Preston Beach is a small coastal village on the edge of Yalgorup National Park, and that is a big part of its charm. It also means eating out here works differently from a bigger beach town. There is one village cafe that trades mainly on weekends, a small store for essentials and bait, and free barbecues at the beach reserve. Everything else, from bakery pies to pub dinners and a cellar door, sits a short drive inland at Lake Clifton and Waroona. This guide shows what is open on which days, how to plan meals around that, and how to make the most of cooking at your holiday home this spring.
Key Takeaway
Preston Beach is a self-catering village first. Footprints Cafe on Mitchell Road is listed as open Friday evening, Saturday all day and Sunday until 2pm, and closed Monday to Thursday. Lake Clifton and Waroona add a cafe, tavern, bakery, pubs and a winery, each roughly half an hour or more by car. Plan midweek meals at home and save eating out for the days places are open.
Before You Drive Down
A few checks before you leave make a small-village stay much easier.
1Do a big shop first: The village store is small and stocks essentials and bait, not a full grocery range.
2Check trading days: Several local venues close early in the week, so confirm hours on their pages before you go.
3Check fire bans: Spring and summer bring Total Fire Ban days that change how barbecues can be used.
Three Ways To Eat Well Here
Most good Preston Beach food days use one of these three patterns.
1Village day: Breakfast at home, beach picnic at the reserve, weekend dinner at Footprints Cafe.
2Inland day: Bakery or cafe in Waroona, a cellar door afternoon, pub dinner on the way home.
3Home day: Long lunch and a barbecue dinner on the deck while the light fades over Lake Preston.
How Eating Out Works In A Small Coastal Village
Preston Beach sits on the coast in the Shire of Waroona, between the Indian Ocean and Lake Preston, with Yalgorup National Park wrapped around it. Visit Waroona describes it as a place where the bush meets the sea, with a small general store for essentials and bait, a cafe for coffee and food, a playground, barbecues and one of the few beaches in Western Australia where you can drive onto the sand.
What it does not have is a strip of restaurants and late-night takeaways. That surprises some first-time visitors, especially those used to Mandurah or Busselton. The upside is the reason people come: quiet streets, kangaroos at dawn, birdsong and wide, empty sand.
The trick is to treat food as part of the plan rather than an afterthought. Decide before you arrive which meals you will cook, which you will eat at the beach and which you will eat out. Then match the eating-out meals to the days the nearby places actually trade.
All trading hours in this guide are as listed on the Visit Waroona website in early October 2026. Small regional businesses change hours with the seasons, school holidays and staffing, so always confirm on the business's own page or by phone before you plan a day around one.
Preston Beach rewards guests who plan meals around the calendar and keep the fridge full.
Footprints Cafe: The Village Coffee And Dinner Stop
Footprints Cafe is the one cafe in Preston Beach itself. Visit Waroona lists it at 56 Mitchell Road, the road that runs down to the beach reserve, and describes it as a laid-back cafe with great coffee and light meals close to the beach. It sits with Footprints Holiday Resort.
The trading pattern is the most important thing to know. The current Visit Waroona listing shows Footprints Cafe closed Monday to Thursday, open Friday from 4pm to 8:30pm, Saturday from 8am to 8:30pm and Sunday from 8am to 2pm.
That shape suits a weekend stay well. Friday evening covers the arrival-night problem of a long drive and no energy to cook. Saturday gives you a morning coffee after an early beach walk and a dinner option. Sunday morning covers breakfast before you pack up.
If you are staying midweek, assume the cafe is closed and plan around it. For a weekend dinner, it is sensible to call ahead in busy periods, because a small village cafe can fill quickly when the caravan park and holiday homes are full.
Arriving on a Friday?Footprints Cafe is listed as opening at 4pm on Fridays, which makes it a handy first-night meal if you arrive in time. Confirm hours before you leave Perth.
The Village Store: Essentials, Bait And Top-Ups
Visit Waroona describes Preston Beach's general store as a small shop supplying essentials and bait. Think of it as a top-up stop: milk, bread, ice, a forgotten ingredient, or bait for an evening on the beach.
It is not the place to do the full shop for a three or four night stay. Range and stock in a small coastal store can be limited, particularly after a busy weekend or during school holidays, and prices in small stores usually reflect the cost of getting goods to a remote village.
The easiest approach is to do your main grocery shop before you turn off towards the coast, wherever your route passes larger supermarkets, and bring a couple of cooler bags or an esky for the cold items. Then use the village store for anything you run short on.
