Life really is a beach when you live in Perth. From endless stretches of crispy, white sandy beaches to quaint coves and bays, Perth packs a punch when it comes to beach life. Here’s a list of our pick of the best beaches in Perth and how you can get there too.

Scarborough Beach

Scarborough beach is one of the most popular beaches in Perth. It’s also one of the most accessible by public transport.

The recently re-developed beachfront at Scarborough beach gives beachgoers a lot more to do than just swimming and lazing on the beach. The Scarborough esplanade has plenty of shaded grassed areas, skatepark, cafes, restaurant and the Scarborough beach swimming pool. There’s also surfboard hire and surf lessons.

Not to be missed are the Scarborough sunset markets on Thursday evenings during summer and Saturday for the winter edition. Alternatively, do like the locals and take a picnic to sunset hill for stunning views of the sunset.

Note that Scarborough beach is predominantly a surfing beach and can get big, dumpy waves which doesn’t always make it a friendly beach for a swim, especially with smaller children. The beach however, is patrolled with lifeguards and it’s always recommended that you swim between the flags.

How to get to Scarborough Beach:

From Glendalough Train Station there are frequent buses to Scarborough beach. If you’re driving there’s ample free and paid parking. However, this tends to fill up quickly on weekends and Thursday nights for the markets.

Trigg Beach

A few kilometres north of Scarborough you’ll find Trigg Beach. This is Perth’s premier surfing beach and has the most consistent waves year-round. Trigg beach is popular with families and beginner surfers. Trigg beach has several great cafes and shaded, grassed areas.

For an insider tip, you’ll find a little slice of paradise just north of the limestone rocks at Trigg beach. This little sheltered cove will make you feel like you’re on Rottnest Island without the ferry ride. The calm, shallow waters makes this a great beach for small kids and snorkellers.

Trigg beach is also home to the fantastic Summer X Salt Markets. The markets are on every second Saturday during summer and provide an excellent morning out, especially when combined with a swim at the beach.

How to get to Trigg Beach:

By car there are several large carparks with free parking. You’ll find parking most of the week, with Sunday morning being the busiest time due to the Surflifesaving Training. You can also walk from Scarborough along the path or the beach. By public transport, there are buses to Trigg from Stirling Station.

Mettams Pool

Mettams Pool is located north of Trigg beach on the gorgeous sunset coast. Mettams is a naturally formed lagoon that is protected by reef. It has fairly shallow and sheltered waters and is also one of the best places in Perth for snorkelling.

It has a ramp access and is a popular Perth beach for families and the elderly due to the usually calm waters and easy access. There’s also a small grass patch, showers, toilets and a few picnic tables.

Along with Mettams Pool the coastline from Trigg to Hillary’s boat harbour boasts some very good beaches in Perth. You can easily explore this coastline further on foot, bike, car or rent a scooter and find your own hidden gem.

How to get to Mettams Pool:

Mettams  Pool is located on West Coast Drive north of Trigg. There is free street parking available along the coastline. There are bus services from Stirling Station that frequent West Coast Drive.

Cottesloe Beach

Most people would probably say that Cottesloe is Perth’s best beach. Swimming out to the pylon and eating fish and chips under the Norfolk Pines will always be one of Perth’s quintessential things to do. Cottesloe is also the location of the annual Sculptures by the Sea.

Cottesloe Beach is a good beach for swimming and has a recently installed shark net along the main beachfront. There’s also sheltered, grassed areas with picnic tables, showers and toilets. There’s a good selection of cafes and restaurants in the vicinity along with the iconic Cottesloe Beach Hotel and the Ocean Beach Hotel which are both popular drinking venues but make for a nice place to enjoy a drink and watch the sunset.

How to get to Cottesloe Beach:

Cottesloe Beach is easily accessible by car with plenty of free car parking available. To get there by train take the Fremantle line train and get off at Cottesloe Station. From there it’s a picturesque 15-20 minute walk down Forrest Street to get to the beach.

City Beach

Along with Cottesloe, City Beach is another famous beach in Perth. It has a nice, grassed shaded area, wide sandy beaches and the excellent Clancy Fish Pub, beach kiosk and a few other great cafes and restaurants.

Like Scarborough beach it can have dumpy waves and is not the best option for swimming if you’re not confident in the water or looking for calm waters.

However, we love City Beach at twilight and reckon it’s one of the best places for a twilight picnic. It’s also a testament to why Perth beaches are legendary for their sunsets.

How to get to City Beach:

City Beach is a very easy drive from Perth city centre. There’s plenty of free parking including on weekends. Buses to City Beach leave from the City Bus Port.

 

South Beach

 

For one of the best swimming beaches in Perth, look no further than South Beach in Fremantle. South Beach is perfect spot for a swim in the ocean and soaking up a slice of ‘Freo’ at the same time.

At South Beach you can swim to the pontoon and laze in the very shady park adjacent to the beach or even have a sauna. There are two cafes near the beach or venture sightly further to South Terrace for a fantastic choice of cafes, restaurants, bars and fish and chips.

How to get to South Beach

South Beach has a large free carpark and overflow parking on weekends. By public transport, there are regular bus services along South Terrace from Fremantle Train Station.

Coogee Beach

Coogee Beach Perth (not to be confused with its famous Sydney counterpart with the same name) is one of the best beaches south of Perth.

Coogee is my pick for the best beach in Perth for swimming. Coogee beach has a large shark barrier that makes it ideal for swimming laps in the ocean. There’s also a jetty and two pontoons. The nearby Omeo Wreck, which is part of the Cockburn Maritime Trail is also another great Perth snokelling spot.

Facilities at Coogee Beach include showers, toilets, shaded picnic areas, kids playground and a cafe.

How to get to Coogee Beach:

Coogee Beach is located about 25km south of Perth. The best way to get there is by car.

Woodman Point

The wooden jetty at Woodman Point gives this nook in Perth’s south an extra appeal. Loved by kids, fishermen and the resident Pelicans, this is a lovely spot to linger for the whole day.

Woodman Point is located in the Woodman Point Regional Park. This is a large, shaded park area with a plethora of picnic tables and barbeques. It’s a very popular spot for families, large gatherings and for fishing. There also many walking trails around the park and a few historical sites to explore.

How to get to Woodman Point:

Woodman Point is located approximately 20km south of Perth city and is best accessed by car with plenty of parking available.

Mullaloo Beach

Perth beaches don’t come more picture-perfect than Mullaloo beach. On a calm, windless day this stretch of Perth coastline is perfect for a morning swim and the calm clear waters make it one of the most family-friendly beaches in Perth.

Mullaloo probably also has the whitest, softest sand of any Perth beach.

There’s a large, shady park adjacent to the beach with showers and toilets, picnic tables as well as a good selection of cafes and the Mullaloo Beach Hotel.

How to get to Mullaloo Beach:

Mullaloo Beach is best accessed by car. There is ample car parking available on the norther side of the Mullaloo beach park. To get to Mullaloo beach with public transport you can take the train to Whitfords Train Station and catch a bus to Oceanside Promenade.

Before you go:

Don’t forget to be sun smart when you’re out at the beach. Take a hat and most importantly put on sun cream before you go out in the sun. It takes up to twenty minutes for sun cream to be effective but only 10 minutes to get sun damage.

Many of Perth’s more popular beaches are patrolled by Surflivesavers. Always swim between the red and yellow flags where possible and never assume that the ocean is safe even on a calm day. Conditions can change very rapidly. Read here for more on how to stay safe at the beach.

Is your favourite Perth beach on this list? Let me know in the comments below.

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