Cruise, play & exercise with ocean views on Sunset Coast Tourist Drive, Perth’s scenic coastal route that stretches across the northern beaches for 38km.
Western Australia has many tourist drives that take you through areas of scenic or historic significance, designated by route markets with white numbers on a brown shield. Tourist drives were introduced in the 1990s, and since then there are currently 28 numbered routes that collectively traverse more than 2,000km across WA.
In addition to the tourist drives, there are also unnumbered scenic routes (such as the Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail in Mundaring), making tourists and Perth locals alike spoiled in choice when it comes to scenic road tripping across our beautiful state. One such popular tourist drive in Perth, is the Sunset Coast Tourist Drive – a route that takes you across a 38km stretch of coastline.
Sunset Coast Tourist Drive
Sunset Coast Tourist Drive (designated as Tourist Drive 204) is one of the most popular routes people drive and exercise on. It stretches 38km across Perth’s northern beaches, encompassing glorious coastline from Cottesloe beach to Burns Beach. This route is great to take as an alternative drive route when coming home from work, or exercising along in the mornings, afternoons and weekends.
There are two sections to the Sunset Coast Tourist Drive route that are connected by West Coast Highway. The first section is from Stirling Highway, North Fremantle via Cottesloe to Swanbourne, along Stirling Highway, Tydeman Road, Port Beach Road, Curtain Avenue, Marine Parade, and North Street.
The second section connects City Beach to Scarborough, Trigg, North Beach, Hillarys, Mullalloo, Ocean Reef, travelling along Challenger Parade, West Coast Drive, Karrinyup Road, West Coast Drive, Whitfords Avenue, Northshore Drive, Oceanside Promenane, Ocean Reef Road and terminating at Burns Beach Road.
About West Coast Scenic Drive (which makes up a bulk of the ‘second section’ of Sunset Coast Tourist Drive)
As I live far north of the river, I visit the second section of the Sunset Coast Tourist Drive (Tourist Drive 204) regularly, in particular, West Coast Scenic Drive.
West Coast Drive is 7km long, starting from Trigg Beach and finishing at Whitfords. It’s great for exercising on, and if you drive down this scenic route you’ll see many people of all ages (at all times of the day) walking, running and cycling. It has a buzzing variety of beachfront cafes, restaurants and attractions for all ages to enjoy. In recent years, two- and three-storey houses, often with wide front windows and balconies, have been constructed along the east side of the road. Whether people actually live in these houses, I do not know, as many of them appear to be goodlooking homes that look rather empty on the inside. Haha, excuse me, I’m just laughing at my own funny metaphors.
I love going to West Coast Drive, particularly on a Sunday, as I can make a whole day out of it.
Here’s how my Sunday afternoon on West Coast Drive went down:
I started off with breakfast at Voyage Cafe. (I ordered the Vegetarian Breakfast). Delish. Very important to get all appropriate nutrients inside of you before a long walk ahead.
Can’t forget the coffee either. It’s important to be well caffeinated before a busy day. I also ordered a green smoothie. (At Voyage Cafe)
Walked across the road from Voyage Cafe to sit down and check out the ocean views. Bask in the serenity.
Oh look, an informative sign telling me the last time I brushed my teeth or chewed some gum I was probably consuming seaweed extract without even knowing it. Cool.
Started the walk up West Coast Drive, heading South.
Looking back, many others walking too. A great way to lose post-baby weight is taking the pram with you! Great for toning the arms when pushing the pram up inclines.
West Coast Drive is very pedestrian friendly. Cyclists, joggers, and walkers all seen here.
“Partners who exercise together, stay together” – bicycle along the coast like these two are doing.
Feeling hot? Go for a splash in the ocean (if you’ve got bathers of course, don’t skinny dip in broad daylight as you will be in clear view to the rest of public and may get done for indecent exposure).
Informative sign reinforcing Perth cares about its coast and ongoing projects are in place to preserve it for the long-term.
Along West Coast Drive there is:
- Watersmans Bay Playground: Fully fenced playground set in sand, consisting of a play frame with curly slide, swings suitable for a toddler and baby as well as a bouncer/rocker. Also nearby, there’s a large area of grass suitable for ball games, BBQ and shaded picnic table areas. ~ West Coast Dr
- Yelo Cafe – Beachfront cafe with yellow accents. Take away coffee, fresh gourmet food and juice menu ~ 331 West Coast Dr | Website
- Voyage Cafe ~ All day modern Australian restaurant with direct beach views. Dog friendly. ~ 128 West Coast Dr | Website
- White Salt Bar & Cafe ~ Relaxed restaurant with ocean views, services modern Australian food with a Mediterranean twist. ~ 134 West Coast Dr | Website
- Soda Cafe: Ocean view terrace with diverse main menu. ~ 251 West Coast Dr | Website
- Hillarys Boat Harbour: Perth’s premier recreational destination for locals and tourists, with a wide range of restaurants, attractions, activities, shops and services catering to fisherman, boaters, beach goers, tourists and residents. ~ Hillarys Boat Harbour | Website
- AQWA (The Aquarium of Western Australia): Learn more about WA’s marine environment here, great for kids especially. ~Hillarys Boat Harbour | Website
- The Great Escape: A leisure park offering water slides, mini golf, bumper cafes and activities for all ages. ~ Hillarys Boat Harbour | Website
- Watersport Activities: windsurfing, kitesurfing, fishing, shore diving, stand up paddle boarding, swimming and more.
Just to name some! There’s also a dog beach at Whitfords Beach Avenue. As such, many people take their dogs on the West Coast Scenic Drive route for exercise. People finishing work after 5pm also enjoy taking the West Coast Drive route back home so to enjoy the beach views while also perving on attractive people exercising on the path ways. because let’s admit it, alot of us do.
To get to West Coast Drive from Scarborough, make sure you turn off West Coast Highway onto to the West Coast Scenic Drive. This takes you past the protected bays and beaches of the Sunset Coast, right through to popular Tourist Attraction Hillarys Boat Harbour and up to Burns Beach. Along the way you’ll find some stunning photo opportunities.
Yep, you can truly make a whole day out of exploring just West Coast Drive alone. Start off having breakfast at one of the quirky cafe’s on the strip, go for a walk along the beach, have lunch at another cafe, walk on more, visit Hillarys Boat Harbour or AQWA, or perhaps have a picnic. Have an early dinner and watch the sunset sink slowly into the Indian Ocean.
