A swim in Marmion Marine Park, a wander out on the century-old North Beach jetty, then a pint and a pizza at Froth Craft Beach across the road.
North Beach is the quieter bit of coast between Trigg and Hillarys, and that’s exactly why I like it. The water is calmer than Scarborough’s, there’s a little jetty with a long history, and there’s now a craft beer taphouse looking out over the ocean. A swim, a wander and a cold one. Sorted.
Quick facts
- Where: West Coast Drive, North Beach, between Watermans Bay and Trigg, in the City of Stirling
- The water: part of Marmion Marine Park, with calm water for swimming and snorkelling
- The jetty: a 22 metre fishing jetty between Castle Street and Malcolm Street, first built in 1922
- Facilities: toilets and car parks along West Coast Drive
- Then drink: Froth Craft Beach taphouse and pizzeria, North Beach Road
- Cost: the beach and jetty are free
A swim in Marmion Marine Park
According to the City of Stirling, North Beach sits inside Marmion Marine Park and has calm water for snorkelling and swimming. It’s a good pick on the days when Scarborough is all wind and waves. Bring a mask and have a look along the reef edges.
The North Beach jetty
The jetty is small but it’s got a story. The City of Stirling’s history of the jetty says the Perth Road Board built the first one in 1922. Winter storms wrecked it in the mid-1960s and it was pulled down in 1965, then rebuilt as a fishing platform in 1977. In 2018 it got a full refurb in seasoned jarrah. These days it’s 22 metres of jetty for anglers, sunset watchers and wedding photos.
“Late afternoon is the time for the North Beach jetty. Watch the sun go down over the water, then walk straight across the road for a beer.”
Alex Hamilton, Editor
A pint at Froth Craft Beach
The City of Stirling’s guide to eating and drinking in Stirling calls Froth “North Beach’s laid-back brewery serving up craft brews and woodfired slices”. It’s the Perth outpost of Froth Craft Brewery, which started in Exmouth, and it sits on North Beach Road just back from West Coast Drive with ocean views from the terrace.
When it opened, it had 16 taps of its own beer and seltzer, brewed down in Bunbury, plus pizzas and share plates. It’s family friendly with a kids’ play corner, and dogs are welcome too. I haven’t found enough recent reviews to quote yet, so I’ll keep this one to the facts. Go for a pint after a swim and judge it yourself.
More along this stretch of coast
North Beach is right in the middle of some of my favourite coastal spots. Head north for the Marmion snorkel trail, Hillarys Boat Harbour and the calm family beach at Mullaloo. Head south and you’re at Scarborough Beach in five minutes. If you’re hungry inland, see my list of the best restaurants in Karrinyup, or go old school with the best fish and chips in Perth.
Featured image: North Beach by Dr-ziego, CC0 via Wikimedia Commons, cropped.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The City of Stirling says North Beach is part of Marmion Marine Park and has calm water for swimming and snorkelling. It’s often calmer than Scarborough.
