The Shark. Australia with Emma Styles

Submitted: 11th March 2026

The Shark. Australia with Emma Styles

What better way to celebrate the publication of Shark by Emma Styles than to take a beach tour of some excellent and inspirational beaches which help to share the story?

The Shark Emma Styles

My favourite West Australian beaches

Map of The Shark Locations

Emma Styles

Growing up in a beachside city like Perth in Western Australia was formative. When I came to write my second novel The Shark, I knew I would set it in my hometown and that it would be a very ‘Perth’ book.

Cottesloe Beach was the first place we lived as a family there, where I first swam in the ocean, and in many ways The Shark could not be set anywhere else. The Norfolk Island Pines, the grass terraces, the Rottnest Channel Swim.

In others the Cottesloe beachfront could be anywhere in the world with a thriving beach and café culture and a shark net.

Map of The Shark Locations

Here’s a selection of my favourite West Australian beaches. Always check local conditions and safety advice before visiting the beach.

Cottesloe beach (c) lebram souffreau

Map of The Shark Locations

Grant Street Beach, Cottesloe (Whadjuk Country)

At the northern end of the Cottesloe strip, away from the shark net and main beach, dog-friendly Grant Street is my go-to Perth beach on trips home. A great spot to run, walk or skate the footpath, take the dog or go for a dip before the sea breeze gets up. The vibe is friendly, there are sheltered spots between the rocks, and the views and sunsets are spectacular.

William Bay Road near Ocean Beach, Denmark WA, Australia (c)Mounish Raja

Ocean Beach, Denmark (Menang Country)

Map of The Shark Locations

A popular surf beach known for stunning views, pristine sand and great surf, Ocean Beach fronts the Southern Ocean for 2.5 kilometres and is the beach I visit when staying with south coast family. There’s parking, a surf club and toilets. Conditions are variable. Always check before you swim.

Rottnest Island in Western Australia (c) jesper-van-der-pol

Little Parakeet Bay, Wadjemup/Rottnest Island (Whadjuk Country)

Map of The Shark Locations

The nearest thing to a Cornish cove in Western Australia, Little Parakeet is a perfect sheltered sandy crescent and excellent snorkelling spot if you’re visiting Wadjemup, Rottnest Island. It gets busy so head there early, and watch out for stingers in the summer months. The nearest facilities are in adjacent Geordie Bay.

Coral Bay (c) Corey Serravite

Paradise Beach, Coral Bay (Baiyungu Country)

Map of The Shark Locations

For snorkelling and beach walks, this spot around the headland from the main beach at Coral Bay is a quieter stretch to explore Ningaloo without hopping in the car and heading up or down the coast. The accommodation gets super-busy but this is a pristine coastal landscape with a coral reef and incredible wildlife in and out of the water.

Kimberley beach (c) chilli-charlie

Eighty Mile Beach, Kimberley (Karajarri, Nyangumarta, and Ngarla Country)

Map of The Shark Locations

Eighty Mile Beach is an uninterrupted 220-kilometre stretch of sand and wild Kimberley coast. There’s a caravan park but limited facilities otherwise, and swimming is not recommended due to sharks, saltwater crocodiles and dangerous jellyfish. A Ramsar recognised wetland for migratory birds and a crucial nesting area for flatback turtles, come for the wildlife, solitude and sunsets.

The Shark Emma Styles