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8+ Dunsborough Beaches: Complete Locals Guide
Are you on the hunt for the best Dunsborough beaches to make your beach day absolutely perfect? Look no further!
Living in Margaret River since 2016, my family and I have become quite the connoisseurs of the Dunsborough coastline, spending endless hours exploring its diverse and stunning beaches.
In this post, I’m excited to share with you the top Dunsborough beaches, each with its unique allure. From peaceful, family-friendly shores ideal for building sandcastles and paddling in the shallows, to hidden coves perfect for snorkeling and vibrant spots where the surfers catch waves at dawn, Dunsborough’s beaches offer a little slice of paradise for everyone.
I’ll guide you through what makes each beach special, the best times to visit, and some insider tips to ensure your beach experience in Dunsborough is as magical as the crystal-clear waters themselves.
So, grab your sunscreen and let’s dive into the beauty of Dunsborough’s beaches!
🏆Don’t have time to read the whole article? Here are my top picks, depending what you are specifically looking for:
👶Best for young kids to have a splash: Dunsborough Foreshore, Meelup Beach
🎣Best for fishing: Point Picquet
📸Best for photos: Castle Rock, Point Picquet
Dunsborough Beaches
1. Dunsborough Foreshore
🌏DISTANCE FROM DUNSBOROUGH: 1km | 🌏DISTANCE FROM MARGARET RIVER: 46km |📍LOCATION: Dunsborough WA | Google Maps
♥️Why You Will Love Dunsborough Foreshore
✅An amazing location for family outings with a safe beach that’s perfect for young children.
✅Features a beautiful walkway along the beach, making for delightful strolls, especially with your dog, as the majority of the beach here is dog-friendly.
✅Well-equipped with plenty of public toilets and parking.
✅Ideal for a range of water activities, including swimming and kayaking.
🏖️Summary: We like to drive to the end of Bay View Crescent and park on the side of the road to access this beach, although there is plenty of parking and public toilets all along the beach towards Busselton. It’s really safe for kids here, and the water is perfect. I definitely recommend a visit if you have young kids!
2. Old Dunsborough
🌏DISTANCE FROM DUNSBOROUGH: 2.5km | 🌏DISTANCE FROM MARGARET RIVER: 46km |📍LOCATION: Dunn Bay WA | Google Maps
♥️Why You Will Love Old Dunsborough
✅A lively hub in the summer, featuring a large swimming enclosure and pontoon (seasonal) near the old boat ramp.
✅Boasts a dual-lane concrete ramp for easy boat launching and receiving, free of parking charges but can get busy during nice weather and holidays.
✅Home to a regular coffee van and several food vans on multiple evenings a week.
✅Features a playground for children, grassed area for relaxation, and the possibility of whale and stingray sightings.
✅Regarded as a must-visit location, ideal for families, friends, or solitary visitors.
🏖️Summary: We’ve really enjoyed visiting here with the kids as well. We’ll grab some takeaway food from Dunsoborugh, and come down to the park here to eat it, then the kids have the best play on the playground or go exploring the rocks. I like the shady trees and the plentiful parking.
3. Castle Rock
🌏DISTANCE FROM DUNSBOROUGH: 6km | 🌏DISTANCE FROM MARGARET RIVER: 52km |📍LOCATION: Dunsborough WA | Google Maps
♥️Why You Will Love Castle Rock
✅Located on the calm and tranquil eastern side of Cape Naturaliste, and features impressive rock formations, including Castle Rock to the east and Sail Rock to the west.
✅Ideal for various activities such as fishing, swimming, surfing, or simply appreciating the beauty of nature.
✅Well-equipped with public toilets and gas barbecues for convenience.
✅Popular with tourists due to the photogenic Castle Rock, providing fantastic photo opportunities, especially at dawn or dusk.
✅There is also some nice walking trails around here, and you can make the short climb up the top of Castle Rock for some incredible views!
🚗Looking to get around via car? Find the cheapest car rentals here!
4. Meelup Beach
🌏DISTANCE FROM DUNSBOROUGH: 7km | 🌏DISTANCE FROM MARGARET RIVER: 53km |📍LOCATION: Naturaliste WA | Google Maps
♥️Why You Will Love Meelup Beach
✅Situated in the stunning Geographe Bay, Meelup Beach is a picturesque haven with its beautiful white sand and clear turquoise waters.
✅Lifeguards patrol the beach during the summer months, making it a safe place for young children.
✅Perfect for a range of activities such as swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, and snorkeling in crystal clear waters.
✅Shaded grass areas provide an ideal spot for picnics, with public toilets, change rooms and showers, BBQs, and picnic tables available for public use.
🏖️Summary: Beautiful, sheltered beach, perfect if you have young kids. Large range of amenities and parking is super close. I definitely recommend stopping in here – with the caveat that it can get really busy here, so I would personally avoid it around the summer school holidays and find a quieter beach closer to Eagle Bay.
5. Point Picquet
🌏DISTANCE FROM DUNSBOROUGH: 8km | 🌏DISTANCE FROM MARGARET RIVER: 55km |📍LOCATION: Naturaliste WA | Google Maps
♥️Why You Will Love Point Picquet
✅Picturesque and quiet, the beaches along here are suitable for swimming, though be mindful of rocks that may require navigating to reach the shore.
