Best Beaches In WA For Families: Parking, Toilets, Cafes & Stress-Free Beach Days
Let's be honest.
The best family beach isn't always the prettiest one.
As parents, we've all learned this eventually. A beach can have crystal-clear water, white sand and the perfect sunset. But if you're driving around for 20 minutes looking for parking while the kids are already asking for snacks, suddenly that "perfect beach" doesn't feel so perfect anymore.
When you're travelling with children, different things matter. You start asking questions like:
- Is there parking nearby?
- Are there toilets?
- Can I grab a coffee?
- Is there somewhere to sit in the shade?
- How far is the walk from the car to the sand?
- Will the kids actually enjoy it?
After spending countless weekends exploring Western Australia's coastline, we've put together a list of the best family-friendly beaches in WA — not based on Instagram photos, but based on what makes a genuinely enjoyable family beach day.
What Makes A Great Family Beach?
For us, the perfect family beach usually includes:
- ✅ Easy parking
- ✅ Clean toilets
- ✅ Food and coffee nearby
- ✅ Safe swimming conditions
- ✅ Picnic areas and shade
- ✅ Short walk from the car to the sand
- ✅ Enough space to set up for the day
Because when you've got kids, beach days are less about finding the most beautiful stretch of sand and more about making the entire day easy.
WA Family Beach Guide - At a Glance
Beach |
Rating |
Best For |
Parking |
Toilets |
Food & Coffee |
Shade & Picnic |
Water |
Family Verdict |
Navigate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hillarys Boat Harbour |
⭐ 4.7 |
Toddlers & young families |
Plenty, close to beach |
Clean & easy to access |
Lots of cafés, restaurants & ice cream |
Limited natural shade — bring your own setup |
Very calm & protected |
One of the easiest family beach days in Perth |
Google Maps → |
Mullaloo Beach |
— |
Full-day family trips |
Usually easy to find |
Good facilities |
Fish & chips and cafés nearby |
Grass areas & picnic spaces |
Safe swimming, gentle conditions |
Perfect for families who want to spend the whole day |
Google Maps → |
City Beach |
— |
Families who want convenience |
Good, busy on weekends |
Excellent facilities |
Great food options nearby |
BBQs, picnic tables & open spaces |
Family-friendly conditions |
A great mix of beach and facilities |
Google Maps → |
Coogee Beach |
⭐ 4.7 |
Relaxed family beach days |
Easy parking |
Good facilities |
A few nearby options |
Picnic areas & foreshore spaces |
Generally calm conditions |
Easy, stress-free beach day |
Google Maps → |
Yanchep Lagoon |
⭐ 4.7 |
Younger kids & snorkelling |
Usually available |
Basic but adequate |
Limited compared to Perth beaches |
Some shaded areas nearby |
Protected lagoon, very calm |
One of the safest swimming spots for children |
Google Maps → |
Busselton Foreshore |
⭐ 4.7 |
Ultimate family day out |
Large parking areas |
Excellent facilities |
Plenty of cafés & family dining |
Great picnic areas & foreshore lawns |
Shallow, calm water |
Worth the drive for a full family adventure |
Google Maps → |
Cottesloe Beach |
⭐ 4.6 |
Scenery & sunsets |
Difficult during peak times |
Good facilities |
Excellent cafés & restaurants |
Limited shade on the beach itself |
Open beach conditions |
Beautiful but not always the easiest with kids |
Google Maps → |
Pinnaroo Point |
⭐ 4.5 |
Picnics & relaxed beach days |
Plenty of free parking |
Good facilities |
Beach Club & nearby dining |
Excellent picnic & grassed areas |
Calm, family-friendly conditions |
One of Perth's most underrated family beaches |
Google Maps → |
Hillarys Boat Harbour
If you're introducing young children to the beach, it's hard to beat Hillarys.
The marina creates calm, protected water that's perfect for toddlers and young swimmers. Add in nearby cafés, toilets, restaurants and even AQWA, and you've got a location that feels designed for families.
What parents will love: Calm water, easy access, plenty of food options, close facilities.
