The ANZAC Bell Tour

Hear Perth’s biggest bell ring. The ANZAC Bell Tour gives you a close look at the Bell Tower, lets you chime ancient bells, and times its main event for the midday ringing of the 6,500-kilogram ANZAC Bell. I especially like the behind-the-scenes access to the ringing chamber and the chance to hear a World War I song played on the Carillon. The panoramic view from level 6 is another strong point.

The main drawback is that the tour starts at 11:30 a.m. and runs for only about 45 minutes to an hour, so your schedule needs to allow for the midday bell. The history is a major part of the appeal, but one visitor found the connection between Gallipoli and the bell unclear, so you may want to ask questions if you want a detailed account of that story.

Key points to know before you book

• The 6,500-kilogram ANZAC Bell rings at midday, making timing central to the tour.
• You enter the ringing chamber and get the chance to chime ancient bells with the guide.
• A World War I song is played on the level 6 Carillon, adding a strong musical element.
• The sixth-floor observation deck offers views across the Swan River and Perth City.
• The small group is limited to 14 people, which should make the behind-the-scenes portion easier to follow.
• Your medallion can be engraved for free at the Perth Mint, a useful tip if that attraction is also on your Perth plans.

Why the ANZAC Bell Tour is different

Perth’s Bell Tower is easy to spot near Elizabeth Quay, but the outside gives only a hint of what happens inside. The ANZAC Bell Tour takes you beyond a standard visit to an observation deck. You get access to the ringing chamber, an explanation of the bells, a scheduled performance, and a close look at the tower’s largest bell.

I like that the tour has a clear shape. It is not simply a talk followed by free time. You begin with the older bells, move into the ringing chamber, hear about the ANZAC Bell, watch it ring at noon, and finish with music and views above the city.

That structure matters because bells are easy to admire without understanding. Their size, weight, sound, and purpose become much clearer when you see the machinery and take part in the ringing yourself.

The tour is also small, with a maximum of 14 people. That is a sensible limit for a room where everyone needs to hear instructions and see the equipment. It should feel more personal than a large group moving through a public attraction, although the tour remains fairly short.

Starting at Barrack Square at 11:30 a.m.

You meet at The Bell Tower in Barrack Square, on Riverside Drive, Perth. The start time is 11:30 a.m., which is not a minor detail. The schedule is designed to lead into the midday ringing of the ANZAC Bell, so arriving late could mean missing the central moment.

The Bell Tower sits near Elizabeth Quay and is close to public transportation. You receive a mobile ticket, and confirmation is provided when you book. Private transportation is not included, so you will need to make your own way to Barrack Square.

I would plan to arrive with a little spare time. The tour has a fixed start, and the midday bell cannot simply be repeated for a late arrival. The meeting point is also the end point, making it easy to continue on foot toward Elizabeth Quay or another central Perth sight afterward.

The tour runs daily, according to the supplied schedule. At $25.10 per person, it is not the cheapest quick attraction in Perth, but it is a reasonable price if you value access that a normal admission may not include. The ringing chamber and hands-on bell activity give the fee a clear purpose.

Ringing ancient bells on level 1

The first part takes place on level 1, where you go behind the scenes into the ringing chamber. With the guide’s direction, you can chime the ancient bells yourself.

This is the most hands-on part of the tour. You are not just looking at old equipment behind glass. You get a practical sense of how the bells are used and how much force is involved. One particularly appealing detail is that the tour lets you try to chime the extremely heavy bells, an unusual opportunity in a city attraction.

I would pay close attention here, even if the ANZAC Bell is your main reason for booking. The smaller and older bells provide the working context for the rest of the tour. Once you have seen the ringing chamber, the larger bell upstairs should feel less like a single object and more like part of a working bell system.

The guide leads this section, so the quality of the explanation matters. The available feedback praises the guides and the history lessons overall, but one person found the Gallipoli connection somewhat sketchy. If military history is especially important to you, ask for clarification rather than assuming every detail will be covered at length.

Understanding the 6,500-kilogram ANZAC Bell

After the ringing chamber, you follow the guide to level 5 to learn about the ANZAC Bell and see it ring at midday. The bell weighs 6,500 kilograms, making its scale the obvious headline, but the tour is also about what the bell represents.

The ANZAC name connects the bell to Australia’s remembrance of military service. The tour explains its meaning and the story attached to it, then gives you the rare chance to watch the bell operate at the scheduled time.

The midday ringing is the tour’s anchor. It gives the visit a sense of occasion and prevents the stop from becoming a loose collection of facts. You know that the tour is building toward a particular sound and sight.

Still, keep your expectations measured. The entire activity lasts about an hour, not half a day, so this is an introduction rather than a full military-history seminar. If you want a very detailed account of Gallipoli or ANZAC traditions, you may need to ask questions or pursue more information elsewhere.

The strongest part is physical. A bell of this size is difficult to understand from a number alone. Seeing it ring gives the weight real meaning, especially after you have handled or chimed smaller bells in the ringing chamber.

Hearing a World War I song on the Carillon

The tour continues to the level 6 observation deck, where the guide plays a popular World War I song on the Carillon. This changes the mood from machinery and weight to music and remembrance.

The Carillon adds a useful second layer to the tour. You hear how the tower can be used as an instrument, not just as a home for individual bells. The choice of a World War I song also ties the musical performance back to the ANZAC Bell and the tour’s central theme.