Store hours are not published on the Visit Waroona page, so if you need it at a specific time, such as early before fishing or late on arrival day, call the Waroona Visitor Centre on (08) 9733 1506 or check locally on arrival.
Preston Beach Reserve: Free Barbecues And Beach Picnics
Some of the best meals in Preston Beach do not involve a restaurant at all. Visit Waroona lists the Preston Beach Reserve, at the end of Mitchell Road, with shaded picnic shelters, free barbecues, an accessible playground, public toilets and direct beach access.
That combination makes a beach lunch easy. Pack sausages, burgers or marinated chicken, bread rolls and a salad, and cook at the reserve while the children use the playground. Everyone can then walk straight onto the sand without carrying a full picnic down the dunes.
For families with younger children, a reserve lunch also solves the timing problem of a beach day. You can eat when people are hungry rather than when a cafe kitchen is open, and leave whenever the wind picks up.
Bring a cleaning cloth or foil for the hotplate, tongs, plates and a rubbish bag. Public barbecues are shared, so clean the plate after use and take rubbish with you if the bins are full. In spring the afternoon sea breeze can be strong on this coast, so lunch tends to be more comfortable than late afternoon.
At the reserve
Shaded shelters, free barbecues, accessible playground, toilets and direct beach access, as listed by Visit Waroona.
Bring
Tongs, foil, a cloth, plates, a cooler bag, water, sunscreen and a rubbish bag.
Best time
Late morning to early afternoon, before the spring sea breeze builds.
Lake Clifton: A Cafe And A Tavern On Old Coast Road
Lake Clifton is the nearest cluster of food options beyond the village, inland and east of Preston Beach on Old Coast Road. It is a natural stop on the way in or out, or when you visit the Lake Clifton thrombolites boardwalk.
Lake Clifton Cafe at 3234 Old Coast Road is described by Visit Waroona as a welcoming stop serving fresh coffee, light meals and homemade treats. It is listed as open Wednesday to Sunday from 8am to 2pm, and closed Monday and Tuesday.
Lake Clifton Tavern and Motel, close by at 3236 Old Coast Road, is described as a spot for classic pub meals, live music nights and a laid-back stay. Its listed hours are 11am to 8pm, Monday to Sunday.
That makes the tavern the most reliable midweek option for a meal out near Preston Beach. If you arrive on a Monday to Thursday and do not want to cook on the first night, stopping for an early pub dinner on the way through can be easier than a return drive later. Use your maps app for the exact route and travel time from your entry point.
Midweek tipOn Monday to Thursday, when Footprints Cafe is listed as closed, Lake Clifton Tavern's daily 11am to 8pm hours make it the easiest pub meal near the coast. Check before you go.
Waroona For Pies, Coffee And A Proper Breakfast
Waroona is the shire's main town, inland on the South Western Highway. By road it is roughly 35 minutes from Preston Beach, depending on traffic and exactly where you start. It is worth the drive for a morning when you want someone else to make breakfast, or as part of an inland day.
Pinjarra Bakery Waroona, at 36 South West Highway, is described by Visit Waroona as famous for award-winning pies, with fresh baked goods and barista-made coffee. It has the earliest listed hours in the area: Monday to Friday from 6am to 3pm and weekends from 7am to 3:30pm. That makes it a good stop for anyone heading inland early.
Cafe Waroona, at 97 South Western Highway, is described as a cosy spot for a cuppa, breakfast wrap or a fresh slice of cake. It is listed as closed Monday, open Tuesday to Friday from 7am to 3pm and weekends from 8am to 3pm.
Hungry Bear Takeaway, at 82 South Western Highway, covers quick, casual food. Its listed hours are every day from 10:30am to 1:30pm and again from 5pm to 7:30pm.
Centennial Park in Waroona is described by Visit Waroona as a frequent place for coffee vans and food trucks, with toilets, barbecue areas and a playground. It is a useful place to eat bakery pies with children before the drive back to the coast.
Pub Meals And Club Nights In Waroona
For a sit-down meal with a drink, Waroona has two hotels and a bowling club with Friday meals. If food is the main reason for the trip, ring ahead to check the kitchen is running. Pair one with an afternoon inland, so you are not driving the coast road twice in an evening.
The Rec Waroona, at 16 Fouracre Street, is described by Visit Waroona as the lively heart of Waroona's social scene, with cold drinks, live entertainment and a friendly atmosphere. Listed hours are Monday to Thursday 11am to 3pm and 5pm to 8pm, and Friday to Sunday 11am to 8pm.
