Joondalup Beaches 2026: Where to Park, Boat Ramp Fees at Ocean Reef, and the Kitesurf, Jet Ski and Abalone Rules (Joondalup, WA)

Parking near the beaches in the City of Joondalup (WA) follows the City’s local parking rules, and the City says its street parking and open-air car parks are free on weekends and public holidays. The two boat ramps, at Hillarys Boat Harbour and Ocean Reef Boat Harbour, charge launching fees. At Ocean Reef the City’s fee schedule lists $12.00 a day, as of its June 2025 version.

This guide collects what the City of Joondalup publishes about its coast: where to park, what the boat ramps cost, and the rules for kitesurfing, jet skis and abalone fishing. It does not cover paid parking inside Hillarys Boat Harbour, because the City’s pages do not set those prices.

Is beach parking free in the City of Joondalup?

On weekends and public holidays, yes for the City’s own street parking and open-air car parks: the City says they are free with no time restrictions. On other days, the City says unpaid parking and Acrod (accessible) bays are available at many City facilities, including community spaces, libraries, parks and along the coastline. The City adds that drivers must check the signs and understand the fees and restrictions before parking.

The City’s two beach recommendations both mention parking. It names Sorrento and Mullaloo as local favourites for swimming and says both have convenient parking, toilets and food and drink options, along with surf lifesaving patrols. For young children it names Hillarys Marina Beach, inside Hillarys Boat Harbour, where the marina shelters the beach from waves and toilets and cafes are close by.

Beach	What the City says
Hillarys Marina Beach (inside Hillarys Boat Harbour)	Good for toddlers and young children; sheltered from waves by the marina; toilets and cafes close by
Sorrento	A local favourite for swimming; surf lifesaving patrols; parking, toilets, food and drink
Mullaloo	A local favourite for swimming; surf lifesaving patrols; parking, toilets, food and drink; named in the top 50 WA beaches by Perth is Ok in 2023
Burns Beach	Listed by the City as a popular snorkelling area

Where can I launch a boat, and what does it cost?

The City says two boat-launching ramps sit within its area: Hillarys Boat Harbour on Northside Drive and Ocean Reef Boat Harbour at Boat Harbour Quays. It says both have ample parking for vehicles and boat trailers, and that launching fees apply at both.

The City’s fees and charges schedule (last updated June 2025) lists the Ocean Reef Harbour car park under parking and boat-launching fees:

Ocean Reef Harbour car park	Fee
Daily fee (no hourly fee)	$12.00
Annual pass	$220.00
Annual pass for seniors or pensioners, and City of Joondalup resident card holders	$200.00

Boat owners can apply for an annual parking permit for the boat trailer. The City says the permit lets the towing vehicle and attached trailer park in the Ocean Reef car park, and can be used to reach the boat launch without buying a daily ticket. The permit applies to the trailer, not to the vehicle towing it, so more than one vehicle can tow the same trailer. A permit lasts 12 months, and you must apply again when it expires. The City asks applicants to read the Conditions of Use before applying online.

Where can I park when I go abalone fishing?

The Department of Fisheries manages abalone fishing across the metropolitan area, through size and bag limits, closed areas and seasons, and the City says the length of the open season can change from year to year. The City points to the Fisheries and Recfishwest websites for the rules and tips, and to Surf Life Saving Australia for wind and swell reports.

For parking during the season, the City asks you to be considerate of residents and to follow the signs. It lists five things not to do:

• Park on residential lawns, gardens or verges without the property owner’s consent.
• Park any part of your vehicle on the footpath.
• Park on median strips, traffic islands, pedestrian crossing points, chicanes or speed humps.
• Park facing against the flow of traffic.
• Park in or block any driveways.

The City also restricts access to beaches and coastal areas to limit the environmental impact and keep people safe. Its officers patrol the coast, particularly during abalone season, and fines apply for leaving designated paths and accessways.

What are the kitesurfing, jet ski and water ski rules?

Activity	The City’s rule
Kitesurfing	A designated kitesurfing area and exclusion zones apply. Follow the signs that show where kitesurfing can and cannot happen. No kitesurfing in the exclusion zones at Mullaloo and Sorrento, to a distance of 200 metres into the water. Rigging, launching and landing at Mullaloo must be inside the designated area between the exclusion zones. Look for yellow buoys (western boundary) and yellow discs on the beach (northern and southern boundaries).
Jet skis	Jet skiing above eight knots is prohibited within 200 metres of the shoreline along the whole City coastline. Jet skis not towing water skiers must launch from Hillarys Boat Harbour or Ocean Reef Boat Harbour.
Jet skis towing water skiers	May also use the permitted water ski take-off area at Pinnaroo Point (Whitfords Beach).
Water skiing	The Department of Transport has increased the permitted water ski area at Whitfords and Mullaloo beaches and removed the time restrictions on launching and landing at the take-off area.

For kitesurfing safety, membership and insurance, the City points to the WA Kitesurfing Association website. Its beaches page also has a map of the kitesurfing and water skiing exclusion and designated areas.

Where can I snorkel?

The City lists the most popular snorkelling areas as near the Marmion Angling Club in Marmion, Boyinaboat Reef on the south side of Hillarys Marina, and Burns Beach. It names two more areas, Little Island and North Lump, and says they are reachable only by boat.

What happens if I park wrongly?

The City says its officers patrol the coastline, particularly during abalone season, and that fines apply for leaving designated paths and accessways. It asks drivers to check the signs and understand the fees and restrictions before parking. This guide does not set out the City’s fine amounts or appeal rules, because we did not read its infringement pages. For help, call the City of Joondalup on (08) 9400 4000.

Quick answers

Question	Answer
Is parking free at the beach on Sunday?	The City says its street parking and open-air car parks are free on weekends and public holidays. Check the signs where you park.
What does Ocean Reef boat ramp parking cost?	$12.00 a day, or $220.00 for an annual pass ($200.00 concession), per the City’s June 2025 schedule.
Where can jet skis launch?	Hillarys Boat Harbour or Ocean Reef Boat Harbour, unless towing water skiers.
How far from shore is jet skiing above eight knots banned?	Within 200 metres of the shoreline, along the whole City coastline.
Can I park on the verge near the beach?	Not without the property owner’s consent, and never on the footpath.

Sources

• City of Joondalup — Beaches (beaches, boat ramps, abalone parking, kitesurfing, jet skis, snorkelling; checked 7 November 2026)
• City of Joondalup — Parking fees and charges (PDF, last updated June 2025)
• City of Joondalup — Parking locations (free weekend parking)
• City of Joondalup — Parking, permits and payments (Ocean Reef Boat Harbour annual permit)

Featured image: Beach at Hillarys Boat Harbour, Western Australia (photo: EurovisionNim / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)

OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with the City of Joondalup or Hillarys Boat Harbour. Rules, fees and fishing seasons can change; check the City’s pages and the signs on site before you go.