Two Feet & A Heartbeat

Two Feet & A Heartbeat began when two friends who had spent years travelling jotted down an idea on a pub coaster. A few months later it became Perth's first walking tour company, and it has since grown into a multiple award-winning tourism operator running fully escorted tours around Western Australia, with Fremantle among its main destinations.

The flagship Fremantle walk is Convicts, Culture and Street Art. It departs daily at 10am, lasts about two hours, meets at Fremantle Town Hall and winds through the cappuccino strip, past the Fishing Boat Harbour and into the narrow streets of the West End, taking in landmarks such as Fremantle Prison and the Round House. The company promises a non-traditional take on local history rather than a dry lecture, mixing convict stories with the port city's street art.

For something darker, the Crimes of Fremantle Walking Tour meets at Fremantle Train Station and explores events from colonial times onwards, including riots, thefts, murders and mutinies. The material is described as thoroughly researched and presented with sensitivity, and its subject matter may not suit young children.

In the city, the afternoon tour Perth's Premier Pathways departs daily at 2pm and explores Perth's laneways, public art and historic and modern buildings, and Destination Perth notes that it is timed so that both the Fremantle and Perth walks can be enjoyed on the same day.

Food lovers can join the Fremantle Food Lovers Tour, which visits at least four venues, from hole-in-the-wall takeaways to restaurants, with time to try each venue's specialities. A highlight is a stop for cheese and charcuterie in a private courtyard. It is a good way to get your bearings in Fremantle's food scene before choosing where to return for dinner.

The tours suit first-time visitors, solo travellers and couples who want local context, and groups looking for a social activity. Walking tours involve time on your feet, so wear comfortable shoes, bring water and sun protection, and check the meeting point for your chosen tour, as they differ. Fremantle is easy to reach from Perth by train, and the station meeting point for the crime tour is convenient for those arriving that way. Combine a morning tour with lunch at Fremantle Markets or a visit to the WA Maritime Museum to make a full day in the port city.