Preston Beach Swimming Guide: Safe Beach Days, Lake Views And Sunsets
Preston Beach is a long, open stretch of Indian Ocean sand on the Yalgorup coast, with a salt lake on one side of town, a national park wrapped around it and very few people once you walk a little way along the shore. It is a simple place to spend a summer beach day, but it is not a city beach with flags and a surf club. This guide covers how the beach works, how to swim here sensibly, why the lakes are for looking rather than swimming, and how to time your days around the heat, the wind and those long spring sunsets.
Key Takeaway
Preston Beach has an easy foreshore with a playground, lawn, shade trees, free electric barbecues and an accessible toilet block, then kilometres of open beach. The Shire of Waroona has said that no lifesaving services operate on this beach, so swim close to shore, near other people, and only when conditions are calm. Lake Preston and Lake Clifton are protected wetlands with no swimming access, but they make the views, the birdlife and the sunsets.
Before You Get In The Water
A two-minute check at the top of the beach track is the most useful habit you can bring to Preston Beach.
1Read the water: Look for rips, gutters and darker, flatter channels before anyone swims.
2Check shark activity: Look at the SharkSmart WA app or website before you head down.
3Note the sign code: Find the Beach Emergency Number sign at your access point in case you need to call 000.
Build The Day Around Three Windows
Spring and summer beach days here work best in three parts rather than one long stint on the sand.
1Morning swim: Go early, when the sun is gentler and the water is often calmer.
2Midday shade: Retreat to the foreshore lawn, a lake lookout or the house when the UV peaks.
3Evening walk: Return for a sunset stroll and watch the light change over the dunes and the lake.
What Preston Beach Is Actually Like
Preston Beach is a small coastal settlement in the Shire of Waroona, about 124 kilometres south of Perth according to the shire. The shire describes it as bounded by the Indian Ocean, Lake Preston and Yalgorup National Park, and that is exactly how it feels on the ground: a narrow strip of homes between a long salt lake and the sea, with bushland running north and south for kilometres.
It is a quiet place. The 2021 census counted 268 residents, and the shire's own visitor page lists a general store with fuel, a 9-hole golf course, a holiday resort with a bar and restaurant open to the public, and the beach foreshore. There is no main street of cafes and surf shops. What you get instead is space: a beach where you can usually find a stretch of sand to yourself within a short walk of the car park.
The beach itself is a long, straight run of white sand facing west into the Indian Ocean. It is part of a much longer driving coast that, as the Shire of Waroona's tourism material puts it, stretches about 60 kilometres between Tim's Thicket to the north and Binningup to the south. That means the beach is shared with fishers and four-wheel drives, especially on weekends and holidays, and that shapes how you use it as a swimmer.
Preston Beach is not a promenade beach. It is a big, open, natural coastline with a few good facilities at one end.
Is Preston Beach Patrolled? The Honest Answer
This is the single most important thing to know before you swim. The Shire of Waroona's Preston Beach community newsletter states plainly that no lifesaving services operate on this beach. That means you should not expect red and yellow flags, lifeguard towers or a weekend patrol.
Nearby coastline listed on Surf Life Saving's Beachsafe service tells the same story. Melros and Tims Thicket, on the same stretch of coast to the north, are listed as unpatrolled with a hazard rating of 5 on Beachsafe's ten-point scale, and Binningup Beach to the south is listed as unpatrolled with a rating of 4. Those ratings are for neighbouring beaches, not Preston Beach itself, but they are a useful reminder that this is an open ocean coast rather than a sheltered bay.
Surf Life Saving WA's message is blunt for a reason. In a January 2025 release it noted that nationally there were 141 beach-related drownings in the previous season, and that all of them happened where no patrols were present. Its advice is to stop before you go in, look for flags or read the safety signs for known dangers, and only then decide.
None of this means you cannot swim at Preston Beach. It means the adults in your group are the patrol, and the swimming plan should match the day's conditions and the confidence of the least experienced swimmer.
Check before you rely on thisPatrol arrangements can change. If a supervised swim matters to your group, check the Beachsafe app or Surf Life Saving WA for the nearest patrolled beach on the day you plan to go.
