For the days you want to spend exploring a museum, we have you sorted. Here's a rundown of the most popular museums in Perth and the surrounding regions.

WA Museum Boola Bardip

Free entry to permanent galleries. Exhibition entry costs vary.

Boola Bardip – meaning 'many stories' in local Nyoongar language – is the aptly named arts and culture precinct of the Perth CBD. Designed by international architect consortium Hassell and OMA, the museum encompasses 6,000 square metres of gallery space. The museum is a rich exploration of Western Australia's stories and cultural identity. You can easily spend an entire day exploring the incredibly researched collections, our highlights include the Meteorite collection and Otto, the iconic 24-metre blue whale skeleton. 

WA Maritime Museum

General admission is $15 with concession and junior fees varying.

Situated in the port city of Fremantle, the WA Maritime Museum is packed with famous stories and exhibits highlighting WA’s historic, sporting and maritime heritage. Here you'll see the winning America’s Cup yacht, Australia II. Take a tour of the Cold War-era submarine HMAS Ovens with stories from a former military service member, and lear all about WA’s affinity with the Indian Ocean. From leisure boats to handcrafted sailing boats and commercial pearl luggers the Museum houses unique galleries that explore WA's historic relationship with the sea. If afterwards you're left wanting more, you can take a short walk to the WA Shipwrecks Museum.

WA Maritime Museum: Credit: Tourism Australia

WA Shipwrecks Museum

Free entry

Housed within Fremantle's historic Commissariat buildings, the WA Shipwrecks Museum is internationally recognised for its contributions to maritime archaeology and shipwreck conservation. The galleries house hundreds of relics from ships wrecked along WA's notoriously treacherous coastline. It's a fascinating deep dive into the first European encounters, the riches of maritime trade, and one of the deadliest mutinies known to history – the Batavia. 

Motor Museum of WA

Entry fees apply, with discounts available for concessions and children.

For the history and car buff alike, The Motor Museum of WA is located in Whiteman Park and houses one of the largest collections of motor vehicles and motoring memorabilia in Australia. Here you'll see over 200 cars, trucks and motorcycles dating from the 1890s to the present day. Whether or not you're a car enthusiast, it's a guaranteed nostalgia high.

Subiaco Museum 

Free entry

The Subiaco Museum is a dedication to preserving and honouring local history. Through the halls of historical and contemporary artworks, and heritage items, you can glimpse the cultural evolution of the region and the identity it weaves through art and daily life.

Newcastle Gaol Museum

General admission is $6.50 with discounts available for concession and family pass.

Take a step back in time to the era of Australia's most famous bush rangers. Built in 1865 by convicts, the building was previously used as a gaol, a residence and now stands as the Newcastle Gaol Museum. It's a great way to spend an hour exploring Toodyay's colourful past through the former prison cells with permanent exhibits on Moondyne Joe, the Dorizzi brothers, law & order, growing up in Toodyay and the “Native Cell”.

York Motor Museum 

General admission is $12 with discounts available for concession and children

Located in the historic town of York, this museum features a collection of vintage and classic vehicles over the past 100 years. Housing the collection of motoring enthusiast, Peter Briggs, a selection of vehicles on loan from the Museum of Western Australia and private vehicles on loan, the Museum is a celebration of the passion, the speed and the style of the automobile. 

York Residency Museum

General admission is $5 with discounts available for seniors and children

A visit to the award-winning Residency Museum gives you a fantastic insight into the region's history. The Museum is full of lively, professionally designed exhibitions covering a diverse range of themes. 

The building itself is an ode to history, built in the 1850s as part of the Convict Depot, later developed into the home of the Resident Magistrate, then during the early twentieth century, it evolved into a part of the Old York Hospital, later being saved from disrepair by the York Society. It opened as a Municipal Museum in 1972 and continues to be managed by the Shire of York. 

Northam Heritage Centre

General admission is $5 with discounts available for concession and children

Fit for the train enthusiast, The Northam Heritage Centre is a journey into the railway history of Northam. Wander through the beautiful old railway station that houses the museum and visualise how the station would have operated at the turn of the century. You can spend hours examining the 1,200 artefacts, photos, antiques and memorabilia that are housed in the museum. A highlight of the visit is the vintage steam engine and carriages which have been beautifully restored and are on display within the museum. 

For specific entry fees and opening hours, it's recommended to visit each museum's website or contact them directly.