Best places to elope in WA! This is your planning guide to having an elopement in the amazing state of Western Australia (WA). We did all the research for you and found the best places for you across Western Australia. We want you to get inspired for your elopement because your choices are endless with a Western Australian elopement.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there are approximately 12,000 marriages each year in Western Australia.

Western Australia has so many beautiful places for an amazing elopement. The city of Perth, the wine country of the Margaret River, the Kimberly region or on one of the many unique landscapes that only Western Australia has. All these places and locations are absolutely stunning and you can have an awesome small wedding or elopement at any of these places. It really just depends on your vision and the style of elopement you want.

You can elope with camels at sunset on Cable Beach or run through the vineyards at Margaret River. Or do something totally unique and go to the Bungle Bungles or the Pinnacles for your elopement. The choice is yours.

1. Perth Elopement

The capital city of Western Australia is Perth, and this once quiet and slightly dull city is now a modern bustling place and a beautiful location for an elopement. And there are a lot of options, depending on what style of elopement you are after.

You can pretty much elope at any public park or beach. So if you have a place that is special to you then just contact the council and get a permit/permission. Some location ideas for a Perth elopement would be:

• Kings Park and Botanic Garden- Stunning views over the Perth CBD and variety of ceremony and photo locations make this one of the top locations for a Perth elopement.
• Cottesloe Beach – One of Perth’s most beautiful and most popular beaches.
• Cottesloe Civic Centre – Manicured gardens and views of the ocean.
• Fremantle Prison – For something a bit different. They even have a chapel.
• City Beach
• Hyde Park
• Matilda Bay Reserve
• Point Walter Reserve and Jetty
• South Perth Foreshore
• WACA Cricket Ground
• Queens Garden

2. Margaret River

About three hours from Perth is the magical region of Margaret River. Margaret River is one of the most popular destinations in Australia for weddings and elopements because of its coastal scenery, forests and amazing vineyards. If you are looking for places to Elope in Australia, then Margaret River has to be on your list. It is one of the most awesome places to elope in Australia.

A Margaret River elopement is all about wineries, vineyards, craft beer, the beaches and the coastline. It is the best of the outdoors with a relaxed beach and country vibe. Therefore there are so many great elopement options available here with luxury properties, vineyards, estates, restaurants, farms and actual wedding venues to choose from.

3. Bungle Bungle Range

The Bungle Bungle Range is located in the Purnululu National Park. It is a World Heritage Site in Western Australia’s East Kimberley region and it features some of the most spectacular rock formations known as The Bungle Bungle Range.

The orange and black sandstone domes known as the Bungle Bungle, which rise 300 metres above the grassy plains that surround them, are one of the most fascinating geological landmarks in the world. And a Bungle Bungle Range Elopement would be simply amazing!

4. Cable Beach, Broome

Located at the top of Western Australia is the beach resort town of Broom. It sits along the Indian Ocean and the 22km stretch of Cable Beach is one of its most famous sites.

Broome is also an excellent place to base yourself as you explore other regions nearby. So you could combine your elopement with your honeymoon. A Broom elopement at sunset on Cable Beach would be a pretty perfect elopement.

5. Cathedral Gorge

If ever there was the most perfect rock cathedral for an elopement, it would be Cathedral Gorge in the Purnululu National Park.

This rare beehive striped formations and deep gorges make it one of Western Australia’s most interesting geological attractions, and one of two World Heritage sites in Western Australia.

6. Karijini National Park

Located in the heart of the Pilbara region, Karijini National Park is WA’s second-largest park and it would have to be one of the best places to elope in Australia.

The highlight of this park is the colourful gorges and pools within the gorges. Oxer Lookout has views of the Weano, Red, Hancock and Joffre gorges. Near the edge of Weano Gorge, there is a trail leads to Handrail Pool. And over to the east there are the red rocks of Dales Gorge and the cascades of Fortescue Falls. 

Many landscape photographers visit this park and it’s easy to see why. There is a huge variety of landscapes here and a Karijini National Park elopement would be something really beautiful.

7. Rottnest Island

Sitting just offshore to the city of Perth is the protected nature reserve of Rottnest Island. If you are looking for a Aussie beach elopement with some of the whitest sand in the world then you would have to consider Rottnest Island.

It is a favourite wedding location for Perth residents and it is also a beautiful place for a Rottnest Island elopement. There are sixty-three beaches and twenty bays to choose from. Plus the landscape is epic!

Rottnest Island is known for the quokka, a small wallaby-like marsupial. But it is the landscape of the white sandy beaches and turquoise water in the coves and beaches that make it beautiful for elopements. I would just avoid weekends and school holidays as it is a really popular place for Perth locals to visit.

8. The Pinnacles Desert

One of the best places to elope in Australia would have to be the Pinnacles Desert. The landscape and scenery would be just incredible for a small elopement.

The Pinnacles are these unusual limestone formations that are located with the Nambung National Park near the small town of Cervantes, about 200 kilometres from Perth. A Pinnacles Desert elopement at sunset would feel like you were on another planet and be amazing to photograph.

