The best things to do in Eagle Bay, WA: Beach, beers & wines
Eagle Bay near Dunsborough, Western Australia, offers a white sand beach, holiday homes. The best things to to in Eagle Bay include walks in the Meelup Regional Park and craft beer at the Eagle Bay Brewing Company.
Eagle Bay Beach
Other than Bunker Beach, Eagle Bay is the closest beach to Cape Naturaliste in Western Australia. Over the years, it has hit the sweet spot of being far enough away from Perth to not get deluged by visitors, but close enough to be great for a weekend break.
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Eagle Bay is just over three hours’ drive from Perth, at the western end of Geographe Bay and northern end of Meelup Regional Park.
The nearest town is Dunsborough to the south. It’s also close enough to the Margaret River wine region to make Eagle Bay a base for exploring south-west WA’s wineries.
Eagle Bay holiday homes
Hence it is not entirely surprising that Eagle Bay has attracted some rather expensive holiday homes. The plush holiday homes and rental apartments give Eagle Bay a plush, borderline exclusive feel. But people aren’t coming for facilities, restaurants and nightlife. They’re here for a proper getaway with a white sand beach to chill out on. And, at a push, a walk along the bushland tracks in the Meelup Regional Park for variety.
The Eagle Bay beach is not patrolled by lifeguards, but is generally reasonably safe for swimming. There can be strong currents, but Cape Naturaliste provides protection from the surf. The swell rarely gets above one metre here. If you want a patrolled beach, head to neighbouring Meelup Beach.
Craft beers at the Eagle Bay Brewing Company
Since 2010, there as has been another reason to visit Eagle Bay, however. That’s when the Eagle Bay Brewing Company opened. In the decade since, this craft brewery has gained a reputation for making some of the best beers in Western Australia.
The Eagle Bay Brewing Company beers are generally designed for easy, sunny drinking. The 4.7% Kolsch is a thirst-quencher, the 3.5% XPA is all about tropical flavours rather than hops. Even at the heftier end of the scale, the 5.8% India Pale Lager has an emphasis on tropical aromatics rather than bitterness.
The Eagle Bay Brewing Company is open to visitors, and has a pretty good on-site restaurant. There’s lots of experimentation with Asian flavours, but the wood-fired pizzas are generally the safe bet. If wine’s more your thing, the Wise Winery is nearby.
Other Margaret River region beaches include Boranup Beach, Hamelin Bay, Injidup Beach, Meelup Beach, Prevelly Beach and Smiths Beach. For more Western Australian beaches, visit the Australian Beach Guide.
More things to do in Western Australia
Turn the Perth to Geraldton drive into a road trip.
Enjoy the Rottnest Island weather while looking for quokkas.
Discover where Skylab crashed in Balladonia.
Learn about Australia’s whaling history at Cheynes Beach.
Learn about oysters at the Willie Creek Pearl Farm near Broome.