The 5 most beautiful beaches in Western Australia

Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
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Whether you’re seeking A-frame waves or sheltered coves, WA has no shortage of great beaches. Here are five of the best.

1. Cable Beach, Broome

Watching the sun tint the sky and sea tangerine while plodding along Cable Beach on a camel is quintessential WA. The 22-kilometre-long beach, just a 10-minute drive from the heart of Broome, was named after the telegraph cable that connected Australia’s north west to the rest of the world in 1889. And while it’s justifiably famous for its camel rides at sunset, the sandscape is also a popular spot for playing beach cricket and enjoying a sundowner after spending the day dipping in and out of the sea. Download the dinosaur coast track guide app to find 130-million-year-old dinosaur footprints at low tide.

Top view of Cable Beach, one of the best beaches in WA
Cable Beach was named after the telegraph cable that connected Australia’s north west to the rest of the world in 1889. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

2. Greens Pool, Denmark

Zebra fish, six-spined leatherjackets, mosaic sea stars and silver drummer fish are just some of the marine creatures you might encounter while pin-balling around the large granite boulders that rise out of Greens Pool. This popular swimming spot delivers on both beauty and geographical drama. Located in William Bay National Park, Greens Pool is one of the most popular destinations in Denmark for families as it’s sheltered from the pounding surf.

Greens Pool, one of the best beaches in WA
This popular swimming spot delivers on both beauty and geographical drama. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

3. Hellfire Bay, east of Esperance

Dulux called and wants to know how to match the particular shades of teal and turquoise on show in the waters off Hellfire Bay. This picturesque crescent of sand is located between the broad shoulders of two rocky headlands, on the fringes of Cape Le Grand National Park. And while Hellfire Bay is already on the map for tourists thanks to its regular inclusion on lists of the area’s best beaches, you are still likely to find moments of solitude here. Hellfire Bay also lures cyclists who hug the coastline along the 1.9-kilometre-long Hellfire Bay Trail.

Hellfire Bay, one of the best beaches in WA
This picturesque crescent of sand is located between the broad shoulders of two rocky headlands, on the fringes of Cape Le Grand National Park. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

4. Misery Beach, Torndirrup

Misery Beach was named Australia’s Best Beach by Tourism Australia in its 2022 list of Australia’s Top 20 Beaches. Although the name of the remote stretch of sand hints at its grim history as a whaling station and hideaway for convicts, the secluded beach has been busy rebranding thanks to its turquoise waters, as pretty as sea glass, and powder-white sands. The beach is bookended by dramatic granite outcrops.

Misery Beach, one of the best beaches in WA
Misery Beach was named Australia’s Best Beach by Tourism Australia in its 2022 list of Australia’s Top 20 Beaches. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

5. Turquoise Bay, Coral Coast

Turquoise Bay beach is fringed by stunning coral reef gardens just metres from the shore inside Cape Range National Park on the Coral Coast. Enter the water at the bay’s southern end and float with the current at the same speed as the tropical fish moving through this section of the Ningaloo Marine Park (a marine superhighway). Turquoise Bay was No. 1 on TripAdvisor’s list of World’s Best Beaches in the South Pacific in 2022 and you’ll understand why when you enter its waters.

Turquoise Bay, one of the best beaches in WA
Turquoise Bay was No. 1 on TripAdvisor’s list of World’s Best Beaches in the South Pacific in 2022. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

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Carla Grossetti
Carla Grossetti has written across print and digital for Australian Traveller and International Traveller for more than a decade and has spent more than two decades finding excuses to eat well and travel far. A prestigious News Corp cadetship launched her career at The Cairns Post, before a stint at The Canberra Times and The Sydney Morning Herald gave way to extended wanders through Canada, the US, Mexico, Central America, Asia and Europe. Carla was chief sub editor at delicious and has contributed to Good Food, Travel & Luxury, Explore Travel, Escape. While living in London, Carla was on staff at Condé Nast Traveller and The Sunday Times Travel desk and was part of the pioneering digital team at The Guardian UK.
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Off-grid stays and farm-to-plate dining: discover the ultimate guide to Denmark, WA

    Rachael Thompson Rachael Thompson
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    Trade early morning phone alarms and city chaos for bucolic serenity and gastronomic delights.

    Peaceful birdsong and coastal winds meet rolling green hills and turquoise waters; there’s no better place to start your day than in Western Australia’s Denmark. This picturesque coastal town, a 4.5-hour drive from Perth along the pristine Rainbow Coast, offers bucolic bliss in spades.

    A hidden retreat lies just a 10-minute drive from the town centre, inviting guests to slow down and connect with nature. At Heyscape Denmark, the ultimate refuge from the rat race and the perfect setting for a rural escape await.

    Whether it’s for a refreshing weekend away or a regenerative week-long sojourn, this idyllic pocket of the world will leave you feeling anew.

