Top 10 Beaches In Melbourne For A Perfect Coastal Getaway To Enjoy

Discover the top beaches in Melbourne, perfect for sunbathing and surfing.

In addition to the nightlife and city life that it boasts of, the beaches in Melbourne provide tourists an unmatchable experience. You can enjoy the sun, sea, sand or even the waves, in other words, delve into a perfect holiday destination. From fun packed active beaches for the young and energetic to even calm and serene beaches for the couples, Melbourne provides for every traveller. The list of Melbourne’s ten amazing beaches offers something different and fun.

10 Stunning Beaches In Melbourne

Here are the most beautiful beaches in Melbourne, from the serene bays to exquisite shores for adventure and beach activities:

1. St Kilda Beach

St. Kilda Beach in Melbourne is the best for sun, surf, and city skyline views.

Photo: Dietmar Rabich / Wikimedia Commons

This beach is Melbourne’s most famous beach. It is situated only six kilometers southeast of the central business district. The beach is home to the beautiful golden sand and calm waters. The traveller gets to partake in several activities ranging from paddle boarding to kite surfing and sun tanning. Melbourne’s St Kilda Pier gives beautiful vistas of the city skyline. In the evening, you can also watch the fairy penguins. Additionally, the surrounding area of the beach is filled with restaurants, cafes and bars, a very effective hub for nightlife.

Major Attractions: St Kilda Pier, Luna park, penguin viewing
Best Time To Visit: November to March
Ideal Trip Duration: 2 – 3 hours
Nearest Railway Station: St Kilda Tram Stop
Location: St Kilda, Melbourne
Timings: 24*7

2. Brighton Beach

Brighton Beach in Melbourne has iconic and panoramic bathing boxes.

Photo: Pavel Špindler / Wikimedia Commons

Brighton Beach is among the most popular tourist places in Melbourne. This beach is known for its vibrant bathing boxes. These boxes were initially built in the early 1900s. Aside from the colorful boxes, the beach offers a relaxing vibe and the views of the Melbourne skyline. The beach is safe for children, the water is very shallow and it is perfect for family outings. The shores are sandy and excellent for sunbathing and picnics.

Major Attractions: Brighton Bathing Boxes, scenic views
Best Time To Visit: December to February
Ideal Trip Duration: 2 – 3 hours
Nearest Railway Station: Middle Brighton Station
Location: Brighton, Melbourne

3. Half Moon Bay

Explore Half Moon Bay’s Beach in Melbourne, a sandy stretch along the cliffs.

Photo: Deborah L. Hagler Wong / Wikimedia Commons

Black Rock Beach is a half moon shaped sandy stretch of coastline. It is famous for its geological structures such as the shipwreck of the HMVS Cerberus at sea bed near the coast. Snorkelling is safe at this beach because the waters around the wreck are quite shallow and calm. The bay is protected by cliffs which surround the region and add beauty to the area. It’s a good place for a picnic as there are Barbeque Grassed areas for some tree-shaded areas.

Major Attractions: HMVS Cerberus wreck, cliffs, snorkeling
Best Time To Visit: November to March
Ideal Trip Duration: 3 – 4 hours
Nearest Railway Station: Sandringham Coastline

4. Elwood Beach

 Family-friendly Elwood Beach in Melbourne offers sun, sand, and scenic picnic spots.

Photo: Kgbo / Wikimedia Commons

Elwood Beach is one of the great family beaches in Melbourne that has shallow water. It is suitable for swimming and paddle boat-boarding. The beach is wide, and sandy and thus is ideal for families with a less crowded beach experience. Near the beach, there are grassy picnic areas as well. There is also a walking and biking track at Elwood Beach that will be very suitable for adventurers. It also has numerous Barbeque areas and plenty of playgrounds for children. Two of the widely performed sports at Elwood Beach are beach soccer or volleyball.

Major Attractions: Elwood Park, bike trails, BBQ facilities
Best Time To Visit: Spring and summer
Ideal Trip Duration: 2 – 4 hours
Location: Elwood, Melbourne

5. Williamstown Beach

Williamstown Beach, a tranquil spot with shores and waves.

Photo: Michal Klajban / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only

Williamstown Beach is a great place for a nap with stunning views of the Melbourne skyline. This beach is famous for the clear water and marine beauty of the area. It is ideal for swimming, sunbathing and romantic walks, especially in the evening. The beach provides barbecue facilities, cafeterias and gardens, making it suitable for a relaxed day by the shore. There is also the Williamstown Botanic Gardens in close vicinity. This is one of the finest tourist spots in Melbourne and is very near to the Williamstown Railway Station.

Major Attractions: Williamstown Botanic Gardens, scenic promenades
Best Time To Visit: October to April
Ideal Trip Duration: 2 – 3 hours
Nearest Railway Station: Williamstown Beach Station
Location: Williamstown, Melbourne

6. Altona Beach

 Relax at Altona Beach which is the hidden gem for swimming.

