Scarborough Beach: swimming, surf and a day by the ocean

Scarborough is a beach for people who enjoy a bit of life around their ocean swim. Surfers watch the breaking waves, families spread towels on the sand, and the cafés behind the foreshore keep a beach visit going well beyond lunchtime. The broad Indian Ocean outlook is the main attraction, whether you spend the morning in the water or arrive for a sunset walk.

This is an open surf beach. Its waves are part of its appeal, but conditions can be demanding, especially for inexperienced swimmers. The nearby lawns, showers and food places make it easy to combine time on the sand with a comfortable break.

Plan your visit

Visitor information checked 27 September 2026. Suggested visit lengths are planning estimates.

Foreshore access: the City announced renewal work at the amphitheatre seating area with a mid-October 2026 reopening target. Reopening was not confirmed at the 16 October review. Check the City works notice and follow on-site barriers; do not assume the whole beach is closed.

Where to start

The central foreshore at the end of Scarborough Beach Road is the easiest meeting point for a first visit. From the bus station or nearby parking, make your way towards the ocean and take a moment to look along the beach before going down to the sand.

Find the patrol flags first if you intend to swim. Their position matters more than the closest staircase or the patch of sand directly in front of your café. Lifeguards choose the swimming area according to conditions, so yesterday's spot may not be today's best place.

For a quieter walk away from the central bustle, head south towards Brighton Beach, at the end of Brighton Road. The City places this access about 400 metres south of Scarborough Beach. It is part of the same exposed coast, so fewer people should not be mistaken for easier swimming.

Swimming: what the waves mean for your visit

Scarborough's sandy beach can look inviting even when the water requires care. Breaking waves, changing sandbanks and rip currents make this a different experience from swimming in a pool or sheltered harbour.

Swim between the red and yellow flags, ask the patrol about conditions and follow any closure signs. The City describes lifeguard coverage throughout the year; volunteer Scarboro Surf Life Saving Club patrols normally operate on weekends and public holidays from October to April. Neither statement means the whole beach is supervised at all hours. Look for an operating patrol when you arrive. Patrol information and Beachsafe.

A gap with fewer breaking waves is not necessarily a calm entry point. It can indicate a rip current. If you are caught in one, conserve your energy, float and signal for help rather than trying to fight directly against it. Beachsafe explains how to recognise and respond to rips in its rip-current guide.

For children and less confident swimmers, make the swim optional. A beach walk, sand play with close supervision and a picnic can still make a good morning. The nearby pool offers another swimming choice when you would prefer a controlled environment.

Surfing and watching the surf

Surf Life Saving WA identifies the Brighton Road area as a popular place to look for waves. Breaks can be short and fast, and dumping or closing-out waves can make learning difficult. If you are new to surfing, a lesson is a more useful starting point than choosing a board and paddling out among experienced surfers.

Keep surfboards away from the flagged swimming area and follow local instructions. For people staying dry, the foreshore gives a good view of the changing surf. You can watch surfers wait, choose a wave and return to the line-up without stepping onto the sand.

Scarborough is primarily a surf-and-sand outing. For a trip built around seeing marine life underwater, compare the dedicated Mettams Pool guide and choose conditions appropriate to your ability.

A simple beach visit

Allow around two to three hours for this suggested outing, adjusting the swim to the weather and patrol advice.

1. Arrive at the central foreshore. Find the toilets, refill your water bottle and locate the flags before settling on the sand.
2. Spend your main beach time near the patrolled area. Swim if conditions suit, or enjoy the sand and watch the surf. Leave time to dry off and rinse away the salt.
3. Walk south along the foreshore. Pass the pool area and continue towards the Brighton Road access if everyone is comfortable. Turn back sooner with young children or if the wind is unpleasant.
4. Return for lunch or a picnic. Keeping the meal near your arrival point makes the return bus or car journey straightforward.

For an evening visit, shorten this to an oceanfront stroll and dinner. Bring a light layer and choose an open viewpoint for sunset. Do not plan on using the amphitheatre seats until the current works have finished.

Pool, picnic or playground?

Scarborough Beach Pool sits above the beach at 171 The Esplanade. Its heated outdoor swimming facilities include 50-metre and 25-metre lanes and a leisure pool. It has a separate admission charge, its own opening hours and child-supervision rules. You can enjoy the ocean view while choosing a swimming environment without surf. Pool information and entry fees.

For a beach picnic, Scarborough Reserve provides shelters, public barbecues, bathrooms and the Whale Playground. This is useful when members of the same group want different things: one person can enjoy the playground while another prefers a break from the sand. Bring sun protection for the beach itself; a picnic shelter does not provide shade at the water's edge.

For the skate areas, playground, pool and places to eat in more detail, see the Scarborough Beachfront guide.

Getting there without a car

Two public-transport approaches are useful:

• Train to Stirling Station, then Surf CAT. The Surf CAT links the station with Scarborough Beach and is free. Separate fare rules apply to your train journey.
• Route 990 from Perth Busport. This runs to Scarborough Beach via Glendalough Station, which also provides a train-to-bus connection.

Choose the option that works best from your accommodation rather than travelling across the city simply to use one particular route. Use Transperth's CAT information and JourneyPlanner for the next service and return journey.

Parking and beach access

Scarborough has both free and paid parking, with restrictions varying by car park. The City's parking page provides a precinct map and live availability information. Follow the signs for the bay you use rather than assuming every foreshore space has the same time limit.

The paved foreshore offers ocean views without going onto the sand. For beach access, the City provides a Freewheeler Beach Wheelchair and a Mobi Chair Floating Beach Wheelchair. These are different pieces of equipment, so choose according to the intended use and read the operating instructions before booking.

Both require a free reservation. The storage cabinet is on the lower foreshore and uses an MLAK key; visitors without a key can obtain access through the pool reception during its business hours. Arrange the assistance needed for the chair and any transfer before arriving. Beach-wheelchair booking and instructions.

For an outing with a dog, use the designated Peasholm Dog Beach, between Scarborough and Floreat. It has toilets, showers, drinking water and a dog-wash area. Follow the boundaries and signs at the beach.

Three details behind the beach

Its name came from another seaside town. Perth's Scarborough was named after the resort in North Yorkshire, England. The City's history records that street names were later changed to echo that English connection. Scarborough history.

The lifesaving club is almost a century old. Scarboro Surf Life Saving Club formed in January 1928. Its history links the club's origins to a 1916 drowning tragedy.

“Scarboro” is a deliberate spelling. The club says its shorter name reflects local pronunciation and an early bus service that used that spelling. The suburb and beach remain Scarborough. Club history.

Official visitor information

• City of Stirling: Scarborough Beach facilities
• Scarborough Reserve and picnic facilities
• Surf Life Saving WA: Scarborough
• Transperth Route 990 and other high-frequency services