Best of Perth & Fremantle, Australia Self-Guided Driving Tour: Kings Park, Cottesloe Beach & Swan River
Places: 23 POIs
Distance: 24.78 mi
Duration: 1h:22m
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Tour #2913
About this English self-guided 1h:22m driving tour in Perth
G'day and welcome to Perth, Western Australia! Get ready for a fantastic drive that will take us from the heart of the city all the way to the Indian Ocean and historic Fremantle.
We'll begin by exploring central Perth, passing some of its most important historic landmarks before reaching the beautiful Swan River waterfront and Elizabeth Quay. From there, we'll climb into spectacular Kings Park, where some of the best views of Perth are waiting for us.
Then we'll leave downtown behind and follow the Swan River through leafy neighbourhoods, passing the famous Blue Boat House and the University of Western Australia before making our way toward the coast.
And that's when the scenery changes again. We'll reach the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean at Cottesloe Beach, follow the coast south, and eventually arrive in Fremantle, or Freo as the locals call it.
There we'll discover convict history, grand Victorian architecture, Fremantle Prison, the historic Town Hall and the old waterfront before heading right out into the harbour for our grand finale at the South Mole Lighthouse.
So get comfortable, follow the navigation, and leave the storytelling to us.
Perth and Fremantle are waiting. Let's hit the road!
- 1For the best experience, begin at the tour's recommended starting point and follow the stops in order.
- 2Want to start somewhere else? Simply use Start At on the tour screen, before tapping Start Tour, to begin from any stop.
- 3Need to detour or skip a stop along the way? Tap Tour Assistant (
![UCPlaces AI Bot Icon]()
) to use Force Play, Skip, and Back, for full flexibility.
) to use Force Play, Skip, and Back, for full flexibility.
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Places (POIs) visited during this tour
Place #1
![Map Pin]()
Recommended Starting Point
Distance: 0.00mi
24 Murray St, Perth WA 6000, Australia
St Mary’s Cathedral: Welcome to Perth
Welcome to Perth!
Up ahead is one of Perth's most impressive landmarks, St Mary’s Cathedral, but first, look to your left for the beautiful old tree known locally as the Kissing Tree.
It earned that romantic nickname because nurses who lived at nearby Kirkman House would apparently meet their sweethearts here. At the end of the evening, this was where they would say goodnight — and presumably steal one last kiss — before the nurses returned to their rooms.
And now, up ahead is St Mary’s Cathedral. Construction began here in 1863, but remarkably, the cathedral evolved over nearly a century and a half, with its final major transformation completed in 2009.
That's why you'll notice something unusual about the building: its architecture combines distinctly historic sections with much more contemporary additions, allowing different chapters of the cathedral's long history to remain visible.
It's a fitting place to begin our tour, at a landmark that has watched Perth grow from a small colonial settlement into the modern city we're about to explore.
Let's get started!
Up ahead is one of Perth's most impressive landmarks, St Mary’s Cathedral, but first, look to your left for the beautiful old tree known locally as the Kissing Tree.
It earned that romantic nickname because nurses who lived at nearby Kirkman House would apparently meet their sweethearts here. At the end of the evening, this was where they would say goodnight — and presumably steal one last kiss — before the nurses returned to their rooms.
And now, up ahead is St Mary’s Cathedral. Construction began here in 1863, but remarkably, the cathedral evolved over nearly a century and a half, with its final major transformation completed in 2009.
That's why you'll notice something unusual about the building: its architecture combines distinctly historic sections with much more contemporary additions, allowing different chapters of the cathedral's long history to remain visible.
It's a fitting place to begin our tour, at a landmark that has watched Perth grow from a small colonial settlement into the modern city we're about to explore.
Let's get started!
Place #2
![Map Pin]()
Distance: 0.16mi
173 Goderich St, Perth WA 6000, Australia
The Perth Mint: Where Western Australia’s Gold Rush Lives On
On your right is the Perth Mint, one of the city's great reminders of the enormous role gold played in shaping Western Australia.
The Mint opened in 1899, during the great Western Australian gold rush, when huge quantities of gold were being discovered in places like Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie. Rather than shipping all that raw gold thousands of miles to Britain, it could be refined and turned into coins right here in Perth.
It was originally established as a branch of Britain's Royal Mint, and remarkably, it still operates today, producing gold, silver and platinum coins and bars.
And here's a fun fact: in 2011, the Perth Mint created what was then the world's largest gold coin. It weighs a full one tonne and contains more than a thousand kilograms of almost pure gold.
So as we pass on your right, take a look at that elegant old building — there's a lot of gold history hiding behind those walls.
The Mint opened in 1899, during the great Western Australian gold rush, when huge quantities of gold were being discovered in places like Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie. Rather than shipping all that raw gold thousands of miles to Britain, it could be refined and turned into coins right here in Perth.
It was originally established as a branch of Britain's Royal Mint, and remarkably, it still operates today, producing gold, silver and platinum coins and bars.
And here's a fun fact: in 2011, the Perth Mint created what was then the world's largest gold coin. It weighs a full one tonne and contains more than a thousand kilograms of almost pure gold.
