During my summer volunteering in Perth, Australia, I spent a great deal of my weekends going to some of the most stunning beaches in the world. While I visited a few of the famous beaches that the tourist crowds flocked to, I also went to some that were more secluded. The extra isolation made these beaches stand out in my mind.
One of the best memories I have of going to the beach in Perth is definitely the morning I went to Rottnest Island off mainland Australia. The 25-minute ferry ride out to Rottnest was the most exhilarating way to start a day of relaxing in the sun and swimming. Rottnest Island is known for its gorgeous white sand and emerald water, and here on the island, there was no shortage of beaches for some peace and quiet away from the crowds. Salmon Bay, a beach on the south side of the island, was gorgeous. It had particularly tranquil waves. This was also where I had my first snorkeling experience, and I was not disappointed. There was amazingly diverse animal and plant life, and I even saw some shipwreck ruins.
Perth is also where I learned to surf. Trigg Beach was perfect for a beginner like me. The water was choppy some days, but I preferred this beach over Scarborough, one of the most popular (therefore, much more crowded) beaches in Perth. Trigg was absolutely breathtaking. The dramatic rocky scenery towards the north end was one of my favorite picnic spots. Though Trigg Beach is mostly known for surfing, there are spots for swimming and snorkeling as well. Watermans Bay, quite close to Trigg Beach, was definitely worth the trip also. Watermans Bay is another great surfing spot though the beach is smaller. Here was where I tried both kite-surfing and bodyboarding.
The last gem that I found was Golden Bay Beach. I wish I had discovered this place earlier on my trip because it became my go-to weekend spot. Golden Bay, towards the south of Perth, is slightly further away from town, but the extra distance was worth it for me. It was exactly what I had been looking for — no cars, no noise, no tourists. This pristine haven of soft sand and clear water was tucked into a suburban corner where few tourists visited. If I ever get the chance to return to Perth, this is where I’m heading first. I’m not saying I didn’t enjoy Cottesloe or Scarborough, but I particularly loved having stretches of time and space where I could only hear the sound of the waves.
The beaches in Perth were magnificent. I had an especially fantastic time snorkeling and surfing. Just writing about it brings back so many memories, but what I remember most of all is the feel of the warm Indian Ocean water around my ankles and the long walks on white sand when I felt like I was alone and all that beauty was mine.
This has been a guest post from Skedaddle Car Hire’s Perth page, check it out if you’d like to know more about the destination in Western Australia.
