7 Best Cities To Retire In Western Australia

On a bright summer morning, board a solar-powered train at the Busselton Jetty before descending into one of only six underwater observatories in the world. In Mandurah, spend hours watching dolphins pass through the Kwillena Gabi Pool, or head down to Bunbury's Mangrove Boardwalk, which is built for birdwatchers of every mobility level. Bayswater's riverside is ideal for spending peaceful evenings on a leisurely trail while watching birds or simply enjoying the sight of the river flowing by at its gentle pace. These Western Australian cities pair access to nature and community with health and aged care services close to home.

Busselton

Busselton is a thriving town where retirees are part of the community. The community supports the Busselton Senior Citizens Centre, which offers activities including recreation, sports, exercise, creative, and free technology classes. For wine lovers, Busselton sits on Geographe Bay within easy reach of the Margaret River Wine Region. The Busselton Jetty runs a solar-powered train the full 1.7 kilometres out to its underwater observatory, and the carriages take wheelchairs and walkers.

A quiet morning walk along the coast is easy to build into the week, as is shopping at one of the community markets held through the week, such as the Busselton Foreshore Market at Signal Park or the Origins Market on West Street. Pick out fresh produce, baked goods, or local art. Day-to-day medical care is close at hand. The Busselton Health Campus offers 24/7 emergency care along with access to local primary and specialist providers.

Bunbury

Bunbury is uniquely positioned between the Indian Ocean, the Leschenault Inlet, and the Collie River. It suits retirees who want to swim, boat, fish, or watch the resident pods of wild bottlenose dolphins in Koombana Bay. Senior housing options include retirement communities just outside the city, among them Bethanie Esprit at Eaton and SwanCare Australind Rise at Australind, both roughly fifteen minutes from the centre. General public and specialty medical care is available at the South West Health Campus. It is easy to find walking paths and local parks within a few blocks of the shops in town. Check out the Leschenault Inlet Loop or the Pelican Point Loop, which is dog-friendly.

Back Beach has an attached public park with picnic areas, and miles of open sand run south from it. Lighthouse lovers can climb the Marlston Hill Lookout Tower, an unusually shaped 1988 structure raised on the site of Bunbury's original lighthouse, for a 360-degree outlook over the harbour and Koombana Bay. From there it is a short walk to the current Bunbury Lighthouse, a black and white checkerboard tower standing 25 metres and visible 27 kilometres out to sea. Birdwatchers love Bunbury's coastal access, including the Mangrove Boardwalk, which is accessible to all mobility levels. The community also supports the Bunbury Entertainment Centre, which hosts touring theatre and music year-round.

Mandurah

Mandurah is set up for seniors more deliberately than most places of its size. One of its distinguishing features is the public Kwillena Gabi Pool, a swimming area on the Eastern Foreshore ringed by floating pontoons rather than walls. Retirees can swim or walk the beach and spot pods of dolphins working the shallows of the Mandurah Estuary. The City of Mandurah runs a year-round events program with free outdoor concerts through the warmer months. Senior recreational opportunities are found at the Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre, which provides netball, pickleball, futsal, squash, and badminton. Social activities and support services run out of the Mandurah Seniors and Community Centre, known as Dandjoo Kaadadjan Mia, a membership club for the over 55s that has operated since 1990 and keeps a hairdresser, podiatrist, and massage therapist on site.

Explore additional beaches in Mandurah, like Town Beach, with cafes, a playground, and picnic sites. Seniors looking to snorkel, head to Doddi's Beach. Swimming and paddleboarding are popular at Falcon Bay. Seniors into walking or birding can explore the Peel-Yalgorup wetlands on foot or by kayak. Observe native waterbirds and wildlife in their actual habitats. Birders especially love the local Creery Wetlands Nature Reserve. The reserve is right in town and provides walking loops and boardwalks.

Bayswater

Bird watchers and trail walkers find a place to call home in Bayswater. The suburb sits along the Swan River and offers retirees plenty of wetland and river basin trails to keep active year-round. Right in town, seniors can stay active by walking within the public Riverside Gardens park and trail system. For a wetland trail experience, try the birder's favorite Baigup Wetlands. Visit the Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary to learn and discover where native birds live and thrive within town or in the Western Australia region. For seniors, public transport runs to Perth and the surrounding suburbs. Local and regional bus services run from the suburbs, so it is easy to catch a ride anywhere in town for shopping or medical appointments.

