Enjoying 80 Mile Beach in Western Australia

80 Mile Beach is a popular attraction on the Western Australian coast.

Unlike many of the other destinations in the region, it bears the unique distinction of being a sort of intermediary between the Indian Ocean and the Great Sandy Desert. Far from being a desolate arid region or a tourist trap, it’s a peaceful stretch where you can see some amazing natural splendour – and hiring a car from Europcar is the way to do it.

Although the area is referred to as 80 Mile Beach, the fact of the matter is that it’s almost twice as long as that. Many examples of the migratory shorebirds that the Southern Hemisphere is known for make this one of their top vacation spots, and so do many tourists, who can walk for miles without seeing another human soul.

Stunning Natural Diversity

Another thing that sets 80 Mile Beach apart from other similar-looking paradises is that its white sands are protected. Due to the wide diversity of wildlife living in the region, it has been internationally designated as one of many Important Bird Areas, or IBAs dotted all over the globe. The few individuals you encounter on your treks through the sands may even be scientists studying the avian inhabitants, and you’ll certainly be able to get your fair share of the over 400,000 distinct birds that make the beach their temporary home each year.

In addition to the beach and dry sandy dunes that border it further inland, the area is full of marshes ripe for exploration. Mandora Salt Marsh is home to feral camels, threatened bilbies, egrets, herons and stands of grey mangroves. Odd geographical features make for amazing photo opportunities, and strange plants are hiding behind every dune.

Because of the strange collision of different environments in this well-travelled intermediary zone, you may get to see way more than you expected.

The southern end of the beach is the traditional homeland of the Nyangumarta and Karajarri peoples, who take great pains to maintain their stewardship and preserve the area. They operate numerous cattle stations that take advantage of the local freshwater.

Interesting, Laid-Back Activities

If the prospect of sugar-coloured sands, clear turquoise waters and thousands of uncommon examples of the world’s wildlife don’t thrill you, you might want to rethink your definition of a good time. Of course, everyone’s entitled to their own opinions, and fortunately, 80 Mile Beach won’t force you to pick and choose between the many attractions. In addition to the natural landscapes that serve as attractions in and of themselves, there are also campgrounds, caravan sites and cabins to stay in for as long as you like.

One of the most popular activities for tourists involves catching your own dinner. No, put your lassoes, black clothes and balaclavas away; we’re not talking about late-night livestock liberation! Unparalleled access to both salt and freshwater sources in the area make for perfect fishing conditions. Whether you decide to snag something for your campsite friends or see if you can’t find a few pieces of juicy bait to attract camera-shy exotic birds with, you’ll be in luck here.

The weather is mostly reliable in this part of Australia; winters warm and dry, and summers that are hot (and sometimes, wet!). Even though there’s a good amount of rainfall in the beginning months of the year, most of it passes before too long, leaving nothing but sun in its wake.

80 Mile Beach holidays are for those who appreciate taking it easy instead of running around at full steam all the time. True, you may love the nightlife found in nearby Broome and Port Headland, but 80 Mile Beach will provide a much-welcome respite after you’ve partied your way through the weekend. Local attractions in these settlements, like decades-old mines, military bases, fox colonies and Japanese pearl divers’ cemeteries from the late 1800s, ensure that there’s always interesting stuff to do around this huge, unspoiled beach.