19 Best Things To Do In Fremantle With Kids

This post may contain affiliate links. Read the full disclosure

Are you looking for the best things to do in Fremantle with kids? Fremantle is a fun and vibrant city and there is always something fun to do with the family! Discover what to do in Fremantle with kids, including free things to do in Fremantle, Western Australia. You will find something great to do no matter the time of year!

Need Freo accommodation? Check out this family-friendly hotel

The Ultimate Guide To Do In Fremantle, Western Australia

The port city of Fremantle is a must-visit when you’re in Western Australia.

It’s a beautiful and fun city with plenty to do for families. It’s a great stop as part of a Western Australia road trip, or a day trip from Perth city.

That’s why we’ve put together this list of the top things to do in Fremantle for kids and the must-do attractions to visit.

And of course, some free family activities are great if you have limited time or budget. But first, let’s plan your visit to Fremantle, Western Australia:

Free Things To Do In Fremantle

If you are looking for a budget-friendly visit to Fremantle, there are plenty of things you can enjoy in the city for free! From main attractions in Fremantle to off-the-beaten-track fun for the whole family. Here are some of our favourites:

Head To The Beach

If the weather is warm, there isn’t much that compares to spending a morning at the beach! There are some beautiful beaches in and nearby Fremantle.

Bathers Beach is right in the centre of the action, near restaurants and attractions and it is a calm, protected beach area perfect for younger kids.

The other beaches in Fremantle include South Beach, Port Beach and Leighton Beach.

Other great options that are within a short drive of Fremantle include the famous Cottesloe Beach, which is halfway between Fremantle and Perth.

Cottesloe is divided into 3 sections, each with a different purpose – the main Cottesloe beach is best for swimming. Peters Pool in the North is a perfect place to go snorkelling. And South Cottesloe is suited to surfing and kitesurfing.

Another great beach located 20 minutes from Fremantle is City Beach, which is usually calm and good for swimming.

Insider Tip: Each year in March Cottesloe Beach holds an annual beach sculpture exhibit with works of art lining the beach.

WA Shipwrecks Museum

The WA Shipwreck Museum is a free museum located inside Fremantle’s historic Commissariat buildings at the Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour and is open every day from 9:30 am to 05:00 pm.

The museum tells the stories of maritime life, trade, fishing and the history of Western Australia’s treacherous coastline resulting in many disasters and shipwrecks over time with their shipwreck galleries.

It is definitely worth a visit for those interested in Fremantle’s history as a port city.

Details: Open 9:30 am – 5 pm daily, free entry.

Learn The History Of The Roundhouse

The Roundhouse in Fremantle was built by convicts and it has quite the story to tell! This beautiful 19th century heritage building is the oldest building in Western Australia.

Initially built to hold convicts in the 1830s before becoming a police lock-up in the late 19th century. Following it became accommodation for the Water Police, and finally, acted as a storage facility for Fremantle Ports before becoming a museum as it is today.

It has free entry and is open daily with tours to learn the history.

The Roundhouse is situated on top of a hill that overlooks the city of Fremantle with stunning views of the Indian Ocean.

Insiders Tip: Visit just before 1 pm so you can witness the daily cannon firing.

Details: Open 10:30 am – 3:30 pm daily, free entry.

Fremantle Arts Centre

The Fremantle Arts Centre is home to an art gallery, theatre, live music venue and cafe.

The Centre is free to enter and a great place for art lovers to take a break from sightseeing or have an afternoon out with the kids. The art gallery has changing exhibitions, so there’s always something new to see.

The building’s early days were spent as a “lunatic asylum” for convicts, followed by years of residency for poor and elderly women and finally used by soldiers during WWII, so it has a unique history of its own.

Depending on when you are in Fremantle, you may even be able to time your visit with a performance at the theatre. They have free and ticketed events all year round, including programs that are aimed at kids and families.

