The Best Sunset & Sunrise Spots!
Where to watch the sunrise and sunset
Whether you’re an early riser, a golden-hour devotee, or love being outside to watch both, there’s one thing we can all agree on: few places do sunrises and sunsets quite like Western Australia. And with our beautiful bays and unspoilt beaches, there’s nowhere quite so special as Busselton and the Margaret River region for catching a sunrise or a golden sunset glow.
We’ve done the early alarms and lingered long past dusk to bring you the very best spots to catch both.
Sunrise
- Meelup Beach, Dunsborough
Meelup Beach really shines in the early morning, when the coast begins to wake up and the ocean reflects the soft colours of the sunrise. Thanks to its northeast-facing position, the bay is relatively sheltered from stronger winds, making it an inviting spot for families and early risers alike.
Be sure to hang around after the sun has risen and take a wander along the Meelup Foreshore Walk Trail which takes you along the coast for four kilometres from Meelup to Dunsborough.
Hot tip: it’s also a popular spot to see the full moon rise over the water.
- Busselton Beach overlooking the Jetty
Stretching a whopping 1.8km into Geographe Bay, Busselton Jetty provides the perfect backdrop to watch the sunrise unfold. As the colours of dawn transform the sky, you’ll be rewarded with gorgeous views across Geographe Bay. Bring along a flask of tea or buy yourself a coffee from The Goose on the foreshore.
If you’re feeling energised, follow up your morning with a sunrise stroll along the back to Mandalay.
- Geographe Bay, Mandalay Resort
Mandalay’s beachfront location means you’ll be rewarded with prime sunrise viewings daily. Simply roll out of bed, and wander across the road to enjoy spectacular views across the calm waters of Geographe Bay. If you’re lucky, you may even see a few dolphins playing in the shallows.
Sunset
- Sugarloaf Rock
Sugarloaf Rock is one of the region’s most beloved sunset spots, offering panoramic vistas up and down the coast. Enjoy from the comfort of the elevated stone lookout or wander along the Cape to Cape Track for a different vantage point. Stay a little longer and you’ll spot the beam of Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse cutting through the dusk.
- Yallingup Beach
Yallingup Beach is a locals’ favourite, and it’s easy to see why. With a lawn and playground overlooking the lagoon and famous surf break, it’s the perfect place to watch the sun drop – and maybe a surfer or two making the most of last light.
- Smiths Beach
A family favourite of ours thanks to Lamonts’ takeaway fish and chips – think restaurant-quality F&C at takeaway prices. Park up to enjoy the orange vistas over the waves.
- Busselton Foreshore
Busselton Foreshore is a great place to settle in for sunset, especially if you like to enjoy the view with a drink in hand. Along the shoreline, spots like Shelter Brewing Co. and The Goose Beach Bar + Kitchen sit right by the water, making it easy to grab a meal or a cold brew while the sky shifts through colour.
- Canal Rocks
Canal Rocks is a beautifully atmospheric place to watch the sun sink over the ocean. From the wooden lookout at the top of the hill, you’re treated to wide coastal views, with distant glimpses of Torpedo Rocks and Sugarloaf Rock on clear nights. If you decide to wander down to the rocks, stick to the boardwalk, as the swells can be unpredictable.
- Prevelly
Prevelly is hard to beat for a classic South West sunset. With rolling waves at Main Break, you can watch surfers carving through the waves as the sun melts into the horizon. Grab a local bottle of wine and enjoy a picnic on the grass or pick up some takeaway from one of the nearby trucks to enjoy the sunset.
- Hamelin Bay
Tucked near Karridale in the southern part of the region, Hamelin Bay is a serene spot to watch the sun sink over white sandy shores. There are plenty of lookouts offering views of the old timber jetty, and just offshore, Hamelin Island with its historic lighthouse. Keep an eye out for the friendly stingrays cruising up along the shoreline.
- Cape Leeuwin
Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse is one of the most dramatic places in the region to catch the end of the day. Standing as the tallest lighthouse on mainland Australia, it marks the point where the Southern and Indian Oceans collide, and if you climb to the top, the views are simply spectacular, especially as the light starts to fade on the shorter winter days.
