If there's one drawback to the Fremantle day trip, it's going home at the end of it. No lingering late over dinner. No finding a sneaky night cap while wandering the West End. There's plenty to do in Fremantle to keep you entertained for several days. Here's a few ideas or check the 'play' section for more inspiration.
Early starters
Fremantle is breakfast central. Land early for some alfresco time on the Cappuccino Strip, or explore the side streets for eggs your way and your first great coffee / chai / juice / smoothie of the day.
Fremantle's first advantage is that everything is walkable–beach to beach, and shopping district to arts precinct. Yellow-topped wayfinding signs around the Esplanade and West End help navigate.
A hop on, hop off tram tour is an alternative option if it's hot; your ticket is good all day, so you can catch a ride when the energy lags.
Culture vultures
Pre-lunch is a good time to check out a museum, the WA Shipwrecks Museum is just a gold coin entry–not bad for the foremost museum of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
If it's the weekend, you'll likely be drawn in by the crowd-pulling, death-defying buskers, and the aromas coming out of Fremantle Markets–that particular blend of coffee, incense, gozleme, bao, crepes and doughnuts. Shopping for craft, jewellery and souvenirs is hungry work, and you'll certainly find lunch here.
On non-market days, the West End has some good shopping for design, art and fashion enthusiasts. Combine it with a wander through galleries at the Moore's Building, Bathers Beach Art Precinct or Kidogo Arthouse. The arts, festival and music scene in Fremantle is always humming.
Adventurers
As the heat sets in, head underground. The Tunnels Tour at Fremantle Prison puts you in a canoe for a novel and adventurous exploration of the submerged passageways beneath the prison. (Kids must be 12 to do this, and bookings are recommended.)
A more adrenaline-filled boat ride comes courtesy of West Coast Jet, which operates a 12 metre jet boat from Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour. Expect loud tunes and plenty of spins, fishtails and wet, wild adventure. Or perhaps a few rounds of golf on the fairways at Fremantle Public Golf Course.
Back on dry land, book a tour with one of the local tour operators through Fremantle Visitor Centre. There's plenty to choose from that cover Fremantle's points of interest or places a bit further afield including Caversham Wildlife Park or for the serious adventurers, Dive Ningaloo.
Chill seekers
Come sundown, everything twinkles at Fishing Boat Harbour. Add a light sea breeze, the fading serenade of seagulls and a high concentration of fish and chippers, and you've got an archetypal Fremantle evening.
Before the sun sinks, consider a swim at Bathers Beach. The brightly coloured change huts might be the clincher–if not the calm water and the timber structures to keep kids occupied.
This is also a choice vantage point for watching the sun go down over the water. Strolling along a nearby groyne or claiming a patch of sand at South Beach are also good options for sunset viewing.
The deckchairs on the beach at Bathers Beach House are the only licensed beach chairs in Australia. Take a seat to claim bragging rights.
See you in Fremantle.