The City of Bayswater is focused on making life better for seniors with an active age-friendly strategy. As a result, there are accessible trails in public parks and plenty of easy walking trail options. Bayswater offers retirees several housing options to fit any budget. Camelia Court runs 59 villas for independent retirees alongside parkland that reaches the Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary, while Mertome handles higher-level residential and dementia care within walking distance of the train station. Retirees living in this inclusive community enjoy events that include the Avon Descent Finish Line Festival held at the Riverside Gardens.

Cockburn

Retiring in Cockburn is for those who love the quiet pleasure of observing native birds and other wildlife in natural habitats. The city takes in coastal beaches, the Beeliar wetland chain, banksia woodland, and bushland reserves, which suit retirees who want community and nature in one place. Bibra Lake Reserve carries a six-kilometer path around the water with two hides and two jetties, and the route is flat enough for wheelchairs. Cockburn is also near the Indian Ocean with public access to Coogee Beach, and the Denis De Young Reserve is designated as a Bush Forever site where you might spot quenda, western grey kangaroos, New Holland honeyeaters, and seasonal wildflowers.

For more traditional senior activities, head to the Cockburn Aquatic and Recreation Centre. The centre provides fitness programs and swimming pools alongside social spaces built for seniors. For those who need specialist care, Cockburn is home to Western Australia's first Older Adult Health Hub, which opened in 2026 inside the Cockburn Health and Community Facility at Success. The hub puts geriatricians, physiotherapists, nurses, and dietitians in one building, and residents reach it through a GP referral.

Armadale

Retirees looking to live within a 30-minute drive of Perth will find a home in Armadale. Armadale is a modern community that welcomes seniors looking for connection, access to nature trails, and a suburban lifestyle. Armadale sits within the Perth Hills. Seniors find walking or biking trails right in town, like the Armadale Settlers Common or the Armadale Walking Urban Art Trail. Animal-loving seniors will enjoy the Armadale Reptile and Wildlife Center. The centre houses native reptiles, including skinks, monitors, a variety of snakes, and dragons, alongside a few unique Australian birds and marsupials. The centre provides opportunities to learn, volunteer, or teach people about local wildlife and how to identify and handle the wide variety of snakes they may encounter.

Armadale supports retirees through community activities held at the city library, the Armadale Fitness Centre and the Perth Hills Visitor Centre. For a more local senior community experience, visit the Greendale Centre, the Roleystone-Karragullen Seniors Club, or the Westfield Kelmscott Senior Club. The city also runs an Aboriginal elders group open to both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal seniors. Public transport concessions for seniors apply on weekends, public holidays, and set off-peak hours through the week.

Melville

Melville is a senior-friendly community offering low-maintenance housing communities and access to local healthcare, or take a 20-minute drive into Perth for more advanced medical needs. Melville is a southern suburb of Perth offering a quiet suburban lifestyle with nature trails, beaches, and a short drive to the historic port city of Fremantle. As one of Western Australia's Age-Friendly Communities, Melville offers retirees a wide variety of housing options, including retirement homes, independent living villages, and low-maintenance homes designed for seniors. Melville sits along the Swan River and offers walking and cycling routes like the Melville Water Riverpark Trail.

Find services, support, and community at the Melville Cares Friendship Group for meals and social activities. The club offers morning tea, movies, concerts, and courses in music and craft. Club members also enjoy group trips and day tours in the area. The National Seniors Australia Group Melville Branch meets every fourth Tuesday at Bull Creek. Melville offers diverse housing options, including full care facilities like Aegis Melville or independent communities like St Ives Melville, which runs 47 homes built for independent living. Local healthcare providers include the Melville Family Health Centre on Marmion Street and Health Watch Clinics on Canning Highway.

Weighing Up The Move

Whichever city you settle on, apply for a WA Seniors Card. It carries public transport and utility concessions along with the Cost of Living Rebate, and those savings compound across a long retirement. The real decision is a trade. The south west cities put the water, the wineries, and a regional health campus within one trip, but specialist care still means a drive to Perth. The metropolitan cities give up the open coast for river trails and wetland reserves, and put the major hospitals half an hour away.