Perth: Optus Stadium Guided Tour

Optus Stadium is best seen from the places ordinary ticket holders cannot enter. This 90-minute walk takes you into the players’ change rooms, locker rooms, and coaches’ areas, then up to high viewpoints over the Swan River and Perth city. It turns a striking sports venue into a working building with stories, routines, and plenty of photo stops.

I like the tour for two clear reasons: the Sky View Lounge delivers excellent city views, and the guides make the stadium’s design and sporting use easy to understand. Guides such as Bruce, Rocco, Chris, Lyndsey, and Christine have earned especially warm praise for their humor and clear explanations. The main drawback is that event-day activity or cleaning work can sometimes create noise, and the route may not give every sporting area equal time.

Key points to know before you go

• Locker-room access: See player change rooms, warm-up areas, ice baths, and coaches’ rooms.
• High-level views: Look across the playing surface, Swan River, and Perth from the Sky View Lounge.
• Strong guiding: Bruce, Rocco, Chris, Lyndsey, Christine, and Bob have all led well-received tours.
• A 90-minute walk: The pace is generally manageable, with places to sit, but comfortable shoes still help.
• Easy access: The stadium is 10 to 15 minutes from Perth CBD by car, with walking, cycling, ferry, bus, and taxi options.
• Good flexibility: You can cancel up to 24 hours ahead and reserve now while paying later.

Why Optus Stadium is worth seeing from the inside

From outside, Optus Stadium is already an impressive sight. The guided tour adds something a normal match ticket cannot: a sense of how the venue works before, during, and after a major sporting event.

You are not simply led around a public concourse. You get access to parts of the inner sporting operation, including player rooms, lockers, coaches’ rooms, warm-up spaces, and ice-bath areas. These details help you picture the preparation behind an AFL match or cricket test.

I especially like this kind of tour for people who enjoy places with a working purpose. You see where players prepare, where coaches organize their teams, and how a huge stadium is arranged around the field. It is a more revealing visit than simply taking a few photos from the stands.

You do not need to be an expert in Australian rules football. One particularly useful feature is the way the guides explain the building itself, including its design and construction. Visitors who knew little about Australian football still found the tour interesting because the focus is also on architecture, operations, and access behind closed doors.

Meeting at The OZONE below City View Cafe

The meeting point is The OZONE, located below City View Cafe, past Gate D. Look for the teardrop flags outside. You should arrive at least 10 minutes before the scheduled start, which gives you time to find the meeting point without rushing across the stadium precinct.

City View Cafe is a practical addition. It is open from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM on weekdays, so you can stop for coffee or a snack before or after the tour. Do not count on it for every tour time, since the stated opening hours apply to weekdays.

The stadium is in Burswood, around a 10 to 15-minute drive from Perth CBD. A taxi is simple, with a dedicated rank near Victoria Park Drive. The Little Ferry Co. stops daily at Burswood Jetty, and the Hop-On and Hop-Off bus stops daily in Marlee Loop.

You can also walk or cycle to the stadium. Public paths lead into the precinct, and more than 600 bike racks are located around Stadium Park. Train services on the Armadale Line stop at Stadium Station on weekends only, so check your day carefully before relying on the train.

Parking is available in the Marlee Loop car park through Victoria Park Drive, and in the Bus Station and Camfield car parks through Roger Mackay Drive. These car parks are available only on non-major-event days. That restriction matters, especially if you are visiting during a large match or concert.

The stadium walk and the playing surface

Once checked in, you set off with an English-speaking guide through the stadium. The exact order can change, but the walk is designed to show you both the public scale of the venue and the less visible spaces that support it.

A major highlight is the view down toward the playing surface. From above, you get a better sense of the field’s size and the way seating, circulation areas, and high-level spaces fit together. It is also a useful photo stop, so keep your camera ready.

The route is not described as a strenuous hike, and one family found there were plenty of chances to sit. Still, this is a walking tour inside a large stadium, so wear comfortable shoes and expect to move between several parts of the building.

The tour usually feels well paced. Guides including Bruce and Rocco were praised for giving people time to look around rather than hurrying from one stop to the next. That matters here because the building is full of visual details, and a quick march would reduce the value of the visit.

The experience may feel different depending on what has happened at the stadium recently. One group found that noisy cleaning equipment after a weekend event made it difficult to hear at times. This is not a reason to avoid the tour, but it is a useful reminder that Optus Stadium is an active venue, not a silent museum.

Change rooms, lockers, and the coaches’ rooms

The behind-the-scenes access is the tour’s strongest reason to book. You enter the areas used by players and team staff, including change rooms, locker rooms, and coaches’ rooms.

For sports fans, this is the part that connects the stadium to the people who use it. You can see the spaces where players prepare and where teams gather away from spectators. Access to warm-up areas and ice baths adds a practical look at what happens before and after competition.

The chance to visit player rooms also works well for families. A young Dockers supporter enjoyed bringing a grandparent along, while another parent said a six-year-old child stayed engaged because the guide included her in the conversation. The tour is not aimed only at serious sports followers.

There is one point to keep in mind: the tour may not divide its time evenly between every team area. One long-time Fremantle supporter was disappointed by the limited time in the Dockers section compared with the Eagles area. If you have a strong preference for one club, ask at check-in how the day’s route is likely to work, but do not assume you will receive equal time in every room.

Sky View Lounge and Perth from above

The Sky View Lounge provides the tour’s best broad outlook. From this high vantage point, you can look over the stadium’s playing surface, the Swan River, and Perth city.

This view changes the way you read the venue. Instead of seeing only rows of seats and roof structure, you understand the stadium’s relationship to the river and the city. It is also a good place for photographs, particularly if you want more than the usual field-level snapshot.

