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Perth to Fremantle by Car: What to See Along the Way

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Perth to Fremantle by Car: What to See Along the Way

Perth to Fremantle by Car: What to See Along the Way

Fremantle is one of Perth’s most visited destinations and one of the easiest by hire car. Just 19 kilometres south of the Perth CBD, the drive takes approximately 30 minutes in normal traffic, though there is no shortage of worthwhile stops that can stretch the journey into a half-day or full-day experience. Whether you are a first-time visitor to Western Australia or a Perth local exploring your own backyard, the Perth to Fremantle drive rewards a leisurely approach.

Burswood Car Rentals is conveniently located near Perth Airport and has been serving Perth visitors and locals for over 42 years. Hire a car from Burswood to explore Fremantle and the coast at your own pace.

Explore Perth and Fremantle at Your Own Pace

Burswood Car Rentals: from $25/day, no hidden fees, RAC roadside assistance. Call (08) 9362 4777.

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Route Options: Direct or Scenic

There are two main route options for the Perth to Fremantle drive, each with a different character:

  • Stirling Highway (via Cottesloe and Mosman Park): the most scenic coastal route. Stirling Highway runs south through the leafy western suburbs, passing close to the coast and through the beach suburbs of Claremont and Cottesloe before arriving in Fremantle. This is the recommended option for first-time visitors as it passes through some of Perth’s most attractive suburbs
  • Canning Highway (via South Perth and Applecross): a riverside route that follows the Swan River south before crossing to Fremantle. This route passes through the Applecross foreshore area, which has river views and a good cafe strip

What to See on the Way

Cottesloe Beach

Cottesloe is Perth’s most iconic beach and is just off the Stirling Highway route. A well-maintained foreshore with Norfolk Island pines, a heritage beach pavilion (the Indiana Tea House), ocean swimming, and weekend markets make Cottesloe worth a 30 to 60 minute stop. It is family-friendly, has good facilities, and is one of the most photographed beach locations in Western Australia.

Mosman Park and Peppermint Grove

The drive through Mosman Park and Peppermint Grove on Stirling Highway passes through some of Perth’s most established and affluent residential streets, with large heritage homes and significant streetscapes. It is a pleasant drive in itself even if you do not stop.

North Fremantle

North Fremantle, just before you cross the Swan River into central Fremantle, has a good cafe and restaurant strip along the waterfront. The area has a more local character than the tourist-facing parts of Fremantle and is worth considering for a coffee stop.

What to Do in Fremantle

  • Fremantle Market: the historic Fremantle Market at South Terrace operates on Friday afternoons and over weekends, offering fresh produce, crafts, clothing, and food stalls in a heritage market building
  • The Cappuccino Strip: South Terrace is Fremantle’s main cafe and restaurant street, known locally as the Cappuccino Strip. It has been the social heart of Fremantle for decades and remains a great spot for coffee and people-watching
  • Fremantle Prison: a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most intact colonial-era prisons in the world. Guided tours, night tours, and tunnel tours operate daily and are well worth booking in advance
  • Fishing Boat Harbour: the working fishing harbour and adjacent restaurant strip is the best place in Perth for fresh fish and chips eaten waterside
  • WA Maritime Museum: the Western Australian Maritime Museum houses the winning yacht from the 1983 America’s Cup (Australia II) along with extensive maritime history displays. Free entry for the main museum
  • Fremantle Arts Centre: a beautiful heritage building (former lunatic asylum) now operating as an arts venue and gallery, with a courtyard cafe
✦  Parking in Fremantle: Fremantle has a mix of paid street parking, free timed street parking in some areas, and paid parking stations. The Kings Square area and the Fremantle Railway Station precinct have the highest concentration of parking. On market days (Fridays and weekends), parking fills quickly around the South Terrace area. Arriving before 10am on a weekend secures much better parking options.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should I plan for a Perth to Fremantle day trip?

A morning departure from Perth with stops along the way and several hours in Fremantle makes for a comfortable full-day experience. If you add Cottesloe Beach as a swim stop, a Fremantle Prison tour, the market, and lunch at the Fishing Boat Harbour, five to six hours in the Fremantle area alone is not excessive.

Is Fremantle easy to navigate by car?

Fremantle is compact and easy to navigate. The main tourist areas are concentrated within a few streets of each other. Parking at one location and exploring on foot is the most practical approach. Burswood Car Rentals’ hire cars have no rental stickers, so you arrive without advertising that you are in a rental vehicle.