Drakesbrook Hotel Motel, at 8229 South West Highway, is described as a historic local favourite with cold drinks, tasty meals and a heritage-rich setting. Listed hours are Monday and Tuesday 12pm to 2pm and 5pm to 8pm, and Wednesday to Sunday 12pm to 8pm.
Waroona Bowling Club on Parnell Street offers hearty meals on Friday nights, with food by booking. Visit Waroona lists a contact number for bookings, so ring ahead if you want to join a country bowls-club dinner.
Remember that kitchens in country pubs often close earlier than city venues. The 8pm closing times listed for these venues mean an early dinner, which also suits the drive back to Preston Beach. Kangaroos are common on country roads around dusk and after dark, so slow down and take extra care on the way home.
Eat early when you go inland: country kitchens close early, and the drive home is easier before the kangaroos come out.
Drakesbrook Wines: A Cellar Door Afternoon
For couples and adult groups, Drakesbrook Wines at 84 Prince Road, Waroona, is the most relaxed food-and-drink outing in the shire. Visit Waroona describes boutique wines, a deck where you can relax with a tasting paddle, and an underground cellar door.
The attractions listing adds barbecue picnic areas, orchard produce and visits from farm animals and local wildlife, including kangaroos, wallabies and endangered black cockatoos. That makes it a gentler cellar door for families too, with plenty for children to look at while the adults taste.
Listed hours are Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm, closed Monday and Tuesday, and Visit Waroona notes it opens through school holidays or by appointment. It sits on the inland side of Waroona, so allow close to an hour each way from Preston Beach and nominate a driver.
A good shape for the day is bakery breakfast in Waroona, a late-morning cellar door visit with a picnic lunch, and a slow drive back to the coast for a light dinner at the house.
When The Calendar Adds Food To The Weekend
Community events are where country food really shows up, with sausage sizzles, cake stalls, food vans and club canteens. The Shire of Waroona and Visit Waroona calendars list a few dates over the next eight weeks worth planning around.
Waroona Show
Saturday 10 October 2026, 8am to 10pm at the Waroona Show grounds. A full day of country food, stalls and family fun.
Star Tracks Astro Event
Saturday 7 November 2026, 6pm to 9:30pm. An evening of stargazing; check the listing for the venue and any food.
Charla Downs Waroona Rodeo
Saturday 21 November 2026 at Charla Downs. A long day out; check the event page for tickets and food.
The Shire's calendar also lists the Waroona Creative Arts Centre Open Day on Sunday 22 November, which pairs nicely with a Sunday bakery stop and a cafe lunch.
WA public school holidays run to Sunday 11 October 2026, with Term 4 starting on Monday 12 October. Weekends during the holidays and around big events are when village venues are busiest, so book or arrive early. After the holidays, midweek is quieter but some places close early in the week, so the self-catering plan matters even more.
A Simple Day-By-Day Opening Planner
Using the hours listed by Visit Waroona in October 2026, this is the rough pattern of what is open near Preston Beach. Treat it as a planning guide, not a guarantee, and confirm before you drive.
1Monday: Footprints Cafe, Cafe Waroona, Lake Clifton Cafe and Drakesbrook Wines closed. Lake Clifton Tavern, Pinjarra Bakery Waroona, The Rec, Drakesbrook Hotel and Hungry Bear listed as open.
2Tuesday: Lake Clifton Cafe and Drakesbrook Wines still closed. Cafe Waroona reopens. Footprints Cafe closed.
3Wednesday and Thursday: Lake Clifton Cafe and Drakesbrook Wines open. Footprints Cafe still closed, so plan village dinners at home.
4Friday: Footprints Cafe opens at 4pm. Waroona Bowling Club Friday meals by booking.
5Saturday: The widest choice. Footprints Cafe listed from 8am to 8:30pm, and most inland venues open.
6Sunday: Footprints Cafe until 2pm, so plan Sunday dinner at home or inland.
Barbecues And Fire Season: What Changes On Hot Days
Spring on the Yalgorup coast is lovely for outdoor eating, but it is also the run-up to bushfire season. On hot, dry, windy days the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) can declare a Total Fire Ban, and that changes how you can cook outdoors.
DFES says you can use a gas barbecue for cooking during a Total Fire Ban if it has an enclosed flame and is used at your home or in an authorised area such as a public park. All flammable material needs to be cleared five metres around the barbecue, and barbecues with exposed flames cannot be used. Electric barbecues with no flame can be used.
In practice, that means no campfires or open-flame cooking in the bush or on the beach on a ban day. Keep cooking to the house barbecue or the reserve barbecues, follow any instructions in the house guide, keep water nearby and never leave a barbecue unattended.
