Feel the warm hug of the shore, beaches, cafes and restaurants of the Sunset Coast – and relax…

It may be another marketing label, but the sunsets here really are something. 19 white, sandy beaches vie for your attention and the ocean is particularly rewarding for divers and snorkellers.  It is much quieter than Cottesloe and more relaxing as a result.

Stirling

• Scarborough Beach is Perth’s most popular – partly because it’s really good, and partly due to the fact it’s well served by public transport. There are beach markets at the weekend and live entertainment in summer.
• Nature: Stirling is a nature lover’s heaven, with coastal walks, cycling paths, reefs and shallow lagoons all rewarding exploration. If you’re lucky you may spot seals and dolphins offshore.
• Mt Flora Museum: Originally built in 1936 as a water tank for the North Beach residents, this museum is an eclectic mix of on and offshore history, covering shipwrecks, whaling and school days.  Climb the lookout for views of the surrounding countryside.

Joondalup
North of Stirling sits the city of Joondalup, base for a large and vibrant student community. It’s only 20 minutes from the Perth CBD, which makes it popular with tourists and locals enjoying the shops, cafes, and boardwalk attractions of Hillarys Boat Harbour.

• Beaches: Excellent and varied beaches line the coast. Sorrento Beach is ideal for swimming and picnics on the foreshore. Burns Beach’s coastal paths are lovely, and Mullaloo Beach is close to Tom Simpson Park, so you can mix a cool dip and sunbathing with barbeque facilities and a good children’s playground.
• Yellagonga Regional Park: The park straddles Joondalup and Wanneroo and its landscape is similarly split between dunes, lakes, wetlands and a steep central plateau. It makes for a varied and interesting trek as you walk or cycle around Lake Joondalup and Lake Goollelal – and there are good picnic spots.
  The Park is named after the aboriginal leader at the time the Europeans settled in the area. It remains of significance to the local aboriginal people as it forms part of their Dreaming.
• Aquarium of Western Australia, Hillarys Boat Harbour: What makes this aquarium, Australia’s largest, a standout is that you can snorkel or dive (if qualified) with sharks, stingrays and turtles. After that, the longest underwater viewing tunnel in Australia seems tame by comparison. Non-divers can enjoy an excellent reef-walking tour.
• Rottnest Island: catch the ferry from Hillarys to Rottnest Island, traffic-free home to the quokka.

Wanneroo
The Sunset Coast’s most northerly district is home to untouched yet accessible nature reserves and historical sites.

• 10th Light Horse Trail: This 1.3km trail in the Neerabup National Park passes through WWII campsites and training grounds. The park itself follows an old stock route, which in turn followed the ancient migration route of the aboriginal people between Lake Joondalup and Loch McNess.
• Pioneer sites: Cockman House, Buckingham House, Coopers Lime Kilns and Perrys Paddock are all within the Neerabup National Park, and each gives an insight into life in 19th Century Western Australia.
• Wanneroo museum: Explore artefacts and historic photographs which chart the development of the region, including some from the above pioneer sites.
• Yanchep National Park: One of Western Australia’s oldest national parks is famed for its caves – more than 600 of them. A guided tour of the Crystal Cave should be top of the to-do list, closely followed by a tour of Loch McNess’ wetland where you’ll spot koalas, kangaroos and the endangered Carnabys black cockatoo.
  The weekend Dance and Didgeridoo experience hosted by local aboriginals explains the culture and customs of the indigenous people.
• Shipwrecks: Wreck diving is a popular pastime but you don’t even have to get your feet wet to see the sights. At Wreck Point the remains of the Alex T Brown, lost in 1917, are clearly visible offshore.

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