Western Australia is blessed with endless, varied, and beautiful beaches, so it’s hard to choose the best. But after two years of exploring the state, we’ve narrowed it down to our favorites. Here are our picks for the Top 5 Beaches in Western Australia:
TOP 5 BEACHES IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA
1. Wharton Beach – Duke of Orleans Bay, Esperance (Southeast Western Australia)
This beach in remote southeastern WA is currently at the top of our list of best beaches in the WORLD, let alone in Western Australia… and we’ve been to a lot of beaches. The water is cold year-round (it averages about 18.6°C or 65°F), but the clarity is unreal. It sparkles over the sand, which is some of the whitest in the world, and it squeaks under your feet. You can surf gentle, long waves all day and if you’re lucky like we were, you’ll share them with pods of dolphins. If you have a 4WD, you can cruise up and down the bay and find your own, private spot to park up and lounge. Trust us – this place is actual paradise.
Distance from Esperance: 89 kilometers (55 miles)
Activities: Surfing, swimming, snorkeling, diving, fishing, boating, hiking, camping, beach driving
Dogs Permitted: Yes
Facilities: Duke of Orleans Caravan Park nearby (fees apply), small general store, drinking water, BBQs and toilets
2. Sandy Bay – Cape Range National Park (Northwest Western Australia)
Sandy Bay is the perfect lazy beach day. During the windier seasons (October-December) you can watch kite and wind surfers cruise around the bay. You’ll see heaps of turtles coming up for air, and can take a stroll explore some of the nearby rock formations. It’s a shallow, protected bay with crystal clear water and minimal waves, so it’s great for lounging, relaxing, and taking a dip. It’s also the best spot in Cape Range for easy kayaking, SUP boarding, and snorkeling.
Distance from Exmouth: 78 kilometers (48 miles)
Activities: Kite and wind surfing, SUP boarding, swimming, snorkeling, diving, fishing (where permitted), kayaking
Dogs Permitted: No
Facilities: Shaded tables/picnic area, toilets
3. James Price Point – Kooljiman/Cape Leveque (Northwest Western Australia)
James Price Point is a 4WD accessible cliffside beach camp. The views are exquisite, with deep red pindan cliffs cascading down to white and pink beaches and turquoise seas. This is a remote, FREE campsite so if you’re going to make the trek, be sure you have all supplies you need to be off-grid. It’s also essential to ALWAYS pack out your garbage, as there aren’t any facilities to collect it. It’s all of our responsibility to keep places like this clean!
Distance from Broome: 52 kilometers (32 miles)
Activities: Swimming, snorkeling, fishing (where permitted), boating, beach driving
Dogs Permitted: Yes
Facilities: None. You must pack in/pack out all gear and garbage.
4. Hamelin Bay – Margaret River (Southwest Western Australia)
Hamelin Bay is located on the southwest coast of Western Australia, and is famous for its thriving population of stingrays. If you walk out onto the beach from the carpark, there is an old jetty left of the boat ramp where the rays tend to hang out. There tend to be a mix of southern eagle rays and bull rays, which can measure up to 2 meters across! They’re very friendly, and while we were snorkeling and swimming they kept coming up close and brushing up against us which made for great photos. Even though these stingrays are comfortable with humans and scavenge for fisherman’s scraps in the area, it’s important to remember they are still wild animals. Please do not feed them. There are many bird species, snakes, and other flora/fauna unique to this part of the world as well, so give yourself time to explore!
Distance from Margaret River: 35 kilometers (22 miles)
Activities: Birdwatching, wildlife spotting, swimming, snorkeling, fishing (where permitted), boating
Dogs Permitted: Yes
Facilities: Hamelin Bay Caravan Park nearby (fees apply), picnic area, toilets, showers
5. Shell Beach – Shark Bay (Northwest Western Australia)
This beach is special because it has NO sand. The 70 kilometer (43 mile) beach is entirely made up of Shark Bay cockle shells, and in some areas the shells are 10 meters deep. The water in the bay is very protected and hypersaline, like the Dead Sea in Jordan. You can easily float, and it’s drastically different from any other beach in the state, if not the world. Hot tip: we recommend wearing shoes on this beach, as the shells can be rather sharp and crunch under your feet.
Distance from Denham: 50 kilometers (31 miles)
Activities: Snorkeling, swimming
Dogs Permitted: No
Facilities: Toilets
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