# Best Beaches in Margaret River | Margaret River Beach Guide WA
Canonical: https://bookfromowner.com.au/guides/wa/south-west/margaret-river/best-beaches/
Type: AttractionGuide
Location: Margaret River, Australia's South West, Western Australia
Last updated: 2026-06-01

> The best beaches in Margaret River — from family-friendly Meelup and Bunker Bay to the surf-pounded Surfers Point and the stingray encounters at Hamelin Bay. Which beach suits you, when to go, and what to know.

## Quick Answer
- Best for: Beach lovers, surfers, families & wildlife encounters
- Price range: Free
- Vibe: Wild, diverse, Indian Ocean dramatic
- Distance: WA South West, 270km from Perth

## Featured Properties
- Margarets Beach Resort: 4.5/5 (689 reviews)
  Book direct: http://www.margaretsbeachresort.com.au/
  Margarets Beach Resort — Margaret River
- Margaret River Guest House: 4.9/5 (121 reviews)
  Book direct: http://www.margaretriverguesthouse.com.au/
  Margaret River Guest House — Margaret River
- RAC Margaret River Nature Park: 4.6/5 (335 reviews)
  Book direct: https://parksandresorts.rac.com.au/margaret-river/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gbp-margaret
  RAC Margaret River Nature Park — Margaret River

## FAQ
Q: What is the best beach in Margaret River for families?
A: For families with young children, Meelup Beach near Dunsborough is the standout — sheltered, calm, crystal-clear water with a gentle entry. Bunker Bay is similarly excellent and slightly larger. Smiths Beach at Yallingup is the best option for families who want a surf beach with lifeguard cover (patrolled during summer school holidays). For a memorable wildlife experience, Hamelin Bay near Augusta offers hand-feeding stingrays at the boat ramp in shallow water — suitable for children with good adult supervision.

Q: Which Margaret River beaches are patrolled?
A: Smiths Beach at Yallingup is the main patrolled beach during summer school holidays and selected weekends. Some beaches, including Gnarabup/Rivermouth near Prevelly, may have patrols during peak season. The majority of Margaret River region beaches are unpatrolled for most of the year. Always check current patrol schedules on the Surf Life Saving WA website before relying on lifeguard presence, and swim at Meelup or Bunker Bay for calm, generally safe conditions regardless of patrol status.

Q: Can you really hand-feed stingrays at Hamelin Bay?
A: Yes — it's a genuine and extraordinary experience. Cowtail rays (and occasionally eagle rays) congregate at the old boat ramp at Hamelin Bay near Augusta, where they have become habituated to human presence over many years. In calm, clear water you can wade among them, and with care, hand-feed them fish scraps available locally. Always move slowly, never attempt to grab or corner a ray, and follow any current on-site signage. It's suitable for families with sensible adult supervision. An early-morning weekday visit gives the clearest water and fewest people.

Q: When is the best time to visit Margaret River beaches?
A: Summer (December to February) is best for swimming, family beach days and calm conditions — bring sun protection, as the UV is intense year-round. Autumn and winter are the peak surf seasons, with consistent south-west groundswells making Gracetown, Surfers Point and Injidup fire. Spring (September to November) is excellent for whale watching from Bunker Bay and the headlands, with southern right whales and humpbacks frequently visible from shore. For Hamelin Bay stingrays, they're present year-round; autumn and winter weekdays give the best experience.

Q: Are dogs allowed on Margaret River beaches?
A: Dog restrictions vary by beach and season. Most beaches have year-round or peak-season dog bans on the main swimming areas. The general rule is to check current beach signage on arrival — it's the most reliable source as local council restrictions apply and change. Some beaches permit dogs on leads in off-peak hours or on sections away from the main swimming zone. Never assume a beach is dog-friendly without checking, especially during summer.

Q: Is the Margaret River coastline suitable for elderly visitors or people with limited mobility?
A: Yes, with the right beach choice. Meelup Beach has a well-surfaced short walk and a gradual sand entry, making it the most accessible for elderly visitors and those with limited mobility. Bunker Bay has flat parking and a manageable approach. Hamelin Bay's boat ramp provides flat, paved access to watch and approach the stingrays without entering rough terrain. Most of the surf beaches (Injidup, Gracetown, Redgate) have steep or rough access, but all have headland viewpoints accessible on shorter, flatter paths. The key is matching the beach to the mobility level rather than attempting every access track.

