| Destinations: Beaches of Western Australia |
See also: beaches of Perth, Western Australia
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Bottle Bay, Peron Peninsula (Shark Bay, WA)
Francios Peron National Park in the Shark Bay World Heritage Area is one of the most amazing and unique landscapes on the plant. All the way along the peninsula's shoreline, red sand dunes meet the white beach sand. Further north at Cape Peron red sand dunes and red cliffs abruptly meet and encircle the white sand of a small beach. The red sand and cliffs are quartz sandstone with an iron oxide content formed in ancient sand dunes. This red sandstone underlies much of Shark Bay but is only exposed here on Peron Peninsular and Faure Island. The white beach sand is Tamala Limestone, formed from shells and other marine skeletons. The water offshore is teaming with reef sharks, rays and other fish. Access to this stunning place is by 4WD vehicle only, so few visitors to Shark Bay ever get to see it.
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Turquoise Bay (North West Cape, WA)
Besides being one of the most pristine beaches you could ever wish to see, the beach at Turquoise Bay is one of the rare places on earth where you are able to walk from the beach straight onto a coral reef. Ningaloo Reef is a protected marine park area on the ocean side of North West Cape in Western Australia, a virtually untouched barrier reef of 260km length protecting a shallow, brilliant white sandy lagoon of clear tropical waters. More than 500 species of tropical fish and 220 species of coral make up the Ningaloo Reef.
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Margaret River (South West, WA)
Outside of WA, Margaret River is known more for its wineries than its surf beaches, but it has been WA's top surfing spot since surfing took off here in the 1960s. There are more than 40 places to surf - conditions ranging from powerful reef breaks to fun beach breaks. The swells here are consistent due to thousands of kilometres of uninterrupted seas between Australia and Africa - making it one of the most consistent, scenic and laid back surfing destinations in the world. Cowaramup Bay is where the kite-surfers and windsurfers hit the waves.
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Shell Beach, Shark Bay (Gascoyne region, WA)
One of the most unusual beaches in Australia is Shell Beach, located in the Shark Bay World Heritage area on the central west coast of Australia. The millions of small white shells which have accumulated to form Shell Beach are the bivalve Cardiid Cockle (Fragrum erugatum). This species live in the coastal waters between Dampier and the Abrolhos Islands in Western Australia. The high water salinity (salt concentration) levels in this area have resulted in the proliferation of this particular species, and lead to the accumulation of millions of these tiny shells along the shore of Lharidon Bight and Hamelin Pool.
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Lucky Bay (Cape Le Grand NP, WA)
Lucky Bay, in Cape Le Grand National Park, is one of the most stunning and unique bays in Australia. It stretches for over five kilometres, offering a magnificent stretch of beach and sparkling clear blue water. Here, seaweed accumulates in deep spongy masses and provides the interesting spectacle of the local kangaroos descending to the beach of an evening to dine on fresh seaweed and afterwards laze around on the sand. Cape Le Grand National Park is located 30 kilometres south east of Esperance. Peaks within the park include Mount Le Grand, Frenchman Peak and Mississippi Hill.
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Boranup Beach (South-West WA)
Boranup lies within the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park between Caves Road and the coast, and creates a powerful contrast with the rest of the coastline. Tall pale-barked karri trees, reaching 60 metres or more high, dominate the hilly slopes and valleys. Gravel roads suitable for two-wheel-drive vehicles wind through the forest to picnic and camping spots. It's just a short walk to Boranup Lookout which gives sweeping views over the forest and the coast west along Boranup Beach to the strikingly beautiful Hamelin Bay.
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Eighty-Mile Beach (Kimberleys WA)
Eighty-Mile Beach, between Broome and Port Hedland, marks the end of the Pilbara coast and the start of the Kimberley coast of Western Australia. Though situated in a remote part of the state, it is a magnet for tourists making the trek north from Perth to Broome and beyond and it is not unusual for the endless, deeply patterned sand flats around the Eighty-Mile Beach Caravan Park to echo with the voices of dozens of people. Quite often at sunset there can be people everywhere, some collecting shells, others strolling along the beach, children playing or couples just simply standing looking out at the ocean and soaking up the magic of the moment. Fishermen are in their element here; there are plenty of treadfin salmon right through the season, which are best caught an hour either side of the high tide. The Eighty-Mile Beach Caravan Park, situated 245km north of Port Hedland or 365km south of Broome, was originally part of Wallal Downs Station. |
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Twilight Beach (Esperance, WA)
Esperance has many spectacular beaches, and Twlight Beach is one of the best, particulartly if you are looking to enjoy some safe, sheltered swimming. The whole of the coast around Esperance is sheltered by a string of islands, mostly well offshore, but at Twlight Beach, there are granite outcrops close in to shore which form what seems like a sheltered logoon. A short drive out of town, Twilight Beach has toilets, changerooms and a kiosk.
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Cable Beach (Broome, Kimberleys, WA)
Cable Beach is a 22km-long stretch of purest white beach where Broome meets the Indian Ocean. The stunning colours of Cable Beach - aqua blue against the white sand and bright red-orange soil inspire photographers from dawn till dusk daily and tourist to take the now famous camel ride across its sands. The beach is punctuated with rock pools where octopus and other creatures wait for the tide to take them back to the deep. At this time, vehicles are still permitted to drive onto the northern side of Cable Beach, and a blind eye is turned to those who choose to sun bathe au naturale in that part of the beach. Cable Beach is washed clean everyday by the massive tides that ebb and flow along these shores. Beachcombers can find beautiful shells and many a piece of flotsam and jetsam washed ashore. Whales and dolphins are also in abundance in season. Cable Beach was named because it was the terminus of the original cable used to send telegraphs between Java and Broome. |
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