Categories > Guides and Tips
This guide to Bathers Beach will have you diving into water & history!
- Things to Know
- How to Get There
- Things to Do
- Play in the water
- See the masterpieces of Sculpture at Bathers
- Catch live tunes at the Kidogo Arthouse
- Learn about maritime history at the WA Shipwrecks Museum
- Visit WA’s oldest surviving public building, The Round House
- Appreciate art at Greg James Sculpture Studio
- Where to Eat
- Bathers Beach House
- Kailis Fishmarket Cafe
- Char Char Bull Grill & Bar
- Chalkys Espresso Bar
Bathers Beach is basically Fremantle in a nutshell. It has beachy fun, seaside bliss, and enduring heritage, all in just a 300-metre stretch of white sand that kisses the Indian Ocean.
In other words, the beach is for swimming, cafe-hopping, and watching a freaking cannon roar to life at WA’s oldest public building.
Sounds fire, right? Not if you’re wandering around with zero idea where to turn or park. Lucky for you and your mates, our guide below can help you with that.
Things to Know
Map
Travel Time from the Perth CBD: 28 min (19.2 km)
Weather Forecast
Surf Forecast
How to Get There
By Train: You can reach Bathers Beach from Downtown Perth via the Fremantle Line, which stops at Fremantle Stn.
Upon reaching the station, walk south of Phillimore St and take the left turn, entering City of Fremantle – Arthur Head Reserve Car Park 41. The way there offers various entry points to the beach, with the WA Shipwrecks Museum offering the go-to path.
By Bus: Bathers Beach is accessible from the Perth CBD via bus line 910, passing at St Georges Tce Before Pier St. The ride will drop you off at Queen St After Adelaide St, where you just have to follow the same Phillimore St route to get to the beach itself.
By Car: The following are the nearest and most convenient parking spots on Bathers Beach: Little High Street Parking, Fishing Boat Harbour Car Park #3, and Wilson Parking in Victoria Quay.
By Taxi: We broke down potential taxi fares in Perth in the table below. It’s up-to-date as of June 2025.
| Tariff 1 – 6 am to 5:59 pm | |||
| Flagfall | Distance Rate | Booking Fee | Waiting Time |
| $5.10 | 2.04/km | $1.80 | $58/hr |
| Tariff 2 – 6 pm to 5:59 am (including all day Saturday and Sunday) | |||
| Flagfall | Distance Rate | Booking Fee | Waiting Time |
| $7.30 | 2.04/km | $1.80 | $58/hr |
| Ultra Peak (12 am to 02:59 am on Friday and Saturday only) | |||
| Flagfall | Distance Rate | Booking Fee | Waiting Time |
| $7.30 + $4.30 | 2.04/km | $1.80 | $58/hr |
Things to Do
Play in the water
From thinkingtommy
When you rock up to a beach and see families everywhere, it’s usually a dead giveaway that the water is cruisy. Bathers Beach fits that bill spot on.
The shallows there are generally calm, ideal for rookies and kiddos up for a lazy splash. Most of them stop by between November and February, so keep that in mind if you hate battling for space.
You can also just laze off in a chair while basking in the golden hour. Best not to forget your cocktail; the strip is WA’s first booze-friendly beach.
See the masterpieces of Sculpture at Bathers
From sculptureatbathers
Sculpture at Bathers simply makes the stretch more mesmerising. The non-profit event kicked off in 2013, displaying the creations of around 130 local artists, with some 130,000 folks stopping for a gander.
Naturally, I don’t miss each edition, including the 2025 one last April. Standouts for me? Tony Pankiw’s Space Reflector, which mimicked the ocean’s movements, and Melanie Maclou’s Ocean Dancer, a trippy, sea anemone-inspired piece.
The free tours were the cherry on top, especially those led by the creators and the twilight excursions.
Catch live tunes at the Kidogo Arthouse
From kidogoarthouse
Address: Old Kerosene Store
Contact Details: +61 401 333 309
Website
Kidogo Arthouse is so laid-back you’d forget the 19th-century building housing it used to store items that required warning labels. All of that is in the past, though, as this heritage-listed space is now an indie hub for music and the arts.
Schedule-wise, there’s rarely a pause. Events seem to take place each month, mostly candlelit parties featuring musicians or exhibitions, like the previously discussed Sculpture at Bathers.
Beyond that, it’s a famed venue for private events (especially weddings) by the water. If you see their sea-facing deck, you’ll get the hype.
Learn about maritime history at the WA Shipwrecks Museum
From fitzland_fam
Address: 47 Cliff St
Operating Hours: Daily – 9:30 am to 5 pm
Website
Most beaches would require you to wear a hundred-dollar gear to see their wrecks. That’s not the case at Bathers Beach, with the WA Shipwrecks museum standing on it. No joke, the entrance alone features the Trial, said to be Australia’s first-ever shipwreck.
