Author: Matt and Danielle
19 February 2024
Australia is a nature lover's dream. It is full of epic road trips, breathtaking national parks and stunning beaches around every bend. Aussies love the beach, and with over 10,000 of them on the huge island, there are plenty to choose from. It's a country that comes high on the list of where has the best beaches in the world! With so many to choose from, narrowing down a best beaches list can be tough, but we do know which state at least boasts the best of the best. The Western Australian beaches are tough to match. WA is a state that is 3.5 times the size of Texas and has over 10,000 kilometres of coastline. Even in a state where you can go days without seeing another person, and over 500 km between gas stations, you are still almost always just a stone's throw from an epic beach.
Here are the best beaches in Western Australia that you have to see, especially if you're planning a WA road trip.
This is one of the best beaches in Australia, and our personal favourite in WA. Thistle Cove is tucked away in the beautiful Cape Le Grand National Park near Esperance town in Australia's South West. It's right next door to the much larger Wharton Beach. Most people may opt for some of the other beaches along this stunning section of coastline because there are so many phenomenal places, but this was our favourite. As we drove our camper van through the national park we saw this small beach, uninhabited, and knew we had to stop. We were so glad we did because we spent hours laying and walking on the soft white sand and then swimming in the bright blue water. Simply put, it's a stunning beach.
Next door to Thistle Cove, and a lot of people's pick for the best beach in WA, is Lucky Bay. Again, this is such an amazing beach. The difference here is that you can drive on Lucky Bay, and that counts for 2WD as well as 4WD. We suggest that you get there bright and early, find a nice spot with a great view and then sit quietly to see if any wild kangaroos come hopping by. You can drive from Esperance Town to Lucky Bay in around an hour, but if you can stay at the campsite nearby then it's worth it. You have to book as early as possible as they get booked up fast, and you will need a camping permit. You can buy a Western Australia camping permit through the Gov website here.
Our last stop within the Cape Le Grand National Park is Hellfire Bay. Like the other 2 already mentioned this beach is covered in pristine soft white sand and looks out onto a crystal clear blue ocean. It's one of the most popular beaches in the area and had the most people on when we visited. We enjoyed Hellfire Bay, but due to how secluded and private Thistle Cove was, that was the pinnacle of beaches in the area for us. At Cape Le Grand you will not be disappointed by any beach here, they are all amazing! Some advice for visiting Australia's southwest would be to make sure you are there for the warmer months. There can be a really cold wind chill from this part of Australia and the winter can be surprisingly cold by the coast.
Back in the town of Esperance, you have more beautiful beaches with crystal clear water, and Twilight Beach is our pick of the bunch there. This long stretch of sandy shore is made even better by the giant rock 30m to 40m off the coast. You can swim out to it, climb on top and jump from 5m to 8m, which is really fun. You can easily spend a whole day along this beach, and although it's popular it's still long enough that you can have a big open space to yourself.
It might sound dreadful, but that's where the miserable comparisons end. Misery Beach is far from dreary. It's a beautiful beach that lies at the bottom of a cliff face just outside of Albany. It feels repetitive to say, but this pristine white sand beach is a gem! The crystal clear calm waters are perfect for cooling off on a hot day, and it's only a short walk down to the beach from the clifftop. There is a large granite boulder at the bottom which is perfectly placed to shield the wind, which means you get to soak up the glorious sun in peace.
Little Beach is located just outside of Albany, and another breathtaking beach along this epic coast. It's quite long, and there were lots of people when we visited. There are some rocks to climb on nearby which stretch out into the ocean, and there are shallow waters to enjoy a nice refreshing dip. It's a popular spot for families because of the calm water, and pure white sand. There isn't a great deal else nearby so make sure to pack drinks and snacks if you want to stay here for a few hours, or a whole day.
If you want a little more privacy then you can find this fantastic cove tucked away at the far end of Little Beach. If you take a walk to the end of the beach then you will see a pathway that leads up and over a small hill. This brings you onto a platform with a remarkable view of Waterfall Beach. the only way onto the sand that we could find was by walking along the large smooth boulders and then getting into the ocean to swim to shore. If you don't have a dry bag, then leave your phone and wallet in the car or with the family and head off on a castaway adventure. There was no one else on this beach the whole time we were there, and Little Beach next door was full of people.
The Ningaloo Reef is Western Australia's answer to The Great Barrier Reef. It can be found in the Indian Ocean and is a little smaller than its Queensland cousin, at a modest 250km rather than a colossal 2,500km. Along the Ningaloo Reef, you can find the Cape Range National Park, which is near Exmouth and home to more spectacular beaches. Turquoise Bay was our favourite, and it's the perfect spot to spend the day relaxing and snorkelling. You can find a drift snorkel spot here along the coral reef, which is packed with tropical fish, reef sharks and all kinds of marine life. Simply walk down the beach as far as you want and then swim out about 30m and let the current take you back to the start again. You can do this over and over along the crystal clear waters.
Unlike Turquoise Bay, you can camp at Osprey Bay and it's a beautiful campsite right on the coast. There are plenty of camps all along the Ningaloo coastline, and this is well placed near a few other things such as the Oyster Stacks snorkel spot. By camping here you can easily get to a few other amazing places. Another good reason to visit this part of Australia is that this is where Whale Sharks visit between March to September. Most tours are booked in the nearby Exmouth Town. It's an experience you do not want to miss! From June to October you also have a great chance of seeing Humpback whales too.
Book your Whale Watching experience here.
This one is for the beach lovers. Shelley Beach is not only an incredibly beautiful beach but also home to our favourite campsite in Australia. This hidden gem is tucked away in the West Cape Howe National Park. You can set up camp 30m to 40m from where the waves crash along the shore. There is nothing like having the sound of waves send you to sleep and then wake you up again in the morning. You can reach this campsite in a 2WD, as we managed it in our campervan, however, there are a few hundred meters of dirt road. It leads you up and along the mountains, and then back down again until you reach this small section of paradise tucked away in the middle of nowhere.
Cable Beach is a favourite of ours for a very special reason. We love to be by the ocean, and during our lap of Australia, we had large chunks in the middle where we were too far from the ocean to even think about it. The times we were near the sea there were jellyfish or crocodiles so we couldn't even enjoy being there. Once we'd driven from Cairns to Alice Springs, up to Darwin then finally towards Broome, we were ready to feel that ocean breeze on our skin again. We parked at our campsite, grabbed a few cold beers and took them with us to Cable Beach. As we approached the steps that led a short walk down to the long beach, we saw different groups of people all having the best time. One was playing music, another kicking a football and others throwing a frisbee. We immediately fell in love with Cable Beach then and there. It's a great place to watch a cracking sunset, and if you visit from March to October then you may see the Staircase to the moon. This natural phenomenon occurs 2 to 3 times per month when the full moon reflects off the waves on the ocean and it creates "steps" leading up to the moon.
Cable Beach is also known for its sunset camel rides, which is one of the most popular things to do in Broome. Book your tour here.
Coconut Wells is such a great spot and one you can visit twice for two completely different experiences. If you visit during low tide then you can find some amazing rock pools just past the sand dunes and on the right of the ocean. You can walk around these glassy pools and see what ocean life you can find, some are even big enough to take a dip in. During a very high tide, the ocean bursts through a section of beach on the left and fills the space between two long sets of sand dunes and forms a beautiful lagoon. You can grab a floaty, walk 15-20 minutes down to the far side of the beach, jump in and let the tide take you back to the beginning again. It's one of the best places in the area to visit for families. Even if you have small children, they will love looking around the rockpools or floating along the lagoon.
