Beaches in Bunbury

Bunbury sits on a point between the Indian Ocean, Koombana Bay and the Leschenault Inlet, which means you can pick your water: sheltered bay swimming minutes from the city centre, or open surf beaches along Ocean Drive.

Koombana Bay

The city's sheltered front yard. Calm, family-friendly water, grassed foreshore, and Bunbury's most famous residents — a year-round pod of wild bottlenose dolphins that regularly cruises the shallows near the Dolphin Discovery Centre. Early morning is the best time to spot them.

Back Beach

On the ocean side of the point, Back Beach is Bunbury's surf beach — waves rolling in below dark basalt cliffs, with a kiosk and lookouts above. It's patrolled in season; as everywhere on this coast, swim between the flags when they're up.

Wyalup-Rocky Point

Between the surf beaches, Wyalup-Rocky Point is one of the few places on Earth you can stand on exposed columns of black basalt — lava rock over 100 million years old, and a registered Aboriginal heritage site. Dramatic at sunset.

Ocean Drive and the lighthouse

Bunbury's coast road strings the surf beaches together with a run of lookouts and beach stairs. Above it all stands the Marlston Hill lookout tower and the city's landmark black-and-white checkerboard lighthouse — climb the lookout for a full sweep from the port to the capes.

Leschenault Inlet

Behind the city, the inlet offers flat water for kayaking and stand-up paddling, a foreshore path for walking and cycling, and the Mangrove Boardwalk through WA's southernmost mangroves.

Safety note: conditions on the ocean beaches change quickly. Swim at patrolled areas between the flags where available, and check local surf and weather conditions before entering the water.