Western Australia is home to some of the best beaches in the world. Many of its beaches have featured prominently in polls of beaches both around Australia and internationally, from the white sandy beaches of its southern coast to the tropical beaches of Broome.
If you’re seeking soft white sand, turqouise waters, and breathtaking views, head to Western Australia!
Whether you’re seeking a day trip from Perth or a weekend adventure, make sure you add some of these stunning beaches in Western Australia to your bucket list.
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1. Lucky Bay, Cape Le Grande National Park
For many years, a battle has waged over which Australian beach has the whitest sand in the country, perhaps even the entire world.
While Hyams Beach in Jervis Bay and Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays have both been contenders, generally Lucky Bay near Esperance has come out on top, at least according to a rigorous judging process conducted by the National Committee on Soil and Terrain.
Located in Cape Le Grande National Park on the southern coastline of Western Australia, a 45 minute drive outside the town of Esperance, even on a cloudy day in the middle of winter the sand at Lucky Bay is dazzling white. A popular sight at the beach are the local kangaroos, who can sometimes be seen lounging on the sand.
Visit the beach for the day, with swimming, snorkelling and boating popular in the calm, sparkling waters of this wide, sheltered bay. There’s also a number of hikes close by, including the trail to Frenchman Peak.
Or you can stay overnight just metres away from the beach at the national park campground, which even has a camp kitchen and solar-powered hot showers. A mobile coffee cart operates during the peak season at the beach.
2. Surfer’s Point, Margaret River
The Margaret River region in southwest Western Australia is famous for two things. While its prominent fine wine region is one of the main attractions for visitors these days, including on day trips from Perth, for many years the big wave surfing off the coast near Margaret River has attracted world class surfers.
In fact, every year the Margaret River Pro is held in the area, part of the World Surf League tour.
While attempting to surf the waves on days when the swell is up is daunting except for serious surfers, it’s possible for anyone to check out the waves and watch local and visiting surfers in action. One of the best spots to do this is at Surfer’s Point, in beachside Prevelly, immediately west of the township of Margaret River.
An excellent lookout has been constructed at Surfer’s Point, the perfect spot for checking out the action on the breaks down below. When the waves are pumping, food vans often pull up at the spot from late afternoon, so that you don’t need to leave to enjoy a feed. It’s also a great spot to hang around and watch the sunset.
3. Little Salmon Bay, Rottnest Island
A popular day trip destination off the coast of Perth is Rottnest Island. When the weather is sunny, no matter what time of year, a great day trip is taking the ferry across then hiring a bike to cycle around the island. It’s just a 25 minute ferry crossing from the port in Fremantle to the low-lying island.
While the most famous animal residents on Rottnest Island are the very cute quokkas – don’t miss getting a selfie or two! – there’s also more animal life to explore underwater.
The island is ringed by pretty beaches, but one of the best spots to cycle to, and not far from the ferry wharf, is Little Salmon Bay, at the southern tip of the island.
Thanks to its sheltered location, Little Salmon Bay is a great spot for swimming, but also snorkelling. Follow the Little Salmon Bay Snorkel Trail underwater, with ten buoys marking the location of information plaques on the 700m long trail, providing further information on the resident marine life.
Also keep an eye out for visiting sea lions on the beach, although keep your distance from them.
4. Cottesloe Beach, Perth
There’s no need to drive far or take a ferry to experience a beautiful beach near Perth. The city is lined with a string of west coast facing beaches, ideal for a dip in the warmer months, plus to watch the sunset from year round, a drink in hand.
One of the best beaches in Western Australia and Perth is Cottesloe Beach, not far from the city centre. If you’re staying in Perth, it’s easy to access this beach on the regular buses and trains, or else by driving just 15 minutes from the city.
Alongside the white sandy beach are grassy terraces, with shade provided by towering Norfolk Pines. There’s also plenty of cafes and bars nearby if you’d prefer to not bring a picnic.
During March every year, Cottesloe Beach is transformed by the annual Sculpture by the Sea exhibit. The companion event to Sculpture by the Sea in Bondi, world-class sculptures sprout for a few weeks on both the beach and adjacent reserve. It’s an ideal time to visit Perth and Cottesloe, with the weather warm and little chance of rain.
5. Coral Bay, Ningaloo Coast
While the Great Barrier Reef tends to get all the attention when it comes to coral reefs in Australia, an equally impressive reef grows along the central coastline of Western Australia, Ningaloo Reef, which is also World Heritage listed.
If you’ve ever visited the Great Barrier Reef, you’ll know that a long boat ride is required to access the best sections of the reef, well off the Queensland coast. However, the Ningaloo Reef almost touches the shoreline at many points. One of the easiest places to access the reef right off the beach is the small outpost of Coral Bay.
Home to just a couple of caravan parks, a small resort and general store, the prime attraction here is the beach and its snorkelling. Park up alongside the beach, then wade a short distance off the shore to start snorkelling over the coral.
One of the most popular destinations for snorkelling at Coral Bay is the large bommie in the middle of the bay, although a long swim is required, so it’s only recommended for experienced snorkelers.
6. Turquoise Bay, Cape Range National Park
Further up the Ningaloo Coast is the larger town of Exmouth, significantly larger than Coral Bay and the other main place to stay when visiting the Ningaloo Reef.
Most of the famous tours to swim with whale sharks and humpback whales depart from Exmouth, along with day trips to snorkel or dive at the reef’s coral gardens. Another popular day trip from Exmouth is driving around the cape to the nearby Cape Range National Park and snorkelling the reef right off the beaches.
There’s multiple snorkelling spots in the Cape Range National Park, but probably the best beach is Turquoise Bay.
It’s a short swim off the beach to reach the line of coral growing off the shore, which is best observed while doing a drift snorkel along the length of the beach. But the beach at Turquoise Bay is also just a great spot to laze on the sand, thanks to its golden sand and turquoise-hued waters.
Be warned though – parking can be tricky during the busy winter school holidays! It’s a 45 minute drive from Exmouth to Turquoise Bay, so consider camping in the national park, with advance bookings essential for campsites.
7. Cable Beach, Broome
No collection of the best beaches in Western Australia is complete without including the stunning Cable Beach. Located in the northern tropical outpost of Broome, the beach received its name thanks to it being the site of the first undersea telegraph cable linking Australia to the world. However, these days the beach is famous for its camels, 4WDing and sunsets.
For decades now, trains of camels have walked along the beach, providing tours to groups of tourists, with the sunset tours particularly popular.
It’s also possible to drive down onto the northern section of the beach in 4WDs. With the beach the best spot around Broome to watch the magnificent tropical sunsets, almost guaranteed every night during the dry winter months, it’s certainly a busy destination at sunset.
However, don’t also miss visiting the beach earlier in the day for a refreshing dip in its waters. At low tide the water goes out a long way, leaving a wide stretch of damp sand to relax upon.
Unusual for Australia, there’s a concession hiring out beach chairs and umbrellas. Sit back, relax and enjoy a wonderful day at one of the beautiful beaches in Western Australia!
Author Bio
Shandos Cleaver is the founder of Travelnuity, a travel blog focused on dog-friendly travel around the world. She lives in Sydney, Australia along with her husband and Miniature Dachshund, Schnitzel. Together they’ve travelled extensively throughout Australia, the USA and Europe. She’s passionate about providing inspiration and information to others wanting to travel with their dogs.
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