Perth: The Premium Anzac Bell Tour at the Bell Tower

Ringing ancient bells is a fine way to start in Perth. I like the hands-on bell chiming and the chance to watch the 6,500-kilogram Anzac Bell ring at exactly midday. The 45-minute tour also includes the Bell Tower’s broad city views, a certificate, and a medallion. The main consideration is timing: the special Anzac Bell chime happens at noon, so you need a suitable start time.

This is a small-group premium experience rather than a quick look around the tower. Guides such as Jeff have been praised for patience, clear explanations, photos, and even video help during the bell ringing. Tony was also noted for his detailed knowledge, though his voice was sometimes hard to hear. At $29, the tour offers good value if you want more than an observation deck visit, but it may feel like a lot for anyone mainly interested in the views.

Key points to know before booking

• The 6,500-kilogram Anzac Bell rings for one minute at midday, making the tour’s timing important.
• You chime ancient bells yourself in the ringing chamber, rather than only watching a demonstration.
• The tour includes an Anzac medallion, certificate, and free engraving at the Perth Mint.
• A reserved viewing area on level 5 gives you a clear place to watch the Anzac Bell ring.
• The level 6 observation deck has 360-degree views over the Swan River and Perth City.
• The tour lasts 45 minutes and is conducted in English, with stairs or an elevator available inside the tower.

Why the Anzac Bell Tour feels different

The Bell Tower can be visited as a standard attraction, but the Premium Anzac Bell Tour gives your visit a clear purpose. You are not simply walking through a tall building, pressing a few buttons, and taking photos. You are shown into the ringing chamber, given a chance to chime old bells, and then taken to a reserved viewing point for the tower’s most important bell.

That structure works well. The first part is active and slightly unusual. The middle explains the Anzac Bell and its connection to the Anzac legend. The final part gives you the big sound and the big view.

I especially like the balance between history and participation. Bell towers can be hard to understand from a distance. Once you have handled the ropes or taken part in the chiming demonstration, the machinery and sound become easier to appreciate.

The tour is also small-group and premium, which matters here. The ringing chamber is not the sort of place where a large crowd would feel comfortable. A smaller group gives you a better chance to hear the guide, ask questions, and take your turn at the bells.

Starting at the Bell Tower in Perth

You begin at the Bell Tower, where you present your ticket and collect a token for the tour. A staff member then guides you to level 1. There is no transport included, so you need to make your own way to the tower.

The ticket includes all-day entry, not just access during the 45-minute guided portion. That makes the $29 price more useful. You can take the tour, visit the observation deck, and continue exploring the Bell Tower afterward if you still have questions or want another look at the exhibits.

The tower can be explored by stairs or elevator. That makes the experience easier for people who prefer not to climb between levels, and the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. Even so, it is sensible to arrive ready for a moving tour through several floors, since the route includes levels 1, 5, and 6.

Chiming ancient bells on level 1

The tour’s most personal moment comes early, in the ringing chamber on level 1. With the guide’s help, you take part in an interactive chiming demonstration and chime the ancient bells yourself.

This is more memorable than simply hearing a guide describe bell ringing. You get a direct sense of the action behind the sound. The guide explains what you are doing and helps you take your turn, so you do not need prior experience.

If you enjoy practical demonstrations, this is likely to be the strongest part of the tour. It also suits families and curious first-time visitors because the activity is easy to understand. The certificate you receive later gives the moment a small but pleasant sense of occasion.

Guiding quality matters here. Jeff has received especially strong praise for explaining things carefully, answering questions, and giving people time instead of rushing them. He was also willing to take photos and video during the bell ringing, which is useful because your hands may be occupied. That sort of help can make the experience feel personal.

One limitation is that the quality of the spoken tour depends on the guide and the acoustics. A previous tour with Tony was informative, but his voice was difficult to hear at times. If you have hearing concerns, staying close to the guide is a sensible choice.

Understanding the Anzac Bell

After the chiming demonstration, the guide explains the Anzac Bell and the meaning connected with it. This is the point where the tour moves beyond a fun bell-ringing activity and gives the main object its proper context.

The Anzac Bell weighs 6,500 kilograms, so its size alone is impressive. Yet the important detail is not just the weight. The bell carries a connection to the Anzac legend, and the guide explains why it has a special place within the Bell Tower.

I like that the tour places this explanation before the midday ringing. You first learn what you are about to see, then hear and watch the bell in action. Without that context, the sound might be dramatic but brief. With it, the one-minute ring has more meaning.

The guide-led format is useful because you can ask questions as the story develops. The available information does not set out every historical detail, so you should think of this as a focused introduction rather than a long military history lecture. It gives you the key idea behind the bell and its purpose within the tower.

Watching the 6,500-kilogram bell ring at noon

The tour then moves to level 5, where Anzac Bell Tour customers have access to an exclusive viewing area. From here, you watch the Anzac Bell ring for one minute at exactly midday.

This is the part that makes the start time so important. The tour is not just a flexible 45-minute visit. It is built around a fixed daily moment. Check the available tour times carefully and choose one that includes the noon ringing.

The sound and movement of a bell this large give the tour its strongest sense of occasion. One minute may not sound long on paper, but the exact timing and reserved viewing area help the event feel focused rather than casual.

