After a busy first couple of days, the second half of our trip was marginally more relaxed! We toured Fremantle Prison, then explored Fremantle, South Perth, then slowly making our way back home to Victoria.
Day 2 (continued)
The prison tour didn’t commence until 9:00, and we almost didn’t make it after our busy day on Rottnest Island. Our guide did a great job taking us through the life a prisoner might have had, and how the prison changed over time. Even though the prison only closed in 1991, the inmates never had actual toilets, only pails in their cells. It was incredible to get to see the structures that the Australian prison system actually used, and mind blowing to learn about how poorly the inmates were treated through the prison’s life. The most chilling part of the tour was knowing that there were (and are) innocent people serving time for crimes they didn’t commit.
Day 3
Today was an easy day, we started off by exploring the Fremantle Markets, then spent some time relaxing at the hostel after our busy first two days. I even had a nap! After recharging, we took the train into the city, then caught a ferry to South Perth. I was enamoured by statues of a rhinoceros and a frilled neck lizard (but mostly the rhino). We walked around, then ferried back and explored the city a bit more. A quick stop for a slurpee at 7-Eleven, then we were on our way to Cottsloe Beach to catch our last sunset of the trip. It was so peaceful, sitting on the sun-warmed rocks and watching several people fishing from the jetty.
Day 4
On Sundays, the hostel does a free pancake brekky! So that is how we started our day, before checking out and returning to the Freo Markets for some fresh cut fruit. We stopped at a cafe where I had my best Australian bagel as of yet. They toasted it on the toastie press and it was so buttery and soft and crispy. I will be an everything bagel girl until the day I die.
Along with all our belongings, we headed into the city then started walking north, to eventually get back on the train and head to the airport. Along our walk, we found some cool chairs to hang out in for a little break. They were part seating, part art, and surprisingly comfy. Our second stop was at a park where we found some soft and shady grass to chill in while we people watched. We found a train station because in Perth, like Brisbane and Sydney, you can get to the airport via rail. Melbourne could learn a thing or two! Apparently we will in like 2035 though – maybe I’ll still be around to see it 😉. Even better than Sydney, there was no airport access fee, so our $10.30 family ticket got us all the way to our flight.
And that was Perth – see you soon!
Kate