Cheap Accommodation In Claremont, Australia
Claremont sits among the leafy western suburbs of Perth, Western Australia, a short hop from the Swan River and a few minutes’ drive from some of the state’s best beaches. It’s better known for its boutique shopping precinct and riverside charm than for backpacker deals, but that doesn’t mean budget travelers should skip it. With a bit of planning, accommodation in Claremont can be surprisingly good value, especially if you book ahead or look just outside the main shopping strip. The suburb makes an excellent base for exploring both central Perth and the coast without paying inner-city prices. Use the search box above to compare accommodation options in Claremont and find the best deal for your dates.
Getting to Claremont
Claremont is well served by public transport, which helps keep costs down if you’re travelling without a car. The Claremont train station sits on the Fremantle line, with regular services running into Perth CBD in around 15 minutes and out to Fremantle in a similar time. Buses also connect the suburb to nearby Subiaco, Nedlands, and Cottesloe. Perth Airport is roughly 25 to 30 minutes away by car, and while there’s no direct train link from the airport itself, a combination of the airport line into the city and a transfer onto the Fremantle line is the cheapest way in if you’re happy to carry your own bags for a bit. Ride-share and taxis are the quicker option for a bit more money. If you’re driving in from elsewhere in Western Australia, Stirling Highway runs straight through Claremont and connects easily to the broader Perth road network.
Best Time to Visit Claremont
Perth’s climate means Claremont sees warm, dry summers and mild, wetter winters. The shoulder seasons, roughly March to May and September to November, offer the best mix of pleasant weather and lower accommodation prices. Summer (December to February) is peak season, with school holidays pushing up demand and rates across the western suburbs, particularly around the Christmas and New Year period. Winter is quieter and often cheaper, though you’ll want to pack a jacket for the cooler evenings. Booking a few weeks ahead during shoulder season is usually enough to secure a good rate, but over summer weekends it pays to lock in a room earlier.
Top Attractions in Claremont
Claremont Quarter is the suburb’s best-known landmark, a mix of open-air laneways, cafes, and shops that’s pleasant to wander even if you’re not spending much. Lake Claremont, a short walk from the town centre, offers a free walking and cycling loop around a wetland that’s home to a good variety of birdlife, and it’s a favourite for early morning or sunset strolls. The Claremont Museum, housed in a heritage building, gives a compact but worthwhile look into the area’s history for a modest entry fee. History buffs will also appreciate the Claremont Showground, long associated with the Perth Royal Show and still used for markets and events throughout the year. For those wanting a bit more scenery, the Swan River foreshore is close by and free to enjoy, whether you’re picnicking or just watching the boats go past.
For Families and Kids in Claremont
Families will find plenty to do in Claremont without spending much. Lake Claremont’s flat, shaded paths are pram and bike-friendly, and there are several playgrounds scattered through the suburb’s parks. The Claremont Aquatic Centre is a solid option for an affordable swim session, particularly useful on hot days. Cottesloe Beach, just a short drive or bus ride away, has calm shallows and a grassy foreshore that’s popular with young families, plus free public facilities. Claremont Quarter also has a reasonably relaxed, open layout that makes it easy to keep an eye on kids while you browse or grab a coffee.
Outdoors and Nature Around Claremont
Claremont’s position between the river and the coast makes it a handy base for anyone who likes to get outdoors without travelling far. The Lake Claremont loop is the most obvious local option, but the Swan River foreshore path stretches for kilometres in both directions and is popular with walkers and cyclists. A short drive brings you to Cottesloe and Swanbourne beaches, both known for their white sand and clear water, and neither charges for access. Further afield, Kings Park is easily reachable by public transport and remains one of Perth’s best free attractions, with sweeping river views and extensive bushland walking trails. Claremont’s leafy streets themselves, lined with older trees and heritage homes, make for a pleasant walk in their own right.
