Our Top Beach Experiences
Heartbeat Retreat is minutes away from some of the most incredible beaches in the world. Sweeping bays of white sand, deep aqua waters and views to make your heart leap are here in plenty along the pristine coastline here in South West Western Australia.
Whether you want to swim in a deep turquoise bay without waves or you are bringing down your surfboard to catch a few waves - there’s a perfect beach here for you.
Here’s our insiders guide to help you deepen your experience of some of the world’s most amazing beaches - all on our doorstep at Heartbeat Retreat.
Meelup is famous for its aquamarine waters
Laze away the day at Meelup Beach
If you want incredible aqua blue, clear waters and something that looks like a Maldives postcard then Meelup is the place for you. Set up your towels and shade and laze here all day in paradise. Kids love this beach with its teensy waves. Grassed picnic areas and barbecues framed by shady Peppermint trees. In fact, this beach is so pretty its a favourite with artists who are often set up on the grass with their easels. Hire kayaks in summer and grab an ice cream from the ice cream van. Locals come here to see the full moon rise over the water on perfect evenings. No dogs.
Sunset swims at Yallingup Lagoon
In Western Australia we are lucky to enjoy the incredible beauty of the sun setting over the Indian Ocean every night. If you want that sunset to become a lifetime memory you head to Yallingup beach. There is simply no more romantic or breathtaking spot to watch a sunset than Yallingup. Let the world breathe in pink and gold as the sun slips over the horizon. Watch from the lovely lookout in winter with a glass of red wine or take your bathers and frolic in the lagoon as the sun goes downing summer. Highly recommended all year round.
Picnic dinner at Dunsborough Boat Ramp
This north facing beach has green grass, shade and a protected swimming bay that is just heaven on warm evenings. Locals flock here in summer to enjoy the flat, sheltered swimming. Toddlers love to paddle in the shallows, older kids regularly jump off the jetty and fisherman cast a line from the rocks at the end of the bay. Pack a picnic rug and a barbecue or grab some sushi takeaway from town and head down to an easy and enjoyable evening with the family. Toilets and showers provided.
Breakfast and a swim at Bunker Bay
Drive out of town 10 minutes and you’ll find Bunker Bay - a beach so special they built a 5-star world-class resort next door. You can’t see the resort from the beach though, and it still feels like a private piece of heaven. Nestled in the dunes in front of the beach you’ll find Bunker Bay Cafe where breakfast is a lavish affair with delicious fry-ups, healthy granola or huge soft muffins tempting you straight from the oven. Then head for a morning swim in this deep turquoise bay. Meander to the end and check out the rockpools. If your furry friend is coming on holidays with you Bunker Bay is a great beach to take dogs and has showers at the end.
Paddle board at Quindalup Beach
Hire a paddle board from swboatsbikes.com on the Dunsborough foreshore and glide across the glassy aqua waters of Quindalup beach. This beach is the beach right in front of Dunsborough town and is a very sheltered flat bay with absolutely no wave that’s just perfect for paddle boarding. If you’ve never paddle-boarded before, this is the spot to give it a go and enjoy views to die for up and down the coast.
The region is famous for world class surf breaks
Surf at Smiths Beach
Shake off the city and get into the medicine of the Indian Ocean with a surf at incredible Smiths Beach. With a slightly wilder feel than some of the other beaches here, this is a wide bay with beach breaks that are loved by kids and pro surfers alike. Join the locals in the afternoons who knock off from work, grab their wetsuit and de-stress in this stretch of Indian Ocean. Need a lesson? Contact Crystal from www.yallingupsurfschool.com who will kit you up with a wetsuit and get you standing on your first wave in no time.