Another of our favourite beaches in Broome is Roebuck Bay. This is a large bay which is lined with beautiful sand with a slight red hue to it. This comes from the towering bright red cliffs that you find all around this part of Western Australia. The incredible mixture of colours that you can find here is amazing. Not only do you have those bright red rocks and baby blue ocean, but also green mangroves. Seeing these three colours in such intense shades all side by side is a magnificent sight.
Check out our Ultimate Perth To Broome Road Trip Itinerary if you are looking at epic WA road trips.
Now we reach Perth, the capital of Western Australia and one of the most remote cities in the world. We loved exploring Perth, and the beautiful beaches that line its shores. Cottesloe Beach is the prettiest beach in Perth. It's a long stretch of white sand lined with a few popular beach bars, restaurants and a safe swimming area. There is parking along the road next to the beach and also a car park with steps leading directly onto Cottesloe. It's a beautiful place where you can swim, sunbathe and relax. The beach bars also make it the perfect place to grab a bite on a sunny afternoon.
A little further along the coast, and slightly closer to the city of Perth, you can find Scarborough Beach. One of the best things to do here is try your hand at surfing, and if you're new then there are some great surf schools here. The smaller waves at Scarborough Beach make for the perfect place for beginners to try their hand at catching some waves. If you want to go exploring then you are only a 20-minute drive from Perth City Centre too. There are a few other beaches near the city that you can visit, but Cottesloe and Scarborough are the best beaches in Perth.
Since we've been discussing Perth, we need to talk about Rottnest Island! This small but mighty paradise is a 1hr ferry from the coast of Perth, and home to incredible beaches, bright blue ocean waters and the friendliest animal on the planet. The quokka has no natural predators, so it is a happy and friendly little animal that loves getting in people's selfies! You can hire a bike on Rottnest Island and explore all the most amazing places it has to offer. Little Salmon Bay is our favourite of the bunch, but don't let that stop you from visiting the others on this list.
Just like Little Salmon Bay, Little Parakeet Bay is a beautiful white sandy beach with crystal clear turquoise water. Spending the day beach hopping and biking around Rottnest Island is an amazing day, we had so much fun visiting all the beaches on the island. This was our second favourite, and not too far from Little Salmon Bay either. If you are near Perth then you need to pay a visit to Rottnest Island. It's crazy how a small island just off the coast of Western Australia can be packed with so many amazing beaches.
Our final Rottnest Island recommendation is Ricey Beach. This is a little further to reach, but well worth it. We visited Rottnest Island twice during our trip to Australia and on our first trip, we biked past this beach without stopping. Danielle regretted that, so when we came back we made it our missing to visit Ricey Beach, and were so glad that we did! It's such a nice beach. Being harder to reach also means a lot fewer tourists will visit here. If you are willing to put in the leg work then you can enjoy a nice open space all to yourself in this tropical paradise.
Back in Albany, you have the incredible Elephant Rocks. You can find Elephant Rocks in the William Bay National Park. There is a small beach here, but the main attraction is the large granite boulders out in the ocean. You can climb these boulders and jump into the beautiful waters below. It's a really fun place to visit with incredible coastal views that are very different to many other places on this list. In South West Australia you can find most places have strong winds, however, the boulders make the perfect shield so you can sit back and rest up with the sun on on your skin.
Next door to Elephant Rocks is Greens Pool, which is a long beach with more of those granite boulders. The rocks here are a lot smaller and pop up out of the ocean, but the beach is much larger. There is plenty of space here for everyone to enjoy the beautiful sand and ocean. The water here is very calm, at least near the coast as the rocks help calm any waves. Between the fun you can have jumping off Elephant rocks and the calm ocean waters of Greens Pool, it makes these two neighbouring beaches the perfect place for families.
