The Top 11 Free Things To Do In Perth
Nobody likes to spend a lot of money on anything, especially on vacation. It can cause stress and ruin your whole trip. Luckily, there are hundreds of free things to do in Perth City. It is the capital of Western Australia and home to more than 2.1 million people, so you know it has to be amazing.
Some of the free things to do in Perth are expected like Kings Park, hiking along Swan River, and Elizabeth Quay. You almost never have to pay for anything like this. Other free things to do in Perth can take a little searching though. We are going to help you with that.
Find out about all the city events before packing your bags. If you want to stay indoors, visit the Perth Cultural Centre, which is home to the Western Australian Museum. You can also enjoy free entry at the art galleries in town. If you would like to explore the arts, check out Blue Room Theatre. And if you overpack for the day, drop your extra gear at a Perth luggage storage locker. Travel light to see as much as you can!
For some outdoor fun, why not visit Cottesloe or Scarborough Beach? For example, you can take Fremantle Harbour Beach to Leighton Beach, which is only a few minutes up the coastline. Make sure you visit the fancy bridge at Elizabeth Quay too.
Or head down to South Beach, where you can find luxury hotels and fine dining. Visit South Perth Foreshore Matilda Bay at the river mouth and you may be able to catch a dolphin herd large schools of fish. It is also a fantastic spot to see a stellar sunset.
Take a day trip to one of the nearby national parks in the Perth Hills like Helena National Park in the Mundaring State Forest. It is free and fun for all. Of course, everyone loves free stuff and Perth does not disappoint.
Free Guided Tours
Many of the guided tours in Perth are free. They are given by local volunteers who are proud to show off their city. The free tour is typically about one to three hours and you will learn about all the history as well as the hidden gems. The Swan Valley Food trail is one of these.
If you like wine, there are a number of food and wine trails so you can get some cheap eats too. In fact, there is a free wine trail where you actually get to drink some wine. For free! But those are self-guided tours. If you are comfortable using your phone as a map, this is a great way to see Swan Valley wineries for free.
Kings Park
In West Perth, Kings Park is always one of the free things that both visitors and locals enjoy. In fact, it is the most popular park in Western Australia. Kings Park is also one of the biggest inner-city parks in Australia with just under one thousand acres to explore. With seven guided trails, you can find out all sorts of interesting things about Swan River.
Inside the park, there is no charge to enjoy Swan River whether you want to go boating, take a dip, or try some paddleboarding. The park is also home to the 42-acre Botanic Gardens of Western Australia, which also has free entry. If you're not afraid of heights, don't miss the Lotterywest Federation Walkway, which is a walk in the treetops.
Swan Valley
Spending the day in Swan Valley is another of the free things to do in Perth. Take a walk along the Swan River, browse the art galleries, or take a boat ride on the river. In Swan Valley, you will also find all sorts of vineyards and there is even a free wine tour.
See some of the finest wineries in the valley and you may even catch some wine tasting and other entertainment like live music. There is no charge to see some of the fantastic waterfalls either such as Hovea Falls, National Park Falls, and Lesmurdie Falls.
Heirisson Island
This is one place you should definitely have on your itinerary of free things to do in Perth. Heirisson Island is full of kangaroos bouncing around all over, especially in the early morning. You can even see black swans on the river. Besides kangaroos and swans, there are other family attractions as well.
The island holds thousands of years of history. The Noongar population in the area was between six and nine thousand before Europeans landed there in 1697 and this is one of the best Marine Parks in Perth.
Elizabeth Quay
Elizabeth Quay is a neighborhood with a lot to do. Whether you are looking to have some fun, want to shop 'til you drop, or meander along some walking trails, you will find all that here. While many of the attractions have a small fee, you can certainly enjoy a walk and you can visit the Bell Tower to see the Swan Bells.
In fact, this is the best place in Perth for coastal walks because it has paved walking paths all along the water. One such trail is the #heartofgold Discovery Trail, which has you following a path with your phone on a scavenger hunt adventure. You will get a whole different perspective of Australia here.
Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts
The Perth Institute of Contemporary Art is another free art museum in the Perth Cultural Center where you can spend hours just browsing the halls and galleries. Its exhibitions are free from Tuesdays to Sundays from 10 AM to 5 PM.
Located in the city center, the Perth Institute is housed in a historic building where they have local, Australian, and international art including interdisciplinary, performing, and visual arts. They also have the PICA Bar & Cafe where you can refuel or get an adult beverage.
Art Gallery of Western Australia
At the Art Gallery of Western Australia, it is free to enter but they accept donations. And when you see all it has to offer, you will not mind dropping a few dollars for the visit. As part of the Perth Cultural Centre, the Art Gallery of Western Australia houses more than 18 thousand pieces from paintings to sculptures and everything in between.
You can find artworks from the 1800s to the present with some of the highlights being the 1887 Breaking the News by John Longstaff, the 1889 Down on His Luck by Frederick McCubbin, and the 1921 Droving into the Light by Hans Heyson. Although you have to pay a small fee for the temporary exhibitions, sometimes there are free events for this too.
Perth State Library of Western Australia
Enjoy some very cool items at the Perth State Library. It was established in 1889 and has over 1.5 million items. You will find more than just books and magazines though. This is one of the free activities to do in Perth that can keep you busy all day.
The Perth library also has photos, music, and films with children-friendly movies. In fact, the collection includes more than 50,000 sheets of music, making it the largest public music lending library in the country. The library also has about 100 public computers with free wireless internet.
Western Australian Museum of Perth
Whether you want to learn about Perth public art, the history of the surrounding suburbs, or find out more about the indigenous peoples of Perth, it is all here and then some. In fact, this Perth museum is rife with all sorts of items and artifacts.
From Diamonds to Dinosaurs, this exhibition looks back at the past 12 billion years including rocks from Mars, dinosaur bones, and ancient diamonds. Animal lovers will enjoy seeing what kinds of fauna Perth offers in the Mammal, Bird, and Butterfly Galleries.
Cottesloe Beach
One of the most popular free things to do in Perth City is hanging out at Cottesloe Beach. Whether you want to play in the water or relax in the sand, this is the best beach in Western Australia. For a city beach, it is fantastic with clean sand, lifeguards, and concessions.
Take the time to walk along the South Perth foreshore where you can gaze out at the Indian Ocean. A coastal walk is absolutely free and very invigorating. If it gets too hot, go ahead and take a dip. You can even rent snorkeling or diving equipment, but they are not free.
Fremantle Farmers Markets
Entry to the Fremantle Markets is free and you can even score some free samples of all sorts of foods while you are there. Around the Fremantle Harbour and Esplanade Park, home of the Tourist Wheel, the Fremantle markets have been going on here since 1897 and it is a popular spot for the locals.
With more than a century of experience, the Perth markets have more than 100 shops from locals selling handcrafts to pop-up retail shops selling souvenirs. This is the oldest and largest of the weekend markets in Perth and Western Australia and all the market lovers end up here on the weekends. You will likely hear some live music as well.
See Perth for Free
This is just a short list of the free things to do in Perth. There are many more to enjoy, you just have to look. Why not start at Perth Station and head to Elizabeth Quay? Free stuff and cheap things may just be right in front of you. Whether you are interested in taking a coastal walk along the Indian Ocean, exploring the city at night, taking the Swan Valley Wine Trail, or looking up history at the State Records Office, you will be spoiled for choice.