How To Swim Sensibly On An Unpatrolled Beach
Start by watching the water for a few minutes from the top of the beach. Rips often show as darker, deeper-looking channels where the waves break less, or as rippled, foamy water moving out to sea. Pick a spot where waves are breaking evenly across a sandbank and the water close in looks shallow and settled.
Stay in your depth and stay close to the shore. On a beach like this, waist-deep water is plenty for cooling off, and it keeps you well away from the stronger currents that can run along gutters further out. Swim near other people where you can, and always swim with someone else on the sand who is watching.
If you are caught in a rip, stay calm, float to conserve energy, raise an arm to signal for help, and either swim parallel to the shore or let the current carry you until it weakens. Children should never be in the water without an adult within arm's reach.
The shire's newsletter also asks swimmers to be aware of rips and gives the Water Police number for reporting shark sightings. SharkSmart WA recommends checking recent shark activity before you go, using its app or website, and reporting sightings to the Water Police on 9442 8600.
Good swim day
Light winds, small even waves, clear water and other people on the beach nearby.
Paddle-only day
A fresh breeze, a bit of chop or visible gutters. Wade, splash and keep it short.
Beach walk day
Strong onshore wind, big surf or poor visibility. Walk the sand and swim another time.
Beach Emergency Number Signs: Learn Yours On Day One
One practical detail that many visitors miss is the Beach Emergency Number, or BEN, signage. The Shire of Waroona's newsletter notes that BEN signs are located at three access points at Preston Beach, each with its own unique code. If you need to call 000 from the beach, reading out that code tells emergency services exactly where you are.
On your first visit, take a photo of the sign at the access track you use. Make sure everyone old enough to have a phone knows where the photo is and that 000 is the number to call in an emergency.
Mobile coverage tipKeep one phone charged and in a dry bag or zip-lock pouch. On an unpatrolled beach, the phone in your beach bag is your emergency plan.
The Foreshore: Facilities That Make Short Beach Visits Easy
Preston Beach's foreshore area at the main car park is where most beach days start. The Shire of Waroona lists a children's playground with a lawn area and shade trees, free electric barbecues and an ablution and facilities block with universal access. Destination Perth also describes upgraded amenities including barbecues and the children's playground.
For families, this is what turns the beach from an expedition into an easy outing. You can arrive for a quick swim, let the kids burn off energy on the play equipment, cook a few sausages on the free barbecues and head home before anyone gets overtired.
Other summaries of the town also mention beach showers among the foreshore facilities. Check what is working on the day, and bring a water bottle for rinsing sandy feet just in case.
Sharing The Sand With Four-Wheel Drives
Preston Beach is one of the few places, as the shire puts it, where there is four-wheel-drive access right along the beach. For swimmers and families, that is the main difference from a typical town beach.
The shire's newsletter sets a 20 km/h speed limit on the beach and asks drivers to park parallel to the ocean rather than across the beach. Even so, keep children close when vehicles are moving on the sand, never let little ones play in or between wheel tracks, and set up your towels and umbrella well back from the main driving line.
Beach driving rules are managed by the Shire of Waroona and have been under review. The South Western Times reported in March 2024 that the shire was investigating a beach management strategy that could include cameras, traffic management and a paid permit system. If you plan to drive on the beach yourself, check the shire's current rules before you go. Our separate Preston Beach fishing guide covers beach driving in more detail.
Best Times Of Day For A Preston Beach Swim
The best Preston Beach swims in spring and summer usually happen early. Mornings tend to be calmer, the sand is cooler underfoot and the UV is lower. By the middle of the day the sun is fierce, and on many summer afternoons along this coast a stronger sea breeze arrives and chops up the water.
A simple pattern that suits most groups is a swim between breakfast and mid-morning, a long lunch somewhere shaded, and a return to the beach in the late afternoon for a walk, a paddle or a fish once the heat has eased.
The Bureau of Meteorology's Mandurah climate station, up the coast, gives a feel for the season. Its mean maximum is 21.9 degrees in October, 25.0 in November, 27.6 in December, 29.7 in January and 29.9 in February. Rainfall drops away fast, from an average of 32.0 mm in October to 12.9 mm in December. Those are averages, not forecasts, so check the daily forecast and UV index before you plan the day.
