Hamelin Bay Stingrays, WA

There’s a buzz about Hamelin Bay when you find yourself in WA.

Strangers ask whether you have been there yet and backpackers are forever searching for transport to get there. Why the furore?

Well, three things…. stunning beauty, historical artifacts, and black stingrays.

Hamelin Bay Beach, WA

Table of Contents

Where is Hamelin Bay?

Hamelin Bay is to be found between Cape Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste in Western Australia. It’s a four-hour drive south of Perth and a not to missed day trip from the popular vineyards at Margaret River.

Why visit Hamelin Bay?

You’ll find an incredible beach with crystal-clear water backed by limestone rocks with wondrous marine life, including giant stingrays. Just look at the colours of today’s calm, warm waters of the Indian Ocean.

There is much to enjoy on the bright white sands, this sheltered bay is fabulous for swimming and snorkeling. Divers can explore the local shipwreck and there are some spectacular coastal cliff walks. You will find a nice beach-view panorama with explanatory boards from the Hamelin Bay Observation Deck near the old jetty.

Coastal cliff walks

The Cape to Cape Track is a challenging 135km trail that extends the length of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park.

There is a short walk option (one way) from Hamelin Bay to Cosy Corner. It’s a 6.5km hike that starts along the beach before turning inland through coastal heath and woodland. Guaranteed stunning views at every turn!

Cape to Cape Track

The history of the old jetty

The skeleton of an old wooden jetty testifies to the bay’s historical importance to the region’s milling industry. This was where the timber was put on ships to be taken to Australia’s major cities and abroad to feed the ever-growing need for construction materials in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

The old jetty, Hamelin Bay

Stingrays at Hamelin Bay

The stars of the show, however, stealthily approach as you wade in the gentle waves. Dark shadows glide up close to the shore then swim down the beach at the water’s edge. These overgrown dinner plates – and they are enormous – are the famous black stingrays.

They seem as curious about you as you are about them. They caress your feet as they slide over them seeming to enjoy the human contact.

You are told that you must not touch them – and it is true that by touching them you remove the protective oil they coat themselves in – but it is so tempting to share the physical contact.

Warning: Are Stingrays dangerous? These animals ‘are ordinarily docile creatures but they must be treated with respect’, they have venomous barbs.

These locals are Smooth Stingrays, Black Stingrays, and Eagle Rays who inhabit the shallow waters here in the Ngari Capes Marine Park.

Nothing prepares you for their size. Standing just centimetres away, these gentle giants measure more than two meters across.

The stingrays gracefully explore the crowd of invaders for several minutes before heading back out to deeper water.

Best times to see the stingrays

If you can, arrive at the beach before 9 am for a less crowded up close and personal encounter. Head towards the old jetty area of the beach the local stingrays are easy to spot as they search for food around the old jetty pylons and in the shallows along the beach. Our photos were taken mid-morning.

Hamelin Bay Observation Deck

Where we stayed

There is not a huge amount of choice of accommodation in the Bunker Bay area so we choose to visit between stays at the two hotels below.

Margaret River Motel, Western Australia ⁣

This 3 Star family-run motel with a swimming pool in a central Margaret River location was a fab place to sleep whilst out and about enjoying the Margaret River region. The spacious en-suite room had a sitting area with a leather sofa and a window seat looking out over the short tennis court. We enjoyed watching the myriad of Australian birds from our window.

The town offers plenty of dining and shopping. Our day trip to Hamelin Bay took 30 mins to drive.

Margaret River Motel

Pullman Bunker Bay Resort, Western Australia ⁣

For a more luxurious and mega-expensive splurge check out another beautiful beach, the white sands at Bunker Bay. The Pullman Bunker Bay Resort is a 5-star hotel with 150 luxury villas. Beware it’s 95 km north of Hamelin Bay, a journey time of 75 minutes.

Pullman Bunker Bay Resort

To check out all our hotels and motels chosen for our Western Australia trip see Little Wandering Wren’s The Good Hotel Guide.

How to get to Hamelin Bay?

Our visit to Hamelin Bay was part of our Western Australia road trip. this is a perfect road trip destination located 300km South of Perth. We hired a car with No Birds Bayswater with Perth Airport pick-up. We are not sponsored by them just pleased with their price, car, and service!

Final Thoughts

If you are in the area we thoroughly recommend a detour to see the stingrays at Hamlin Bay. It was an unforgettable encounter with animals comfortable in the mastery of their habitat.

Thank you to my very own resident zoologist Mr Wren who has contributed his thoughts and experience in compiling this post!

For more to see in the Margaret River region check out this video Little Wandering Wren Instagram

Linking with thanks to Eileen at Saturday’s Critters.

8 comments

A ShutterBug Explores -

Lovely place and photos ~

Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

wrensrambles@gmail.com -

Hello Carol, we loved our time at Hamelin Beach it is a lovely place you’re right. We’re really happy we went to visit the locals at the beach here! Have a lovely day. Wren x

lowcarbdiabeticJan -

Amazing to see these stingrays …
Happy travels 🙂

All the best Jan

Thank you Jan. Yes for us it was a really unique experience, we have seen Stingrays in the open water before, but just having them coming up to you in the shallows was pretty special.

Eileen Wise -

Hello Wren,
Beautiful place to vacation, love the views of the bay. The stingrays are cool, great photos.
Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great weekend. PS, I am sorry I am late commenting, thank you for leaving me a comment.

Thank you so much Eileen, those stingrays are a super cool holiday experience. I’m so glad we went to Hamelin Bay. Thank you for stopping by.
Wren x

Sharon Wagner Books -

I had a chance to swim with stingrays in Grand Cayman once. But I missed it! I love to spot them in the water.

Oh what a shame, Sharon they are incredible creatures up close. Still, hopefully there is another opportunity. They are very much to be respected but also rather elegant, and fabulous to see her in the shallows.
Have a great week
Wren x