Deeper into the museum lie more displays tied to WA’s maritime history, including the Batavia Gallery. That’s where I saw the Batavia, a reconstruction of the VOC ship’s remnants…with some interesting side attractions, like a skeleton!
The Hartog to de Vlaming Gallery is another attention-grabber. This is where you go if you want to learn about infamous mutinies and Dutch voyages to Oz, a century of them, to be exact.
Visit WA’s oldest surviving public building, The Round House
From thebelletraveller
Address: 15 Captains Ln
Contact Details: +61 8 9336 6897
Operating Hours: Daily – 10:30 am to 3:30 pm
Website
I had The Round House in mind when I called Bathers Beach ‘historic.’ After all, this stone-made establishment is touted as WA’s ‘oldest surviving public building.’
These days, the 12-sided edifice is well behind its jailing and gallows days, but some of its old ways remain. For instance, there’s a literal blast from the past at 1 pm—a cannon fired for reenactment purposes.
On top of that, history buffs can peruse exhibitions, most providing info on prison life and the colony’s first settlers. The 1837-built Whaler’s Tunnel, used by the Fremantle Whaling Company for passage, is my personal favourite.
Appreciate art at Greg James Sculpture Studio
From gregjames_sculpture
Address: J Shed Art Studio, Unit 2 J Shed/3 Fleet St
Contact Details: +61 8 9335 5857
Operating Hours: Sat to Sun – 12 pm to 4 pm
Website
Greg James Sculpture Studio is a lovely little gallery (and sunset-viewing spot) that flaunts the work of its namesake, renowned bronze sculptor Greg James. If the name rings a bell, it’s probably because he created public artworks like Bon Scott and The Fishermen.
The room upstairs displays his finished creations, alongside some works from other local artisans. They typically capture facets of the human condition, particularly those related to beauty and sensuality.
As a bonus, you might catch James working downstairs. The staff is a good bunch as well, since they’re always up for a yarn, which is why my not-so-artsy brain was able to comprehend the sculptor’s masterpieces.
Where to Eat
Bathers Beach House
From bathersbeachhouse
Address: 6/47 Mews Rd
Contact Details: +61 8 9335 2911
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 11 am to 10 pm
- Fri to Sat – 11 am to 12 am
- Sun – 11 am to 10 pm
Pricing: $$
Website
I had a sundown dinner with my tots at Bathers Beach House, and it won’t be the last. You can blame their filling mains, shareable dishes, and golden hour sights for that.
Like most, I started with oysters, flavoured lightly with a squeeze of fresh lemon and sprinkling of sesame. I followed that up with a board of popcorn squid and soda-battered fish for a hearty finish.
The nippers, meanwhile, had fish and chips. They cooked it the classic way, just with tomato sauce and a complementary icy pole.
Kailis Fishmarket Cafe
From kailisfremantle
Address: Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour,46 Mews Rd
Contact Details: +61 8 9335 7755
Operating Hours: Daily – 10:30 am to 8 pm
Pricing: $$
Website
The beachside building where Kailis Fishmarket Cafe is has been standing since 1928, so a feed here comes with a side of local history.
As for the bites, top billing goes to their seafood BBQ. I personally can’t go past the local snapper, which has a sweet, clean meat that holds up well with the barbie’s smoky infusion.
If you’re cashed up, the Western Rock Lobster might be a better pick. The medium-firm meat is low in oil, with rich, sweet, and nutty flavours dominating every piece.
Char Char Bull Grill & Bar
From charcharrb
Address: Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour, 44B Mews Rd
Contact Details: +61 8 9335 7666
Operating Hours:
- Tue – 5 pm to 12 am
- Wed – 12 am to 9 pm
- Thu to Sun – 11 am to 3 pm, 5 pm to 9 pm
Pricing: $$$
Website
Char Char Bull is meant for catch-ups and family dining. When you have generously portioned steaks, delish seafood, and immaculate harbour views, that’s to be expected.
Texas T-bone is what sells most if we’re talking beef. The cut is delicate, with a herby, spiced coating of Texas-style marinade.
On the seafood front, their buttery scallops and creamy oysters get most of the props. Can’t say I’m shocked since both go down well with the resto’s cocktails.
Chalkys Espresso Bar
From chalkysespresso
Address: Fremantle Municipal Tramways, Shop 4/1 High St
Contact Details: +61 8 9433 3586
Operating Hours: Daily – 6:30 am to 1:30 pm
Pricing: $$
Website
Brunch at Chalkys Espresso Bar will complete any Bathers Beach getaway. The cafe is hip, their Dukes coffee is seasonal, and you don’t have to wake up at 6 am thanks to the all-day breakfast setup.
Oh, and their vegan pancakes are a ripper. For $18, you get a stack with cinnamon-kissed peaches and toasted almonds, rounded off with a drizzle of sweet maple and custardy vegan anglaise cream.
Their home-cured salmon is also a banger. Its profile is salty, buttery, and herby, akin to a hybrid of smoked salmon and sashimi salmon, minus the charred notes.