Photo: Slyronit / Wikimedia Commons

Altona Beach is comparatively less famous but is one of the best places to relax in Melbourne. It is a long sandy beach that makes it perfect for swimming, paddle boarding and fishing. There are several areas of the beach featuring picnic shelters with shade along with wonderful coastal trails for walking and biking. Fishing enthusiasts often flock to Altona Pier. The regional plant life of the coastal zone makes it a beautiful place to relax. The beach is also famous among kite surfers.

Major Attractions: Altona Pier, coastal trails, fishing
Best Time To Visit: November to March
Ideal Trip Duration: Half – day
Nearest Railway Station: Altona Station
Location: Altona, Melbourne

7. Sorrento Back Beach

Sorrento Back Beach with rugged cliffs, rock pools, and waves.

Photo: Peterdownunder / Wikimedia Commons

This beach lies at a bit of distance from Melbourne. Sorrento Back Beach is known for its sheer cliffs, strong coastline waves, and beautiful scenery. This beach is famous for the surfers and other water sports activities. Sorrento Back Beach is fringed with limestone cliffs and is dotted with several rock pools around which visitors can find marine creatures. There are multiple opportunities for visitors with hiking trails in the vicinity. It is recommended to try coffee at this beach.

Major Attractions: Rock pools, cliff views, surfing
Best Time To Visit: Year – round
Ideal Trip Duration: Half-day to full day
Nearest Airport: Melbourne Airport
Location: Sorrento, Mornington Peninsula

8. Port Melbourne Beach

Close to the city, Port Melbourne Beach boasts sandy shores and stunning sunset views.

Photo: Gabrielle Polita / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only

Port Melbourne Beach is a bayside beach in Melbourne and is generally not too crowded. The beach offers a lot of things to do. The stretch of white sand, and a quiet bay, ensure great opportunities for swimming and sunbathing. It has a boardwalk that attracts cyclists, joggers and strollers within the area. It is located near many waterfront cafes and restaurants, making a great place for tourists to unwind and admire the sunsets. This beach is one of the patrolled beaches and has showers and changing rooms.

Major Attractions: Station Pier, boardwalk, waterfront dining
Best Time To Visit: Summer months
Ideal Trip Duration: 2 – 3 hours
Nearest Railway Station: Port Melbourne Station
Location: Port Melbourne, Melbourne

9. Sandringham Beach

Sandringham Beach is quiet and ideal for family picnics.

Photo: Ian Cochrane / Wikimedia Commons

Sandringham Beach is a fine beach with clear water, white sand and a natural reef. This reef makes it one of the preferred spots for snorkelling. It is renowned for being quieter and a perfect place for family get-togethers and picnics. There is boating at Sandringham Harbour near the place. The coast of the beach is decorated with beautiful gardens and places for a picnic. This beach also has lovely playgrounds for children to play beach volleyball and soccer.

Major Attractions: Sandringham Harbour, snorkelling, picnic areas
Best Time To Visit: October to April
Ideal Trip Duration: 2 – 3 hours
Nearest Railway Station: Sandringham Station
Location: Sandringham, Melbourne

10. Hampton Beach

A family enjoying the waves of Hampton Beach.

Photo: VanGugi / Wikimedia Commons

Hampton Beach, 900 metre long, is one of the finest beaches in Melbourne. This beach is a chosen place for snorkelling, windsurfing, kitesurfing, swimming and playing beach sports. There is a boat harbour near this beach and several reefs with rock walls. One of the nearest attractions is Hampton Street which has many cafes, restaurants and accessible pathways. There are gardens which overlook the bay. There are several coastal cliffs along Hampton Beach.

Major Attractions: WindSurfing, Kite Surfing, Reefs, Rock Walls
Best Time To Visit: October to April
Ideal Trip Duration: 1 – 2 hours
Nearest Railway Station: Hampton Station
Location: Hampton, Victoria

All beaches in Melbourne are as attractive as they seem. St Kilda is as energetic as the residents of Melbourne and Sandringham beach is beautiful with its coastal cliffs. Everybody who wants to visit Melbourne whether he or she is an adventure lover, a family or a solo traveller will find something unique at the beaches. Now that you know where to go, it’s time to prepare for your beach trip and choose an exclusive travel package offered at TripXL.

Cover Photo: Misaochan / Wikimedia Commons

Frequently Asked Questions

Two family-friendly beaches are Elwood Beach and Brighton Beach. Both of them have shallow waters and there are many facilities around them.
Sorrento Back Beach and Gunnamatta Beach are ideal for surfing owing to their high wave strength and beautiful environment.
The best time for visiting the Melbourne beaches is during the summer period which starts from November extending to March.
The general nature of most beaches in Melbourne is submerged behind the bays that allow swimming. However, some of the beaches such as the Gunnamatta read with strong currents, ideal for surfing.
Some of Melbourne’s beach areas are served by trains, trams, and buses and thus, many tourists find it easy to move from one beach to another.

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