I like this part because it gives the visit a memorable finish. The sound of a song carried through a bell tower is more personal than a list of dates. It also makes the experience suitable for people who are interested in music and architecture, not only military history.

The performance is brief enough to fit the short schedule, so do not expect a full concert. The tour’s focus remains the bells and the ANZAC Bell story.

Sixth-floor views over Perth and the Swan River

The level 6 observation deck provides views across the Swan River and Perth City. These views are included in the tour, so you are not paying extra for a separate observation visit.

This is a good chance to get your bearings in central Perth. From above, you can connect the Bell Tower’s location with the riverfront and nearby Elizabeth Quay. I would bring your camera, but I would not treat the views as the sole reason to book. Perth has other ways to see the city, while the ringing chamber and midday bell are the more distinctive parts of this visit.

The observation deck also gives the tour a natural ending. You have moved from the close, mechanical world of bells to an open view over the city. The combination makes the hour feel better balanced than a tour that remains indoors with historical explanation alone.

The ANZAC medallion and the Perth Mint tip

After the tour, you receive a take-home ANZAC Bell medallion. It is a small souvenir, but it gives the visit a physical reminder beyond photographs.

The best practical tip is to take the medallion to the Perth Mint for free engraving. If the Mint is already on your itinerary, visit the Bell Tower first. One person specifically praised this order, and it makes sense: you receive the medallion during the tour, then have the chance to personalize it at the Mint.

Free-entry customers do not receive the medallion. It can be purchased separately at the Bell Tower, so check how your admission is arranged if you are using a free-entry option.

The medallion is not enough by itself to justify the tour, but it improves the value of the package. You get the guided visit, the bell ringing, the music, the views, and a modest souvenir that can become more personal through engraving.

Is $25.10 good value for one hour?

At $25.10 per person, the tour works best for you if you want access and participation rather than a quick look around. The price includes admission and all fees and taxes. It does not include transportation, but the meeting point is near public transportation in central Perth.

For roughly an hour, you receive several distinct parts:

• A guided look at the Bell Tower
• Access to the ringing chamber
• A chance to chime ancient bells
• The midday ringing of the ANZAC Bell
• A World War I song on the Carillon
• Sixth-floor city and river views
• An ANZAC Bell medallion

That is a solid list for the price, especially because the small group is capped at 14 people. The value is weaker if you only want a general view of Perth or have little interest in bells, military remembrance, or guided history.

The tour is recommended by 99 percent of customers and has a 4.9 rating from 85 reviews. Those figures point to a consistently strong experience, particularly for people who enjoy the history and the chance to ring the bells. They do not mean every historical question will receive a long answer, so set your expectations around a lively introduction rather than a specialist lecture.

Who will enjoy this tour most?

I would recommend the ANZAC Bell Tour to first-time visitors who want a compact Perth activity near Elizabeth Quay. It fits neatly into a morning or early afternoon plan and ends back at the Bell Tower, so you can continue exploring the city without a complicated transfer.

It is also a good choice for families, provided everyone can participate in a roughly one-hour guided activity. The hands-on ringing chamber gives children something active to do, while the views and music prevent the tour from being only a history talk.

People interested in Australia’s military remembrance traditions will find the ANZAC focus useful, though anyone seeking detailed Gallipoli history should ask questions and keep the limited duration in mind. Music lovers may enjoy the Carillon performance, and anyone curious about how bells work will get more from this tour than from a standard observation visit.

The activity states that most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. No special restriction is listed for general mobility, so you should contact the provider directly if you have specific access needs that are not addressed in the booking information.

Timing, group size, and cancellation advice

Book this around the 11:30 a.m. start, not merely around the day. The tour is often booked about 32 days ahead, which suggests that planning early is sensible if your Perth dates are fixed.

The group maximum is 14 people, and the activity ends where it begins. A mobile ticket keeps the admission simple, but you still need to reach Barrack Square on time.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the tour do not qualify for a refund, so leave room in your schedule before committing.

Should you book the ANZAC Bell Tour?

Book it if you want a short, focused Perth activity with real access behind the scenes. The chance to chime ancient bells, watch the 6,500-kilogram ANZAC Bell ring at midday, hear a World War I song on the Carillon, and collect an engravable medallion gives the hour plenty of substance.

Skip it if you have no interest in bells or remembrance history, or if the 11:30 a.m. start does not fit your plans. For most visitors, though, the $25.10 price is fair, the small group helps, and the experience offers more than a simple view from a tower.

If you also plan to visit the Perth Mint, book the Bell Tower first. That free medallion engraving is the kind of small extra that makes a good short tour feel thoughtfully planned.

FAQ

Where does the ANZAC Bell Tour start?

It starts at The Bell Tower, Barrack Square, Riverside Drive, Perth WA 6000, Australia.

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 11:30 a.m. and is timed to include the midday ringing of the ANZAC Bell.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 45 minutes to one hour.

How many people can join the tour?

The activity has a maximum group size of 14 people.

Is a medallion included?

Yes, the tour includes a take-home ANZAC Bell medallion. Customers using free entry do not receive one, but a medallion can be purchased at the Bell Tower.

Can the medallion be engraved?

Yes. You can take the medallion to the Perth Mint for free engraving.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not refunded.