    Where to stay

    women on front deck at inside a cabin at heyscape denmar Western australia
    Make the most of outdoor baths. (Credit: Jarrad Seng)

    Located on the 880-acre Raintree Estate, Heyscape Denmark is an award-winning, off-grid cabin retreat ideal for anyone craving time in nature while also enjoying sustainable, luxury comfort. Just 15 are sensitively embedded in the rural environment, ensuring privacy and the perfect setting to switch off. Choose from one-bedroom, two-bedroom or 4-person cabins. Four-legged friends can also join in on the fun with pet-friendly cabins available.

    inside a cabin at heyscape denmar Western australia
    Check in, to check out.

    The modern accommodations are well-appointed with queen beds dressed in lush linen and pillows; a bathroom with a warm shower, flushable toilet and botanical shampoo and conditioner; and an indoor kitchenette with a Nespresso coffee maker. Outside, find timber decks with seating to spot resident kangaroos from, Heston Blumenthal barbecues for whipping up delicious meals using local produce, and outdoor baths to soak up incredible nighttime skies – Denmark’s lack of light pollution makes it an exceptional spot for stargazing and viewing the Milky Way. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame sweeping Great Southern Ocean, William Bay National Park and Karri tree views.

    Wellness is at the forefront of Heyscape Denmark with thoughtful touches including Note to Self prompts, gratitude cards and a botanical sleep spray ready to help you unwind. And for the ultimate weekend of R&R, two-bedroom cabins are fitted with saunas.

    Where to eat

    Heyscape’s Marron Catch & Cook Experience
    Catch your own freshwater crayfish, then have a chef prepare it for you.

    The Great Southern region’s Mediterranean climate and nutrient-rich soils make for some of the most incredible produce in the world – and a stay at Heyscape Denmark lets you sample the very best of it. The estate farms over 200 black Angus cattle, marron – a freshwater crayfish endemic to the South-West of Western Australia –, hemp and French black truffle.

    Just steps from these cabins sits the estate’s paddock-to-plate restaurant, The Dam. Featuring lofty jarrah ceilings, polished concrete and expansive windows revealing calming dam views, it’s a stunning spot for lunch or dinner, alongside an outdoor playground to keep little ones happy and busy.

    Acclaimed chef Jason Jujnovich utilises ingredients from Raintree Estate’s regenerative farm in his hyper-local, Modern Australian menu. Seasonally changing dishes include the likes of wagyu beef lasagna and pistachio crumbed chicken cotoletta. Or join in for pizza night on a Friday, where the mushroom and truffle pizza is an easy winner.

    Meals are designed to be paired with sips from the property’s innovative Cannabis Botanical Distillery, which concocts house-made hemp spirits and seltzers using ingredients grown onsite. Taste unique drops such as the Sativa Gin with warm citrus and pepper notes and the Pineapple Passion seltzer.

    Another stand-out gastronomic offering is Heyscape’s Marron Catch & Cook Experience, which lets you hand-catch freshwater crayfish from the property’s pristine dams and have them prepared and cooked to perfection for you by chefs. Those wanting to enjoy a meal from the comfort of their cabin can fire up the barbecue and grill their fresh catch or order a gourmet dinner box with mouthwatering wagyu steak and antipasti against golden peaceful sunset views.

    Things to do

    Lights Beach denmark western australia
    Spend a day enjoying the idyllic Lights Beach. (Credit: Tourism WA)

    There’s no shortage of things to do in Denmark, and basing yourself at Heyscape Denmark puts you within easy access to it all. Nature lovers are spoiled with unbeatable spots for swimming and snorkelling, plus coastal hiking trails at William Bay National Park – a protected coastal reserve with approximately 1734 hectares of stunning landscapes ready to be explored.

    Hire an e-bike from the property and cycle just 15 minutes to the unbelievably clear waters and white sands of Greens Pools, a naturally sheltered beach. Or the idyllic Lights Beach, which features three beaches, dunes, natural wading pool and scenic walking trails. Keen surfers should turn their attention to Ocean Beach with its world-class surf breaks.

    aerial Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk
    Wander the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk. (Credit: Tourism WA)

    Stroll past towering Karri and giant Red Tingle trees on the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk. The 600-metre walkway rises 40 metres above the ancient forest floor and meanders through the hardwood trees, endemic exclusively to the Great Southern region.

    Denmark is also a haven for creatives, and Butter Factory Studios is a must-stop on any itinerary. The contemporary art gallery, working artist studio and gift shop are housed within a historic building where workshops and exhibitions support and showcase creators from the region.

    With the winning trifecta of delicious food, a pristine environment, and secluded accommodation, Denmark proves to be the ultimate destination for relaxation.

    Book your Denmark adventure today at heyscape.com.au.