Swan River Buffet Lunch Cruise from Perth to Fremantle

Barrack Street Jetty and Elizabeth Quay

Barrack Street Jetty has been Perth's main gateway to the river for generations, and today it sits beside Elizabeth Quay, the modern waterfront precinct opened in 2016 with its footbridge, promenades and island playground. Just behind the jetty rises the Bell Tower, a copper and glass spire that houses a set of historic bells. From here ferries cross to South Perth and cruise boats leave for Fremantle and the Swan Valley.

Your Swan River cruise departs from Pier 3 at 11:15, so it is easy to combine with a morning in the city centre. Collect your boarding pass at the ticket desk if you have not received one, then take your reserved table as the boat pulls away, with the skyline of Perth's central business district reflected in the wide river.

Kings Park, Mount Eliza and Matilda Bay

Heading downstream, the boat passes beneath Mount Eliza, the escarpment crowned by Kings Park, one of the largest inner-city parks in the world. Much of its four hundred hectares is native bushland, and the botanic garden on top showcases the wildflowers of Western Australia. From the river you see the steep green slope and the war memorial on the ridge above the city.

Beyond the Narrows Bridge the river opens into Matilda Bay, where the University of Western Australia and its sandstone buildings stand among lawns and trees, and small sailing boats often dot the water. The captain's commentary explains how the Swan River was named after the black swans early explorers saw here, and how the river shaped the founding of the Swan River Colony in 1829.

Peppermint Grove, Mosman Park and Blackwall Reach

The middle section of this Perth to Fremantle cruise passes the city's wealthiest riverside suburbs. In Peppermint Grove, Claremont and Mosman Park, grand mansions with sweeping lawns, private jetties and boat sheds line the shore, alongside old yacht clubs whose fleets race on the river at weekends. It is a side of Perth few visitors see from land.

Near Bicton the river narrows at Blackwall Reach, where pale limestone cliffs drop straight into some of the deepest water in the Swan, shaded by peppermint trees. This dramatic bend is one of the most photographed stretches of the river, and the calm water usually gives superb reflections of the cliffs, the boats and the sky.

Fremantle harbour and the historic port

The cruise reaches Fremantle, the port city at the mouth of the Swan River, founded in the same year as Perth. Its working harbour still handles container ships and fishing boats, while the waterfront is lined with marinas, old wharves and limestone heritage buildings from the nineteenth century, when Fremantle was the main gateway for migrants arriving in Western Australia.

From the water you see the busy docks, the cranes of the inner harbour and the colourful fishing fleet, and the captain points out landmarks of the old town. The boat then turns for the return trip to Perth; this is a direct return cruise, so it is a relaxed way to see the Fremantle waterfront without changing transport.

The buffet lunch on board

Lunch is served on the way back upstream, when everyone has settled in and the city views come into sight again. The hot buffet features Western Australia's seasonal fresh produce, with roasted and cooked dishes that change through the year, served with a selection of seasonal salads. A dessert buffet with cake follows, so you finish the cruise slowly with coffee and views of the river.

Seating is reserved, so you keep the same table for the whole cruise. Let us know about allergies or special diets when booking, as the kitchen can advise on choices, though cross-contamination cannot be guaranteed against. The cruise arrives back at Barrack Street Jetty about two and a half hours after departure, in time for an afternoon in the city.