Backpacker Hostels in Lancelin, Australia

Lancelin is a small town located approximately one hundred twenty-seven kilometres north of Perth, in a sheltered bay by the Indian Ocean. The beach is gorgeous here -- crystal-clear with lots of beautiful soft white sand -- and if you visit outside of major holiday periods, it's refreshingly peaceful and unspoilt. Lancelin's climate is warm and mild, too, making the town a great place for backpackers to chill out before they head further north. Western Australia's coastline north of Perth is quite different from the east coast as it's much less populated and not nearly as commercialised -- qualities that will especially appeal to independent travelers who are a bit adventurous and enjoy getting off the beaten track.

However, there's much more to Lancelin than just lazing on the beach. The town is often called Western Australia's windsurfing capital, so if you have the opportunity, be sure to give this a try. Other fun water-based things to do in Lancelin include surfing, diving, snorkeling, kayaking, and kitesurfing. Equipment for many of these activities can be hired locally -- either at the hostel or other places in town.

Lancelin is also famous for its huge sand dunes and thrill-seeking backpackers can have loads of fun on these as well. The Lancelin XTreme Sand Buggy is a popular attraction, although it's not for the faint-hearted. Less extreme, but equally thrilling, is sandboarding down the sandhills, and equipment for this can also be hired in town. Ask at your Lancelin hostel for more details.

Apart from the beach and sandhills, there are plenty of other cool things to do in town and further afield. There are a few national parks and nature reserves just a short drive away, with the Nambung National Park and its amazing rock formations being especially interesting. If you’re planning a visit in mid-January, try to time it for when the Lancelin Ocean Classic is on, which is the town's biggest annual event. The festival features windsurfing, jet-skiing, and kitesurfing competitions, as well as lots of other awesome stuff like markets, movie nights, art exhibitions and special parties. Book your Lancelin hostel early, though, as it’s a very popular event.

Lancelin is easily accessible from Perth by either private or public transport. It's situated at the northern end of Wanneroo Road, which begins in Perth and extends through its northern suburbs and beyond. It's also very close to the start of the Indian Ocean Drive, which continues further north to other pretty coastal towns, and eventually connects with the Brand Highway. TransWA buses and Integrity Coaches also service the town a few times a week.