## At a Glance
- Coastline: Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge — Indian Ocean meets Southern Ocean swells
- Best family beaches: Meelup (Dunsborough), Bunker Bay (Dunsborough), Smiths Beach (Yallingup)
- Surf beaches: Surfers Point/Prevelly, Cowaramup Bay/Gracetown, Injidup, Yallingup
- Wildlife highlight: Hamelin Bay — stingrays at the boat ramp year-round
- Patrols: Yallingup and Smiths Beach patrolled in summer; most beaches unpatrolled
- Water temp: Cool year-round — 18–22°C summer, 15–18°C winter; wetsuit useful April–October
- Best season: Summer (Dec–Feb) for swimming; Autumn–Winter for surf; Spring for wildflowers + coast combo
- Getting there: Car essential — beaches are spread across the Caves Road coastal corridor

## Featured
- 1. Hamelin Bay — Stingray Beach — Wildlife encounter · family-friendly · one of WA's most unusual experiences
  - Why people love it: Wild stingrays in ankle-deep clear water — genuinely tame, genuinely wild, and unlike anything else in the South West.
  - Don't miss: Arriving early, when the water is clear and the stingrays are active — buy fish scraps nearby and take your time rather than rushing.
  - Good to know: Never grab or corner the rays — they carry a barbed tail and will defend themselves. Peak summer weekends pack the boat ramp; a weekday visit in autumn is a far better experience.
- 2. Meelup Beach — Sheltered · crystal-clear · the best calm-water swim in the region
  - Why people love it: The calmest, clearest water on the coast — when everything else is blown out, Meelup is still swimming.
  - Don't miss: Snorkelling off the rocks at either end of the bay on a calm, low-wind morning when the visibility is at its best.
  - Good to know: Parking fills fast on fine summer days — aim to arrive before 10am. No surf, so wave-seekers and surfers should go elsewhere.
- 3. Bunker Bay — Sheltered · family · the other great calm-water cove near Dunsborough
  - Why people love it: A wide, calm beach with the bonus of whale watching from shore between October and December — hard to beat as a complete beach day.
  - Don't miss: Watching southern right whales and humpbacks from the beach or the headland trail — September to December, binoculars helpful.
  - Good to know: The resort presence means peak-season weekends can be busier than Meelup; aim for early morning or a weekday for more space. Water can be cooler on windy days.
- 4. Gnarabup Beach (Margaret River Mouth / Rivermouth) — Town beach · mix of calm river mouth + surf · family base for Prevelly
  - Why people love it: The dual character — calm river mouth at one end, live surf at the other — means a family and a surfer can share the same beach without compromise.
  - Don't miss: The river mouth at low tide — the shifting sandbanks and channels create a natural playground that's different every visit.
  - Good to know: The northern surf zone can be powerful and rip-prone — keep children at the southern river-mouth end, and don't enter the surf unless you understand the conditions.
- 5. Smiths Beach (Yallingup) — Patrolled · broad · surf and swim at the same beach
  - Why people love it: Patrolled in summer, consistent surf, accessible parking and a great foreshore — the one beach that genuinely ticks every box for a family beach day.
  - Don't miss: A patrolled, family-safe surf beach that also suits intermediate surfers — rare on this coast where most great surf beaches are also unpatrolled.
  - Good to know: Patrols only operate during summer school holidays and some long weekends — check current SLSWA patrol times before relying on lifeguard coverage outside that window.
- 6. Injidup Beach (Car Park Break) — Exposed · intermediate–advanced · remote feel close to the road
  - Why people love it: The cliff-access descent filters the crowd naturally — on a good day, one of the best and least-crowded quality waves on the coast.
  - Don't miss: A 1.5–2 metre south-west swell on a clear winter morning — and the view from the headland above is worth the drive even if you're not surfing.
  - Good to know: Not suitable for beginners or weak swimmers — reef bottom, exposed, powerful. The steep access track also eliminates this for anyone with mobility constraints; use the headland viewpoint instead.
- 7. Cowaramup Bay (Gracetown) — Surf community · North & South Point · world-class for the right surfer
  - Why people love it: North Point on a quality south-west swell is as good as surfing gets in WA — fast, long, quality right-hander over an honest rock platform.
  - Don't miss: North Point on a 1.5–2 metre south-west swell at mid-tide — the standout point-break wave in the Margaret River region outside of Surfers Point.
  - Good to know: Expert surfers only at both points — rock bottom, powerful, unforgiving. Non-surfers are warmly welcome to watch from the headland but should stay well clear of the water.
- 8. Redgate Beach — Dramatic · little visited · honest south-coast swimming for confident adults
  - Why people love it: The red limestone cliffs against a Southern Ocean horizon — the most visually dramatic viewpoint on the entire Margaret River coast.
  - Don't miss: The clifftop view over the red limestone and crashing Southern Ocean — accessible on a short walk without entering the water.
  - Good to know: Strong rips, exposed, completely unpatrolled — not for families with young children or non-swimmers. The clifftop viewing is the right option for most visitors.

## What travellers say
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