A handy guide to having fun around Perth without breaking the bank
Like many of you, we’re pinching whatever pennies we can as cost-of-living prices soar, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun, right?
Fortunately, we’re blessed not only with some pretty great natural environments around Perth to enjoy for free, but plenty of things to do around town that won’t put too big a dent in the wallet.
Wondering where to start? We’ve linked up with customer-owned, proudly WA-based, P&N Bank to find a heap of fun things to do around Perth that won’t put a big dent in your wallet. A genuine banking alternative to the ‘Big Four’, P&N Bank has branches across WA, an award-winning Perth-based customer contact centre, and home lending specialists who can come to you anytime to help you achieve your financial goals.
Read on below for a bunch of things to do around Perth that will nourish the soul without breaking the bank:
Blooming Happy Yoga, various
Blooming Happy Yoga operates out of its Highgate studio with some beginner-friendly vinyasa yoga classes, if you’ve ever wanted to give it a go in a welcoming, chill environment. They also operate regular pay-as-you-feel classes! One in the lush green surrounds of Hyde Park, and the other over the warmer months at Rooftop Movies in Northbridge.
Galaxy Drive-In, Kingsley
Take a trip back in time and visit one of the last remaining drive-ins in all of Australia! Galaxy Drive-In is open all year round and offers $22 per-car movies on Tuesdays, along with showing movies on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. They’ve got snacks on site, but there’s no reason you can’t bring along your own goodies to enjoy while catching movies both classic and just-released.
Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle
Fremantle Arts Centre prides itself on being a creative campus that fosters the arts community. It offers free and ticketed events all year round, has free Wi-Fi, and celebrates innovation, culture, community, and education in the arts sector. During the summer months it’s also home to the free Sunday Music sessions, where you can bring in a picnic and see some of Perth’s finest musicians in the leafy surrounds of the front courtyard.
The Jazz Cellar, Mt Hawthorn
One of Perth’s oldest and best (worst?) kept secrets, this Mount Hawthorn icon has been a hit for years. Entry is through the red phone booth where you’ll enjoy an excellent night of live jazz from some of Perth’s finest musicians. It’s just $30pp and that allows you to BYO refreshments and snacks!
Yanchep National Park, Yanchep
Get up to Yanchep early for a dip in the sheltered Yanchep Lagoon, before heading onwards to Yanchep National Park. It’s full of wonderful walking trails, wildlife to spot (including a koala trail that’s accessible for prams and wheelchairs), prime picnic locations, Indigenous art and even a 9-hole golf course. There’s also the Crystal Caves for those feeling a little more adventurous, or the Yanchep Lavender Farm is just a few minutes’ drive away – perfect to stop in for a cuppa before or after visiting the park. Best of all, it’s only $17 per vehicle to enter the park.
If you’re looking to expand your National Park explorations with the family, Nature Play WA’s ‘Every Kid in a Park’ initiative is a fantastic resource. The project supports families of children of all abilities in accessing and enjoying the outdoors (like local parks, nature reserves, beaches, and national parks) around Western Australia.
Perth Cultural Centre, Northbridge
You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to the Perth Cultural Centre, with options galore to inspire and excite in the world of the arts and history. The Art Gallery of Western Australia is a constant hub of culture and education, home to an array of local, national, and international exhibits. Across the way you’ll find PICA, Perth’s premier contemporary art gallery with rotating free exhibitions along with well-priced events, and of course…
WA Museum Boola Bardip, Northbridge
Also within the Perth Cultural Centre is the impressive WA Museum Boola Bardip – which basically requires its own full day to really be explored thoroughly. General admission is $15 and it’s free for kids under 15, though with multiple visits almost a must, it’s worth looking into the membership options for value for money throughout the year. It’s also accessible to all with tactile maps and braille visitor guides, specialised tour options, quiet hours and more.
Walking tours, Perth
City of Perth offers free walking tours or an app if you prefer to do it at your own pace! Discover new facts, fun stories, and cultural points of interest around our beautiful city. The guided tours also include an orientation tour if you are new to Perth and unsure where to start. Importantly, all trails have been planned with accessibility in mind with plenty of public transport access throughout. You can download a bunch of free guides here, including some excellent Indigenous trails – This City is Whadjuk Country and Fighting for Families, Country, Rights and Recognition.
Hiking trails, various
We’ve become a city of hikers over the past few years, and with so many spectacular national parks within a short distance from the city, it makes a lot of sense. There are plenty to be found with varying degrees of difficulty, like Lesmurdie Falls, Bells Rapids and the Kalamunda section of the Bibbulmun Track, all of which have free parking nearby. Closer to home you can find some equally spectacular walking trails, and here’s over 20 to keep you busy for many weekends to come!
WA Shipwreck Museum, Fremantle
Take a trip to Fremantle and explore the WA Shipwrecks Museum – home to stories of mutinies, European trade, and some of the deadliest shipwrecks in Australian history. The Shipwrecks Museum lives in Fremantle’s historic Commissariat buildings, which were among the first Western Australian sites built using convict labour. Entry is free, with a suggested donation of $5.
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Araluen Botanic Park, Roleystone
Araluen Botanic Park is a developed garden covering 14 hectares, and features a massive array of exotic plant species, most famously their tulips, which come to life every spring. 100,000-plus tulip bulbs put on a spectacular show as part of the annual tulip festival, drawing thousands of visitors each year. Outside of that time though, it’s simply a beautiful place to get lost in, relax and unwind in the fresh hills air. Entry is $12 for adults and $8 for kids ages 6-16, it’s very wheelchair friendly with ACROD parking bays, and Companion Cards are accepted.
Bowls club, various
The pillar of any great neighbourhood, a good local bowls club is worth its weight in lawn bowls. They can be a great afternoon out with the family, with most places hiring bowls for next to nothing, and there are always plenty of characters about the place keen to show you the ropes. Many bowls clubs around Perth also offer cheap social memberships, which will make your food and drink purchases a lot cheaper too!
If you’re considering a switch away from the ‘Big Four’, looking for a local bank to link up with or just considering your financial options, head to the P&N website to find out more.
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P&N Bank is sponsor of the content only which has been prepared by Perth is Ok. Banking and Credit products issued by Police & Nurses Limited (P&N Bank) ABN 69 087 651 876 AFSL/Australian Credit Licence 240701.