The high viewpoint is valuable even if you are not committed to AFL or cricket. It gives you a visual reason to visit, while the guide supplies the context. Several people specifically praised the views and the amount of access around the venue.

Bring a camera, but keep your attention on the explanations too. The tour includes sports memorabilia and stories about Western Australia’s sporting past, so the experience is more than a lookout stop followed by a walk through corridors.

Memorabilia and the story of a working venue

Along the way, sports memorabilia helps explain the importance of the stadium and its connection to Western Australian sport. These displays add context without turning the tour into a formal museum visit.

The guides are a key part of this section. Bruce was repeatedly singled out for his humor, strong communication, and detailed understanding of the stadium. Rocco was praised for covering a great deal without rushing, while Chris, Lyndsey, Christine, Bob, and others were noted for making the tour friendly and easy to follow.

The quality of a stadium tour depends heavily on the person leading it. Here, the repeated praise for the guides is significant because the building itself cannot explain what you are seeing. A good guide connects the locker rooms, media areas, coaches’ spaces, corporate boxes, and field views into one clear story.

The information is also presented in a way that works for mixed groups. Sports fans can ask detailed questions, while people who know little about Australian rules football can still follow the explanations about the venue’s design and operation.

How much walking and accessibility to expect

The tour is wheelchair accessible, with wheelchair and pram access throughout the route. That is a real strength for a large stadium visit, where stairs and narrow back corridors can sometimes limit access.

The route is described as manageable, and seating is available at points along the way. Even so, you should tell staff about any needs at the start so the guide can help the group move at a comfortable pace.

One past visit was less successful because a wheelchair user affected the pace and the guide did not appear to allow enough time. That experience should not be ignored. The official information confirms access throughout the tour, but the practical quality can still depend on group pacing and the guide’s attention.

For families with a pram, the access arrangements make this easier than many behind-the-scenes attractions. The 90-minute length is also a reasonable fit for children, though younger children may enjoy it most when the guide keeps them involved.

Is $24 good value?

At $24 per person, the tour offers good value if you want access rather than a simple photo stop. You receive 90 minutes with a tour leader, entry into restricted stadium areas, high-level views, sports displays, and a collectible lanyard.

The price compares well with the amount of the venue you see. You are not paying only to stand in a seating bowl. The chance to visit player rooms, coaches’ rooms, warm-up spaces, and other operational areas gives the ticket real substance.

It is particularly good value for families, local sports followers, and anyone who has already attended a match but wants to understand the venue beyond the spectator experience. A match shows you the event. This tour shows you some of the machinery around it.

I would be more cautious if you have no interest in buildings, sport, views, or behind-the-scenes access. The tour is still accessible to non-fans, but it is built around a stadium, so it will not suit someone seeking art, history, or nature.

A collectible lanyard is included, though one person wished there were more printed material or something substantial to buy afterward. If you like taking home a guidebook or detailed souvenir, the lanyard may feel modest.

Timing, cancellations, and event-day planning

The tour lasts 90 minutes, but starting times vary, so check availability for your date before planning the rest of the day. Tours do not operate on event days or public holidays.

That rule is important. Optus Stadium hosts major sporting events, and the access route may be unavailable when the venue is preparing for a crowd. Avoid building a tight schedule around the tour if your visit falls close to a major match or other large event.

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option also gives you some flexibility while your Perth plans are still taking shape.

Bring an ID card. A copy is accepted, according to the tour information. A camera is worth bringing, since the playing surface, river, city, and restricted rooms all offer different photo opportunities.

Who will enjoy this Optus Stadium tour?

This is an easy recommendation for AFL and cricket fans, especially supporters of Perth’s major teams. You will appreciate the change rooms, team areas, memorabilia, and the chance to see how a top-level venue is arranged for competition.

It also works well for families. Children can see places they normally know only from television, and the tour is short enough to remain manageable. Guides have shown they can adjust their explanations and involve younger members of a group.

You do not have to understand Australian rules football. The stadium’s design, views, construction details, and behind-the-scenes spaces provide enough interest for a mixed group. If one person in your party loves sport and the others do not, this is a safer choice than a match-focused attraction.

People with mobility needs can also consider it, thanks to wheelchair and pram access throughout. I would still mention your needs at check-in and allow for a slower pace, particularly if the group is large or the stadium has recently hosted an event.

Should you book the Optus Stadium Guided Tour?

Book it if you want to see Perth’s newest major stadium from the inside, not just from a match seat. The combination of restricted rooms, Sky View Lounge vistas, memorabilia, and personable guides makes $24 a fair price for 90 minutes.

I would choose a non-event weekday when possible, since the surroundings may be calmer and City View Cafe is open from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Arrive early at The OZONE, wear comfortable shoes, and allow extra time if you are driving or parking.

The only real cautions are uneven time between club areas, possible noise from post-event cleaning, and the absence of a substantial printed souvenir. For most people, those are small trade-offs. If you enjoy sport, architecture, city views, or seeing how a huge venue works behind closed doors, this is one of Perth’s better-value short tours.

FAQ

How long does the Optus Stadium Guided Tour last?

The tour lasts 90 minutes. Check availability for the starting times offered on your chosen date.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $24 per person.

Where does the tour meet?

Meet at The OZONE below City View Cafe, past Gate D. Look for the teardrop flags outside.

What areas can I see during the tour?

The tour includes behind-the-scenes access to change rooms, locker rooms, coaches’ rooms, and warm-up areas. It also includes views of the playing surface and access to the Sky View Lounge.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. Wheelchair and pram access is available throughout the tour.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Does the tour operate on event days or public holidays?

No. Tours do not operate on event days or public holidays.