It's summertime, and the living is easy! The balmy days of summer are well and truly here, and the Sunset Coast is full of happy people enjoying perfect beach weather!
Perth is renowned for its incredible coastlines, and you’ve probably heard of some of the most famous spots like Scarborough Beach and City Beach, but there's plenty of lesser-known beaches with their own unique charms to enjoy. Make a start on your Sunset Coast Self Drive and get exploring with seven of our faves from north to south!
Lancelin
Ditch the crowds altogether and head up the coast to the very northernmost tip of the Perth Beaches region for a Lancelin adventure, just under an hour and half from the CBD! Not just a great spot for a day trip, if you have a couple of days up your sleeve you might like to extend your stay overnight and make it a whole weekend escape - try out the local Experience Lancelin Holiday Park for laid back accommodation. The is park located smack-dab on the beachfront, with a great selection of powered and unpowered camp sites, and cabins expected to be completed mid 2020.
Lancelin boasts a gorgeous white sand beach with spectacular azure ocean views, and is perfect for almost any aquatic activity. This destination will keep you busy with snorkeling, surfing (board hire available from as little as $5 per hour) windsurfing, paddleboarding, dolphin watching, and 4WDing in the sand dunes.
Of course, while you're here, you're going to want to give Lancelin's famous sandboarding a go! Lancelin boasts what is widely considered Australia's best sandboarding experience, and it's so much fun sliding down the massive, otherworldly dunes. Tour operators who can take you there include Explore Tours Perth, GPS Adventure Tours WA and Tours with a Twist.
Lancelin is also a great place for fishing: you can find herring at the main jetty, whiting off the beach during the day, and tailor at the jetty or back beach at sunrise and sunset. From the wharf, you'll find flounder, flathead and even large king george whiting.
Yanchep Lagoon
Starting in the City of Wanneroo located north of Perth, Yanchep Lagoon is the perfect beach to visit with the whole family, showcasing calm waters, gorgeous crystal-clear ocean views, shallow water and low waves. It’s popular for first-time snorkeling and fishing, just be careful of the rip current when the tide comes in. There’s also a playground, and a nice café to get a cuppa. You’ll find this gorgeous spot just under an hour from Perth City.
While you're in the Yanchep area, you won't want to miss the stunning Yanchep National Park, home to the kid-friendly Crystal Cave and a lovely koala sanctuary. Several tour operators go to this iconic national park, including Explore Tours Perth, Tours with a Twist and Perth Platinum Tours & Transfers. (By the way, the park recently reopened after closure due to bushfires - we're happy to report that the koalas are all okay!)
Head ten minutes north to Two Rocks to see the iconic statues from the abandoned Atlantis Marine Park peppering Perth's northernmost suburb, including the mighty (and heritage-listed) King Neptune. You can also explore a shipwreck without even getting wet at Wreck Point, where the remains of 1917's Alex T Brown are still visible above the high-water mark.
The Marina, Mindarie
A jewel in the crown of the Sunset Coast, The Marina Mindarie offers a shopping and dining precinct, as well as beachside fun! Whether you're relaxing, swimming, working on your tan or strolling the atmospheric Mediterranean boardwalk, The Marina is plenty of fun for everyone. Bike, boat and kayak hire are available to work up an appetite, and there's plenty of options for a tasty meal afterwards courtesy of favourites like the Indian Ocean Brewing Co, Cabana Poolside Bar & BBQ, The Boat, Ritrovo and the Six Degrees Dessert Bar.
Burns Beach
Another family favourite! This sheltered beach is within the Marmion Marine Park, in the City of Joondalup. You'll see plenty of wildlife from the lookout points – dolphins, sea lions and more. Burns Beach is lovely for swimming, walking or a tasty BBQ. Burns Beach is also the northern end of the Perth Beaches Cycle Trails; from here, you can cycle along the spectacular coastline on an easy 14km trail ending at Marmion, which includes interpretative signs providing information on the native flora, fauna and history of the area.
A little further afield, the Wanneroo Botanic Gardens offers exciting mini golf (botanical golf - yes, it's a thing and it's awesome!), and you can also catch a ferry to Rottnest Island from Hillarys with Rottnest Fast Ferries. Stay the night at The Marina Hotel for a relaxing vacation/staycation!
Mullaloo Beach
Mullaloo Beach is in the northern suburbs of Perth, a short drive from the perennial favourite Hillarys Boat Harbour. This family-friendly beach is well-serviced with amenities such as the nearby Mullaloo Beach Hotel, and has two great playgrounds that are almost always full of children playing joyfully. The grassy parklands overlooking the beach are perfect for a sunset picnic, and if you head to Mullaloo Beach North you'll find a lookout with picturesque Indian Ocean views.
By the way, if you're visiting this area with a pet of the canine or equine variety, good news: Hillarys Dog Beach and Whitfords Horse Beach are only a few minutes' drive away!
Pinnaroo Point
Another northern suburbs favourite, Pinnaroo Point is a popular spot for lovers of watersports in Perth, located north of the river in Hillarys. In addition to being a great spot for swimming, kayaking and fishing, it's very interesting to watch the many kitesurfers here, and you can even give it a try with two schools offering guided lessons to beginners here - Action Sports WA and KiteBud.
Here you are only a short drive away from Pinnaroo Valley Memorial Park, and while a visit to a cemetery may seem a little off-the-beaten-track, it's actually the perfect spot to see kangaroos in the wild! The verdant grounds of the Memorial Park are a popular attraction for walks, jogging and picnics.
Another great attraction in this area is AQWA (the Aquarium of Western Australia), located in the Hillarys Boat Harbour. You can explore WA's spectacular marine life in Australia’s largest underwater tunnel and up close at the Touch Pool, as well as much more. Hillarys Boat Harbour is also where you can catch ferries to Rottnest Island and go on a whale watching adventure in season (November to December).
Mettams Pool
Located within the City of Stirling just north of the ever-popular Trigg Beach, Mettams Pool is a real marine treasure, teeming with underwater life. You'll see plenty of snorkelers here, and because it’s so sheltered with relatively shallow waters, it's a very safe spot for first-timers. (However, it's a good idea to wear some reef shoes as there's quite a lot of rocks.) You can see colourful schools of fish and beautiful coral here, making it quite a visual feast.
If you're looking for a family friendly spot, just a hop skip and a jump up the coast you'll find Watermans Bay Playground where the mini's can safely play in an enclosed space. And once you've worked up an appetite, head back to Trigg Beach for some tasty coastal fare at Island Market!
Looking for more? Plan your trip to the Perth Beaches now!