So as we pass on your right, take a look at that elegant old building — there's a lot of gold history hiding behind those walls.
Tour itinerary stops | Additional places you'll see on this self-guided tour
Place 1
St Mary’s Cathedral: Welcome to Perth
Place 2
The Perth Mint: Where Western Australia’s Gold Rush Lives On
Place 3
Mercedes College - Nearly Two Centuries of Education
Place 4
Perth Town Hall: A Clock Tower from the Convict Era
Place 5
State Buildings: From Government Offices to Perth Landmark
Place 6
St George’s Cathedral: Perth’s Anglican Heart
Place 7
Perth Girls’ Orphanage: A Hidden Piece of Perth History
Place 8
Perth’s Waterfront: Swan River & Langley Park
Place 9
Barrack Square & The Bell Tower: Perth’s Riverside Icon
Place 10
Elizabeth Quay: Perth Meets the Swan River
Place 11
Fraser Avenue Lookout: Perth from Above
Place 12
Kings Park: Perth’s Green Crown
Place 13
Blue Boat House: Perth’s Famous Little Landmark
Place 14
University of Western Australia & Matilda Bay: Campus by the Swan
Place 15
Foreshore Reserve: Life Along the Swan River
Place 16
Cottesloe Civic Centre & Secret Garden: A Hidden Gem
Place 17
Cottesloe Beach: Perth Meets the Indian Ocean
Place 18
Welcome to North Fremantle: Gateway to Freo
Place 19
Stirling Bridge: Crossing the Swan River
Place 20
Monument Hill & Fremantle War Memorial: A City Remembers
Place 21
Fremantle Prison: From Convicts to World Heritage
Place 22
St John’s Church & Fremantle Town Hall: The Heart of Freo
Place 23
South Mole Lighthouse: Where Perth Meets the Indian Ocean
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Have any questions about this tour? Or a general travel / self-guided tours question? That's completely natural
+ How long does this tour take?
Most travelers complete this tour in approximately 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on pace, time spent at each stop, and optional detours. Having said that, please remember that self-guided tours are extremly flexible (you can start, pause, continue anytime) and everyone has their own pace.
+ What does this tour include?
This self-guided driving tour includes 23 stops, covering top attractions such as St Mary’s Cathedral: Welcome to Perth, The Perth Mint: Where Western Australia’s Gold Rush Lives On, Mercedes College - Nearly Two Centuries of Education, Perth Town Hall: A Clock Tower from the Convict Era, State Buildings: From Government Offices to Perth Landmark.
+ Where does the tour start?
The tour starts at St Mary’s Cathedral: Welcome to Perth (Address: 24 Murray St, Perth WA 6000, Australia). You can begin the tour there or join from any stop along the route.
+ What type of tour is this?
This is a self-guided driving tour designed to be completed by car, covering scenic routes, city highlights and optional key stops.
+ Can I do this tour at my own pace?
Yes, this is a self-guided driving tour, so you can start anytime and explore at your own pace. You can pause, skip stops, or spend more time at places that interest you. You can even split it into multiple days. Explore however feels right for you. The only vaiables that might affect your pace are speed limits and traffic congestion.
+ Do I need a car for this tour?
Yes, this is a driving tour, designed to be completed by car, with stops spread across different locations connected by a driving route.
+ Do I need anything in order to take the tour?
There are two things that you need - 1. A mobile phone (with the UCPlaces app installed and active location services, and a cellular data plan with a decent signal for downloading the tour). 2. A car. Here are some recommendations for a great experience: 1. Make sure your phone is fully charged and bring a charging cable for your car. 2. Connect your phone to the car speaker system via bluetooth or use our CarPlay/Android Auto option for the best experience.
+ How will I navigate from point to point during the tour?
The tour uses GPS-based navigation through the UCPlaces app, with automatic audio playback and step-by-step directions between stops. This works great either directly from your phone, or while connected to your car's multimedia system and using our CarPlay or Android Auto options. Just follow the route and listen to the audio guide. Use the resume feature to continue from where you recently stopped (or closed the app). Easily skip or go back to stops.
+ Is this tour suitable for families or groups?
Yes, self-guided tours are ideal for families and small groups, allowing everyone to explore comfortably without being tied to a fixed schedule.
+ What makes a self-guided tour better than a guided tour?
Self-guided tours are more flexible, affordable, and personalized. You can avoid crowds, choose your pace, and focus on the stops that interest you most.
+ I installed the app and it's now asking for GPS and media access permissions, why?
The app is your tour-guide, it needs to know where you are located on the map to be able to trigger the points of interest. It also needs access to audio and media files to provide you with this experience.
+ What happens if there are unexpected roadblocks or navigation issues?
We have been working hard to deliver a great experience. Though you may run into unexpected obstacles (the world is constantly changing), our app has multiple features and mechanisms in place to help you overcome them, including: AI assistance, force play an audio if you can't reach the stop, skip or return to stops, automatic rerouting and more.
+ Can I take the tour in my language?
Though all of our tours are primarily in English, many tours are muyltilingual (including: Spanish, German, Portuguese, French, Japanese, Hebrew, French, Arabic and more...). The tour language options depend on the specific tour - You can easily check which languages are available in the tour screen!