Updated in October 2026, this WA Maritime Museum guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking or transport, accessibility and what to see.
The WA Maritime Museum is a maritime history museum on Victoria Quay Road in Fremantle, Western Australia. General admission is by donation on the second Tuesday of every month, and the HMAS Ovens submarine tour is booked separately. This guide was last updated in October 2026 and confirms the admission prices, the public holiday closures and the submarine tour rules.
Quick facts: the WA Maritime Museum
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 9.30am to 5pm daily. Closed Good Friday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. |
| Ticket prices | Adult $15. Concession $10. Junior (15 and under) free. HMAS Ovens tour: $15 adult. |
| Address | Victoria Quay Road, Fremantle WA 6160 |
| Nearest transport or parking | Walking distance from Fremantle Station. Paid Wilson’s car park on Victoria Quay Road. |
| Typical time needed | About 2 to 3 hours |
The WA Maritime Museum opening hours
The museum is open every day from 9.30am to 5pm. The hours are the same all year, and there are no seasonal changes. Public holiday hours differ:
- Good Friday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day: closed.
- Anzac Day: open from 1pm to 5pm.
- All other public holidays: open 9.30am to 5pm.
The Museum Shop is on the ground level at the main entrance. The HMAS Ovens tours leave every half hour from 10am to 3.30pm, subject to availability.
The WA Maritime Museum ticket prices
General admission to the WA Maritime Museum costs $15 for an adult. It gives access to all permanent exhibitions. On the second Tuesday of every month, general admission is by donation.
- Standard general admission: $15.
- Concession: $10, for students, seniors, health care card holders and Veteran Gold Card holders.
- Junior (15 years and under): free.
- Carers: free with a valid WA Companion Card.
- Members: free with membership.
- Groups: enquire for pricing on 1300 134 081.
- Special exhibitions and events: prices vary.
The HMAS Ovens tour is a separate ticket. It costs $15 for a standard ticket, $10 for a concession and $7.50 for a junior. Friend members receive 15% off.
A WA Museum membership gives unlimited general admission to the museums of your choice for 12 months. It starts from as little as $15.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in October 2026.
5 great things to do in Perth
- 🚲 Take the ferry to Rottnest Island – then cycle to the beaches and quokkas.
- 🌌 Dine in the desert and go stargazing – on an evening Pinnacles tour.
- 🐬 Swim with wild dolphins – on a wildlife adventure to Rockingham.
- 🍷 Combine a Swan River cruise with wine-tasting in the Swan Valley.
- 🏟️ Go behind the scenes – on an Optus Stadium tour.
How to get to the WA Maritime Museum
The museum is on Victoria Quay Road at the harbour in Fremantle, within walking distance of Fremantle Station.
- By train: the museum is within walking distance of Fremantle Station.
- By bus: route 532 runs in both directions through the Fremantle city centre every 15 minutes during the day, seven days a week.
- By ferry: Captain Cook Cruises run services from Perth that stop nearby at the B-Shed ferry terminal.
- By car: use the paid Wilson’s car park on Victoria Quay Road.
Use the Transperth journey planner for current services.
Parking at the WA Maritime Museum
Paid parking is available in the Wilson’s car park on Victoria Quay Road. Parking is limited, so use public transport on weekends and school holidays.
Three accessible (ACROD) bays are in front of the museum, about 20 metres from the front doors. There is level and ramp access to the entrance. One drop-off bay is in front of the museum.
How long to spend at the WA Maritime Museum
Plan about 2 to 3 hours for a first visit. This is enough for the main galleries and a break. Allow longer if you join the submarine tour.
The HMAS Ovens tour takes about 1 hour 15 minutes. The museum advises allowing up to 1.5 hours. Arrive 15 minutes before your session, because tours run to a strict schedule and late arrivals may not be able to join.
Accessibility at the WA Maritime Museum
The museum is fully accessible, except for tours aboard HMAS Ovens. Ramps and lifts serve the museum. The entrance is about 30 metres along an accessible path, with a ramp and a push-button universal access door.
Two wheelchairs are available for use. Unisex disability toilets are on both museum levels. Most audiovisual interactives have captions. The museum has no hearing loops.
Touch trolleys are available during school holidays and special exhibitions, and the stairs have tactile entrances. Guide dogs and assistance dogs are welcome. An Experience Plus Digital Guide provides audio content.
