24hrs in Perth

The flight from Adelaide to Perth took just three and a half hours, but thanks to the time difference, we gained an extra three hours in our day. We landed just after lunchtime, feeling energized and ready to explore our accommodation. The excitement of starting our adventure for 24hrs in Perth was in full swing!

Our accommodation was nothing short of unique—we stayed at the historic Fremantle Prison! Don’t worry, no crimes were committed to earn us a spot there. The former women’s prison has been cleverly transformed into a YHA, offering a truly one-of-a-kind experience. For the adventurous, you can even spend the night in one of the original cells!

After checking in, we wasted no time booking ourselves onto the popular Torchlight Tour. With that sorted, we set off to explore the vibrant harbor area and hunt down a bite to eat.

Established in 1897, the harbor area has long been a bustling hub for trade, tourism, and culture. It’s the departure point for ferries heading to the stunning Rottnest Island, and there’s always a flurry of activity as ships are loaded and unloaded with goods destined for import and export. While we were there a RORO car carrying ship was there as well as a containership being unloaded. There was also one of only two Chinese icebreaking research vessels, the MV Xue Long.

Originally structures used for the storage of goods being imported and exported, the sheds are now a symbol of the area's industrial history. However, now many of them have been transformed into cultural venues, commercial spaces and spaces for markets, festivals and events. One of the sheds here is **Gage Roads Freo Brewery**, perfectly situated with gorgeous harbor views. Its laid-back, eclectic vibe made it an easy spot to lose track of time. We spent a few hours sampling their impressive lineup of craft beers on tap while soaking in the picturesque surroundings—an absolute must for anyone visiting Fremantle!

After indulging in delicious brews, tasty food, and a good dose of relaxation, we made our way to the South Mole Lighthouse. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect—we arrived just in time to catch a breathtaking sunset over the water.

Finally, it was time for our torchlight tour of the prison, and we couldn’t wait to get inside and see what secrets were waiting for us. Our guide met us at the door, and we couldn’t have been happier—he was super engaging and made the whole experience even more interesting. As they led us through the dark by torchlight, we learnt about the history of the prison and even some of the mor dark history that you don't get in the daytime tours.

The prison, constructed in 1885, was built by the convicts who would be housed there, using limestone from the very hill on which it stands.

There are some interesting insights, and we were very surprised that the prison was still used in almost the original condition (including the lack of plumbing) until 1991.

Punishment was severe, and the cat-o-nine tails was extensively used for those who misbehaved. For those on death row, gallows awaited, consisting of a rope tied to the rafters and a floor that gave way to a three-meter drop when the lever was pulled.

Day two

We woke early to make the most of our last few hours in Perth. Our first stop was to the beautiful Leighton Beach for a delicious and nutritious breakfast at The Orange Box. True to its name The Orange Box is a bright orange box that is open and unpretentious with a casual vibe. We enjoyed our breaky and went for a quick stroll along the beautiful white sands of the beach.

We headed back to Fremantle to drop off the car and catch the train into the city. The train system is easy to operate with tickets booths at the station and information booths on the platform. It costs $10.40 for an all zone daytripper ticket and that allows you to catch any train, ferry or bus in Perth.

Perth is a beautiful clean city with not one, but two street malls. The first is Hay Street Mall and the second is Murray Street Mall. A nice little surprise while walking down Hay Street Mall is a building with the facade of a Tudor style building featuring a clock modelled after London's Big Ben. Every quarter of an hour the bell chimes. When you walk through the wrought iron gates you are transported to a Tudor style London court complete with cobblestone flooring, boutique shops, decorative arches and latticed windows. On the St George Terrace end there is a clock featuring knights jousting.

We followed Barrack Street down to an interesting building that sticks out from the pleasant scenery of the city scape of Perth. An 82.5mtr tall glass spire that tapers up with curved copper "wings" that resemble ships sail. Inside are several interesting displays and a lift to the six levels of the tower. The sixth level is a viewing platform that gives a 360-degree view of the harbor and the city. On other levels you can see the historic bells from St Martin in the Fields church in London and even chime them for a fee. At midday every day the impressive 6500kg ANZAC bell is rung for one minute and we were lucky enough to be there to witness it.

All that exploring made us quite hungry and we were given a tip that right across the road in the Hilton there is a rooftop Bar called 18 Knots Rooftop Bar. You do not have to stay there to frequent to bar, just take the lift up to level 18. The views were breathtaking of the city and the river. The food and service were equally fantastic, we stayed there way too long just soaking up the view.

That was the conclusion of our time in Perth, and it was time to catch the train back to Fremantle, retrieve our car, and bid farewell to this beautiful city as we set off on our next adventure.