The Best Beaches In Melbourne

Melbourne is my home town, so I’m a little biased when it comes to beaches in my local area. I know we can’t compete with Bondi or Manly in Sydney, and we’re not trying to, but we do have some unique and stunning beaches.

So let’s take a look at Melbournes best beaches from hidden beaches to party beaches.

port Melbourne beach

Port Melbourne beach is one of the most beautiful beaches on Port Phillip Bay, it’s a wide sandy beach with excellent facilities, and it’s only 20 minutes by tram from the city.

And the icing on the cake? Port Melbourne beach has it’s very own beach club!

Beachside cabanas, a pop-up kitchen serving great food, and a bar with a line-up of delicious Ice-cold cocktails. There’s no entry charge and you don’t need to make a booking.

Soak up the vibe, enjoy the DJ spinning your favourite tunes and play beach volleyball with your friends. Did I mention there’s an ice-cream cart and it’s dog friendly!

port melbourne BEACH NOTES-

• Amenities – Toilets, change rooms and cold water outdoor showers
• Parking – the most accessible parking is restricted to Beaconsfield Parade.
• Access – Easy.
• BBQ and picnic facilities
• Fishing-The pier provides the best spot for bay fishing.
• Food – There are many local food stores and cafes nearby providing hot and cold food options.
• Beach patrol is limited- South Melbourne and Port Melbourne Life Saving Clubs patrol a 1.5 km section of beach between the Kerferd Road and Lagoon piers. 
• For more information visit www.lifesavingvictoria.com.au
• How to get there-  Check the Public Transport Victoria Route planner here.

take me to Port melbourne beach

South Melbourne Beach is a large picturesque beach that extends west into the suburbs of Albert Park and Port Melbourne. It shares a low sea wall that runs along Beaconsfield parade and just to confuse us its located in Albert Park, not South Melbourne.

South Melbourne Beach is one of Melbourne’s most loved beaches. Soak up the sun, fish on the famous Kerferd Road Pier, let the kids run wild in the Plum Garland playground. Or play volleyball, and enjoy the facilities that this iconic beach has to offer.

south melbourne BEACH NOTES-

• Amenities – Toilets, change rooms and cold water outdoor showers
• Plum garland Playground
• Parking – the most accessible parking is restricted to Beaconsfield Parade.
• Access – Easy.
• BBQ and picnic facilities
• Fishing- The pier provides the best spot for bay fishing.
• Food – There are many local food stores and cafes nearby providing hot and cold food options.
• Beach patrol is limited- South Melbourne and Port Melbourne Life Saving Clubs patrol a 1.5 km section of beach between the Kerferd Road and Lagoon piers. 
• For more information visit www.lifesavingvictoria.com.au
• How to get there-  Check the Public Transport Victoria Route planner here.

take me to south melbourne beach

My mum grew up here in a single fronted Victorian weatherboard house, she spent every minute she could on Middle Park beach, and according to her, it hasn’t changed one bit.

Middle Park beach sits along side South Melbourne beach. It’s a pristine straight 1 km long, south-west facing beach, backed by a low seawall, promenade, and busy Beaconsfield Parade. Access is available along the length of the beach, with paid parking limited to the road.

Just metres from the water, The Sandbar beach cafe offers casual dining, for breakfast and lunch. The beach side deck is ideal for enjoying a meal and drinks, taking in the views of Port Phillip Bay with friends or watching the kids play on the beach.

Don’t forget to pack your beach bag, sun shade and gear for the kids.

middle park BEACH NOTES-

• Amenities – Toilets, change rooms and cold water outdoor showers
• Parking – metered
• Access – Easy.
• BBQ and picnic facilities
• Food – There are many local food stores and cafes nearby providing hot and cold food options.
• No beach beach patrol
• For more information visit www.lifesavingvictoria.com.au
• How to get there-  Check the Public Transport Victoria Route planner here.

take me to middle park beach

west beach (pooch friendly)

Everyone in the family will love West Beach, and for those of you with a pooch in tow, this is an off-leash zone all year round. There’s lots to explore and plenty of other furry pals for your pooch to meet.

Feeling hungry? Head on over to the nearby West Beach Bathers Pavilion for breakfast lunch or dinner or a cocktail, it even has a dog-friendly bar with a great vibe and stunning views.

