Ride along the Sunset Coast:
Ride 7 - Fremantle to South Beach

Commence your ride or walk at J Dolan Park.

Note: This is also a starting point for the popular Ride Around the Rivers which circles the Swan and Canning Rivers.
To undertake this ride, simply cycle or walk eastwards along the shared path that runs under the Stirling Bridge and then on towards Perth.

To complete the Fremantle ride, use the concrete shared path to travel west along the riverbank and past the Rottnest Ferry Terminal and car park. Follow the path under the Fremantle Traffic Bridge until you get to Gate 3 of the Fremantle Port Authority (FPA). Take care crossing the entrance roads and then join the shared path on the other side of Beach Street.

Continue on the path alongside Beach Street and make a right hand turn at the Flying Angel Club car park into FPA Gate 2. The pedestrian/cycle access gate is open from sunrise to sunset daily. Once through the gate, follow the bitumen shared path which is fenced on either side.

Continue along this path for one kilometre. You will come to an access way over the railway line that leads into the Fremantle shopping precinct. At this point, turn right out of a gate opposite the Fremantle Passenger Terminal (which has public telephones) and head along Victoria Quay Road toward the tall FPA administration building. Care should be taken on weekends when this road becomes quite busy.

Note: Pedestrians can use a very narrow footpath alongside the road.

Continue through the main gates (open between 7am and 6pm) and past the C Y O'Connor Centre toward the E-shed Markets. Just after a pedestrian bridge across the railway line, a bitumen shared path begins on the left hand side and takes you past the E-shed Markets to the tall FPA administration building.

Fremantle Harbour is the major commercial port on the western coast of Australia and the surrounding city reflects its maritime history through some splendid architecture and an unmistakable ambience in the narrow streets. Home of the 1987 America's Cup defence, Fremantle now boasts a cosmopolitan atmosphere that includes many shopping areas, cafe strip and entertainment venues.

Care should be taken as the shared path crosses three entry and exit roads to the harbour. Follow the path down the northern side of the railway line to the Roundhouse. This is the oldest public building in WA built in 1831 and is open for inspection. The complex includes a cafe and public toilets. Directly opposite across the railway line is a selection of eateries and pubs.

Immediately south is Bathers Beach (no bicycle racks but you can use a wooden fence). Continue on the shared path for another 200 metres and you enter the Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour precinct that includes a collection of shops, several restaurants and an art gallery.

The excellent WA Maritime Museum is close by just across on the other side of the railway line. Travel past several boat lifters and cross busy Mews Road. Extreme care is needed here because several side roads converge and it is difficult to see in all directions at once.

Continue south past the local boat building industry and cross the southern access to Mews Road. Follow the shared path past the Fremantle Sailing Club where it changes from bitumen to red-paved. Continue to South Beach where facilities include a kiosk, public telephone and picnic tables.

The route passes near the bustling Fremantle boardwalk and maritime museum.