Categories > Guides and Tips
Swim your blues away with this guide to Sorrento Beach!
- Things to Know
- How to Get There
- Things to Do
- Swimming
- Fishing
- Complete the Trigg Beach to Sorrento Beach Walk
- Surfing
- Have a staycation at Quality Resort Sorrento Beach
- Get close to marine life at AQWA
- Take your kiddos to the Hillarys Boat Harbour playground
- Where to Eat
- 3Sheets on the Harbour
- San Churro Hillarys
- The Breakwater
- Turkuaz Mediterranean Restaurant
- Turquoise Hillarys
Finding the right beach for the fam isn’t always a Google search away. Some beaches are postcard-worthy but terrible for a swim, while others are good for a dip but can leave the sprogs yawning with their lack of extras, say playgrounds or restos.
Good thing my family is based in Perth. Whenever the gang craves their ‘bustling seaside’ fix, Sorrento Beach, where turquoise waters kiss a pearly coastline, is only a short cruise away.
There, it’s all sweet shallows, expansive picnic lawns, bustling restos, the lot. You’ll get a clearer picture with the guide below.
Things to Know
Address: Sorrento Beach
Operating Hours: Daily – 24 hours
Drive from the Perth CBD: 25 mins (20.8 km)
Facilities:
- Showers
- Toilets
- Change rooms
Tide Times
Swell Forecast
Weather Forecast
How to Get There
By Train and Bus: You’ll reach Sorrento Beach by boarding the Yanchep Line moving toward Warwick Station. From there, wait for and ride Bus Line 423, which will take you to Padbury Cir.
The last step involves passing through The Plaza and making a right turn onto West Coast Dr., where you must go north until you see the car park.
By Car: You can park at the City of Joondalup – Sorrento Beach Parking Station North. It’s just a few steps from Sorrento Estate and Quality Resort Sorrento Beach, so look for these two large establishments.
By Taxi: For a detailed breakdown of Perth’s taxi fares, refer to the breakdown below, updated as of May 2025.
| Tariff 1 – 6 am to 5:59 pm | |||
| Flagfall | Distance Rate | Booking Fee | Waiting Time |
| $5.10 | 2.04/km | $1.80 | $58/hr |
| Tariff 2 – 6 pm to 5:59 am (including all day Saturday and Sunday) | |||
| Flagfall | Distance Rate | Booking Fee | Waiting Time |
| $7.30 | 2.04/km | $1.80 | $58/hr |
| Ultra Peak (12 am to 02:59 am on Friday and Saturday only) | |||
| Flagfall | Distance Rate | Booking Fee | Waiting Time |
| $7.30 + $4.30 | 2.04/km | $1.80 | $58/hr |
Things to Do
Swimming
From georgiekfromwa
As soon as we rocked up to Sorrento Beach, my kiddos bolted and dipped into the water. Honestly, I did the same; those turquoise waves were too inviting.
The eye candy aspect, though, is just the second-best thing about it. Being calm is numero uno.
Thanks to a 3 km reef running along, the big swells and waves get knocked back before they crash into the shore. That’s why you’ll likely see parents take their rookie swimmers here.
Plus, the sandy-white beachfront stretches for 600 m, enough space for games or sunbathing. The only letdown is that it’s not dog-friendly.
Fishing
From willyabraham19
Being a fishing fam, it’s pretty standard to see me and the kiddos flicking a line down at Sorrento Beach.
We set up camp along the Trigg and Sorrento stretch, often on those sandy patches. The regular hauls include herring, tailor, whiting, and a bit of tarwhine if the ocean’s feeling generous.
Come autumn, Australian salmon gets added to that list. They flock into the gutters and reef holes, so landing one isn’t impossible.
Complete the Trigg Beach to Sorrento Beach Walk
From heather_walls_
Length: 11.9 km
Elevation Gain: 103 m
Type: Out-and-back
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Time: 2 hrs and 27 mins
Even if we’re not in the mood for casting, the Trigg Beach to Sorrento Beach section still pulls us for a chinwag or stroll. Child-friendly and paved from start to finish, this shared path is a brill way to take in hilly and coastal scenes.
We usually leg it midweek, often on Mondays, when it’s cooler and quieter. Sunset and Sundays are magical, too, but they’re not too serene with all the families, joggers, and cyclists around.
Oh, and dress for the weather. The stretch gets blowy.
Surfing
From hannahsculley
Sorrento Beach is where I learned how to surf, and now my eldest has followed suit. The waves right by the groynes and marina are mellow, ideal for finding your balance without stacking it every two secs.
Most days, the wave height maxes at 1 m, sometimes cruising around the 0.8 m mark. That range is usually consistent year-round, and as a safety bonus, members of the Surf Life Saving Club patrol the coast.
However, pros might want to skip, given the swells’ ease.
Have a staycation at Quality Resort Sorrento Beach
From sorrento_beach
Address: 1 Padbury Cir
Contact Details: +61 8 9246 8100
Operating Hours: Daily – 7 am to 11 pm
Website
With Quality Resort down the track, pulling off a longer stay is something you might want to consider.
