Dogging in Perth and Western Australia

Perth is a long way from everywhere, and its scene has grown up its own way. Back in 2006, a Perth member on the old WhosDogging forum wanted to know whether it was true that doggers tie something red to their car aerial – it isn’t, and nobody in Perth does it today either. What Perth does have is a small, long-running outdoor scene, a swingers’ community big enough that one local paper crowned the city Australia’s swingers’ capital, and two of the country’s best-known nude beaches.

Perth: small, keen and long-running

Perth’s dogging scene is smaller than Melbourne’s or Brisbane’s, but it’s been going for years and the people in it are keen.

Back in 2011, a Perth forum was already passing round a carefully researched list of local dogging spots. Today the city has a handful of online groups where couples ask about places on their side of the river, and locals report which spots are getting busier. Perth’s swingers’ scene is the bigger story: there are clubs – some more kink-focused than others – and private party organisers, and couples’ reviews of the big-name venues are mixed enough that many prefer private events. A lot of Perth couples move between the two worlds.

For first-timers, locals’ advice is consistent: say which side of the river you’re on, be clear whether you want to watch, be watched or join in, and let couples choose who comes along. Single men who wait to be invited, rather than pulling up next to every car, are the ones who get asked back.

Where people go around Perth

Perth’s outdoor scene uses the kinds of places the city has plenty of: open space, water and views.

• Lakes and reserves south of the river, which locals say are getting busier.
• Lookouts in the hills on the city’s eastern edge, with the lights of Perth below.
• Beach car parks along the coast from Kwinana down towards Rockingham, late at night.
• Parks and foreshores around Mandurah for couples further south.

As always, we don’t name exact spots. Perth’s groups share details privately, and the places that last are the ones nobody broadcasts.

Swanbourne and Port Kennedy

Perth is one of the few Australian cities with nude beaches close to town, and each comes with a lesson.

North Swanbourne, a short walk up the sand from the main beach near Cottesloe, has had a clothing-optional section for decades, although its legal footing has always been murky. Further south, the City of Rockingham has allowed nude bathing on a stretch of Warnbro Beach at Port Kennedy since 1988 – and when residents complained, the mayor made two things clear: the status covers the beach, not the dunes behind it, and sex in public is against the law there just as anywhere else. Regulars’ own complaint is men lurking in the dunes to watch. Go for the sun, stay on the sand, and leave the rest for somewhere else.

If you’re new to it, Swanbourne’s nude section starts about half a kilometre north of the main beach, so it’s a walk along the sand rather than a drive. Regulars say mornings bring more couples and a friendlier crowd. Port Kennedy is quieter and further out, with more space to yourself.

Mandurah, Bunbury and the South West

South of Perth, Mandurah and Rockingham couples are active, and the South West has groups of its own covering Bunbury and Busselton.

Bunbury locals mention a beach car park, lookouts and the Australind side, but they’re frank too: unless someone plans it, nothing much happens. A couple who post that they’re heading out on a Friday night usually find company. Without that, it’s a long drive for a quiet night.

Things to know before you go in Western Australia

• Distances are huge. Even within Perth, spots are spread out. Plan before you drive.
• Summer is hot, winter is wet. Warm, still evenings in spring and autumn are the sweet spot.
• Parks have gates and rangers. Check closing times, and expect patrols in popular parks.
• Trust your instincts. If a car park feels wrong, leave.

Staying on the right side of the law in Western Australia

WA has no specific law about dogging. Its Criminal Code makes it an offence to commit an indecent act in a public place, and as the Rockingham mayor pointed out, that applies even on a nude beach.

Sitting in a parked car at night, or messaging people you’ve met online, is not the issue. The risk comes from being seen by somebody who didn’t choose to be there. Stick to late nights and out-of-the-way places, keep things hidden, and call it a night if anyone else appears. Read Is dogging legal? for more background – it’s general information rather than legal advice.

Meeting other doggers in Western Australia

In a state this big, a little planning turns a long drive into a good night.

WhosDogging has been bringing people together since 2006, with Perth members from the very first year. Joining costs nothing. Look up members around Perth and the South West, get talking, and settle the details before you leave home – north of the river or south, in the hills or down in Bunbury. The people here are genuine members who want what you want. There’s more on the rest of the country in our guide to dogging in Australia.