Bremer Bay

A quiet seaside town on the south coast of Western Australia, where summer boat trips into Bremer Canyon see orca pods, and the biodiversity-rich Fitzgerald River National Park lies nearby.

Bremer Bay is a coastal town in the Jerramungup Shire on the south coast of Western Australia, home to only a few hundred people. It lies about 180 km northeast of Albany and about 520 km southeast of Perth, and serves as the western gateway to Fitzgerald River National Park.

The town is famous for two things. First, from January to April, the Bremer Canyon, some 50 km offshore, gathers the largest number of orcas in the Southern Hemisphere. Sperm whales, beaked whales and many seabirds can also be seen, making a whale-watching boat trip one of Australia's most popular marine wildlife experiences. Second, Fitzgerald River National Park, northeast of town, is a core zone of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with about 1,800 flowering plant species, around 75 of them endemic. Spring wildflowers bloom in September–October, and unusual plants such as the royal hakea grow only here.

Fine white sand beaches and turquoise bays surround the town, including Little Boat Harbour, Short Beach, Banjee Beach and John's Bay. Most are free and quiet. From June to October, southern right whales come close to shore near Cape Ann to calve.

Getting there: there is no public transport. Drive about 2 hours from Albany or about 6 hours from Perth. Most roads in the national park are gravel. Some sections, such as the road to Quoin Head, need four-wheel drive and close after rain. Entry requires a Western Australian national park pass. Plan 2–3 days: one for a whale-watching boat trip (about 8 hours), one for the western part of the national park (Cape Ann and West Barren Hill), and a half day at the beaches. Food and fuel are limited, with short opening hours. In summer, protect yourself from sun and flies. In winter, expect wind and rain. Venomous snakes live in the national park, so stay on the trails and carry plenty of water.

Top sights

• Bremer Canyon Orca Tours – Each summer and autumn, boats head out about 50 km from Bremer Bay to watch killer whales gather at the edge of the seafloor canyons, the l…
• Fitzgerald River National Park – The core of a UNESCO biosphere reserve, with about 1,800 species of flowering plants. Coastal peaks, river valleys and empty beaches altern…
• Point Ann – A headland lookout in the western section of Fitzgerald River National Park, where southern right whale mothers and calves can be seen from…
• West Mount Barren – A quartzite peak on the western side of the national park. A steep trail of about 2 km round trip leads to the summit, with views over the…
• East Mount Barren – A quartzite peak in the eastern section of the national park near Hopetoun. From the summit you can look over the Culham Inlet and the Sout…
• Quoin Head – A secluded bay in the heart of the national park, with white sand and red headlands. It can only be reached by four-wheel drive or a long h…
• Little Boat Harbour – A small bay at the southern tip of the peninsula, enclosed by granite headlands, with calm green water good for swimming and snorkeling.
• Bremer Beach – A long white-sand beach stretching for several kilometers northeast of town, facing Bremer Bay, good for walking, watching the sunrise, and…
• John Cove – The closest beach bay to town, with shallow, gentle water and a dune trail. It is a good spot for family swimming and picnics.
• Short Beach – A rocky-headland beach south of Fishing Grounds Beach, with a lookout over the turquoise bay and reefs. It is one of Bremer Bay's most popu…
• Banky Beach – A quiet white-sand bay on the southeast side of the peninsula, with reefs and tidal pools. Good for snorkeling and spotting small marine li…
• Native Dog Beach – A long sand beach on the west side of the peninsula, open to the Southern Ocean. Big swells make it good for surfing, beach fishing, and su…
• Wellstead Estuary – A calm estuary lagoon north of town, where the Bremer River meets the sea. Good for kayaking, fishing, and watching pelicans and other wate…

Where to eat

• The Telegraph on Bremer – A café in a historic 1896 telegraph station, ranked No. 1 in town on Tripadvisor for its coffee, toasties and carrot ca…
• Wellstead Museum Café – Located inside the Wellstead Homestead Museum, the town's first settlement, known for its handmade baking, scones and c…
• Bremer Bay Brewing Company – A small-town craft brewery where the ginger beer brewed with real ginger and the pizzas get the most praise, and outdoo…