Just south of Swansea you’ll see signposts to Spiky Bridge—a wonderful, quirky piece of colonial architecture that was built from local fieldstone by a convict road gang in the 1840s, and is well worth a look.

On the opposite side of the highway, a little further along, look for the sign to Spiky Beach and turn off into the unsealed car park. A short walking track weaves down from here towards this truly beautiful, 100-metre-long beach.

Spiky Beach is a scoop of platinum blond sand, embraced by dark dolerite outcrops and a small cluster of she-oaks and eucalypts. A tumble of sea-worn rocks on the beach creates little nooks and shelters to nestle into and offers exquisite rock pools—miniature gardens of anemones, shells and delicate aquatic plants.

The water is clear and blue, and the whole effect is like a storybook beach. This is a perfect spot for sitting quietly and reflecting, dozing in between dipping your toes and watching the sky and sea change colours.