Shell Beach
A beach made of billions of small white shells piled up, stretching about 60 km and up to about 10 m deep.
Shell Beach has no sand. It is made entirely of the white shells of a small cockle species (Fragum erugatum). This shellfish thrived in the highly saline waters of Hamelin Pool, and its shell layer extends about 60 km and is 7–10 m thick. The water is very salty and buoyant, so you can float in it. In the past, the shells were compacted and cut into blocks as building material, and Denham has shell-block buildings. Entry is free. The beach lies beside the road into the bay, about 45 km from Denham, with a parking lot and a viewing platform. Please do not take shells away, and wear shoes, as walking barefoot can lead to cuts.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Eagle Bluff
- Shark Bay Ocean Park Aquarium
- Shark Bay World Heritage Discovery Centre
- Denham Foreshore
- Little Lagoon
- Monkey Mia
- Peron Homestead & Hot Tub
- Hamelin Pool Stromatolites