With 12,000km of coastline, it’s not that surprising that some of the world’s best beaches can be found right in our own backyard, with sand so pristine, it squeaks.
Starting from Esperance right up to Broome, here are some of our fave spots!
Duke of Orleans Bay
Just over an hour’s drive from Espy, between Cape le Grand and Cape Arid national parks is what’s affectionately known as ‘The Duke’. Perfect for when you love a vacay full of fishing, surfing and kicking back… and without the crowds.
Lucky Bay
Heading west from The Duke, in the Cape le Grand National Park just 45 minutes from Esperance is the 5km-long Lucky Bay, picturesque and great for snorkelling and swimming.
Twilight Beach
About 7km west of Esperance along the Great Ocean Drive is the most popular swimming and surfing beach in the area. It’s calm and idyllic and, as the beach curves to the southwest, it becomes increasingly protected by two offshore rocks.
Waterfall Beach
OK, get this: if you keep walking over the headland from Little Beach in Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve in Albany, you’ll come to a secluded spot called Waterfall Beach, and it’s totally worth the short climb.
In season, a small waterfall winds its way to the ocean through a rock crevasse. As for the beach, it’s stunning. The water once again is that beautiful turquoise, and the bay is much more sheltered from the wind and waves than Little Beach.
Greens Pool
Ugh, this is a muuuuust.
Driving west out of Denmark, not only are you faced with a stunning stretch of coastline, you’ll come across what’s considered WA’s most iconic swimming, snorkelling and diving spots: Greens Pool.
Not far are huge boulders called Elephant Rocks, because the rocks look like elephants in the water.
Hamelin Bay
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Hamelin Bay near Margaret River by @emilyteresaward – Submit your photos via #perthisok
Fine white sand, crystal clear turquoise water, and natural dunes. Hamelin Bay in Margaret River is also a top joint to see wild-but-friendly stingrays which have been known to swim around beach-goers’ feet.
Located between Cape Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste, there’s also some pretty amazing shipwrecks for snorkellers to explore.
Injidup Beach
Just look at this place in Yallingup. C’mon.
Smiths Beach
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Cute surf trip douth ⛺️🏄🏽♂️ @philmummert #yallingup #smithsbeach #douth
The complete package for swimming, fishing and surfing… and it’s a sheltered so great for also just watching the sunset near Yallingup.
Bunker Bay
Just three hours south of Perth is the stunning Bunker Bay, which is protected by the rocks of Cape Naturaliste, so it’s great for fishing, snorkelling and for just sticking an umbrella in the sand and just laying there. Blisssss.
Meelup Beach
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If you want to frolic at a beach while still near the Dunsborough Bakery, say no more.
It’s calm, it’s picturesque, it’s the perfect combo of swimming and sailboats. Surrounded by bushland and coastal walks, it’s also totally Insta-worthy.
Monkey Mia
Shooting straight from the South West to the World Heritage Listed Shark Bay fave, Monkey Mia.
Not only is it home to curious dolphins, there’s fishing charters, camel rides and some amazing cultural walks.
Shell Beach
Here’s the thing about Shell Beach – you wouldn’t go here to lay on the beach, but it’s worth a visit because not only is the beach here made up of trillions of tiny shells, the water has some crazy hypersalinity, meaning you’ll float pretty well in the super-salty shallows.
Turquoise Bay
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It’s summer all year round in Western Australia 🏖☀️💦 #DoitinWA @westernaustralia
Further north, we’re talking 15 hours from Perth, Turquoise Bay is right on the doorstep of the famous Ningaloo Reef in Exmouth.
One of the coolest things you can do here is ‘drift snorkel’. Park up at the ‘drift car park’ and head straight down to the water. Swim out a few metres and the current carries you north… exiting before the sand bar which is prone to strong currents!
Eighty Mile Beach
It’s called Eighty Mile Beach because it sounds fancier than ‘220km beach’. Well, we don’t know that for certain but it’s true that Eighty Mile Beach is actually 220km, sitting between Broome and Port Hedland.
It’s also where the Great Sandy Desert hits the Indian Ocean and apparently is great for bird watching. In fact, it’s known as an important feeding ground for birds flying in from the Arctic Circle.
Cable Beach
We finish our WA beach round trip at Broome’s Cable Beach where you can catch the setting sun from the sand, the bar or on a camel.
It’s pretty flat so it’s also the perfect beach for a long stroll, beach cricket and 4WD tailgating… if anything is going to put you straight into Broome Time, it’s this iconic beach.
Want to do this round trip of WA beaches for real?
OK, OK, while we can’t start the ‘beach crawl’ right now, you might want to consider it if you win 96FM’s $20K to Stay In WA for Hyundai.