We bunked in their one-bedder spa room last time, and waking up with the Indian Ocean as the first sight was magical. The sweet bit is that there are cheaper digs and promotions if you’re counting coins.
Outside the room, we cooled down in a pool, had a BBQ sesh, and melted tension in a sauna. Brekkie for four was also sorted since we nabbed their family deal. Sweet!
Get close to marine life at AQWA
From aquariumofwesternaustralia
Address: 91 Southside Dr, Hillarys
Operating Hours: Mon to Fri – 9 am to 4 pm
Website
Taking in 12,000 km of coastline in a single day sounds like a tall tale…until you swing by AQWA. Almost every turn here is a deep dive into Western Australian waters, with sharks, shipwrecks, eels, and other marine wonders swimming through.
Themed exhibits also up the enchantment levels. When you pack glowing coral gardens and beautiful but lethal creatures of the deep, that’s expected.
To top it off, you can fork out extra for mad experiences like diving or snorkelling with sharks. But if you’d rather keep your pants dry (or clean), there’s a behind-the-scenes tour for feeding fish and visiting restricted areas.
Take your kiddos to the Hillarys Boat Harbour playground
From heeraskv
Address: 86 Southside Dr
Operating Hours: Daily – 24 hours
Website
If you ask us, no Sorrento Beach day is a done deal without stopping by Hillarys Boat Harbour. After all, it’s one of Perth’s hottest coastal hubs, with the playground as our most loved feature.
It’s toddler-friendly and decked out with nautical accents that our sprogs really enjoy. They spend hours clambering on the rocking boats, testing their poise on bridges, and racing down the double slides.
Once they’re drained, the shades do a nice job of cooling them down. Restos are also nearby for a quick feed, but, in our case, we just sprawl on the grassy areas and grill something on the free BBQs.
Where to Eat
3Sheets on the Harbour
From 3sheetsontheharbour
Address: 208 Sorrento Quay, 28 Southside Dr
Contact Details: +61 8 6478 2895
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Fri – 12 pm to 3 pm, 5 pm to 9 pm
- Sat to Sun – 11:30 am to 9 pm
Pricing: $$
Website
When the BBQs don’t hit, we make a beeline to 3Sheets on the Harbour, enjoying its mellow atmosphere and gastro-pub bites.
Their $46 pork ribs are especially diet-breaking and generously portioned. The sweet-savoury balance, though, is why we truly love it.
Right behind the ribs are their famous pulled pork nachos, best ordered for sharing. Pork, beans, guacamole, and cheese are just half of its tasty inclusions.
San Churro Hillarys
From sanchurro_au
Address: Boardwalk Sorrento Quay, shop 220/58 Southside Dr
Contact Details: +61 8 9448 6001
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 9 am to 9 pm
- Fri to Sat – 9 am to 9:45 pm
- Sun – 9 am to 9 pm
Pricing: $
Website
San Churro is our go-to for sweets and organic coffee or hot chocolate.
We’re usually suckers for their family feast—three plates of churros and all the classic dips, like chocolate and dulce de leche. Vegan options are ready to go as well.
If it’s a scorcher, we go for their gelatos or sundaes, sometimes both. Smoothies and shakes are up for grabs too, and half the time, they’re cheaper than the scoops.
The Breakwater
From thebreakwaterhillarys
Address: 58 Southside Dr, Hillarys
Contact Details: +61 8 9448 5000
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 11 am to 10:30 pm
- Fri to Sat – 11 am to 1 am
- Sun – 11 am to 10:30 pm
Pricing: $4
Website
Sharing plates with the Indian Ocean as the backdrop sounds tempting, particularly if it’s The Breakwater we’re talking about.
Food-wise, they dish out classic pub tucker, think good old chicken parmi, grilled barramundi, and steak sangas, done simply but deliciously.
We suggest popping by at around 6 pm, though. Regular prices here are exy, so use the happy hour to your advantage.
Turkuaz Mediterranean Restaurant
From turkuazhillarys
Address: Shop T221 Hillarys boardwalk, 58 Southside Dr
Contact Details: +61 8 9246 2001
Operating Hours:
- Mon, Tue to Fri – 5 pm to 9 pm
- Sat to Sun – 12 pm to 4 pm, 5 pm to 9 pm
Pricing: $$$
Website
We blame Turkuaz Mediterranean Restaurant for our obsession with Turkish food.
The grown-ups, including me, smash their full-bodied Beyti kebab every time. Though a bit fiery, there’s yoghurt for cooling the heat down.
Meanwhile, our little ones go straight to baklava. Most praise the nutty and buttery overtones, while a few are all about its flaky layers and ice cream finish.
Turquoise Hillarys
From turquoisecafeau
Address: Sorrento Quay, Hillarys Boat Harbour, Southside
Operating Hours: Thu to Sun – 24 hours
Pricing: $$
Website
A Sorrento Beach escape often requires fuel, so feasting bottomless-style on Turquoise Hillarys isn’t a shabby move.
For two hours, you can munch on brunch staples like avo, pulled pork benedict, and house-made waffles. Kiddos under three even eat for nada.
There are also non-stop cocktails and wines, though that’ll cost you an extra 20 bucks.
