Best Swimming Spots in Rockingham:

Sheltered bays, calm shallows and surf beaches: find the right spot for your day in the water.

Most Perth beaches face the open Indian Ocean, but Rockingham’s foreshore looks onto the sheltered waters of Cockburn Sound, protected by Garden Island and Point Peron. The result is calm, clear, shallow water that suits toddlers, paddlers and relaxed swimmers. And if you’re after waves, the open-ocean beaches to the south have you covered.

CHOOSE YOUR SWIMMING SPOT

Rockinghm Foreshore

Rockingham Beach Foreshore

Calmest and Best for Families

  • Conditions: Very calm, sheltered and shallow, with little to no wave action.
  • Best for: Toddlers and young children, gentle swimming, floating and beach picnics.
  • Facilities: Paved promenade, shaded lawns at Bell Park and Churchill Park, toilets, showers and nearby cafes.
  • Accessibility: Beach matting and seasonal beach wheelchair hire (see Accessible Beach Facilities below).

Palm Beach

Relaxed and Sheltered

  • Conditions: Calm, flat water protected by Garden Island and Point Peron.
  • Best for: Easy swimming, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) and early-morning laps.
  • Facilities: Shaded parkland, BBQs, playground and plenty of parking. A local favourite with families.
Palm Beach
Safety Bay

Safety Bay and The Pond

Calm Mornings, Windy Afternoons

  • Conditions: A sheltered, shallow bay that is calm in the morning but picks up wind most afternoons.
  • Best for: Morning swims, paddling in the shallows, and watching kitesurfers and windsurfers when the sea breeze kicks in.
  • Facilities: Good parking, grassed foreshore, toilets and a boat ramp.
  • Good to know: Stay close to shore and well clear of kitesurfing launch and landing areas.

Shoalwater Bay and Mersey Point

Nature and Wildlife

  • Conditions: Generally calm, shallow waters over seagrass, looking across to Penguin Island.
  • Best for: Snorkelling, kayaking and spotting pelicans, dolphins and other marine life.
  • Safety note: Conditions between the mainland and Penguin Island can change quickly. Take the ferry or a guided tour rather than walking across.
Shoalwater
Secret Harbour

Secret Harbour and Golden Bay

Surf and Waves

  • Conditions: Open-ocean beaches with waves, swell and rips.
  • Best for: Surfing, bodyboarding and confident swimmers.
  • Safety: Secret Harbour is patrolled by Surf Life Saving WA during the summer season. Always swim between the red and yellow flags, and check patrol times before you go.

Beach Safety Tips

  • Swim between the flags. At patrolled beaches, stay between the red and yellow flags.
  • Know what to do in a rip. Stay calm, float, raise an arm to signal for help, and don’t fight the current.
  • Protect your skin. Wear a hat and UV-protective swimwear, and reapply SPF 50+ sunscreen regularly.
  • Check conditions first. Wind, tides and swell can change quickly, so look at the forecast before heading out.
  • Never swim alone. Keep children within arm’s reach of an adult at all times.

Accessible Beach Facilities

Rockingham aims to make the beach easy for everyone to enjoy.

  • Beach matting: Laid along the Rockingham Beach Foreshore for easy access by wheelchair and pram down to the water’s edge.
  • Beach wheelchairs: Available to hire in summer, including floating models. Please call ahead to reserve.

Where to Book a Beach Wheelchair

Contact Pick-up address Phone Wheelchairs available Availability
The Cruising Yacht Club Val Street, Rockingham (08) 9527 5468 Mobi-Chair, Sandcruiser 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
Seaside Camp for Children Inc. Hymus Street, Peron (08) 9527 1127 Mobi-Chair, Sandpiper (child use only) 9am to 4pm, seven days a week
Perth Wildlife Encounters 153 Arcadia Drive, Shoalwater (08) 9591 1333 Mobi-Chair Available in line with Penguin Island ferry bookings