Discover Perth's Best Beaches and Stunning Coastline!
With 197 kilometres of sun, sea and white sand to be enjoyed on the coastline, you can be as active or chilled out as you like. Take a scenic drive and stop at any one of the many beaches from Lancelin Beach in the north to Preston Beach in the south, encompassing the regions of the Sunset Coast, Fremantle, Rockingham and Mandurah. The Indian Ocean provide great conditions all kids of watersports from swimming and fishing to surfing and kiteboarding as well as plenty of underwater adventures with some great snorkelling and diving spots to discover.
There are even a number of dedicated dog beaches! Alfresco cafes and restaurant line the coast offering great atmosphere to accompany the brilliant ocean vistas and there are plenty of family-friendly attractions, activities and seaside shopping close by.
Top Things To Do at Perth's Best Beaches
- Take a dip or catch a wave at one of the many sensational beaches.
- Relax at a picturesque beachside café or restaurant along the coast.
- Soak in the awesome beauty as the sun sets over the Indian Ocean.
- Dive or snorkel in the sparkling waters amongst a variety of fish and marine life.
- Visit coastal tourist hubs such as Hillarys Boat Harbour, The Marina Mindarie, Scarborough Beach, Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour and the Rockingham and Mandurah foreshores for shopping, cafés and restaurants.
- Discover WA's unique marine life at AQWA - The Aquarium of WA.
- Stay a night or two at an oceanside or waterfront accommodation.
Getting to the Perth Beaches
Getting to Perth's beaches is easy, with most just a short drive from the city centre and the northern and southern limits no more than an hour away. The Sunset Coast Tourist Drive is a must for anyone travelling by car or if you prefer to walk or cycle between beaches sealed paths edge many parts of the coastline. A duel-use walk and cycle path hugs the coast stretching 12 kms from Sorrento Beach to City Beach along the West Coast Drive and the Indian Ocean Ride is a cycle route from Fremantle to Cottesloe. The trails pass some of Perth's most iconic stretches of coastline and beaches.
Perth's Best Beaches
Everyone will find a beach to fall in love with in Perth - they're well maintained and open to the public all year round, free of charge. Many have public barbecues and picnic areas, children's playgrounds, nearby cafes restaurants and kiosks and fantastic conditions for swimming and water sports.
Northern Coast Beaches
Starting in the north, the Moore River Region from Lancelin to Guilderton is well-known for sand dunes, sand boarding, four-wheel driving, surfing, windsurfing and kite surfing.
Lancelin Beach, with its gorgeous white sands and spectacular ocean views, is perfect for almost any aquatic activity. Surfers will love the huge swells at the popular Back Beach, south of town and snorkelers can explore the coral and limestone reefs surrounding the Lancelin Island Nature Reserve, 500 metres off shore. Ledge Point, primarily a crayfishing town, is well known for windsurfing and fishing and safe swimming beaches make it an ideal family holiday spot. Seabird and Quinns Rock are great spots for fishing while Guilderton, on the banks of the Moore River, is ideal for swimming and canoeing.
Sunset Coast Beaches
The coastline off Two Rocks is scattered with historic shipwrecks that have become interesting historic artefacts and gripping dive locations. At Wreck Point, you don't even have to get wet to see a wreck - the remains of 1917's Alex T Brown are visible offshore, above the high-water mark. Yanchep Lagoon has calm, shallow waters and low waves so is perfect for families. It's also popular for first-time snorkeling and fishing, and there is a playground, and a nice café for refreshments. While you're in the area, visit Yanchep National Park, home to the one of WA's larges koala colonies, kangaroos and native birdlife. You can explore the stunning caves in the park and learn about its ancient Aboriginal culture.
The Marina Mindarie offers a shopping and dining precinct along Mediterranean-style boardwalks including a sophisticated microbrewery and pub serving sea-fresh fish and chips. Bike, boat and kayak hire is available to explore the surrounding waters and it is an excellent spot to catch Herring and Tailor (hint: cast off at first light).
Sorrento Beach is a safe, family-friendly beach with 600m of beachfront, a reef 3 km offshore and a netted swimming enclosure. There is free change rooms, toilet and shower facilities and an expansive grass area with undercover picnic tables, BBQ facilities and refreshments available at the Sorrento SLSC café. Nearby is Hillarys Boat Harbour, which features a protect beach, perfect for children. You'll also find great shopping, an excellent selection of cafés and restaurants, the AQWA - The Aquarium of WA and a tours and ferries to Rottnest Island, whale watching, and deep sea fishing.
Marmion Marine Park is a divers paradise off coast of Perth between Burns Beach and Trigg Beach. Clear shallow lagoons, reefs and small islands form ledges, caves and swim throughs inhabited by a wonderful array of marine life. Trigg Beach and Watermans Bay Beach are a must for surfers, offering the most consistent surf break, particularly over summer. Mettams Pool is a favourite spot of snorkelers as it is sheltered with relatively shallow waters. See colourful schools of fish and beautiful coral as you explore the underwater life.
Scarborough Beach is one of Perth's most well-known beaches for surfing, sunbathing and swimming. A recent revitalisation of the area has transformed the foreshore, boasting pedestrian promenades, children's playgrounds, art projects, basketball court and exercise equipment, amphitheatre and Sunset Hill – an expansive grassed area for picnicking and playing. Scarborough is also home to the only beach side pool in WA, heated for year-round use.
Other popular beaches include Mullaloo Beach, Whitfords Beach, Pinnaroo Point, Marmion Beach and North Beach.
