Perth Beach Western Australia
Perth is stretched along over 150 kilometres of the Indian Ocean and as such the city has a great beach and laid back surf culture. With clear turquoise water and clean white sand abounds.
At a Glance
Dining by the beach and watching the sun set over the ocean on a warm night is a favourite activity of locals. Stay by the beach to enjoy this local culture.
The best way to book Perth Beach
Where is Perth Beach?
Perth is situated on the west coast of the Australian continent in south-west Western Australia and faces west to the Indian Ocean. Perth's main beaches are located very close to the city centre however safe swimming beaches are located within 100 kilometres north and south of the city centre. The coastline changes from point to point so it is worth your time to make multiple journeys up and down Perth's coastline. One of the best ways to get around Perth is to hire a car from Perth Airport.
Things to see in Perth Beach
Cottesloe Beach
One of Perth's icons, this beach is in the heart of all Western Australians. Once you have visited this beach, you will long to return. The Indiana Teahouses overlook the beach which features a groin for protected swimming and there is an old pylon as a focal point. Terraces line the beachside and tall pine trees add to the character of the beach. Watch container ships on their way to fremantle port on the horizon and enjoy the clean white sand. There are many beachside cafe's restaurants and pubs. Once a year in August, enjoy the free Sculptures By The Sea Exhibit.
Image © Tourism Western Australia
Scarborough Beach
This beach is one of the longest uninterrupted stretches of beach on Perth's entire coastline. Scarborough is the most built up beach in Perth and the location of Perth's only beachside skyscraper. Just 10 minutes from Perth's city centre, there are many hotels, short stay apartments and backpacker facilities and pubs here. The drawcard remains the beach which is quite wide, features family friendly parks behind the sand dunes and is also a popular surfing beach. A new amphitheatre has been installed which now caters for beach concerts and also beach volleyball games in Summer.
Image © Tourism Western Australia
Mullaloo Beach
This beach is located on Perth's northern coast around 30 kilometres north of the city centre. The beach here features a beautiful grassed parkland behind the main beach entrance with picnic areas, bbqs and play equipment. Tom Simpson Park is the largest beachside park in Perth and so is well worth the trip. There is a hotel, tavern, restaurant and hotel complex opposite the park however much of the surrounding district is residential so the beach is characterised by families and children. There are walking and cycling tracks through the dunes and up to a lookout point which gives a great view of the coastline. The sand is clean and white and in the morning when there is little wind, the water is crystal clear.
West Coast Drive
A winding road on a section of Perth's northern coastline that is characterised by rocky cliffs and reef. Breaks in the cliif faces and the reef provide pockets of protected, sheltered and private beaches that are great to explore. The shallow reefs are great for snorkelling. There are many cafe's and restaurants that line the road as well as multi million dollar oceanside houses that are great to admire. The elevated position of the road allows you to admire the ocean's horizon with an uninterrupted view.
Image © Tourism Western Australia
AQWA
An awesome underwater adventure awaits you at AQWA - The Aquarium Of Western Australia. Discover more of WA’s spectacular marine life as you explore our coastline on an amazing underwater journey from the icy-cold waters of the Southern Ocean to the tropical wonderland of coral reefs in the Far North. Encounter giant sharks, stingrays and turtles while travelling underwater through Australia’s largest single aquarium. Meet rare, unique and deadly sea creatures. Touch a starfish or baby shark at our child friendly discovery pool plus experience the wonder of one of the world’s largest living coral reef exhibits! View more details
Image © AQWA
What's the weather like?
As Australia's sunniest Capital City, Perth experiences over eight hours of sunlight each day which sets over the beaches every night. With warm Summers and cool, wet Winters the seasons follow a Southern Hemisphere climate. In Summer (December to February), the average maximum temperature is 31°C with an average minimum temperature of 19°C. In Winter (June to August), the average maximum temperature is 16°C with an average minimum temperature of 9°C. The climate makes visiting the beach a great activity all year round.
Get to know Perth Beach's history
Founded by Captain James Stirling in 1829 and originally known as the Swan River Colony. Perth gained city status in 1856 after which the population increased substantially as a result of the introduction of convict labour from Great Britain and the gold rush of the late 19th century. The centre of Perth was chosen as the settlement site due to the protection of Mount Eliza from possible gunfire attacks from ships in the Indian Ocean. Settlement also occured up and down the coastline.
An influx of immigrants following the conclusion of World War 2 which was followed by a surge in economic activity as a result of several mining booms in the 1990's and 2000's. Many beautiful historical buildings were lost to development in the second half of the 20th century however many have been preserved and are now restored and integrated into the urban fabric. A notable example is the new Brookfield Place precinct that houses the BHP Tower and restored West Australian Newspaper house building that is now one of the finest bars in the city. The mining industry still sustains the largest population growth of any capital city in Australia and Perth is now emerging as an oil, gas and mining regional headquarters. Many migrants choose to settle in a house by the beach.