Coral Bay is around a 90-minute drive from Exmouth. It's still part of the Ningaloo Reef, but for us, the Cape Range National Park has much more to do. It's a small seaside town, and because it's right on the southern end of the Ningaloo Reef there is still a lot of marine life that can be found here. It is beautiful and a great stop for a day or two, however, if you are on a tight schedule we would recommend sticking to the Cape Range National Park. While you're in Coral Bay you can also stop by Bill's Bay, which is right next door.
Shell Beach is unique because it's not the soft white sand and bright blue ocean that you can become accustomed to in Western Australia. Shell Beach is a 70km long beach that is literally covered in tonnes of tiny cockle shells. It's not comfortable to walk on barefoot, but it is very different to anything else you can see. It's in the Shark Bay region of WA, and a worthwhile stop-off if you are in the area.
Hamelin Bay is very unique as it is not only a pristine beach with some of the whitest sand, but also home to an experience that no other beach on this list has. Hamelin Beach is famous for its eagle and manta rays, which started visiting the beach when following the fishing boats that would discard some of their catch into the water. Over time the rays became used to this and now call this bay their home. The rays here are super friendly and will swim up to your feet right on the coast. We managed to walk up and down the beach one morning with one of the rays following us. It was one of the best experiences we had, and something you cannot find anywhere else.
You should not attempt to visit Cape Leveque unless you have a 4WD as it is very remote and difficult to reach even with all the gear. If you like all that red rock with soft white sand beaches and bright blue ocean, then you will love it here. tucked away along the coast in the Kimberleys you can find this beautiful remote paradise and park up for a few days while you enjoy the incredible nature all around you. Make sure to stock up on supplies beforehand if you are planning on staying for a few days.
You might think you can guess how long 80-mile beach is, but you'd likely be wrong. This is a 140-mile long stretch of beach, which blows our mind coming from the UK because that is almost the distance from Manchester to London...and it's one single beach. It really helps paint a picture of just how colossal Australia is. If you have a 4WD then you can easily ride along this beach and enjoy the stunning views. If you're in a 2WD you will want to park up somewhere and go for a nice walk along the beach. It's highly likely you won't see anyone else while you're here just because of how long the beach is, but if you do go for a walk, try and remember where you parked. You don't want to have to walk up and down here looking for the cut-in you came from!
Meelup Beach is a nice quiet beach that you can find in the Margaret River region. There are picnic tables and BBQs so you can easily spend a large part of the day here. It is a bit remote, but that means it can be less busy than some other more popular beaches in the area. If you visit when it's a mid tide then there are some really nice rock pools on the left side of the beach that you walk through and explore.
Jurien Bay is about 2 hours north of Perth, so not far if you are looking for a day trip from Perth City. It can be very busy during in peak season in the summer months, as people will often visit from the nearby city. Make sure to book in advance if you want to secure a camping spot for the night. We had high expectations for Esperance and had just been to Exmouth, so we didn't stay in Jurien Bay but it was very nice to visit. It's a family-friendly place with water sports, sand dunes to explore and the perfect water for swimming. It's a great place to take the whole family.
There you have it, 27 of the best Western Australia beaches! It's crazy to think that there are so many epic beaches in one state, but that state is gigantic. If you are looking to take an amazing Western Australia road trip, then you will want to add these stops to your list. Every single one is definitely worth a visit.
Best time of year to visit Western Australia: WA is so large that there isn't a 1 size fits all approach to the best time to visit. The easiest way to think about it is to go to the North in the winter and the South in the summer. June to August is the best time to be towards Broome, and March and April are the best times to visit Esperance.
How to get around Western Australia: If you want to see everything then you need a 4WD with a very good set-up to live off-grid for a few days or weeks at a time. We drove WA in a 2WD and still managed to see these incredible beaches (apart from Cape Leveque, but that's top of our list for next time!).
How long do you need to travel to Western Australia: We drove from Broome to Esperance, with all the stops along the way, in around 4 months. We even stopped near Perth for around 6 weeks because the weather down south wasn't great, so you could likely do it in 2-3 months if you wanted to.
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