The submarine has no access for visitors with disability and no toilet facilities. The tour includes 9-metre scaffolding stairs, steep ladders and narrow hatchways, and visitors must climb independently without walking aids.
What to see at the WA Maritime Museum
The museum shows Western Australia’s maritime history across 12 permanent exhibitions. It holds the America’s Cup winning yacht Australia II and Jon Sanders’ Parry Endeavour.
The Tin Canoe to Australia II Gallery tells the stories of people who crossed the world’s oceans. The Indian Ocean Gallery traces early maritime travellers and the roots of Western Australia’s multicultural community.
HMAS Ovens is an Oberon class submarine from the Cold War era, on Fremantle’s World War Two submarine slipway. It was launched in 1967 and decommissioned in 1995. The submarine is 89 metres long, and 63 people lived and served aboard.
The WA Down Under Gallery shows marine life along the Western Australian coast. The Swan River Gallery covers the boats and steamers of the river. The Fremantle Gallery upstairs covers the port city’s history.
The Cargoes Gallery on the second level shows goods that passed through Western Australian ports. Naval Defence covers 20th-century naval warfare. Hooked on Fishing covers Nyoongar fish traps and the modern lobster, prawn and crab industries.
Volunteers run the Robert Steele Steam Machinery Exhibition, which demonstrates restored engines in motion. The Welcome Walls pay tribute to migrants who arrived by sea at Fremantle or Albany.
Practical visitor tips
| Topic | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | Arrive 15 minutes before your HMAS Ovens tour. Tours run every half hour from 10am to 3.30pm. |
| Crowds | Parking is limited on weekends and school holidays, so use public transport. |
| Layout | The museum has two levels. The Fremantle and Cargoes galleries are upstairs, and HMAS Ovens is outside on the slipway. |
| Entry process | Buy tickets at the museum or online. The submarine tour is a separate ticket. |
| On-site logistics | The submarine needs a reasonable level of fitness. Tours can be cancelled in high winds, thunderstorms or high temperatures. |
Frequently asked questions about the WA Maritime Museum
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the WA Maritime Museum free to enter? | Not for adults. General admission is $15. It is free for ages 15 and under and by donation on the second Tuesday of each month. |
| Is the WA Maritime Museum suitable for children? | Yes. Junior entry is free. The submarine tour is for children aged 6 and over and at least 100 cm tall. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the WA Maritime Museum? | No booking is needed for general admission. HMAS Ovens tours depend on session availability, so check times or book ahead. |
| Is the WA Maritime Museum open on Sundays? | Yes. The museum is open daily from 9.30am to 5pm, except on four public holidays. |
| Is the WA Maritime Museum wheelchair accessible? | Yes, except the HMAS Ovens tour. Ramps and lifts serve the museum, and two wheelchairs can be borrowed. |
Things to do near the WA Maritime Museum
- WA Shipwrecks Museum: a short walk or drive from the museum along Cliff Street.
- Round House: the oldest public building in Western Australia, on Arthur Head overlooking Bathers Beach.
- Fremantle Prison: a World Heritage listed convict-built prison with guided tours, a short uphill walk from the town centre.
- Fremantle Markets: a market in a building from 1897, open Friday to Sunday.
- Fishing Boat Harbour: the working harbour in Fremantle, a short walk from the museum.
Alternative attractions
- WA Museum Boola Bardip: a state museum in the Perth Cultural Centre with eight permanent exhibitions, about 25 minutes from Fremantle by train.
- Wadjemup Museum, Rottnest Island: a museum on Rottnest Island about the island’s natural and human history.
- AQWA, The Aquarium of Western Australia: an aquarium at Hillarys Boat Harbour, about 30 minutes from the Perth city centre.
- Penguin Island: a little penguin colony off Rockingham, about 50 km and 45 minutes’ drive south of Perth.
- Dolphin Discovery Centre, Bunbury: a dolphin centre with a discovery pool and aquarium, about 90 minutes south of Perth.
More Perth travel
Other Perth travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Practical Perth beach guides: Plan a visit to Scarborough Beach, Cottesloe Beach or Coogee Beach.
- Quokkas by the beach on Rottnest Island.
- Practical tips for visiting the Caversham Wildlife Park.
- Why the Swan Valley is a perfect stopover.
- The best time to visit to Hovea Falls in John Forrest National Park.
