Prevelly at a Glance
- Where — on the coast directly west of Margaret River town, roughly a ten minute drive down Wallcliffe Road
- Known for — Surfers Point, the Rivermouth, and the sheltered beach at Gnarabup
- Size — a small holiday settlement rather than a town; there is no supermarket or fuel
- Best for — surfers, beach walkers, and anyone who wants to stay within sight of the ocean
Prevelly is the closest stretch of coast to Margaret River town, and for a lot of visitors it is the reason they came. The Margaret River empties into the Indian Ocean here, and the reef just offshore produces the waves that made the region a surfing destination. It is a quiet place most of the year — a few hundred houses spread across the dunes, a general store, and a couple of places to eat — and then extremely busy for the fortnight the professional surfing tour is in town.
The settlement takes its name from Prevlaka in Croatia. Geoff Edwards, who served in the region during the Second World War and was sheltered by a monastery there, named his land after it and later built the Prevelly chapel as a memorial.
The Beaches
Surfers Point
The main event. A limestone headland with a car park and viewing area looks straight out over the reef breaks — Main Break, The Box and North Point among them. This is where the Margaret River Pro is held, and you can watch world tour surfing from the grass without paying for a ticket. The waves here are for experienced surfers only; the rocks and the rips are unforgiving.
Gnarabup Beach
A short drive south and an entirely different proposition — a sheltered, north-facing bay with calm water, a boat ramp, and the region's most reliable swimming beach on this stretch of coast. There is a café overlooking the sand. This is the one to bring children to.
The Rivermouth
Where the river breaks through the sand bar. The lagoon behind the bar is shallow and calm enough for paddling when the river is flowing; the ocean side is not. It is a good short walk from the Surfers Point car park and a favourite spot for photographers late in the day.
Before you get in the water
None of the Prevelly beaches are patrolled outside of event weekends. Swim at Gnarabup rather than at the rivermouth or Surfers Point, check conditions before you go, and treat any advice from locals in the car park as better than anything you read online.
Eating and Staying
There is a general store and takeaway in Prevelly itself, and a café and restaurant at Gnarabup with the best view of the two. Accommodation is mostly holiday houses and short-stay rentals, plus a caravan park and a small number of resort-style apartments at Gnarabup. Everything else — the supermarket, the bottle shop, the fuel, the bakery — is back in Margaret River town, so it pays to shop before you drive down.
Getting There
From Margaret River town, follow Wallcliffe Road west until it reaches the coast. The road is sealed the whole way and the turn-offs to Surfers Point, the Rivermouth and Gnarabup are all signposted. There is no public transport, so you will need a car.
Planning a surf trip?
Prevelly is one of several breaks worth knowing about along this coast.
Beaches & Surfing GuideFrequently Asked Questions
How far is Prevelly from Margaret River town?
Prevelly is on the coast directly west of Margaret River town, about a ten minute drive along Wallcliffe Road. The road is sealed and signposted the whole way.
Can you swim at Prevelly?
Gnarabup Beach, a short drive south of Prevelly, is the sheltered option and the best choice for swimming and for families. The rivermouth and Surfers Point are exposed, rocky and subject to strong rips, and are not safe swimming beaches. None of them are patrolled outside event weekends.
Is Prevelly good for beginner surfers?
No. The reef breaks at Surfers Point are powerful and break over rock, and they are best left to experienced surfers. Beginners are better served by a lesson with a local surf school, which will run at a beach chosen to suit conditions on the day.
Are there shops in Prevelly?
There is a general store and takeaway in Prevelly and a café and restaurant at Gnarabup, but no supermarket, bottle shop or fuel. Stock up in Margaret River town before you drive down.
Where do you watch the Margaret River Pro from?
The grassed area and viewing platforms above Surfers Point look directly onto the competition waves, and access is free. Parking fills early during the event, so arrive well before the first heat or walk in from further back.