← Wadjemup Rottnest Running Festival Marathon·1 night

Fremantle: A Port Town Between the Island and the City

A night in a compact port town after the island, with a prison, a harbour and museums that stay open when the weather turns.

Duration1 night
TransitFerry from Thomson Bay to Fremantle, about 25 to 30 min
DepartsThomson Bay, Rottnest Island

After the Rottnest Marathon: Fremantle

The Route: Rottnest Island → Fremantle → Perth Airport Logistics: A ferry from Thomson Bay to Fremantle takes about 25 to 30 minutes. Book the return sailing with the race entry, and confirm the timetable with the operator, because winter services can change. Marathon Month: June Duration: 1 night

Rottnest Thomson Bay ──(about 25 to 30 mins ferry)──> Fremantle
                                                          │
Perth Airport (PER) <──(about 30 to 40 mins by taxi, or train and airport line)──┘

The Wadjemup Rottnest Running Festival marathon ends in the settlement, and most runners cross back to the mainland by ferry. Fremantle is the natural next stop, because the port is at the other end of the crossing and everything worth seeing is compact, level and close together.

June in Fremantle: winter. Days are typically in the mid to high teens Celsius, with rain and wind most weeks, and the afternoon sea breeze is cool. Winter is quiet, so the streets and cafés are less crowded, and museums are the practical choice on a wet afternoon. Allow for a rough crossing on the ferry and check the sailing on the day.

Night One: Fremantle

The town is flat around the centre, with the Cappuccino Strip on South Terrace, a wide, paved street of about 500 metres lined with cafés. The Fishing Boat Harbour is a short, level walk and has fish markets and waterside restaurants. Fremantle Prison is a World Heritage listed convict-built complex a few minutes uphill on foot, and there is a gradual rise on the way. Tours include stone floors, steps and standing, so choose one of the shorter options, and check the current times and prices at fremantleprison.com.au.

The Western Australian Maritime Museum is on Victoria Quay, close to the ferry terminals, and the WA Shipwrecks Museum sits in a restored building near the harbour. Both are indoors, with seating, and they suit a wet day. Fremantle Markets, off Henderson Street, trade on a Friday to Sunday pattern, so check the days, and be aware that the Monday after a Sunday race falls outside them.

For a bed, Esplanade Hotel Fremantle by Rydges is close to the ferry terminal and the centre, and the Hougoumont Hotel is a smaller central option. Both are within a short walk of the harbour, so a taxi is not needed for the evening.

For a meal, Kailis Fish Market Cafe on the Fishing Boat Harbour serves seafood by the water, and Little Creatures Brewing has a large waterside venue nearby. Bathers Beach House, close to the beach, is a longer walk but on flat ground. Check winter hours and book for Saturday evenings.

The Morning After

Fremantle Arts Centre, a short walk from the centre, has free gardens and changing exhibitions in a restored building. The walk from the town centre is about 700 metres on level pavement, and there are seats in the courtyard. Check the current programme.

Fremantle on Foot

Fremantle rewards a slow walk. The Cappuccino Strip on South Terrace is flat, wide and lined with cafés, and a stroll from one end to the other takes about 15 minutes. Fremantle Markets, in a Victorian hall on the corner of South Terrace and Henderson Street, are open on set days only, so check the trading days before you plan around them. The building is level and has seating, and the produce stalls and craft stalls make a good hour of gentle wandering.

The Fremantle Prison, a World Heritage listed convict-built site, runs guided tours through the day. The walking is on uneven historic surfaces with some stairs, so read the tour descriptions and choose one with the least effort. Check opening times and prices, because both change through the year. The Western Australian Shipwrecks Museum on Cliff Street is a shorter indoor stop, with the timbers of a wrecked Dutch East India Company ship among the displays. Opening hours and any charges should be checked in advance.

Fishing Boat Harbour, a short walk from the centre, has a long row of seafood cafés and takeaways. Winter evenings can be windy, so eat inside if the wind is up. Book on Friday and Saturday nights.

Getting Home

Perth Airport (PER) is roughly 30 to 40 minutes from Fremantle by taxi, or you can take the train to Perth and change to the Airport Line, which takes longer but costs less. Allow generous time if you have an international flight, and check the Transperth timetable for engineering works.