October
Mild days around the low twenties. Lovely for walks; the water still feels fresh.
November
Warming into the mid-twenties. Morning swims start to feel inviting.
December onwards
Proper summer heat. Swim early, shade at midday, beach again at sunset.
Sunsets On The Yalgorup Coast
Preston Beach faces west, so the sun sets over the Indian Ocean. On a clear evening, the walk down the dune track as the light turns gold is one of the best parts of a stay here.
The evenings stretch out quickly through spring. Calculated sunset times for Preston Beach are about 6.30pm in mid-October, around 6.45pm on 1 November, close to 7pm by mid-November, around 7.10pm at the end of November and close to 7.25pm around the summer solstice. Sunrise in mid-November is a little after 5am, which is worth knowing if you like a very early swim.
There are really two sunsets to enjoy here. From the beach you watch the sun drop into the ocean. From higher ground on the eastern side of town, looking across Lake Preston, you watch the last light catch the water and the bushland of Yalgorup National Park on the far shore. Both are worth one evening of your stay.
Watch one sunset from the sand and one over the lake. They feel like two different places.
Lake Preston: The View That Defines The Town
Lake Preston runs along the eastern side of town, between the coastal strip and the rest of Yalgorup National Park. It is one of the ten lakes in the park that make up an internationally recognised Ramsar wetland system, and the park itself covers 12,888 hectares, according to the WA parks service.
It is a very different body of water from the ocean. The Shire of Waroona's history of Preston Beach describes the lake as nine times more saline than the ocean, and notes that salt was once harvested from it seasonally for cattle licks.
The most important practical point is that the lakes are not for swimming. The WA parks service states that there is no access to the lakes in Yalgorup National Park for swimming, canoeing, kayaking, boating or fishing, and that contact with the water and eating fish and shellfish from the lakes can be hazardous to health.
So treat Lake Preston as a view, a walk and a birdwatching spot. The Shire of Waroona's tourism material lists a 2 km Lake Preston walking trail described as disabled friendly, which is an easy way to see the lake up close without any wading.
Keep out of the lake waterExplain this to children early. The lakes look calm and shallow, but they are protected wetlands with no swimming access, and the water itself can be a health hazard.
Lake Clifton And The Wider Chain Of Lakes
North of Lake Preston, Lake Clifton is known for its thrombolites, rock-like structures built by microorganisms that are believed to resemble some of the earliest forms of life on Earth. A boardwalk lets you see them without touching the lake edge. The WA parks service notes that they are less clearly visible when the water level is higher, as it can be in winter, so a drier-season visit usually shows them better. They make an easy half-morning outing between swims.
The name Yalgorup itself comes from Noongar words for lake and place, often translated as place of lakes or waters. It is a fitting name: the park contains a chain of long, narrow lakes running parallel to the coast, with tuart woodland, heath and wetlands between them.
Birds, Kangaroos And Other Neighbours
Yalgorup's wetlands are recognised by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area. Species recorded in the park include black swans, grebes, coots, kingfishers, dotterels and many parrots, and the woodland is home to western grey kangaroos, emus, echidnas and brush-tailed possums.
Around town, kangaroos grazing at dawn and dusk are a normal sight. The shire's newsletter asks drivers to watch out for them, which matters most when you are heading to or from the beach around sunrise and sunset.
On the sand, you may occasionally see a seal resting. The shire asks visitors to leave them in peace and, importantly, to keep dogs well away. Give any wildlife plenty of room and never feed it.
Summer is also snake season. The shire's newsletter notes that snakes are common in summer and asks parents to keep an eye on young ones playing in the dunes. Stick to the formed beach tracks, wear shoes on the walk down and do not let children explore thick scrub, where kangaroo ticks are also a problem.
Beach Rules Worth Knowing Before You Go
A few simple rules keep Preston Beach working for everyone. The Shire of Waroona's newsletter lists no camping on the beach, in the dunes or in the beach car park, and no open fires anywhere. The shire's tourism material also notes that camp fires are not allowed on the beach, while gas cookers are.
Stay off the dunes. Driving in the dunes is prohibited, and walking through them damages the plants that hold the coast together. Use the formed tracks to get from the car park or street to the sand.
