There are more than a dozen suburban ocean beaches to choose from along the Perth section of the Sunset Coast, with wide, long ribbons of sand, broken by sections of small limestone cliffs and inner reefs. These make for some great swimming, body-boarding, surfing, snorkelling and fishing spots. The main leisure and nightlife centres are Cottesloe, Scarborough and Hillarys Boat Harbour; Swanbourne Beach is popular with naturists. In summer it is best to visit the beaches in the morning before the breezes come.
The beaches to the north of Fremantle are surf beaches; those to the south generally have calmer water, being they are relatively sheltered by the offshore islands, and are particularly suited to families with young children.
All of Perth's ocean beaches face west, thus they receive plenty of afternoon sea breezes (be careful of wind burn) and offer the beautiful over-the-ocean sunsets that give the Sunset Coast its name. Picnic dinner on the beach as the sun goes down is always a special experience. All have clean white sand, often backed by sand dunes. The water is clear, clean and great for splashing, body surfing or boogie boarding. Some beaches also cater for kite and wind surfers as well as rock and surf fishermen.
Rips do occur so remember to swim between the flags on beaches patrolled by lifeguards. Most beaches have extensive parking, and many have cafes, shops and shaded picnic facilities. Public transport access is by bus from the city. Cottesloe, Leighton and Port Beach can also be reached by rail on the Perth-Fremantle line.
Ocean beaches - north of Fremantle: Ocean Reef; Mullaloo; Whitfords; Hillarys; Sorrento; Waterman Bay; North Beach; Trigg; Scarborough; Brighton; Dog; Floreat; City Beach; Swanbourne; Cottesloe; Leighton; Port Beach.
Ocean Reef, located within the City of Joondalup, is Perth's most northerly suburban beach. The name was coined by developers in the 1970s from the line of a reef visible several kilometres offshore. Ocean Reef Boat Harbour has been developed into an entertainment centre to help with the overspill from the popular Hillarys Boat Harbour development to the south. A dune walkway and cycle path hugs the coast from south to north, offering access to several small beaches, picnic areas, rest stops, and access paths into the suburb itself.
Hillarys beach and Boat Harbour
Whitfords and Mullaloo Beaches are to the north of Hillarys Boat Harbour and Pinnaroo Point. As with all of Perth's northern beaches, the sand is white and clean and the water crystal clear. Mullaloo has a surf lifesaving club and a hotel with an excellent oceanside bar and restaurant. Both beaches have parking and shaded grassed areas for picnics.
The clean sands of Sorrento Beach are within walking distance the Hillarys Boat Harbour where you can spend the afternoon shopping, sightseeing or relaxing in a cafe. The Aquarium of WA and Rottnest Island Ferry are also at the harbour with world class golf courses, major shopping centres, cinemas, Arena Joondalup and Challenge Stadium sporting facilities, all nearby.
Mettams Pool, North Beach
North Beach is home to a series of small beaches separated by small limestone headlands and reefs. Each of the beaches has its own name. Bennion Beach, just north of Trigg, is the most isolated of these. Mettams Pool and Hamersely Pool are the most popular spots. There is a disabled access fishing platform at North Beach. Marmion Beach and Waterman Beach are to the north. Parking is generally kerbside on West Coast Highway, which runs alongside the coast; shops and cafes occur at regular intervals on the road.
Trigg Island
Trigg has traditionally the most challenging surf on the suburban beaches strip around what remains of Trigg Island, which is a rocky outcrop on the shoreline. Trigg has a small boat ramp, a surf lifesaving club and shop and a good children's play area with slides etc. in Clarko Reserve. This reserve has extensive grassed areas and picnic facilities.
Scarborough Beach
Scarborough is one of Perth's best surf beaches. Scarborough has a wide array of visitor accommodation as well as shops, cafes and a vibrant nightlife. It is a popular spot for wind and kite surfing. Facilities include a surf lifesaving club, good parking and large grassed areas. Beaches within walking distance include Trigg Beach (surfing, fishing) 1.4km north with its island and rock pools, and Brighton Beach to the south where topless beach babes go to work on their suntans.