Check for bans each morning on the Emergency WA website, through the DFES Total Fire Ban hotline on 1800 709 355, or on ABC local radio.
Make it a morning habitCheck Emergency WA with your first coffee each day from spring onward. It takes a minute and tells you whether a barbecue dinner needs any changes.
Bigger Food Days Further Afield
If you have a longer stay, a couple of bigger food outings sit beyond the 30-minute range. They are best as one dedicated day trip rather than a quick dash.
Harvey and Wokalup: Harvey is roughly 40 minutes by road from Preston Beach. Harvey Cheese has a factory and shop on the South Western Highway at Wokalup, south of Harvey. Check opening hours with them before you drive, and pack a cooler bag for the trip home. The Harvey Region tourism site also lists wineries, breweries and produce farm gates in the area.
Mandurah: About an hour north by road, Mandurah is the region's main city, with far more restaurants and shops than the Waroona shire. It is also a practical place for a big grocery shop on the way down from Perth.
For most short stays, though, the village, Lake Clifton and Waroona are enough. The real luxury at Preston Beach is not having to drive anywhere for dinner.
Where Gracie & Dan's Coastal Retreat Fits A Self-Catered Preston Beach Stay
Because Preston Beach is a self-catering village, the kitchen and outdoor areas of your holiday home matter more than usual. Gracie & Dan's Coastal Retreat is set up for exactly this kind of stay.
The listing describes a kitchen with a large island bench and four stools, a freestanding gas cooker and a farmhouse sink, opening through wide bifold windows onto a covered gazebo deck. Behind a barn door, the scullery holds the fridge, a second sink, a built-in wine rack and a lit coffee station with a kettle, toaster and mugs, so breakfast and coffee happen without crowding the main kitchen.
Outside, an undercover outdoor kitchen beside the gazebo deck has a gas barbecue, bench space and a sink under festoon lights, with a bifold window straight through to the indoor kitchen. The gazebo deck has a long timber dining table, wicker seating and a ceiling fan, and the listing describes 180-degree views over Preston Beach to Lake Preston and Yalgorup National Park. Inside, the dining table seats six beside the sliding doors.
It is also close to the village basics. The listing describes a 2-minute walk to Preston Beach Golf Club and a 12-minute walk to Preston Beach, so a reserve picnic or an evening on the sand does not need the car.
How A Small Group Uses The House Around Mealtimes
The retreat sleeps up to five guests in two bedrooms: a queen bedroom with ensuite and a tri-bunk room with a double bed below and a single above. That suits a couple, a family of four or five, or two couples sharing kitchen duty.
The layout supports a slow food rhythm. One person can cook on the outdoor barbecue while another preps salads at the island bench and passes plates through the bifold window. Children can play on the fully fenced front lawn or near the backyard baby swing and gym rings, within sight of the deck.
On cooler spring evenings the living room has a freestanding wood fire and split-system air conditioning, so dinner can move indoors if the sea breeze turns chilly. The vine-shaded backyard seating with a wine-barrel table is a good spot for an afternoon cheese board.
Dog owners can bring one dog by approval, and the fenced yard gives the dog somewhere secure to play while you cook. Check the house rules for any conditions on pets. Parking for five cars, with room behind the electric gate for a boat, trailer or caravan, helps groups who arrive in two vehicles with eskies and fishing gear.
A Relaxed Three-Day Preston Beach Food Plan
Day One (Friday): Arrive, Unpack, Eat Easy
Do the main grocery shop on the way down. Unpack the cold items first, then walk to the beach to stretch your legs. If you arrive in time, Footprints Cafe is listed as opening at 4pm on Fridays for a no-fuss dinner. Otherwise, keep it to a simple barbecue on the deck.
Day Two (Saturday): Beach Morning, Reserve Lunch, Home Dinner
Start with coffee from the scullery station or a cafe breakfast at Footprints. Spend the morning on the beach, then cook lunch on the free barbecues at the reserve while the children use the playground. Back at the house, rest through the windy part of the afternoon, then light the outdoor barbecue for a long dinner on the gazebo deck as the sun sets over Lake Preston.
Day Three (Sunday): Inland Brunch Or Village Breakfast
Either have a final village breakfast at Footprints, listed until 2pm on Sundays, or head inland for a Waroona bakery pie and a cellar door visit at Drakesbrook Wines, listed as open Wednesday to Sunday. Clean out the fridge, pack the cooler bags, and drive home before dark.
Staying midweek?Swap the Footprints meals for Lake Clifton Tavern, which is listed as open daily from 11am to 8pm, and keep more dinners at home.