How A Fishing Camp Became A Beach Town
Part of what makes Preston Beach feel so low-key is its history. The Shire of Waroona's history of the town explains that it grew from strong fish catches reported in the early 1950s. Before the causeway, beach access lay slightly south of today's route and became impassable when Lake Preston was more than about 0.9 metres deep, with pegs marking the shallowest line for vehicles.
In 1956, members of a local syndicate built the causeway that connected the settlement to the beach. In 1957, the syndicate bought 25 acres from a local landholder at two pounds an acre and allocated 58 blocks. The syndicate dissolved in 1959 and the Drakesbrook Road Board took over the settlement, which then grew gradually.
The milestones that followed tell you how remote it was for a long time. From 1969, communication was by a two-way radio run by the shire's foreman. Electricity arrived in 1973. The golf course was built in 1974 and opened in 1978, and the Shire of Waroona bought it in 1986.
Even the name has a story. Explorers Alexander Collie and Lieutenant William Preston came through the lakes in 1829. The townsite was gazetted in 1975 under the name Yalgorup, and the name was changed to Preston Beach in 1989 at the shire's request, reflecting what the community already called it.
Preston Beach was built by people who came for the fish and stayed for the quiet. That character has not gone anywhere.
What To Do When The Sea Is Not Right For Swimming
On a long open coast, there will be days when the wind is up and the surf is messy. That does not mean the beach day is lost.
Walk the sand instead. A long beach walk in either direction from the main access is one of the simplest pleasures here, and on a windy day it is often more fun than swimming.
Head to the lakes. A short visit to a Lake Preston lookout or the Lake Clifton thrombolite boardwalk gives you a completely different landscape for an hour or two. And on a properly hot afternoon, the most sensible plan can simply be shade, a cold drink and a later swim when the sun is lower.
Once you have decided that a quiet Yalgorup coast beach holiday suits your group, Gracie & Dan's Coastal Retreat makes a very practical base for it.
The listing puts Preston Beach about a 12-minute walk from the house, so the early-swim, midday-shade, sunset-walk pattern in this guide works on foot. You can be on the sand early without loading the car, come home when the heat builds and walk back down for the evening.
The house is also on the Lake Preston side of town, with listed 180-degree views over Lake Preston and Yalgorup National Park. That means the second sunset in this guide, the light fading across the lake, is something you can watch from the covered gazebo deck rather than having to drive to a lookout.
For hot summer days, the listing includes split-system air-conditioning and ceiling fans in the bedrooms, a covered gazebo deck with outdoor dining and a lounge setting, and an undercover outdoor kitchen with a gas BBQ and sink. That suits the midday retreat and the late, easy dinners that go with long beach days.
Who This Beach Stay Suits Best
The home sleeps up to five guests in two bedrooms: a queen bedroom with its own ensuite and a tri-bunk room with a double bed below and a single above. That suits a young family, a couple with friends, or grandparents travelling with a child or two.
Families with young children will appreciate the fully fenced yard with play equipment listed for the property, which gives little ones somewhere safe to play between beach sessions.
Guests travelling with a dog may find it a good fit too: the listing says one dog is welcome by approval, and the fenced yard helps. Check the house rules and the current beach dog rules separately before you go.
Fishers and four-wheel drivers have room to park, with the listing showing parking for five cars and space for a boat or caravan.
A Relaxed Three-Day Preston Beach Plan
Day One: Learn The Beach
After you arrive, walk down to the beach in the late afternoon. Find your access track, take a photo of the Beach Emergency Number sign, look at the water and work out where the vehicle track runs. Stay for the sunset, then head back for a barbecue dinner.
Day Two: Morning Swim, Lake Afternoon
Swim early if the conditions suit, then rest through the middle of the day. In the late afternoon, take a short drive to a Lake Preston walk or the Lake Clifton thrombolite boardwalk. Finish the day watching the light change over the lake.
Day Three: Long Beach Walk
Start with a beach walk along the sand, with a dip if it is calm. Spend lunchtime at the foreshore lawn and barbecues, or keep it simple at the house, then fit in one last swim or sunset walk before you pack up.
