a market since its restoration in 1975. The markets open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, which suits a weekend visit well. Expect food, crafts and clothing, and bring some cash for small stalls.

Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Fremantle railway line, Fremantle Prison and Fremantle Markets.

Sunday afternoon: Cottesloe Beach

Finish on the sand. Cottesloe Beach lies on the Indian Ocean, about 1.5 km long, and the Fremantle line has a Cottesloe station on the way back to Perth. Hop on the train at Fremantle and get off there. The beach is a walk from the station, so wear shoes you can carry.

The beach has long been a Perth favourite for swimming and for the sunset. The Indiana Tea House, a beachfront landmark in its current building since 1996, is a fair place for a drink on the terrace. In mid September the water is still cold, so many visitors paddle and walk rather than swim. Swim only between the flags where lifesavers are on duty, and read the signs on the sand.

Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Cottesloe Beach and Fremantle railway line.

Getting around and what to pack

If you only have one day, do Kings Park in the morning and Fremantle in the afternoon, and skip the beach. If you have three days, add a river cruise to Fremantle or a longer walk through the park's bush paths.

This is general information, not medical advice. Check opening times, tour dates and fares with each venue before you travel.

Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Fremantle railway line.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, Kings Park, Western Australia: en.wikipedia.org
  2. Wikipedia, Fremantle railway line: en.wikipedia.org
  3. Wikipedia, Fremantle Prison: en.wikipedia.org
  4. Wikipedia, Fremantle Markets: en.wikipedia.org
  5. Wikipedia, Cottesloe Beach: en.wikipedia.org