Local Culture and Heritage in Claremont
Claremont has a layered history that predates its current reputation as an upmarket shopping destination. The land around Lake Claremont holds significance for the Whadjuk Noongar people, and interpretive signage around the lake gives some insight into this deeper history. The suburb’s more recent past is tied closely to the Claremont Showground, once the site of the Perth Royal Show, and to a collection of well-preserved early twentieth-century buildings that still line its main streets. The Claremont Museum is the best starting point for anyone wanting a fuller picture of how the area developed from its early days into the residential and commercial hub it is today.
Eating Cheap in Claremont
Bay View Terrace and the laneways around Claremont Quarter are where most of the suburb’s cafes and casual eateries are clustered. While some venues lean upmarket, there are consistently good bakery and cafe options serving solid breakfasts and lunches at fair prices, particularly if you avoid the busiest weekend brunch hours. Food courts within Claremont Quarter offer quick, affordable options if you’re after something simple. For a wider range of budget eating, it’s worth the short train trip into Subiaco or Fremantle, both known for cheaper, more varied food scenes, including good value Asian and Italian eateries. Self-catering is also a realistic option if you’re staying in serviced accommodation, with a supermarket in Claremont Quarter making it easy to stock up.
Accommodation Options in Claremont
Claremont’s accommodation scene leans towards serviced apartments and boutique stays rather than large hotel chains, but there’s enough variety to suit different budgets, particularly if you’re flexible on exact location within the suburb or willing to look just over the border into neighbouring areas.
Budget and Cheapest Options
True rock-bottom budget accommodation is limited within Claremont itself, given the suburb’s upmarket reputation, but small serviced apartments and simpler motel-style rooms nearby offer reasonable rates outside peak season. Checking listings in neighbouring Nedlands, Subiaco, and even Fremantle can turn up cheaper options that are still only a short train or bus ride from Claremont’s attractions.
Family Accommodation
Self-contained apartments with a kitchen and separate bedrooms are a practical choice for families, cutting down on eating-out costs and giving kids a bit more space than a standard hotel room. Several options within walking distance of Lake Claremont and Claremont Quarter suit this style of stay well.
Pub Accommodation
Claremont has a long-standing local pub offering straightforward rooms above the bar, a classic and often affordable option for travellers who don’t need extra frills and don’t mind being close to the action on a Friday or Saturday night.
Boutique and Long-Stay Accommodation
For those staying longer, serviced apartments in and around Claremont often offer better weekly rates than nightly bookings, making the suburb a sensible base for extended visits to Perth. A handful of small boutique properties also cater to travellers after a bit more character than a standard chain hotel, without necessarily charging luxury prices.
Shopping in Claremont
Claremont Quarter is the main shopping drawcard, blending well-known retailers with smaller boutique stores and homewares shops. Bay View Terrace adds a more independent, village-like shopping strip nearby. While much of Claremont’s retail sits at the higher end, there are still cafes and grocery stores suited to everyday budgets, and the suburb’s markets, held periodically at the Claremont Showground, are worth checking for local produce and crafts at fairer prices than the surrounding boutiques.
Nightlife and Free Fun in Claremont
Evenings in Claremont tend to be low-key rather than lively, which suits travellers after a relaxed night without spending much. Watching the sunset over Lake Claremont or the Swan River foreshore costs nothing and is one of the better ways to end the day. The local pub is a reliable spot for a casual drink and pub meal without big city prices. For a bigger night out, Perth’s CBD is only a short train ride away and opens up a much wider range of bars and live music venues.
Suggested Budget Itinerary for Claremont
Start the day with an early walk around Lake Claremont before the heat sets in, then head into Claremont Quarter for an affordable breakfast at one of the local cafes. Spend the late morning browsing Bay View Terrace or visiting the Claremont Museum for a low-cost dose of local history. In the afternoon, catch a short bus or drive out to Cottesloe Beach for a swim and some time on the sand, which costs nothing beyond transport. Head back into Claremont for dinner at the local pub or grab supplies from the supermarket for a simple self-catered meal, then finish the evening with a quiet walk along the foreshore as the sun goes down. It’s a full day of sightseeing, beach time, and history without needing to spend big, and it shows why Claremont works so well as an affordable base for exploring this part of Perth.