Things to do in Perth For Free

Some of the best days I’ve had in Perth haven’t cost a cent. The city is built around a river, a coastline and a 400-hectare park, and all three are free. These guides cover the free things to do in Perth that I genuinely rate, not padding to make a list look longer.

Kings Park is where locals send every visitor first, Matilda Bay is my pick for a riverside picnic, and Bold Park is the bushland walk that feels like leaving the city. Over summer the Christmas lights, twilight markets and New Year’s Eve fireworks are all free too, and better from the foreshore than a paid rooftop.

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Quinns Beach in Quinns Rocks
Quinns Rocks

An early swim and a coffee with a view at Quinns Rocks

Marmion Beach looking south from the dunes
Marmion

Snorkel an underwater trail off Marmion Beach (it’s free)

The rusted remains of the Alkimos shipwreck off the beach at Alkimos
Alkimos

The shipwreck that named a suburb: a beach day at Alkimos

The Jarrahdale Heritage Mill building in the old timber town of Jarrahdale
Jarrahdale

An easy morning in Jarrahdale, WA’s first timber town

The lake at Champion Lakes Regatta Centre
Champion Lakes

A 5 km lap of the rowing lakes, then a picnic and a play

Lesmurdie Falls in Lesmurdie Falls National Park, Perth Hills
Lesmurdie

A short bush walk to a waterfall with the whole city at your feet

A kookaburra at Lake Claremont
Claremont

Shopping, then a lap of the lake

Swan River views from Point Resolution, Dalkeith
Dalkeith / Nedlands

A quiet river walk for when Kings Park is too busy

Perth city skyline across the Swan River from the South Perth foreshore
Como / South Perth

Coffee, then a walk along the river with the best view of the city

Riverside Gardens on the Swan River in Bayswater
Bayswater / Maylands

Riverside picnics the tourists haven’t found yet

The Railway Reserves Heritage Trail at Darlington in the Perth Hills
Darlington / Glen Forrest / Mundaring

Following an old train line through the hills

The Mundaring Weir dam wall in the Perth Hills
Mundaring

A Sunday drive to the dam that keeps the Goldfields running