9. Wave Rock

Just 3.5 hours from Perth is one of the most beautiful and usual rock formations called Wave Rock. It is a granite inselberg which has been weathered by wind and rainwater for millions of years.

Local Aboriginal tribes believe that wave rock was a creation of the Rainbow Serpent. Wave Rock would have to be one of the best places to elope in Australia and it is definitely a location that I think would be incredibly beautiful to photograph.

10. Bluff Knoll

The highest peak of the Stirling Ranges in the Southern region of WA, Bluff Knoll would require some serious effort but I think the views would be totally worth it. Location wise it is one of the places to elope in Australia.

It is a 6.8 km return trip taking around 4 hours and is considered a Grade 4 walk. I wouldn’t recommend this in the warmer months. But the photos would be incredible.

11. Elephant Rocks

In Western Australia, a few hundred metres east of the Greens Pool is the sheltered beach of Elephant Rocks. One of the best places to elope in Australia. It is located in William Bay National Park about 15 km west of Denmark. The name derives from a collection of exposed rocks that resemble an elephant herd from many angles.

12. Lucky Bay Esperance

Have your elopement on the whitest sand beach in the world! According to a soil scientist and former chairman of the National Committee on Soil and Terrain… Lucky Bay in Cape Le Grand National Park is the whitest sand in the world.

Lucky Bay is known for its white sands and turquoise water and Kangaroos on the beach. Making it also a very popular tourist spot. But all these elements could make it a pretty awesome Aussie wedding.

13. Natures Window Kalbarri

Situated only five hundred metres from The Loop (or Inyaka Wookai Watju) carpark, Nature’s Window is one of the most famous natural attractions in Western Australia, built from the layers of Tumblagooda Sandstone.

A Natures Window elopement at sunset or sunrise would be absolutely stunning.

14. King George Falls

King George Falls is one of the best waterfalls in Australia. It just looks incredible! This 100 metre twin waterfall is located in an incredibly remote part of the Kimberly.

It is pretty much inaccessible by car and most people seem to do a cruise below the falls. Or a plane over the falls. But I think the best location for a totally epic elopement, would be on the rocks to the side of the falls. Go somewhere near the wet season so the falls will be flowing nicely. But the wet season in the Kimberly can bring out other issues as well.

Take a helicopter from Broome, Wyndham or from a luxury resort like Berkeley River Lodge and land somewhere there and have the most incredible elopement ever.

15. Mitchell Falls, Kununurra

This four-tiered waterfall is located in the Mitchell River National Park and is an iconic Kimberley tourist attraction. It could be one of the most amazing places to elope in Australia.

For a Mitchell Falls elopement, I would use the walking track to view the falls from the sides. The views look incredible.

16. Francois Peron National Park

Francois Peron National Park such a beautiful area for an elopement, where the red dunes that meet the turquoise water. It is something completely different and one of the amazing places to elope in Australia.

Have your elopement ceremony on the red dunes overlooking the water. Then once you have said your vows, jump into the water and celebrate with a swim. Drink some champagne and then take some photos around the area as the sun sets. Sounds like an awesome elopement.

17. Lancelin Sand Dunes

The Lancelin Sand Dunes are located near the town of Lancelin, which is located about 1.5 hours from Perth.

They are huge white sand dunes that are popular for sand boarding. But they are also awesome for photography and for elopements. A Lancelin Sand Dune elopement would look like you are having your wedding in the middle of the desert and would look stunning in the late afternoon light.

18. Mt Augustus

Located 850 kilometres north of Perth, in the Mount Augustus National Park is Australia’s largest monolith. It is twice the size of Uluru and it is located in Western Australia.

I don’t think anyone has ever had an elopement at Mt Augustus. So if you were able to get permission for one from the National Park, you might be the first. Emu Hill Lookout is the best location to get a good view of the entire rock.

WA Elopement Information

There are some marriage guidelines you need to follow to make sure your marriage is fully legal. Your marriage celebrant will go over all these, but basically they are:

• Neither of you can be married to someone else.
• You cannot be marrying a parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, brother or sister.
• Both of you must be at least 18 years old.
• You need to understand what marriage means and freely consent to marry.
• Each partner has to sign a witnessed Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) at least one month prior to the elopement. This is done through your authorised celebrant. (So it takes at least one month to get married in Australia).
• A registered civil celebrant must conduct the marriage ceremony and submit all the legal paperwork for you.
• You need two witnesses over the age of 18, to sign your marriage certificate and other legal documents at your ceremony. (So that means there needs to be at least 2 other people, not including the celebrant at your elopement. You can use your photographer, videographer, stylist or someone from your elopement venue).

Other Information About Eloping in WA

• If you’re an overseas couple dreaming about eloping in Australia, you may marry here lawfully and legally. You do not need to be an Australian citizen or a permanent Australian resident to get married legally.
• Same-sex marriage in Australia is officially legal .. Woohoo! As of December 2017, Australia has equality of marriage. The act read out at the elopement ceremony now reads “the union of two people to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life”.
• At your elopement ceremony, you and your witnesses will need to sign all the relevant papers with your marriage celebrant. Your celebrant then turns in the papers to the ‘registry of birth, deaths and marriages’ in the state where you got married, within 14 days.

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