What To Pack For A Preston Beach Summer Stay
Bring swimwear, towels, rash vests, hats, SPF 50+ sunscreen and a beach umbrella or shade shelter. Pegs or sand bags are useful because the afternoon breeze can be strong.
There is very little natural shade on the sand, so set your shelter up well back from the vehicle track and check the Bureau of Meteorology UV index each day. Pack thongs or sandals for hot dune tracks, a light layer for the evening and insect repellent for dusk. A dry bag or zip-lock pouch keeps your phone safe on the beach.
For the lakes, bring binoculars if you have them and comfortable walking shoes. For a family, a compact beach bag with snacks, spare clothes and sand toys makes quick trips to the beach easy.
The shire's visitor page lists a general store with fuel in Preston Beach, but it is a small town. Many guests do a main shop before they arrive and keep the local store for top-ups.
Before Leaving Home: Your Preston Beach Check
1Weather and UV: Check the Bureau of Meteorology forecast, the UV index and any warnings.
2Beach safety: Remember there is no lifesaving service at Preston Beach and plan swims accordingly.
3Sharks: Check the SharkSmart WA app for recent activity before you swim.
4Beach driving: If you are driving on the sand, check the Shire of Waroona's current rules.
5Lakes: Plan to walk and look only. There is no swimming or boating access to the Yalgorup lakes.
6Dogs: Confirm accommodation approval and the current beach dog rules before arrival.
Plan Your Preston Beach Stay
Preston Beach is at its best from late spring through summer, when the mornings are warm, the evenings are long and the beach is wide open. Plan around early swims, a shaded midday and those west-facing sunsets, and you will see why so many people keep coming back.
FAQs About Swimming And Beach Days At Preston Beach
Is Preston Beach patrolled by lifesavers?
No. The Shire of Waroona's Preston Beach newsletter states that no lifesaving services operate on this beach. Swim close to shore, near other people and only when conditions are calm, and check Beachsafe or Surf Life Saving WA if you want to find the nearest patrolled beach on the day.
Is Preston Beach good for swimming?
It can be, on the right day. It is an open Indian Ocean beach, so conditions change with the wind and swell. Calm mornings are usually the best time. Watch the water for rips and gutters before anyone goes in, and keep children within arm's reach.
Can you swim in Lake Preston or Lake Clifton?
No. The WA parks service states that there is no access to the lakes in Yalgorup National Park for swimming, canoeing, kayaking, boating or fishing, and that contact with the water can be hazardous to health. Enjoy them from walking trails, lookouts and the Lake Clifton boardwalk.
Why is Lake Preston so salty?
The Shire of Waroona's history describes Lake Preston as nine times more saline than the ocean, and salt was once harvested from it seasonally for cattle licks. That high salinity is part of what makes it look so different from the ocean.
What facilities are at Preston Beach?
The Shire of Waroona lists a children's playground with lawn and shade trees, free electric barbecues and an ablution block with universal access near the beach. The town also has a general store with fuel, a 9-hole golf course and a resort bar and restaurant open to the public.
What time is sunset at Preston Beach in summer?
Calculated sunset times are about 6.30pm in mid-October, around 7pm by mid-November and close to 7.25pm around the summer solstice in late December. Check a daily sunset time for your exact dates.
Can you drive on Preston Beach?
Yes, Preston Beach has four-wheel-drive access along the beach, with a 20 km/h beach speed limit noted by the shire. The shire has been reviewing beach management, so check the Shire of Waroona's current rules before you drive on the sand.
Are there sharks at Preston Beach?
Check the SharkSmart WA app or website for recent shark activity before you swim, as you would anywhere on the WA coast, and report any sightings to the Water Police on 9442 8600.
What is the weather like at Preston Beach in summer?
Long-term averages for nearby Mandurah show mean maximums of 25.0 degrees in November, 27.6 in December and 29.7 in January, with little rain. Afternoons can be windy, so mornings are often best for swimming.
How far is Gracie & Dan's Coastal Retreat from the beach?
The listing describes Preston Beach as about a 12-minute walk from the house, with the golf club about a 2-minute walk away. The house looks over Lake Preston and Yalgorup National Park from its covered gazebo deck.
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