If you’re looking for a beach in Perth that’s most likely to be the largest crowd pleaser, it’s Scarborough. On the sand you’ll find lifeguard towers, plenty of space for lounging and thumping surf. The shore is lined with hotels, apartments, shops, cafes, restaurants, ice-cream kiosks and surf shops. The seaside pool, skate park, and playground offers a bit of a break from the sand and the sea as well. Turn your back on the shore, though, and look out to the west. Scarborough is blessed with all the essentials—blue water broken by breakers, white sand and lashings of sunshine. However, if you want to escape Scarborough’s crowds, walk south to Brighton Beach and lay down a towel in between the sand dunes. Brighton Beach is every bit as gorgeous, but generally has fewer people.

Cottesloe (or just Cott), is the place to go when you want to make surfers, swimmers, kids and beachcombers happy. Protected by a southern break wall, the iconic art-deco Indiana Teahouse flanked by grassed terraces dominates the foreshore. Kids clamber onto the concrete pylon originally used to secure a shark net, outdoing each other with bombies. Even if you’re not a beachgoer, it’s worth paying a visit to Cottesloe Beach for the casual Aussie vibe and beautiful coastline vistas. Across the road, the pub at the Cottesloe Beach Hotel is a must visit for re-hydrating sun-parched lips. Though there are plenty of other choices too—the Cott, like the Teahouse, is one of the most beautiful beaches in Perth!

If you want a low-key beach that’s easy to access, head to City Beach. This white sand beauty is found in in the middle of Perth’s northern suburbs. Beachside, there are a handful of cafes and seafood restaurants, along with grass parklands and BBQs. It’s a popular spot for early evening gatherings to watch the sunset.

Port Beach is Fremantle’s answer to Scarborough Beach, minus the surf. Port Beach and nearby Leighton Beach are essentially an unbroken continuous strip of sand all the way to South Cottesloe. It’s a great beach for ocean swimmers, stand-up paddle boarders as well as families with young kids, as there are rarely breakers at Port thanks to its proximity to Fremantle Harbour to the south. Beach walkers and joggers will love it here, too.

The undisputed king of surf among Perth beaches, Trigg Beach is where the beach breaks are. Surfers rate it one of Perth’s best, though its popularity means that waves can get a little crowded. This is especially the case during school holidays, when lifesaving clubs host a gamut of events here. When the swell is up, the water can get a little rough for swimmers. The beach itself is of the sugar sand variety and is ideal for playing beach games.

Because Swanbourne Beach is so large, it’s rarely crowded. Swanbourne Beach can be divided into two parts. The family-friendly southern beach is every bit as pretty as Cottesloe to the south—perfect for strolling, sunbathing and swimming. The northern section is clothes-optional Swanbourne Nude Beach, ‘officially’ one of Perth’s few nudist beaches. The beach itself is hidden behind dunes and requires a 300m walk from the carpark to reach, so it’s not really on public view. You’ll know you’re there when you see the clothing optional sign.

South Beach is always calm thanks to its outlying reef, as well as Carnac and Garden Islands which form a breakwater. It’s popular with locals and holidaymakers alike. Shaded by ancient coastal trees and pines, extensive grassy areas, children’s playgrounds, BBQs and timber gazebos, South Beach is a perennial favourite day or night. Families often gather here for picnics, while the beach itself is very family-friendly. Fremantle’s famous Cappuccino Strip is a few minutes away for a multitude of dining, shopping and people-watching activities.

Bathers Beach is the sort of beach you’d go to if you don’t want a long commute or to mix with huge crowds. It’s convenient for cooling off or getting your saltwater fix in between breakfast and lunch, or for an early morning ocean swim. Surrounded by all the action of Fremantle, this strip of sand is a city treasure. It’s attractive in the urban, arty sort of way that Fremantle excels at. Sandstone Kidogo Arthouse is a beautifully restored building behind the dunes, boardwalks are dotted with public art and nearby restaurants, cafes and pubs combine to make Bathers Beach the full package.

Most famous for its cute quokkas, there’s much more to this little island. Rottnest Island, simply called “Rotto” by everyone, is home to many of Perth’s best beaches. The Beach Gods blessed this little eruption of limestone emerging from the Indian Ocean with exquisite beaches. Dazzling white sand, gin-clear water, sweeping crescent-shaped bays and intimate cosy coves are all here. Favourites are The Basin, Longreach and Geordie Bays along with Thompson Bay, the hub of the island. Hire a bike and head for Salmon Bay and Little Armstrong Bay, which are rarely tarnished by others’ footprints if you get there early. Rotto has boating, diving, snorkelling, surfing and swimming—it’s a beach bum’s paradise!

With restaurants, shops, a playground, BBQ facilities, a grassy area, swimming platforms, and calm water, Hillarys Boat Harbour is one of the best home bases in Perth's northern beaches, especially if you're coming with the whole family. Protected from the waves, it's a gentle place to wade and sunbathe. And when you're done, take your pick of cafes to pop into for lunch. For a close-up view of the critters that live beneath the blue, check out the Aquarium of Western Australia, perched on the southern end of the harbour.