Looking for that perfect beach vacation that promises epic sunset views and refreshing cool waters? Bunbury is home to a myriad of fantastic beaches that serves up their very own flavour of down south paradise.
From gentle family friendly beaches, dramatic coastlines to interesting surf conditions, a visit to Bunbury wouldn’t be complete without a visit to some of these local favourites.
Koombana Bay is a lovely stretch of beach in Bunbury that boasts soft, gentle waves and spectacular north facing views dappled in sunlight. A great beach often frequented by families, Koombana Bay is also host to the foreshore where an epic playground beckons complete with water playground, trampolines, flying fox and climbing towers.
One of the few places in the world where you can encounter dolphins in the wild, this bay is where a pod of over a hundred bottlenose dolphins call home. If you want the opportunity to meet the dolphins, the Bunbury Dolphin Discovery Centre hosts a daily meet and greet session where you can say ‘hello’ in the shallows.
Koombana Bay, Bunbury
A great place to rug up, pop on a beanie, and stare down the rugged coastline of the basalt rocks on a winter’s day, if dramatic views are what you’re looking for, The Groyne is where you want to be. One of those locally kept secrets, it offers a heaving and heavy shore break on the south side, which requires a technical take-off at Fraggles on the North side. It takes a while to learn how to surf this break, but when you do, it’s worth the work!
One of the more popular beaches in Bunbury, Back Beach’s pristine beach extends as far as the eye can see. One of those rare beaches that boasts great swimming, snorkelling and surfing, this is also a great spot for some beach fishing.
Take a picnic and enjoy the views from some of the well-kept grounds, or utilise the BBQ facilities to cook up your catch. If you’re feeling something more fancy, there are a couple of great restaurants you can stroll to from the beach.
Top tip: Take a stroll or cycle along the bike path at sunset for those famous South West sunsets.
Back Beach, Bunbury
A family favourite, Hungry Hollow is a quiet, tranquil beach with small waves little kids can revel splashing in. With BBQ, parking, and bathroom facilities nearby, visitors to the beach can relax and enjoy their beach day. Take the dog along on your morning stroll and watch them enjoy fossicking into the myriad of treasures to be found on the beach. If you’re looking to snorkel, there’s a small limestone reef nearby ready to be explored.
Not strictly in Bunbury, Stratham is a stunning beach that also allows 4WD access. The drive is on bitumen all the way to the beach carpark, where cars who want to drive on to the beach can expect a relatively steep slope onto soft sand. (Tip: Remember to put your tyres down!) This beach is beautiful in its varied landscapes past each point, the waves are clear and gentle, making it great for families and snorkellers alike. Those who are looking to launch a boat off the beach should head to the Hutts on their out to fish for the day.
While out that way, take the time to explore Turart Forest National Park. Look up and marvel at these towering giants while standing in the world’s largest remaining tuart forest.
