Everything I Did Wrong in Perth So U Don’t Have To
📍 mistake 1 - arriving way too early in fremantle
landed in perth at 5:30am and took the airport line straight to fremantle. we took the 6.20am train and reached freo at 7am which meant:
- nothing was open
- we couldn’t check in
- we were awake but not alive
we dropped our luggage at quest fremantle and couldnt even do anything because our first plan of the day (fremantle markets) only opens at 9am and we cannot even rest cus our rooms were not ready
📍 mistake 2 - overestimating the amount of time needed at different locations
🌳 esplanade park
quiet, breezy, very nice for a morning stroll. fremantle in the morning feels calm and unbothered BUT i massively overestimated how much there was to do here. spent maybe 30 mins max there. there is a ferris wheel but if you’re not riding it… there’s honestly not much else.
📍mistake 3 - plan ur trip properly & do ur research
fremantle markets
IMPORTANT PSA: it only opens friday to sunday. not really a mistake BUT a headsup to plan your fremantle trip around the weekend else u will miss alots of local stalls, snacks, souvenirs, and random things you didn’t know you needed.
fremantle prison
must book in advance. the tunnel tour is surprisingly popular even among locals. we didn’t book and ended up skipping it completely. lesson: don’t assume you can walk in.
📍 mistake 4 - underestimating rottnest island
thinking rottnest is a half-day trip is a crime. we took the 9am ferry, planned to rent e-bikes for an easier ride… only to realise everything was fully rented out when we arrived. left with normal bikes… rottnest is actually HUGE. we only managed to cover about 1/3 of the island eventhough we stayed the whole day and it still felt rushed.
lessons learnt:
- book your e-bike rental online
- plan your ferry timing properly
- don’t rush rottnest - it deserves your full energy
📍 mistake 5 - underestimating the australian sun
the weather was cooling and breezy so i didn’t bother with sunscreen at rottnest. BIGGG mistake. u won’t feel yourself burning until it’s too late. the sunburn will only take effect a few hours later so i only realised at the end of the day when my skin was already cooked. the worst thing is that the full effects of sunburn will only hit 3 days later. I WAS IN PAIN the whole trip it was devastating hais
lesson: always wear sunscreen in australia, even when it’s cold. it’s the UV rays that will humble you.
📍 mistake 6 - underestimating early closing times
perth & fremantle are not late-night cities. some cafés, shops, and attractions close earlier than expected, especially on weekdays. in fact, most malls close around 5-6pm. coming from sg where things open late and close late, this threw me off.
lesson: plan your shopping and wandering around opening hours, and make sure you give yourself enough time or you’ll end up staring at closed doors
despite all my chaos, perth was still amazing!! good food, breezy walks, and very CHILL vibes. if you want to see what we actually did (aka the itinerary after surviving all these mistakes), stay tuned… my Perth itinerary post is coming soon!
When exploring areas like Yanchep Junction, which is a bit outside Perth city center, it's easy to underestimate travel times and the local environment. Unlike the busy heart of Perth, this area offers outdoor activities and shopping but may have limited opening hours similar to the city. One useful tip I learned while adventuring around Perth's outskirts is to always double-check public transport schedules or car rental options. Yanchep Junction can be a fantastic day trip destination for nature lovers, with walking trails and wildlife parks nearby, but getting there requires solid transport planning. Beyond city hustle, embracing the slower pace outside Perth helps you enjoy more. The shops and cafes around these junctions often close earlier than expected — similar to Perth and Fremantle — so plan brunch or early dinners accordingly. Also, since the sun’s intensity surprised me in Rottnest, always keep sunscreen handy, even in cloudy or cooler weather. The same applies if you visit Yanchep with its outdoor attractions. Staying hydrated and wearing sun-protective gear is crucial when spending time outdoors. In short, how you time your arrival, plan itineraries, and prepare for the climate can make all the difference in your Perth and surrounding area experience. As a fellow traveler, I highly recommend booking popular activities and rentals like e-bikes in advance, especially for spots like Rottnest Island, and setting realistic expectations about how much you can see and do in a day.