Central Coast Beaches
From Perth City you can travel just 20 minutes by car to reach some of Perth's best beaches along the Central Coast including City Beach, Cottesloe Beach, Floreat Beach and Swanbourne Beach.
The beautiful expanses of white sand and excellent facilities at City Beach have earned it the title of Perth's best beach in recent years. Two purpose-built groynes offer excellent fishing and safe swimming, while surfers regularly hit the waves just out to sea. Beautifully landscaped recreational areas have a children's playground, BBQs and picnic tables, as well as toilets, change rooms and outside showers. There's also a kiosk and fine dining restaurant overlooking the water.
Cottesloe Beach is one of Perth's premier summer locations. Its pristine white beach is great for swimming and it also has beautiful, elevated grassed areas overlooking the beach and a huge choice of cool cafes and restaurants.
Fremantle Beaches
Fremantle's main beaches are perfect for swimming, relaxing, kite surfing, paddling and other leisure activities. They offer a range of facilities that can be accessed year-round and are utilised by locals and tourists alike.
Leighton Beach is popular spot for swimming, kitesurfing and the northern side is dog-friendly. Nearby is a grassed area with electric barbecues, picnic tables, toilet facilities and a kiosk as well as cafes and restaurants. Port Beach is one of Perth's most visited and loved beaches with turquoise waters and brilliant white sands. Swim, snorkel, wind and kite surf, or just relax and take in the view to Rottnest Island. Enjoy takeaway food and drinks from the kiosk or a drink from the family friendly cafe and restaurant with views of the Indian Ocean.
Bathers Beach is part of the historic Arthur Head Reserve which is also home to the Round House, Kidogo Art House and Manjaree Trail. This popular beach inner city beach, located between Fishing Boat Harbour and the Round House, is the perfect place to relax and swim with restaurants and cafés nearby – it even has a licensed alfresco beach area. South Beach has long been a popular recreation and tourist 'resort' famous for its crystal clear waters, grassed and shady areas, towering Norfolk Island Pine and Moreton Bay Fig trees. Only a 20 minute walk or 9 minutes bus ride the centre of Fremantle, there are free BBQ facilities, showers and a cafe.
With white sand and crystal clear water, Coogee Beach not only has fantastic natural settings, it is also blessed with spectacular sunsets. In summer, you can float on or dive off the two pontoons which are in the water on either side of the Coogee Beach Jetty. You can throw a line off the jetty or snorkel around the wreck of the Omeo shipwreck. Coogee Beach is a great beach for swimmers and if you are lucky, you might see a dolphin or the occasional sea lion.
Other beaches in Fremantle include O'Connor Reserve and Woodman Point both of which have dog-friendly beaches. Some beaches are also accessible with a beach wheelchair available from the City of Fremantle or Surf Lifesaving Club.
Rockingham Beaches
There's a beach for everyone in and around Rockingham, from the shallow child-safe calm of Cockburn Sound, to the pristine waters of the West Coast Dive Park. There's also boating, sailing, and fishing either with your own boat or a hire boat.
Rockingham Beach is overlooked by the Rockingham Foreshore Reserve and boasts safe swimming with generally low waves. The Foreshore has undergone a major revitalisation comprising improved facilities, accessible lookout, amphitheatre and grassed areas and upgraded boardwalk with plenty of colourful umbrellas. Jump on a ferry or hire a kayak or paddle board and discover the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park, a pristine habitat for a rich variety of birds and marine life such as dolphins and sea lions. Surrounding reefs and shipwrecks make for excellent diving, snorkelling and wildlife watching.
Safety Bay is a popular spot for families and thrill-seekers alike with a safe, sheltered beach and two popular kite surfing areas - The Sand Bar, perfect for beginners, and The Pond, home to many kite surfing professionals. A boat ramp, jetty and yacht club are located in the Safety Bay Foreshore Reserve.
Secret Harbour offers a lifesaver patrolled surf beach and is widely known as the only beach in the Perth metropolitan area that has waves all year round. Perfect for both beginners and professional surfers, the Secret Harbour Surf Beach is well serviced by showers, a surf life saving club, an awesome new adventure playground, a café and ample parking. Just across the road is the Secret Harbour Golf Course, an 18-hole links course considered as one of the top 25 public access courses in Australia.
Other beaches near Rockingham include Golden Bay, Singleton, Waikiki, Port Kennedy and Warnbro Beach.
Mandurah Beaches
With long, uncrowded, sandy beaches stretching from Mandurah to Preston Beach, you'll be sure to find the perfect beach to suit you. North of Mandurah, San Remo has a café and is patrolled by the Mandurah Surf Lifesaving Club in summer and Silver Sands includes sections where dogs are allowed on and off the leash.
Dolphin Quay at the Mandurah Ocean Marina has a man-made, sheltered beach has a man-made, sheltered beach as well as a great playground and expansive grassed area making it perfect for families with young children. It is also close to shops, restaurants and markets.
Less than 10 minutes south of the city centre and with ample parking, Doddi's Beach and Blue Bay Beach in Halls Head are popular with families (the waters are shallow with minimal waves), stand-up paddle boarders and snorkelling. There is also a café, dog beach and a nice walk along the beach from the Halls Head Foreshore to Robert Point. A little further south, Falcon Bay and Avalon Beach are considered two of the best beaches in Mandurah with parking, toilets and cafés nearby. 45 minutes south of Mandurah is Preston Beach, a popular holiday spot with accommodation and a café right by the beach.