✅It’s an excellent spot for fishing, with herring available all year round, and salmon during the right season.
✅A prime location for whale watching during migration season.
✅Safe and protected for young children.
🏖️Summary: I tell tourists to Margaret River that they should drive between Eagle Bay and Meelup Beach and just find a nice-looking beach, park their car and enjoy! There are quite a few along this little stretch, and it’s one way to guarantee having a stretch of beach to yourself.
6. Eagle Bay
🌏DISTANCE FROM DUNSBOROUGH: 9km | 🌏DISTANCE FROM MARGARET RIVER: 55km |📍LOCATION: Eagle Bay WA | Google Maps
♥️Why You Will Love Eagle Bay
✅Eagle Bay Beach, part of the protected Eagle Bay Special Purpose Zone, boasts stunning white sand and usually isn’t too crowded.
✅It’s a fantastic beach for swimming, particularly for families with children, due to its typically calm and safe waters.
✅Eagle Bay makes for a perfect picnic spot, with public toilets and outdoor showers available across the road, as well as a children’s playground.
✅The beach, which faces north, provides calm and clear water for swimming, making it a top choice for a relaxing day out.
✅It’s also a dog-friendly area from the north part near the Eagle Bay Boat Ramp. Remember to follow signage, clean up after your pet, and be mindful of other people and wildlife on the beach.
🏖️Summary: I love Eagle Bay! It’s generally quieter than Meelup Beach, and the waters are calm and protected so perfect for my kids. They also enjoy playing on the little park here.
7. Bunker Bay
🌏DISTANCE FROM DUNSBOROUGH: 13km | 🌏DISTANCE FROM MARGARET RIVER: 59km |📍LOCATION: Naturaliste WA | Google Maps
♥️Why You Will Love Bunker Bay
✅Bunker Bay is an ideal beach for activities like swimming, fishing, snorkeling, or just relaxing under a beach umbrella.
✅As one of the few north-facing beaches in Western Australia, it offers a unique location for beachgoers.
✅You can expect to catch a variety of fish here, including herring, whiting, and skippy.
✅Located just a 49-minute drive from Margaret River, the beach comes with amenities like public toilets, showers, and a café that overlooks the water.
✅The northern part of Bunker Bay Beach is dog-friendly.
🏖️Summary: Nice beach here, I like getting a coffee at Bunkers Beach House and going for a walk along this pretty beach!
8. Shelley Cove
🌏DISTANCE FROM DUNSBOROUGH: 14km | 🌏DISTANCE FROM MARGARET RIVER: 59km |📍LOCATION: Naturaliste WA | Google Maps
♥️Why You Will Love Shelley Cove
✅Shelley Cove is a cozy, sheltered bay with a sandy beach that spans about 100 meters.
✅As a neighbor to Bunker Bay, this little protected cove provides opportunities for fishing, swimming, and snorkeling.
✅Fishing enthusiasts often frequent the rocky headland to the southeast (on the Dunsborough side of the cove).
✅While it’s a stunning snorkeling spot for older kids and adults, note that the water can get rough and cold.
🏖️Summary: This is more of a bay suitable for older kids and adults, so to be honest I haven’t spent much time here. Lots of people have told me it’s a hidden secret kind of beach, so if you’re in the area you might as well take a look!
Wrapping Up: Best Beaches in Dunsborough
It’s clear that Dunsborough’s beaches are a true highlight of the region. Each beach we’ve explored today has its own unique charm and character, promising unforgettable experiences whether you’re lounging under the sun, playing in the gentle waves, or seeking out underwater adventures. My family and I have cherished every moment spent on these shores, and I’m confident you will too.
But why stop your coastal exploration here? The Margaret River region is dotted with a myriad of stunning beaches, each waiting to be discovered. I invite you to dive into our other posts on beaches in the area. From secluded bays to bustling beachfronts, there’s so much more to see and experience. So, continue your beach exploration with our guides and find your next favorite spot along our beautiful coastline!
Read More on Nature and Outdoors:
Australia Travel Planning Guide
🚑Should I buy Australian travel insurance?
100% YES! — Australia has “free” healthcare but it’s only for citizens and permanent residents. Foreigners visiting need travel insurance in case anything happens on their visit. I like SafetyWing – their Nomad Insurance starts at just $1.50 USD a day!
🚗Should I rent a car in Australia?
Yes — Renting a car is a necessity in most of Australia! If you want to go on road trips or adventures outside of the major cities, and even if you’re staying in a major city, you’ll want to rent a car. If you are visiting Margaret River, it will be even more important that you hire a car, you’ll need it to be able to get around and see all the great attractions and wineries!
🏨What’s the best way to book my Australian accommodation?
My go-to for Australian hotels is Booking.com. Pretty much all registered accommodation use Booking.com (but not necessarily any of the other major booking platforms), and even most of the holiday homes and caravan parks use Booking.com too!
If you’re planning a trip to Australia where you will stay at multiple locations, it’s super handy to have all your accommodation listed in one place, and accommodation owners like Booking.com because it’s easy to contact the guests using the messaging platform if the guest has an international phone number.
I sincerely hope you enjoy your visit to Margaret River!
