Beaches – Mornington Peninsula
Shatter the perfection of glassy seascapes by crashing into the waters on the peninsula's endless sandy bay inlets and wild surf beaches.
Golden summers on bay beaches
Walk beyond the sandbars into gently lapping waves on the string of golden Port Phillip Bay beaches linking Melbourne to Frankston and the inlets around Mount Eliza and Mount Martha, to the long expanse from Safety Beach to Dromana, Rosebud and Rye to Sorrento and Portsea.
Wild ocean escapes
Catch a wave and collect driftwood on wintery walks against the backdrop of rugged, rocky basalt headlands on the peninsula's ocean side, separated from the bay by a narrow isthmus of land.
Witness the surf crashing in from Bass Strait, which is ranked as one of the world's most dangerous stretches of water, to Gunnamatta and the Portsea, Sorrento and Rye back beaches. See the tall wind and sea-battered cliffs around Cape Schanck that epitomise the rugged nature of this coastline.
Port Phillip Bay beaches:
Frankston
Long, wide bay beaches ideal for swimming, snorkelling, diving, sailboarding and yachting, featuring boat launching facilities and foreshore reserves.
Patrolled by the Frankston Life Saving Club.
Mount Eliza
Small bay beaches can be found between Mount Eliza and Mornington including Daveys, Canadian and Half Moon bays, Ranelagh and Sunnyside beaches.
Mornington
Safe swimming beaches located around the harbour and nearby areas include Mills, Scout, Shire Hall, Mothers, Royal and Fishermans beaches. Yacht and boat facilities are available, plus foreshore reserves, picnic and barbecue facilities, a boardwalk and lookouts around Schnapper Point.
Patrolled by the Mornington Life Saving Club during summer months.
Mount Martha
A series of safe, sandy bay beaches with yacht and boating facilities, foreshore reserves with picnic and barbecue facilities and a coastal walking path.
Patrolled by the Mount Martha Life Saving Club during summer months.
Safety Beach
Calm, sandy bay swimming beach popular for boating, with a foreshore reserve and childrens playground.
Dromana
Popular camping area and beach stretching from Safety Beach to Anthonys Nose featuring reserves with picnic shelters, barbecues and playgrounds.
Rosebud
A popular family swimming beach on the bay protected by offshore sandbars. Shaded foreshore reserves have picnic, barbecue and play facilities.
Patrolled by the Rosebud Life Saving Club during summer months.
Rye
Wide, sandy bay beach with a large foreshore reserve plus jetty, picnic and barbecue facilities, extensive boat launching, washing and parking facilities and a cycling and walking track.
Blairgowrie
Sandy bay beach with barbecue and picnic facilities in the foreshore reserve, a boat ramp suitable for small craft and a walking and cycling track.
Sorrento Front Beach
Popular bay beach and holiday destination and departure point for the Queenscliff-Sorrento car and passenger ferry features foreshore reserves, picnic and barbecue facilities, boat launching and yachting facilities and a cycling and walking track.
Portsea Front Beach
Popular bay beach and holiday destination features wide foreshore reserves with picnic and barbecue facilities.
Portsea Surf Beach
Part of the Mornington Peninsula National Park, this popular surf beach can be treacherous at times.
Patrolled by Portsea Surf Life Saving Club and professional lifeguards from the end of November to Easter (daily from 26 December - 26 January. Weekends and public holidays at other times).
Sorrento Ocean Beach
Part of the Mornington Peninsula National Park, this popular surf beach features picnic and barbecue areas, kiosk and tea rooms.
Sorrento Surf Life Saving Club and professional lifeguards patrol from the end of November to Easter (daily from 26 December - 26 January. Weekends and public holidays at other times).
Rye Ocean Beach
Part of the Mornington Peninsula National Park and accessed by a walking track, the rips at this surf beach can make it unsafe for swimming.
Gunnamatta Beach
Part of the Mornington Peninsula National Park, this ocean surf beach can be unsafe for swimming due to rips.
Gunnamatta Surf Life Saving Club and professional lifeguards patrol the beach from the end of November to Easter (daily from 26 December - 26 January. Weekends and public holidays at other times).
Flinders Ocean Beach
Part of the Mornington Peninsula National Park, this protected sandy bay beach and foreshore reserve has picnic, barbecue and play facilities, plus boat ramp.
Shoreham Beach
Steep, sandy, pine-tree framed beaches are located around the mouth of Stony Creek and rocky platforms and reefs are popular for family exploration. The foreshore reserve has picnic and barbecue facilities.
Point Leo Surf Beach
This popular surf beach has swells rolling in from Bass Strait, while the foreshore reserve has picnic, barbecue and play facilities, a kiosk and camping area.
Point Leo Surf Life Saving Club and professional lifeguards patrol the beach from the end of November to Easter (daily from 26 December - 26 January. Weekends and public holidays at other times).
Merricks Beach
A safe sandy bay beach with walking tracks through wide foreshore reserve to beach.
Balnarring Beach
Popular beach with well-vegetated sand dunes, camping and caravan parks, and foreshore reserve with picnic, barbecue and play facilities.
Somers Beach
A popular sandy beach with picnic and barbecue facilities within a wide foreshore reserve.
