In reconciling all coastal uses, the Coastal Study Group identified the need to effectively manage environmental and recreational needs through the provision of access paths, car parks, toilets and showers and animal exercise areas in a controlled and carefully planned fashion.

There are two classifications of beaches within the City:

• Bay Beaches
  Bay Beaches have a characteristic crescent shape with limestone rock formations at each end of the bay. These beaches are safe, sheltered areas and feature spectacular rock and dune formations. Bay beaches from north to south within the City of Stirling include Watermans Beach, Waterman; Hale Street Beach (between Hale and Castle Streets), North Beach; Hamersley Beach (between Sorrento Street and North Beach Road), North Beach; Mettams Beach (Bennion Street), Trigg.
• Sandy Beaches
  Sandy Beaches are created by deposits of sand left by ocean currents along the coastline. Sandy beaches are popular for swimming and surfing and include Trigg and Scarborough Beaches.

Major Beaches and their Facilities
The City of Stirling has approximately 7.5 kilometres of coastline under its care and control. This ranges from Peasholm Street Dog Beach, Scarborough (near Hale Road) in the south through to Watermans Beach, Waterman (Beach Road) in the north.

Included in this stretch of coast are some of Perth's best beaches including Perth's most popular beach at Scarborough and the metropolitan areas best surf beach at Trigg. Also included are the bay beach areas north of Trigg Island with Mettams Pool, North Beach and Watermans being amongst the best known.

Scarborough Beach
Scarborough Beach, located at the end of Scarborough Beach Road, is arguably Perth's most popular beach. Well served by public transport, providing easy access for all, it is also home to Perth’s only 5 star resort hotel on the coast - Rendezvous Observation City.

Scarborough Beach has been selected to play host to the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships in 2007, 2008 and 2009. This is an event which includes up to 8000 competitors and officials and is expected to inject over $20 million into the local economy.

Features - surf lifesaving club, grassed areas, kiosk, shopping facilities, public toilets/change rooms and extensive parking facilities.


Trigg Beach
Trigg Beach is Perth's most consistent surf break, particularly over the summer when it is often the only beach in the metropolitan area with a wave breaking. Trigg is also well known for the Trigg blue hole – an area at the north end of Trigg Beach which has in the past claimed several lives.

Features – surf lifesaving club, grassed areas, kiosks, off street parking, public toilets/change rooms, small boat launching ramp.

Bennion Beach
Bennion Beach is perfect for snorkelling and exploring. There is an abundance of marine life on the reef systems surrounding the beach, with a sheltered swimming area. There is a secluded atmosphere to the beach with most of the crowd around the corner at Trigg.

Features - great for snorkelling! Explore the depths at Bennions.



Mettams Pool
North of Trigg Island the coast changes from the wide sandy beaches of Scarborough and Trigg to rocky bays. Some of the better known of these bays include Mettams Pool, a swimmer friendly area which is extremely popular with early morning swimmers of all ages, North Beach and Watermans Beach.

Mettams Pool is very popular with early morning swimmers through a protected rock pool situated inside a protecting reef. Elderly and very young beachgoers find this area particularly attractive because of the normally calm and safe waters within the pool. The Education Department runs vacation swimming classes at this location for this very reason. Away from the pool area itself, the open part of the bay is a popular location for surfers, particularly longboarders. The often full waves provide a great wave for the longboarders to show off their skills.

Features - shop close by and off street parking, toilets/change room facilities, sheltered gazebos and a small grassed area. There are also ramps, allowing people with disabilities and with wheelchairs access to the beach.

North Beach
North Beach is a relatively sandy beach characterised by rocky outcrops. It is normally quite safe however the usually small surf tends to dump onto the sand. At the north end of this beach is the North Beach Jetty. This jetty, protruding only a very small way into the ocean, is popular with fisherman hoping to land a good catch. During the summer months it is quite often possible to walk around the end of this jetty due to the sand build up.

Features - serene and historical beach, toilets and changerooms are available at this beach and an adjacent small shopping centre has refreshments and meals available.

Watermans Beach
Watermans Beach is very popular with children and families. A small breaking wave can provide enjoyment for the younger children, whilst a sandy beach provides the opportunity for the family to set up an umbrella and relax. A small though extremely popular café/restaurant directly opposite this beach enables beachgoers the opportunity to purchase refreshments when the beach gets a bit too much for them.

During the peak summer period, mid-December to the end of January, this beach is patrolled by professional lifeguards employed by the City of Stirling. They operate seven days a week from 9:00am - 4:30pm.

Features - shops close by, off street car parking facilities, public toilets/changerooms, shade shelters and gazebos as well as a children's playground area and barbeque facilities.

Animal Exercise Beaches
Two animal exercise areas are also located in the City of Stirling's coastline where the public may freely exercise their dogs on the beach without fear of prosecution. These exercise areas are located between Bennion and Kathleen Streets, Trigg and between Castle, North Beach and Ada Streets, Watermans.

For more information on any of the Beaches or Services, please contact the Beach Coordinator on 9205 7470 or  0417 092 163 or email beaches@stirling.wa.gov.au.