Details: Open from 8 am to 5 pm daily with free entry. Ticketed events may incur costs.

Visit A Park Or Playground

There is plenty of choice for parks, playgrounds and reserves around Fremantle. Esplanade Park is right in the centre of the action, with a playground, picnic and BBQ areas, with a close walk to the restaurant precinct and marina.

Find more parks to visit in Fremantle here.

Snap A Selfie With The Rainbow Containers

If you’re looking for a fun and quirky Instagram-worthy spot in Fremantle, search for the rainbow shipping containers near Canning Highway. Don’t forget your selfie stick!

Fremantle Attractions & Best Things To Do In Fremantle With Kids

If you’re looking to experience the best attractions in Fremantle, you’ve got plenty of options to suit all interests and age groups, from historic sites to wildlife experiences and more. Here are some fun things to do in Fremantle:

Fremantle Markets

The Fremantle Markets are a must-visit for any visitor to Fremantle and make for a great morning or afternoon out with the family.

There’s something for everyone at the markets, with over 150 stalls selling everything from arts and crafts to fresh local produce and souvenirs.

Make sure you try some of the delicious fresh food on offer and you might even be able to pick up some cool souvenirs or gifts as you wander through stalls showcasing the talents of local artists, designers and creators.

Details: The Fremantle Markets run every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm.

Fremantle Tourist Wheel

The iconic Fremantle Ferris wheel is located in Esplanade Park, sitting at 40 metres high and offering some of the best views of Fremantle.

Pricing at the time of writing is $40 for a family of four, $12 per adult and $10 per child for the famous tourist attraction.

Details: Runs 10 am – 9 pm daily (10 pm on weekends).

Cappuccino Strip

Located in the heart of Fremantle, the Cappuccino Strip is a great place to wander with plenty of cafes and restaurants to choose from. There’s also some cool street art on display and it’s a great place for people watching.

Also known as the South Terrace, Cappuccino Strip is the ideal place to grab yourself a cup of coffee or enjoy a bite to eat between visiting the sights of Fremantle.

Lunch At Little Creatures Brewery

A visit to Little Creatures Brewery is a must for any beer lover and there’s also plenty of food on offer if you’re feeling peckish.

With an outdoor courtyard, a relaxed atmosphere and great views of the Fremantle Harbour, it’s the perfect spot to spend an afternoon or evening.

In fact, the entire Little Creatures complex is massive. There is The Brew House, The Great Hall and they also have takeaway beer and pizza if you’re in a hurry.

Or take advantage of their free bike hire to explore Fremantle on wheels. Enquire at the brewhouse for availability.

Little Creatures is extremely popular and they don’t take bookings, so you might have trouble getting a table on a busy Saturday evening but during the day you will usually find one.

But the food is great and they have kids meals and activity packs available to keep them entertained while you relax with a few brews.

You can also take a guided tour through their craft beer brewery if you want to learn more.

Details: Open from 11 am until late daily.

Enjoy A Seafood Dinner

If you love seafood, you can’t get much fresher than Fremantle with seafood coming in from the harbour each day! There are plenty of great options to satisfy those seafood cravings too.

Here are some great places to eat in Fremantle:

• Kailis Fishmarket Cafe – Harbourside dining and home to WA’s largest seafood platter (you need to preorder this one)
• Joe’s Fish Shack – WA crayfish, prawns, salmon and more.
• Cicerello’s – Both gourmet and traditional style fish and chips

Insiders Tip: Cicerello’s in Fremantle is also home to Western Australia’s largest Private Aquarium, with 11 world-class aquariums holding over 80,000 litres of water and housing many local marine animals in conditions as near to their natural environments as possible. This is a cool way to keep the kids entertained during dinner!

Enjoy A Drink At Bathers Beach House

Along the Esplanade, you’ll find Bathers Beach House. They serve great food and have terraces with spectacular views of Fremantle Harbour and the beach.

