Ride the waves, swim in the clear water or have a picnic on the terraced lawns overlooking the ocean at one of Perth’s best family beaches.

Cottesloe Beach is one of Perth’s best places to spend a hot summer’s day. It has excellent swimming and surfing conditions and clear water. It’s a great beach for families, thanks to its facilities and Surf Life Saving Club. Grab a towel, put on some sunscreen and hit the waves.

Cottesloe became a popular spot to cool off in the late 19th century and its reputation hasn’t changed. The surf is consistent and the water temperature above 70 F (21 C) for most of the year.

For surfing, find the best breaks south of the Arch Monument, with its huge stone Sundial, or paddle a little further out. Swimmers will find that the swells are gentler closer to the iconic Indiana bistro building.

Travelers with younger children should head south to the Groyne. You’ll find a sheltered pocket perfect for a quiet splash. See if you can spot Rottnest Island in the distance and visit the Vlamingh Memorial, named after the Dutch explorer who named the Rottnest.

Bring along a fishing rod and drop a line from the pier for a chance to catch whiting or bream. Rent some snorkeling gear and admire the marine life around the protected Cottesloe Reef system. If you look closely you may even spot weed-like sea dragons among the waving seagrass!

Find shade under a tall Norfolk pine tree or sit back on the grassy lawns and gaze out at the Indian Ocean while you enjoy a picnic. For fresh seafood and snacks, check out Marine Parade along the beach. At sunset, enjoy a glass of wine or a refreshing cocktail in a local pub.

If you happen to be in Perth in mid-March, don’t miss the annual Sculpture by the Sea event on this beach.

Cottesloe Beach is about 7 miles (11 kilometers) from central Perth. Take public transport or drive there and park for free along Marine Parade. In summer, the beach is patrolled by lifeguards until the early evening. Always swim between the flags, which mark the safest swimming spot.

Plan a trip to see Cottesloe Beach

Price found within the past 48 hours. Click for updated prices.

Alex Hotel

Perth City Centre

￥184,772

per person

Oct 12 - Oct 17

found 1 day ago

Roundtrip non-stop flight included

Tokyo (TYO) to Perth (PER)

9.2/10 Wonderful! (909 reviews)

QT Perth

Perth Central Business District

￥197,799

per person

Oct 12 - Oct 17

found 1 day ago

Roundtrip non-stop flight included

Tokyo (TYO) to Perth (PER)

9/10 Wonderful! (972 reviews)

Location and rooftop bar are probably the only things we liked. The bed was comfortable and the hairdryer good. The concierge/ lift attendant was superb. She was friendly welcoming and explained the lift use and procedures. The room was a king deluxe on the 10th floor. The lighting is very dim. The bathroom has very poor lighting. Impossible for me to do make up. The toilet and shower share a sliding door so both facilities cannot be used at the same time - even with the door closed on the shower the water seeped through the bottom of the door into the bathroom. The bathroom supplies did not include cotton wipes or tips. The bathroom towels whilst clean are old and really need replacing. Breakfast is à la carte. If you pay for breakfast with your room you are entitled to 1 breakfast meal, 1 coffee/ tea and 1 juice. The thick cut bacon was 85% fat and very little meat. Four of us had the same large breakfast and none of enjoyed it. Eggs are scrambled and runny, making the toast wet and unpleasant to eat. In checkout when asked how was our stay we politely advised of our disappointment. The reply regarding bathroom lighting was to next time ask for a make up mirror which they can supply on request. Additionally the staff member was not interested in giving any comment back to us other than ok have a nice day.

Reviewed on Jul 26, 2026