What to know: Summer weekends get busy. Arrive early if you want the best parking spots.
Note on shade: Hillarys has limited natural shade on the beach itself. It's one of those spots where bringing your own setup makes a big difference — especially for a long day with young kids.
Get directions to Hillarys Boat Harbour →
Mullaloo Beach
Mullaloo feels like the beach version of an all-day family outing.
There's enough space to spread out, enough facilities to stay comfortable, and enough room for the kids to burn through their endless supply of energy. The playground, grassy picnic areas and nearby food options make it genuinely easy to spend the entire day here.
Perfect for: Families bringing shade, snacks, towels and settling in for the long haul.
Get directions to Mullaloo Beach →
City Beach
Some beaches are beautiful. City Beach is beautiful and practical.
The combination of toilets, showers, cafés, BBQ areas and playgrounds makes it one of the easiest places to organise a family day without overthinking it. When everything you need is within walking distance, everybody enjoys the day a little more.
Get directions to City Beach →
Coogee Beach
Coogee doesn't always get the attention it deserves.
It's quieter than some of Perth's more famous beaches, but offers many of the same family-friendly benefits — parking, good facilities and generally calm conditions that make it ideal for younger children. It's also the type of beach where you can actually relax. Parents will understand how valuable that is.
Get directions to Coogee Beach →
Yanchep Lagoon
If your kids love calm water, Yanchep Lagoon deserves a place on your list.
The protected lagoon creates gentle swimming conditions that are perfect for children building confidence in the water. Lifeguards are on duty, and the reef provides natural protection from strong waves. It's a little further from Perth, but many families feel the drive is completely worth it.
Get directions to Yanchep Lagoon →
Busselton Foreshore
If we had to choose one ultimate family beach destination in WA, Busselton would be very hard to beat.
The water is calm. The foreshore is beautiful. The facilities are excellent. The famous jetty gives the whole area something extra that kids and adults both enjoy — and the underwater observatory at the end of it is genuinely spectacular.
Yes, it's a longer drive from Perth. But it's also the kind of place where an ordinary beach day turns into a family memory.
Get directions to Busselton Foreshore →
Cottesloe Beach
Cottesloe is iconic for a reason. The sunsets are incredible. The cafés are fantastic. The atmosphere is uniquely Western Australian.
For families, the main challenge is parking — especially during peak times. Arrive early, expect company, and bring your own shade. The beach itself has limited natural cover, and on a full summer day that matters.
Get directions to Cottesloe Beach →
Pinnaroo Point
Pinnaroo Point might be the most underrated beach on this list.
It combines easy free parking, grassy picnic areas, playgrounds and beach access in a way that feels incredibly family-friendly. If you're looking for somewhere quieter than Hillarys or Cottesloe, this is a fantastic option — and the kite surfers are genuinely entertaining to watch.
Get directions to Pinnaroo Point →
One Thing Every Family Beach Day Needs
No matter which beach you choose, one thing never changes: the walk from the car always feels longer than you expected. Especially when you're carrying towels, water, snacks, sunscreen, toys and spare clothes.
A little preparation goes a long way:
- ✅ Bring plenty of water — more than you think
- ✅ Bring more snacks than you think you'll need
- ✅ Reapply sunscreen every two hours — WA UV levels are no joke
- ✅ Bring proper shade — most beaches on this list have limited natural cover, and a full day in direct WA sun without it will cut the day short fast
The Sol Umbra Sun Shade was designed specifically for days like these — UPF 50+, sets up in 90 seconds, stays stable in coastal wind and packs into a carry bag that fits alongside everything else. It's what we bring to every beach on this list.
Final Thoughts
The best family beach isn't necessarily the one with the whitest sand or the best Instagram photos. It's the one where everyone has a good day.
The kids stay happy. The parents stay relaxed. Nobody gets sunburnt. Nobody has to walk half a kilometre carrying five bags.
And everyone leaves saying: "We should come back here next weekend."
That's usually the sign you've found a great family beach.
Written by Nathaniel Cross
