A patrolled surf beach, Lagoon Park and a beer at the Whistling Kite. Here's how I'd spend a day in Secret Harbour, south of Rockingham.
Secret Harbour is one of those names that makes you want to go and have a look. Here’s the funny bit: there’s no harbour. The suburb is named after a marina that was planned and never built. What you do get is a long stretch of white sand, a patrolled surf beach and a local pub a few minutes back from the dunes. That’s a pretty good day out in my book.
Quick facts
- Where: on the coast south of Rockingham, about 56 km from Perth, in the City of Rockingham
- Beach patrols: weekends and public holidays from October to the end of March, plus weekday lifeguards in December and January
- Food and drink: the Whistling Kite on Oasis Drive, a pub with a beer garden
- Also here: Lagoon Park and Secret Harbour Golf Links
- Cost: the beach is free
The beach
The main swimming spot is the surf beach out the front of the Secret Harbour Surf Life Saving Club. According to the City of Rockingham, it’s patrolled on weekends and public holidays from October through to the end of March, and from the start of December to the end of January a professional lifeguard patrols on weekdays too. It’s an open ocean beach, not a sheltered bay, so swim between the flags.
Just north of the surf club car park is Lagoon Park, with shaded benches, outdoor gym gear and a swing set. It’s where the locals walk the dog and do their morning laps. If you’d rather walk than swim, the sand runs a long way in both directions and it’s rarely crowded.
A beer and a feed at the Whistling Kite
After a swim, I’m heading to the Whistling Kite on Oasis Drive. It’s the local pub, with outdoor seating and a menu that covers the usual pub favourites plus a bit of seafood. It sits on a 3.7 from more than 220 Tripadvisor reviews, and the recent ones are mostly happy.
“Beer is excellent and our food was fantastic.”
Michael B, March 2026, Tripadvisor review
“We have eaten at the Whistling Kite many times and the food and service has generally been excellent.”
Craig D, December 2025, Tripadvisor review
Another reviewer put it simply: “Generally always have a good feed here.” That one also said the outdoor area could use more shade, so on a hot day grab a table under cover. To be fair, not everyone’s a fan. One October 2025 reviewer said their food came out lukewarm. It’s a busy local, so set your expectations at good pub food, not fine dining.
More to do down this way
Secret Harbour Golf Links is a public 18-hole links course designed by Graham Marsh, built on natural dunes close to the ocean. Golf WA picked it to host the 102nd WA Open in October 2026, the first time the event has been held there, and anyone can book a tee time.
If you’re making a day of the drive south, Rockingham is only a short hop up the coast. Pair this with my guide to Penguin Island in Rockingham, or if you just want the classic beach and chips combo, see my list of the best fish and chips in Perth. Prefer something calmer for little ones? Mullaloo and the Omeo shipwreck snorkel trail at Coogee are both good options, and for a busier city beach there’s Scarborough.
Featured image: Secret Harbour beach by Calistemon, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons, cropped.
Frequently Asked Questions
The suburb was named after a marina development that was planned but never built, so despite the name there’s no harbour, just an open surf beach.