Bathers Beach House beach lounge area became Australia’s first licensed beach in 2016.

Best of all, they have beach lounges and chairs set up right on the sand facing Bathers Beach. A beach lounge chair can be booked between 11 am and 7 pm for 3-hour blocks.

If you’re looking to entertain the kids but also want to enjoy a little something for mum and dad, grab yourself a cocktail (or mocktail) while the kids enjoy building sandcastles.

Every Sunday afternoon from 3 pm they have live music playing as well!

Details: Open 11 am to late daily

WA Maritime Museum

If you are looking for a fun and educational activity to keep the kids busy, head on over to WA Maritime Museum. The museum has hands-on activities that allow your little ones to interact with some of the exhibits and plenty of interesting tours to suit all ages.

Situated on the shore of the Indian Ocean, the Western Australia Maritime Museum brings together Fremantle’s past, present and future.

Insiders Tip: Visit on the second Tuesday of the month and entry is just a gold coin donation.

Details: Open 9:30 am to 5 pm daily. Cost $15 for adults. Children 15 and under are free.

Day Trips From Fremantle

If you’re looking for some ideas of things to do from Fremantle that are a little further afield, here are some great day trip options:

Rottnest Island

Just off the coast of Fremantle is Rottnest Island, a true hidden gem. Best known for its quokkas and relaxed vibe, this island offers great beaches to swim at, watersport opportunities such as snorkelling and kayaking or even just enjoying some time in nature.

To get around the island, hire a bike or ride the Explorer Bus. There are also day tours that will guarantee you experience the highlights and best attractions at Rottnest Island.

The ferry ride from Fremantle to Rottnest Island is just 30 minutes, departing daily from B-Shed and Northport terminals in Fremantle. Check the ferry timetable and book your tickets here.

Kings Park & Botanic Garden

Located in Perth and only a 20-minute drive from Fremantle, Kings Park is one of the largest inner-city parks in the world and home to beautiful gardens and sweeping views of Swan River and Canning River.

The Western Australian Botanic Garden is a spectacular and diverse place, housing some of WA’s most precious natural assets. The Botanic Garden displays over 3000 species from across the state in its 400-hectare park.

Kids will love the many different playground and nature play areas scattered throughout Kings Park, with dinosaur discovery experiences throughout as well.

You can easily enjoy a day at King’s Park exploring the gardens, sharing a picnic or BBQ or dining at the cafe.

There are plenty of things to do with kids in Fremantle, whether you’re looking for a relaxed morning out or something more adventurous. Fremantle is a vibrant city that is perfect for families, making it a must-visit from Perth no matter the time of year!

Which of these Fremantle activities are you looking forward to most?

Planning Your Fremantle Visit

Fremantle is a perfect day trip from Perth or a wonderful place to stay for a weekend or longer. Whether you are day-tripping from Perth or planning an extended stay, these resources will help you plan the ultimate Fremantle visit.

How To Get To Fremantle

Fremantle is just 30 minutes drive south of Perth, Western Australia’s capital. You can reach the city by taking a train or bus from Perth to Fremantle and there are many options with TransWA.

Or of course, the easiest way to visit Fremantle is by car. If you are visiting Western Australia, you can hire a car from Perth Airport.

The airport is located approximately 34 minutes from Fremantle, although depending on the time of day, it can take longer with traffic.

Best Time To Visit Fremantle

The best time to visit Fremantle is during the shoulder seasons in Spring and Autumn when temperatures are milder, yet still mostly warm and the crowds are less than they are during the busy summer months.

If you are looking for warm weather, between November and February are when you can enjoy the longer days of sunshine and make the most of the coastal location.

If you plan your visit during summer, make sure to bring sunscreen and a hat because it can get quite hot, with average temperatures around 28 degrees Celcius during summer.

As for the winter months, the average temperatures are around 18 degrees Celsius and quite chilly. This also tends to be when Fremantle receives its highest rainfall.