Cottesloe Beach
Imagine a beautiful white sand beach only fifteen minutes drive away from both Perth and Fremantle.
A beach fringed with tall Norfolk pines, grassy picnic areas and shelter from the sea breezes. A beach that is perfect for swimming, snorkeling, surfing and of course just hanging out. Nearby there are also cafes, shops and pubs to keep your belly satisfied as well.
This is Cottesloe Beach, arguably Perth’s most popular beach and rightly so. It’s a great place to watch the sunset over the Indian Ocean while kicking back with a cold beer or glass of wine. There is also a nice view of Rottnest Island about 20 kms offshore.
The water is cool and crystal clear, perfect for a refreshing swim. There’s also a reef to one side that is very popular for snorkeling due to the large variety of fish to be seen. If you’re lucky, you may even see the little weedy seadragons that live there. Or better still, a rare leafy sea dragon. The reef has been classified as a Fish Habitat Protection Area.
Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Safety as always is regularly monitored by the Cottesloe Life Saving Club from their iconic position just below the Indiana Teahouse. If you go on a Sunday morning, you’ll see the lifesavers doing all sorts of drills and exercises with their club members which can be very interesting. In fact, the Surf Life Saving Movement in Western Australia was founded at Cottesloe Beach in 1909! A few more clubs started operating after that and in 1926 they all got together and formed Surf Life Saving Western Australia which continues to this day.
The beach is accessible all year however surfing with (hard) surfboards is only allowed in the winter months. This is fine though as in summer there is no surf to speak of anyway. You’ll have to drive down south to the Margaret River area for that.
Getting to Cottesloe Beach
Besides driving, you can get to there on a regular Transperth bus from both Perth and Fremantle. You can also take the train but be aware that it’s about a 20 minute walk from the Cottesloe train station.
Annual Sculpture by the Sea Exhibition
A must-see event is the Sculpture by the Sea Exhibition held every year in March. The beach is transformed into an outdoor art gallery with an amazing array of small to very large sculptures and pieces on display. It blows me away how the artists utilise different materials year after year to create their masterpieces. Cottesloe Beach’s great layout and setting really enhances the artwork.
Cottesloe Beach Weddings
Also, those couples looking for a perfect venue for a beach wedding, there are two beautiful locations: the Arch Monument and the Sun Dial. Both can be found at the foreshore of the beach. You will be able to exchange your vows to the gentle accompaniment of the ocean waves. You will need to gain the Council’s approval to conduct a beach wedding by filling out a Beach Wedding Application form.
Cottesloe Accommodation
We highly recommend the Cottesloe Beach Chalets situated right next to the beach. They offer self-contained style accommodation suitable for families, couples and business travellers. Besides the great location, there is also parking, two pools and a reception to help whenever you need it.
Telephone: (+61 8) 9383 5000
Email: cottesloebeachchalets@gmail.com
Website: http://cottesloebeachchalets.com.au
Or use the form below:
A beach fringed with tall Norfolk pines, grassy picnic areas and shelter from the sea breezes. A beach that is perfect for swimming, snorkeling, surfing and of course just hanging out. Nearby there are also cafes, shops and pubs to keep your belly satisfied as well.
This is Cottesloe Beach, arguably Perth’s most popular beach and rightly so. It’s a great place to watch the sunset over the Indian Ocean while kicking back with a cold beer or glass of wine. There is also a nice view of Rottnest Island about 20 kms offshore.
The water is cool and crystal clear, perfect for a refreshing swim. There’s also a reef to one side that is very popular for snorkeling due to the large variety of fish to be seen. If you’re lucky, you may even see the little weedy seadragons that live there. Or better still, a rare leafy sea dragon. The reef has been classified as a Fish Habitat Protection Area.
Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
Safety as always is regularly monitored by the Cottesloe Life Saving Club from their iconic position just below the Indiana Teahouse. If you go on a Sunday morning, you’ll see the lifesavers doing all sorts of drills and exercises with their club members which can be very interesting. In fact, the Surf Life Saving Movement in Western Australia was founded at Cottesloe Beach in 1909! A few more clubs started operating after that and in 1926 they all got together and formed Surf Life Saving Western Australia which continues to this day.
The beach is accessible all year however surfing with (hard) surfboards is only allowed in the winter months. This is fine though as in summer there is no surf to speak of anyway. You’ll have to drive down south to the Margaret River area for that.
Getting to Cottesloe Beach
Besides driving, you can get to there on a regular Transperth bus from both Perth and Fremantle. You can also take the train but be aware that it’s about a 20 minute walk from the Cottesloe train station.
Annual Sculpture by the Sea Exhibition
A must-see event is the Sculpture by the Sea Exhibition held every year in March. The beach is transformed into an outdoor art gallery with an amazing array of small to very large sculptures and pieces on display. It blows me away how the artists utilise different materials year after year to create their masterpieces. Cottesloe Beach’s great layout and setting really enhances the artwork.
Cottesloe Beach Weddings
Also, those couples looking for a perfect venue for a beach wedding, there are two beautiful locations: the Arch Monument and the Sun Dial. Both can be found at the foreshore of the beach. You will be able to exchange your vows to the gentle accompaniment of the ocean waves. You will need to gain the Council’s approval to conduct a beach wedding by filling out a Beach Wedding Application form.
Cottesloe Accommodation
We highly recommend the Cottesloe Beach Chalets situated right next to the beach. They offer self-contained style accommodation suitable for families, couples and business travellers. Besides the great location, there is also parking, two pools and a reception to help whenever you need it.
Telephone: (+61 8) 9383 5000
Email: cottesloebeachchalets@gmail.com
Website: http://cottesloebeachchalets.com.au
Or use the form below:
