Arthur Head Reserve

Well, well, well Freo. What a beautiful and serene gem you have here. Staying near by, Arthur Head Reserve was a lovely stroll from our accommodation to some of the cafes in the area. Seaside views and a dash of history including a tunnel that used to be for whaling and you’ve got yourself a decent 20-​min walk to breakfast.

A pleasant way to spend a little time by the seaside, wondering around the paths and through the whaling tunnel. There’s a lot of history here in Fremantle and it just takes a short stroll through this area to find some.

Want to go for a bit of walk or stroll but need frequent stops without looking unfit? Arthur Head Reserve is the place for you.
Dotted along the walking trail are places to check out.
Fishing Boat Harbour — Have a look at the boats or people watch. Maybe even grab a bite to eat or drink.
The Roundhouse — Freo’s first prison before the Fremantle Prison was established. It’s TINY and the rooms are claustrophobic. It’s run by volunteers and the gold coin donation for entry or quite simply the entry fee goes back into keeping The Roundhouse open and hopefully fund restoration needed.
Bathers Beach — It’s sandy, windy, and has ocean. Good place for an impromptu cool down during summer.
Grassy areas — Stop for a while for a bit of bird watching or plan for a picnic stop.
Kidogo Arthouse Gallery — Get a bit of culture into you and have a look at the art and immerse yourself in a bit of history around here. There’s also a café.
What you will need to watch out for as you go on a stroll on the path that takes you through the area from Fishing Boat Harbour to Kidogo is the occasional cyclist zooming past on their personal Tour De France.

Arthur Head Reserve is a great look out point for both the city of Freo and for the ocean. There is a lovely grassy area beside it overlooking bathers beach for a picnic but get here early at the weekends. There is always a family or two having a celebration away from the crowds of the Esplanade.
The view overlooking the city is one of the best you can get away from the ferris wheel.
The tunnel makes for a nice border frame around the beach too.
Make your way into the roundhouse for a wee look around.

This is a really nice end of town to spend an afternoon in. A short walk from the shops and cafes of both Fremantle’s West End and the Fishing Boat Harbour, the parkland here gets a beautiful breeze in the afternoon and is a great place to set up a picnic blanket and let any kids you’ve got with you go nuts on the lawn. You get a great view of the port and coast from up here too. The Roundhouse itself is a great place to explore; it’s a small prison set up before Fremantle Prison was built and it’s strange to imagine what life as inmate must have been like. It’s also quite fun to put kids in the cells and gently freak them out. There’s also the nearby Bathers’ Beach, which is a pleasant place for a dip on a summers’ day, the Kidogo Arthouse gallery and a café. While that makes this an essential stop on a Fremantle tourist itinerary, it’s not quite enough to take up a whole day, so if that’s what you’re looking for, maybe combine it with a shopping trip in Freo or a visit to the maritime museum.

Arthur Head Reserve is one of Fremantle’s best look out points. Located just off Little High Street behind the railway crossing, the path around the reserve provides stunning views of the Indian Ocean and Bather’s Beach. The landmark, much like most of Fremantle’s best tourist locations, is rich with history harking back to Fremantle’s convict past. Located up the stairs of a rugged limestone cliff in Fremantle’s West End, the reserve is home to WA’s oldest public building, The Roundhouse. It actually used to be a gaol cell back in the 1880s, but these days is used for events like Australia Day parties. An unconventional venue, yes, but man that sound’s cool.
Along with Monument Reserve and Bathers Beach, I’d have to say it’s the best place for taking pictures of Fremantle’s sea-​side glory.