What To Pack For A Self-Catered Preston Beach Stay
Plan for all meals at home, then treat any meal out as a bonus. A short, shared shopping list avoids the classic small-village problem of three bottles of tomato sauce and no coffee.
Cold
Barbecue meats or fish, milk, butter, cheese, yoghurt, salad, fruit and drinks. Pack in cooler bags or an esky.
Pantry
Coffee, tea, bread, cereal, oil, salt and pepper, sauces, wraps, snacks and one easy pasta dinner.
Beach kit
Picnic plates, tongs, foil, a cloth, water bottles, sunscreen, hats and a rubbish bag.
Check what the house provides before you buy basics such as oil, salt and paper towel. If anyone in the group has dietary needs, bring those items from home, because a small coastal store may not stock them.
Bring a light jacket for evenings. Spring nights near the coast can still be cool, and the best part of a barbecue night is lingering on the deck after the sun goes down.
Before Leaving Home: Your Preston Beach Food Check
1Shopping: Plan the main grocery shop on your route, before the turn-off to the coast.
2Trading hours: Confirm current hours for Footprints Cafe, Lake Clifton and any Waroona venue you plan to use.
3Bookings: Ring ahead for weekend dinners in busy periods and for Friday bowling club meals.
4Fire bans: Check Emergency WA each morning before planning a barbecue.
5Driver: Nominate a driver for any cellar door or pub outing, and plan to be home before dark.
6Events: Check the Shire of Waroona calendar for shows and community days with food stalls.
FAQs About Food, Cafes And Pubs Near Preston Beach
Are there restaurants in Preston Beach?
Preston Beach is a small village with one cafe, Footprints Cafe on Mitchell Road, which serves coffee and light meals and is listed as open into the evening on Fridays and Saturdays. There is also a small general store for essentials and bait. For pubs and more cafes, guests drive inland to Lake Clifton or Waroona.
When is Footprints Cafe at Preston Beach open?
Visit Waroona lists Footprints Cafe as closed Monday to Thursday, open Friday 4pm to 8:30pm, Saturday 8am to 8:30pm and Sunday 8am to 2pm. Hours can change with the season, so confirm with the cafe before you go.
Is there a supermarket at Preston Beach?
No full supermarket is listed. Visit Waroona describes the general store as a small shop for essentials and bait. Do your main grocery shop before you reach the coast and use the store for top-ups.
Where can I get a pub meal near Preston Beach?
Lake Clifton Tavern and Motel on Old Coast Road is listed as open daily from 11am to 8pm. In Waroona, the Drakesbrook Hotel Motel serves meals, The Rec is the town's social hub for drinks and entertainment, and Waroona Bowling Club offers Friday night meals by booking.
Can you have a barbecue at Preston Beach?
Yes. Visit Waroona lists free barbecues, shaded picnic shelters, an accessible playground and toilets at the Preston Beach Reserve at the end of Mitchell Road, with direct beach access.
Can I use a barbecue on a Total Fire Ban day in WA?
DFES says gas barbecues with an enclosed flame can be used at home or in an authorised area such as a public park, with flammable material cleared five metres around them. Electric barbecues with no flame can also be used. Barbecues with exposed flames cannot be used. Check Emergency WA for current bans.
Is there a winery near Preston Beach?
Drakesbrook Wines at 84 Prince Road, Waroona, has an underground cellar door with tastings, barbecue picnic areas and orchard produce. It is listed as open Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm, and through school holidays or by appointment.
Where can I get coffee early near Preston Beach?
Pinjarra Bakery Waroona is listed as opening at 6am on weekdays and 7am on weekends, with barista coffee and pies. In the village, Footprints Cafe opens at 8am on Saturdays and Sundays. Lake Clifton Cafe is listed from 8am Wednesday to Sunday.
How far is Waroona from Preston Beach?
Waroona town is roughly 35 minutes by road from Preston Beach, depending on your start point and traffic. Harvey is roughly 40 minutes and Mandurah about an hour. Check your maps app for the current route.
Does Gracie & Dan's Coastal Retreat have a barbecue?
Yes. The listing describes an undercover outdoor kitchen with a gas barbecue, bench space and a sink beside a covered gazebo deck with a long dining table, plus an indoor kitchen and a scullery with a coffee station.
Is the retreat good for families who want to self-cater?
The retreat sleeps up to five in two bedrooms, has a full kitchen with island bench, a fenced front lawn and backyard play equipment, and is listed as a 12-minute walk to the beach and its reserve barbecues. Check the live listing for current details before booking.
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