Want to try some water-sports? Check out the Zu Boardsports shop. The ZU specialises in Kite-boarding, Stand-Up Paddle and Windsurfing lessons, hire, sales, service and repairs and they have the largest range of new and used gear in Victoria.

West Beach is home to the Twilight Beach Polo

fancy some polo fun?

Polo played with a beach ball on the beach. Who can resist? Bring on the ponies, the fashion, the chilled champagne, and round up your beach tribe for one of my favourite summer events in Melbourne. Twilight Beach Polo will be back on the sand in February 2021 on St.Kilda West Beach, I can’t wait!

Check out the The Twilight Polo.

st. kilda west BEACH NOTES-

• Amenities – Toilets, change rooms and cold water outdoor showers
• Parking – the most accessible parking is restricted to Beaconsfield Parade.
• Access – Easy.
• BBQ and picnic facilities
• Food – There are many local food stores and cafes nearby providing hot and cold food options.
• No Beach patrol, just pooch patrol
• For more information visit www.lifesavingvictoria.com.au
• How to get there- Check the Public Transport Victoria Route planner here.

Elwood Beach is a lovely seaside spot with a broad expanse of golden sand and calm waters. It’s 9kms from the Melbourne CBD, and is just around the corner from St Kilda Beach.

On warm days and nights you’ll find a vibrant beach scene, buzzing with families and couples enjoying a day at the beach.

The Elwood bathers restaurant serves amazing food, it’s the best spot for lunch, and If you can’t get a table, they have a superb take-out menu. Fish and chips on the beach? Yes Please!

elwood BEACH NOTES-

• Amenities – Toilets, change rooms and cold water outdoor showers
• Parking – excellent parking along the foreshore.
• Access – Easy.
• BBQ and picnic facilities
• Fishing- The pier provides the best spot for bay fishing.
• Food – Elwood bathers
• Beach patrol- Elwood has it’s own lifesaving club.
• For more information visit www.lifesavingvictoria.com.au
• How to get there-  Check the Public Transport Victoria Route planner here.

Take me to elwood beach

My all-time favourite beaches have easy access and retain their raw beauty and Half moon bay beach is one of them. The bay is protected from north wind making it an ideal place to anchor your boat and perfect for kids who can play safely in the calm water. See more.

BEACH NOTES-

• Amenities – Toilets, change rooms and cold water outdoor showers
• Parking – good parking
• Access – Easy to the beach area section. Then steep in both directions.
• Fishing- The pier provides the best spot for bay fishing.
• Don’t forget your buckets, the kids will love the rock pools.
• Food – Best Fish and chips.
• Beach Patrol – from November to April, every weekend and public holiday
• Best time to visit- Always early to claim your spot.
• For more information visit-https://www.brlsc.org.au/patrols/
• How to get there-  Check the Public Transport Victoria Route planner here.

take me to half moon bay beach, black rock

Aspendale beach

Aspendale beach

The Best Strip Of Beach In Melbourne

Aspendale beach is a 28 minute drive from Brighton Beach and it’s well worth the extra distance. It’s the widest and longest strip of white sand that you will find in Melbourne, the water is shallow and clear, tiny fish are darting about everywhere. On summer days it’s packed with beach goers and the vibe is as sweet as lemonade.

parking

Parking is ticketed from 6am to 9:30pm along the beach with access via Gnotuk Avenue to the south of the Aspendale Life Saving Club. The car park has a beach shower and water tap. To the south of the Life Saving Club is a boardwalk which runs behind some beach huts to the car park area

At the Life Saving Club there are toilets, water tap and beach shower.

There is a wide sandy beach which stretches as far as the eye can see and joins other beaches.

Access for Dogs:

Summer Foreshore Dog Regulations (1 November – 31 March)

• Between sunrise and 10am dogs are permitted off leash on sand only
• 10am and 7:30pm dogs are prohibited on sand
• Between 7:30pm and sunrise dogs must be on leash on sandWinter Foreshore Dog Regulations (1 April – 31 October)

• Between 11am and 3pm it is an on leash area.
• At all other times of the day it is an off leash area on sand only.

Aspendale BEACH NOTES-

• Amenities – Toilets, change rooms and cold water outdoor showers
• Access – Easy
• Food – Stroll up to the Edithvale Life Saving Club to the cafe
• No Beach Patrol
• For more information visit-https://www.brlsc.org.au/patrols/
• How to get there-  Check the Public Transport Victoria Route planner here.

take me to aspendale beach