Perth residents have cast their votes, and a clear winner has emerged in the hunt for the city's best beach. City Beach clinched the top spot with 27.8 per cent of the vote in a recent online poll conducted by The Sunday Times and PerthNow.
The People's Choice
The poll, which attracted hundreds of participants, revealed a tight race for the runner-up positions. Scarborough and Cottesloe were virtually tied for second and third place, separated by just a single vote. Coogee Beach secured a respectable fourth place in the rankings.
When the question was posed on social media, it sparked hundreds of comments and revealed a more divided set of opinions, showing that beach preference is a deeply personal matter for West Australians.
What Makes a Beach Great?
According to the many comments from locals, the best beach isn't always the most famous one. A recurring theme highlighted that the ideal beach is often the least crowded one. This sentiment likely gave City Beach an edge over the more heavily frequented shores of Cottesloe and Scarborough.
"The best beach is the one I can walk to from home (800 metres away). Plenty of parking and not over crowded," commented one local, Rosella Townie.
Others echoed this view, with Renae Grayden simply stating, "Which ever is the least crowded!" and Michelle Copping agreeing, "The one with the least people!!"
Safety and Hidden Gems
The discussion also brought safety considerations to the forefront, with several readers mentioning they only visit beaches with shark nets. Others championed their personal favourites that didn't make the official poll list.
Notably, Mullaloo Beach was mentioned repeatedly by commenters, despite its reputation for having a resident Tiger shark, affectionately known as 'Trevor' or 'Terry' by locals.
Other underrated beaches highlighted by readers included Yanchep, Rockingham, Leighton, Swanbourne, Alkimos, Warnbro, Waikiki, Port Beach, Claytons, Quinns Beach, Shoalwater, and Palm Beach.
The results, announced on 22 November 2025, show that while Perth is blessed with many spectacular coastlines, City Beach has captured the hearts of locals as their number one choice for a day by the ocean.