A previous booking described paying extra to see the Anzac Bell chime at noon and finding it worthwhile and striking. That matches the logic of the experience: if you are already paying for a premium tour, seeing the main bell ring is the feature that makes the added cost easier to justify.

The drawback is simple. If you cannot fit a noon start into your Perth plans, you lose the tour’s central timed event. You will still have the chiming demonstration and the tower views, but the experience will not have the same shape.

Looking across Perth from level 6

The tour finishes on level 6, at the Bell Tower’s observation deck. The deck provides 360-degree views over the Swan River and Perth City.

This is a good final stop because it lets you shift from the close-up world of ropes, bells, and machinery to a wider view of Perth. You can take your time with the view after the guided portion, since all-day entry is included.

The deck is also a useful reason to book the guided experience instead of treating the tower as a quick photo stop. You receive the story and activity first, then have space to look out over the city at your own pace.

The view is a bonus rather than the sole reason to pay for this tour. If you only want a high lookout, the premium bell experience may not be necessary. But if you want a city view paired with a distinctive local attraction, the combination is stronger.

The carillon, certificate, and Anzac medallion

Before the tour ends, the guide plays a World War I tune on the coin-operated carillon. This adds another layer of sound to an experience already built around bells, though it is a listening moment rather than another hands-on activity.

You then receive a bell chiming certificate and an exclusive Anzac Bell medallion. The medallion can be engraved for free afterward at the Perth Mint. That gives you a practical souvenir rather than a generic attraction gift, especially if you are marking a special trip or visiting with children.

You should note that the engraving takes place afterward at the Perth Mint, not as part of the 45-minute tour. The supplied information does not give a time limit or process for the engraving, so check the arrangements when you receive the medallion.

The certificate and medallion also help explain the price. At $29 per person, you are paying for guided access, participation, the timed Anzac Bell viewing, all-day entry, the observation deck, and keepsakes. If you value those extras, the cost is fair. If you plan to spend only a few minutes at the tower, it is less convincing.

How the guides affect the experience

A good guide is important in a bell tower. There are sounds, ropes, different levels, and a story that can easily become a list of dates and facts. The strongest feedback has focused on Jeff, who was patient, thorough, and happy to answer questions.

That is particularly helpful if you want photos or video. One booking was the only person on the tour, and Jeff took pictures and video while also giving the visitor time to ring the bells. A small group can produce that sort of attention, though you should not assume every departure will be private.

The one caution concerns hearing the commentary. Tony was praised for his knowledge, but his voice was difficult to hear at points. This is a useful reminder to stay close, especially in a large ringing chamber where sound can carry in unexpected ways.

Overall, the guide is not just there to move you from floor to floor. The explanations connect the practical bell ringing to the Anzac Bell, the midday event, and the World War I carillon tune. That connection gives the 45 minutes a clear beginning, middle, and end.

Is $29 good value?

For Perth, $29 is a moderate price for a 45-minute guided attraction with all-day entry. The value depends on what you want from the Bell Tower.

I think the price works well if you care about three things:

• Taking part in the bell ringing
• Seeing the 6,500-kilogram Anzac Bell at noon
• Receiving the medallion and certificate

The 360-degree observation deck adds value, but it is not enough by itself to make the premium tour essential. The strongest reason to pay is access to the guided ringing chamber and the reserved level 5 viewing area.

The tour also makes better financial sense if you have time to remain at the Bell Tower after the guided portion. Since all-day entry is included, you are not forced to leave when the guide finishes. You can return to the observation deck or explore further if your schedule allows.

There is no transportation included, so factor in the cost and time of reaching the Bell Tower yourself. The tour starts and finishes there, which keeps the plan simple once you arrive.

Who should book this tour?

I would recommend it to anyone who wants an activity rather than a passive lookout. Families, first-time visitors to Perth, people interested in military remembrance, and anyone curious about how bells are rung should get plenty from the 45 minutes.

It is also a good choice if you enjoy collecting meaningful souvenirs. The medallion, free engraving option at the Perth Mint, and certificate give the visit a lasting physical reminder.

You may want to skip it if your schedule does not allow a midday visit, if you dislike guided activities, or if your only goal is a city view. The tour is short, but it is structured around the guide and the noon bell, so it is not a drop-in attraction.

Book with the timing in mind. The midday ring is the feature that turns a standard Bell Tower visit into a special event.

FAQ

How long does the Premium Anzac Bell Tour last?

The guided tour lasts 45 minutes. Your ticket also includes all-day entry to the Bell Tower, so you can continue exploring afterward.

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $29 per person.

Does the tour include transportation?

No. Transportation is not included. You need to make your own way to the Bell Tower in Perth.

What time does the Anzac Bell ring?

The 6,500-kilogram Anzac Bell rings at exactly midday and continues for one minute.

Can I ring the bells myself?

Yes. The tour includes an interactive chiming demonstration in the ringing chamber, where you can chime the ancient bells with guidance.

What keepsakes are included?

You receive a bell chiming certificate and an exclusive Anzac Bell medallion. The medallion can be engraved for free afterward at the Perth Mint.

Is the observation deck included?

Yes. The tour includes access to the Bell Tower’s 360-degree observation deck on level 6.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible, and you can explore the Bell Tower using stairs or an elevator.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live guided tour is conducted in English.