Jurien Bay
Jurien Bay is a coastal town in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia.
Understand
First named in 1801 by a French explorer, the town emerged in the 1950s as a growing rock lobster (crayfish) export industry a semi-permanent community of fishermen. The town was little more that a ramble of corrugated iron shacks and boat sheds till the 1980s when a tourist industry developed.
Get in
Jurien Bay is a 2.5hr drive from Perth.
By bus
A daily TransWA service will only get you as far as the turn off on Brand Hwy. From there you are on your own.
By car
The quickest way up the coast is along the Indian Ocean Drive following the coast past Lancelin, Cervantes. Alternatively travel the Brand Hwy till the turn off at Jurien Bay Rd.
Get around
See
- Jurien Bay Marine Park - Covering the stretch of ocean off the coast including a number of islands. Among the sealife are sea lions, dolphins and the occasional migrating whale. Activities on the water is only with your own boat or from the shore.
- The Old Jetty - An old wooden jetty has been removed and replaced with a much safer jetty. The old wooden pilons have been used as an artistic feature near the playground. Free gas BBQs are available on the grassed park.
- Lesueur National Park, Cockleshell Gully Rd. A 15min drive out of town is an important nature reserve for flora conservation. The sandy hills are blanketed by over 900 species of plants including several species, some endangered, not found elsewhere. Mount Lesueur provides a good view of the bay. $11 per car.
Do
- Coastal walk. A trail runs from the jetty to Dynamite Bay with some great views of the bay.
- Go fishing - The commercial fishing industry is only interested in the high value crayfish, leaving plenty of dhufish, snapper and groper for the more casual angler.
- Play golf (Jurien Bay Country Golf Club), 19th Ave, ☏ +61 8 9652 1353. Hack away on a golf course in the dunes that features some gigantic sand traps
- Snorkelling and diving - A string of islands surrounded with limestone reefs honeycombed with caves provide plenty of opportunity to get wet.
Buy
Eat
- Rock Lobster - Lobster Shack Cervantes
- The Jetty Cafe - beach front Roberts Street
- Lesueurs Cafe - Bashford Street
- Seaside Cafe - inside the IGA Shopping Centre
- Lani's Kitchen -
- Jurien Bay Hotel
- Sandpiper Tavern
- Jurien Fish & Chips
- Jurien Pizza
- Caltex Star Mart
Drink
Sleep
- Jurien Bay Tourist Park, 1 Roberts St, ☏ +61 8 9652 1595, fax: +61 8 9652 2724, stay@jurienbaytouristpark.com.au. A range of beach side sleeping options from unpowered campsites to chalets. Useful facilities include BBQs, campers kitchen and a huge jumping pillow to keep the kids amused. $23-$165.
Connect
Go next
- Green Head, and Leeman, north along Indian Ocean Drive
- New Norcia - east
- The Pinnacles Desert - 45 minutes south of Jurien Bay is the otherworldly limestone pillars.