City Beach is generally considered by the locals as Perth's best surf beach. It is a wide ribbon of beach backed by shaded grassed areas with plenty of parking, picnic shelters, a kiosk, children's play facilities and a surf lifesaving club. To the north of the groyne is Floreat Beach, which is generally less crowded in the middle of summer. It has its own surf club and car park.
Swanbourne is also well-known for having the only nudist beach in Perth. The nudist beach is situated on what was once army land and was thus not subject to local council authority. Its status as a nude beach has been protected in recent years by the efforts of regular users. It is immediately north of the officially named Swanbourne Beach. There is a surf lifesaving club and plenty of parking at the main Swanbourne Beach at the end of North Street. Can be accessed by train, alighting at Swanbourne station, but includes a 1.6km walk north along Servetus Street, then left into North Street.
Cottesloe Beach
Cottesloe has terraced lawns and a magnificent Indiana Tea House set right on the beach. Here, towering Norfolk pines line a boulevard buzzing with cafes and pubs. It's a great place for early-morning breakfast beside the Indian Ocean, or if you have more time, a refreshing sunset beer at the pub. Cottesloe and North Cottesloe both have surf lifesaving clubs. Access by train, alighting at Cottesloe station and walking 800m along Forrest Street to the beach.
Leighton Beach
Port and Leighton Beaches are quite close to Fremantle Harbour's North Quay wharf facilities but are not affected adversely by them. The sand is still very clean and small waves. Facilities include shelters, toilets and a surf lifesaving club with a few eating establishments close by. Access by train, alighting at Mosman Park, Victoria Street, Leighton or North Fremantle stations.
Ocean beaches - south of Fremantle: South Fremantle; Coogee; Kwinana; Rockingham; Safety Bay; Warnbro
South Beach at South Fremantle is the closest beach to the port city of Fremantle. South of Success Harbour, South Beach has plenty of parking and a grassed area between the groynes. There are views to Garden and Carnac Islands, which shelter the beach from choppy conditions. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants nearby.
Coogee is a calm water beach equipped with camp grounds, deluxe units, chalets, family units, motel rooms, and powered caravan sites. There's also walking paths, a newly built jetty and jet ski rentals. Its not as crowded as some of the beaches closer to Perth (it is 22km from the city centre), and perfect for the family. The Coogee Beach Festival, the last of the City of Cockburn's Summer of Fun events, is held on a Sunday every March.
Woodman Point is some 8km south of Fremantle along Cockburn Road. It has an intriguing history and features in Nyoongar creation stories. Behind Jervoise Bay beach is the John Graham Recreation Reserve. Nearby are numerous historic sites from the period when Woodman Point was used as a Quarantine Station and ammunition store. The beach has not been legally approved for skinny dipping but nude bathing occurs here. More info ...
Kwinana Beach is surrounded by heavy industry such as oil and aluminium refineries, and the northern area were these occur is generally closed to the public. The southern section, just north of Rockingham, is quite accessible with calm water to swim in and to watch the big ships come and go. It has a jetty, a boat ramp. Wells Park is a popular place for family picnics and get-togethers.
Rockingham
The Mangles Bay foreshore at Rockingham stretches approximately 4 to 5 kilometres with calm and safe beaches. At Rockingham there are well manicured, shady, grassy lawns with free electric BBQs and great children's playgrounds and a good selection of cafes.
The Shoalwater Islands Marine Park contains the waters of Shoal water Bay, Warnbro Sound and a part of Cockburn Sound off Cape Peron. The park encompasses a diverse marine environment and surrounds a chain of unique limestone islands which are significant in the ecology of a number of bird species. The area is great for boating and swimming and there are good surfing conditions off the western edge of Penguin Island. Tours of the islands, which include visits to seal, sea lion and little penguin colonies, are conducted from Mersey Point. There are numerous clean, calm water beaches on Shoalwater Bay and Safety Bay.
Safety Bay
Warnbro is a delightful beach to the south of Rockingham and Point Peron on Warnbro Sound. It is approximately 30 minutes by car from Perth. The yellow sand is quite fine but clean and forms dunes behind the beach. The beach shelves very gently and does not usually have large waves so the swimming is safe for all the family. A nude section of the beach is some 900m long and has been clearly marked with signposts. More info ...
