5 of the Best Beaches in Perth

Let’s be honest, we all know Australia is particularly good for one thing: beaches. And with over 10,000 of them stretching over 30,000 miles of coastline, you won’t be short of somewhere to catch some rays. Not as well-known, however, is that a quarter of that beachline is located in Western Australia and arguably the better ones of the lot. So, if you’ve just landed in Perth and you have some time in the area, this is a pretty damn good starting point to exploring all that the coastal city has to offer.

Cottesloe Beach

Affectionately referred to as ‘Cott’ (Because the Australians must abbreviate EVERYTHING!) Cottesloe is south of the River Swan and home to the iconic Indian Tea House located in the centre of the beach. And if you’re lucky enough to be in town during one of the on-beach art exhibits, you'll get the chance to see some work from local artists, against the incredible backdrop of the Indian Ocean.

South Fremantle

Just down the road and a little further south of Cott is Fremantle, the historic docking town of Western Australia. Jump just a little further south and you’ll hit South Freo (yet another abbreviation). If you’re visiting during peak temperatures of the day (which sometimes tops 40 degrees!) you’ll be glad to meet the ‘Freo Doctor’ or to you and I, the cooling winds that seem to start in the town of Fremantle offering relief to the hot temperatures. A good time to visit however is in the evening. Grab a blanket, pop into the fish & chip shop for a little supper and watch the sunset on the sands next to the yacht club. Perfect typical Aussie evening; completed.

City Beach

Now that we know what the south has to offer, it’s time to hop across the River Swan to the impressive beaches of the north, starting with City Beach. As with most of the coastline around Perth, one beach can roll into another without you knowing but when it’s this beautiful, who cares?! City Beach sits side by side with Floreat/North Floreat beach serving up buckets of (pun intended) sand and space to sit and relax, as well as being lined with restaurants for breakfast with a killer view or that nightcap before hitting the hay.

Scarborough

No top beach compilation would be complete without a mention of Scarborough. Whether its the Latin dancing on Sundays, the night revellers having a margarita in the local tequila bar later that night or just meandering the Thursday night sunset markets looking for a bite to eat, there’s never a dull moment in Scarbs (one last abbreviation, promise). But what it is also blessed with is a fantastic coastline. Sure you can go sit in the deck chairs and be right amongst it on the main stretch but walk a little further and you’ll be rewarded with a quieter spot surrounded by the dunes with a coffee shop within arm’s reach, what more could you want.  

Mullaloo / North Mullaloo

Saving the best 'til last here, if you’re able to venture just a bit further north of the city than most, by god is it worth it. Mullaloo is actually only 25 minutes by car from the centre of the city but once there you’ll feel a million miles away from the metropolitan vibes. More beach than you can wave a stick at, barbecues lined on the grassy areas just behind that for brekkie or dinner, and just a short walk away is North Point, a lookout that’s worth the effort for panoramic views of the area.