Gnarabup is the beach immediately south of Prevelly, about twelve minutes from Margaret River township. Reef running roughly 500 metres offshore keeps the water calm, which makes it the most family-friendly swimming beach on this part of the coast. Holidays Margaret River manages privately owned houses within walking distance of the sand.
We currently manage 4 houses in Gnarabup, ranging from 2 to 4 bedrooms and sleeping up to 8 guests.
If you are travelling with small children, or you simply want to swim rather than survive the surf, Gnarabup is the beach to book. The reef sitting roughly half a kilometre offshore does the work of a breakwater, and the result is about a kilometre and a half of soft sand with water that is usually calm enough to actually swim in — a rarity on a coast otherwise defined by open ocean swell.
It is a small place: a beach, a boat ramp, a cafe on the sand, a lookout and a handful of streets. There is no shop and no fuel. Prevelly is five minutes north for the general store, and Margaret River township is about twelve minutes east for everything else.
Gnarabup Beach runs about 1.6 kilometres of soft sand, sheltered by reef roughly 500 metres offshore. Surf Life Saving Australia’s own beach database describes those reefs as providing calm conditions for swimmers, which is not something said about many beaches on this coast. It is the beach local families use.
Practical notes: swim in the mornings if you can, before the afternoon sea breeze; keep clear of the rip that runs against the southern rocks; and be aware the shorebreak firms up when waves get above a metre. The beach is patrolled seasonally by the Margaret River Surf Life Saving Club, but not year-round — check current patrol times rather than assuming. The northern half of the beach is a dog exercise area.
There is a public boat ramp at the beach, the only one on this section of coast, with free public toilets and showers beside the car park.
The White Elephant Beach Cafe sits directly on the sand next to the boat ramp on Gnarabup Road — breakfast and lunch, feet in the sand, and one of the better coffee-with-a-view propositions in the region. The Common, a bar and bistro at Resort Place, covers the evening end. Both run seasonal hours, so check before you build a plan around them. Otherwise it is twelve minutes into Margaret River, which has the region’s full run of restaurants.
About ten minutes’ walk south of the car park is Gas Bay, a rocky stretch of headlands and rock pools that is a better sunset and rock-pooling spot than a swimming one. Beyond it, Boodjidup Beach runs south for a couple of kilometres — long, white and usually empty, with the safest swimming at its southern end.
The Cape to Cape Track runs along this coast, and Boodjidup Brook just south of Gnarabup carries the only formal bridge crossing on the entire route. It makes for an obvious half-day walk from the door.
The same reef that calms the swimming beach produces some serious waves either side of it. Grunters is a steep, hollow right-hander; Gas Point and Boatramps are both advanced; Boodjidup is rated intermediate. There is no beginner break here. Learners should head to Redgate, further south, or book a lesson in Margaret River. If you want to watch rather than paddle out, Surfers Point at Prevelly is five minutes north.
You will see “Margarets Beach” and “Margaret River Beach” used around Gnarabup. Those are accommodation and resort names rather than official place names — the gazetted beach here is Gnarabup Beach. Margaret River Mouth Beach is a separate beach in Prevelly, a couple of kilometres north. Worth knowing when you are following directions.
| From | Distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Margaret River township | About 10 km | About 12 minutes |
| Prevelly | About 2.5 km | About 5 minutes |
| Gracetown | About 28 km | About 28 minutes |
| Busselton Margaret River Airport | About an hour | |
| Perth | About 280 km | About 3.5 hours |
Gnarabup is a small coastal locality about ten kilometres west of Margaret River township, roughly twelve minutes by car along Wallcliffe Road. It sits immediately south of Prevelly, at the northern end of the beaches below the Margaret River mouth.
Yes, and it is the main reason people choose to stay here. Reef running roughly 500 metres offshore takes the force out of the swell, which keeps the water noticeably calmer than the ocean beaches either side. It is the most family-friendly swimming beach near Margaret River. Mornings are usually best, before the south-westerly sea breeze picks up. Watch for a rip near the southern rocks, and note the beach is only seasonally patrolled.
Gnarabup is the calm one. It is protected by offshore reef and has the best swimming beach on this part of the coast, a boat ramp and a beachfront cafe. Prevelly, two and a half kilometres north, is the surf side: Surfers Point, the Margaret River Pro, open ocean beaches, and the only general store in the area. They are five minutes apart, so staying in one does not mean missing the other.
Yes. The White Elephant Beach Cafe sits right on the sand by the boat ramp on Gnarabup Road. There is also The Common, a bar and bistro at Resort Place. Hours are seasonal, so it is worth checking before you plan a meal around either.
No. Gnarabup has no grocery shop, supermarket or service station. The closest small store is at the Prevelly Caravan Park, about five minutes north, and Margaret River township is about twelve minutes away for a proper shop and fuel.
Yes. Gnarabup Beach has the only public boat ramp on this stretch of coast, with free public toilets and showers next to the car park.
The houses we manage in Gnarabup are within walking distance of the sand. Gnarabup is compact and the beach car park, cafe and boat ramp are all close together.
Effectively yes, but the name is worth explaining. Margarets Beach is a resort and accommodation name used in Gnarabup rather than an official place name. The gazetted beach here is Gnarabup Beach. Margaret River Mouth Beach is a different beach again, in Prevelly to the north.
Gas Bay is about a ten minute walk south from the car park, with rocky headlands and rock pools and a good sunset. Boodjidup Beach runs south from there, long and remote. The Gnarabup Lookout gives clifftop ocean views, and the Cape to Cape Track passes close by - Boodjidup Brook, just south, has the only formal bridge crossing on the whole 125-kilometre route.
Yes, though they are on the serious side. Grunters is a steep, hollow right-hander, Gas Point and Boatramps are both advanced, and Boodjidup is rated intermediate. None of them is a beginner wave. The calm swimming water at Gnarabup Beach itself is protected by the same reef that makes those breaks work.
Margaret River · Gracetown · Prevelly · Wilyabrup
Not sure which suits you? The properties map shows every house we manage, and The Region covers the wider Margaret River area.
