PHOTO: Tourism Australia
As Melbourne enters its traditional January heatwave, international vistiors and tennis fans in town for the Australian Open Tennis Championships will be flocking to the coast. With almost 2,000 kilometres of coastline, Victoria is an ideal beach destination. A coastal community, Victoria boasts some of the most charming and accessible beaches in Australia.From the popular city beaches, and the scattering of beaches on the nearby holiday spot of Philip Island, to the iconic coastline of the Great Ocean Road and the famous surfers’ paradise of Bells Beach, here are some of Victoria’s most popular beaches and some of the hidden gems.
St Kilda Beach
Located just 6km from the city centre, St Kilda is one of the most picturesque and exciting precincts in Melbourne. Its expanse of golden sand, the promenade, pier and harbour, marine and sailing clubs, sea baths and restaurants on the beach, plus the live music scene and colourful residents all combine to make a trip to St Kilda a highlight for city-based visitors.
One of the most popular of the Port Phillip Bay beaches, its wide, sandy beach invites all manner of activities including walking, cycling, rollerblading, swimming, kite-surfing, windsurfing, paddle-boarding, snorkelling, sailing, jet-skiing and sky diving. The St Kilda Pier is also a favourite spot for taking in beautiful sunsets and excellent views of the city skyline.
Brighton Beach
Possibly one of the most-photographed beaches in Melbourne, Brighton Beach, a little further south from St Kilda, is known for its quaint colourful bathing boxes that dot the sand. Drawing droves of families to its shores when the sun is shining, this long stretch of safe swimming beaches includes Dendy Street Beach, Middle Brighton and Brighton Beach. Barbecue and play facilities plus windsurfing, yachting, boating activities are popular and includes walking and cycling paths.
Mornington Peninsula
Located just an hour’s drive south from Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula has an air reminiscent of the Mediterranean, with vineyards and olive groves, historic country house retreats and seaside villages. It is a beach lover’s paradise where the bay beaches provide calm waters around Mount Martha, Dromana, Rosebud, Rye and Sorrento, while great surf beaches are located at the Bass Strait on the ocean side.
There is something for everyone along the Mornington Peninsula, from adventurous watersports and scuba diving, to swimming with fur seals and dolphins, to arts, culture and heritage in the area, wineries, antique shops, award-winning restaurants and naturally occurring thermal hot springs. Whether it’s relaxation or adventure – Mornington Peninsula has it covered.
Phillip Island and the Penguin Parade
Phillip Island, about 90 minutes drive from Melbourne, is well-known for the nightly Penguin Parade, which takes place on Summerland Beach. This surfing beach is open to the public until dusk, after which the beach is closed off to make way for hundreds of little penguins waddling home to the largest penguin colony in Australia.
Aside from these adorable little residents, Phillip Island is also home to the Koala Conservation Centre, a variety of farm animals at Churchill Island Heritage Farm, and the largest fur-seal colony in Australia is situated at The Nobbies. For sheltered bay beaches the Island’s northern side is the place to go for family-friendly activities such as Cowes and Ventnor beaches. Avid surfers can head to one of Australia’s best beach breaks at Victoria’s first National Surf Reserve at Cape Woolamai Beach on the Island’s southern coast.
The Great Ocean Road and Twelve Apostles
Without doubt, the Great Ocean Road is one of the most stunning coastal drives in the world. Spanning 243 kilometres along the stunning coastline of Victoria’s south-west, the Great Ocean Road was built by returned soldiers between 1919 and 1932 and dedicated to soldiers killed during World War I – and is thus the world’s largest war memorial. The road winds through varying terrain along the coast, past seaside villages, rainforests, waterfalls and rivers and provides access to several prominent landmarks and panoramic views of the coastline.
With a vartiety of accommodation options ranging from hotels and B&B’s to ‘glamping’ and lodges, there are experiences suitable for all budgets. Past the gorgeous seaside towns, through and beyond the Great Otways National Park is the most famous section of the Great Ocean Road – the Twelve Apostles. Rising up majestically from the ocean are the famed collection of limestone stacks that have been carved out of the headland by the fierce waves of the southern ocean. Visitors can explore this section by foot and take to the Great Ocean Walk beginning at Apollo Bay and ending at the 12 Apostles.
Bells Beach, Torquay
Soak in surf culture at Torquay – birthplace to iconic brands Rip Curl and Quicksilver, and home of the world famous Bells Beach. Located at the start of the Great Ocean Road, the surfing mecca of Bells Beach is ideal for those looking to catch a wave or two. During the March Easter weekend, Bells Beach plays host to the world’s oldest surfing competition the Rip Curl Pro where visitors can watch the world’s best surfers carving up the waves in one of the most sought-after titles in the World Championship Tour. Bells Beach is also a popular sightseeing spot with great vantage points along the high cliffs, which provide a dramatic backdrop to the beach.
Point Addis, Angelsea
Further along the Great Ocean Road is Point Addis, a dramatic crescent of sandy beach backed by rugged sandstone cliffs that looks out to breathtaking views of the arching coastline and aquamarine water. A five-minute walk takes you through coastal scrubland which provides great bushwalking as well as access to the Point Addis Marine National Park where you can go snorkelling, sailing, fishing, windsurfing and scuba diving.
Bay of Islands and Bay of Martyrs
The Bay of Islands features geological formations located a 15-minute drive beyond the more-famous Twelve Apostles. Stretching 33km west of Peterborough towards Warrnambool, the Bay of Islands Coastal Park is a stunning coastal reserve made up of sheer cliffs, beaches, colourful heathland with spectacular views and ancient limestone formations that appear to be floating in the ocean. Home to rare flora and fauna, this is actually an icon in its own right with beaches and tracks that visitors can access on foot.
The Bay of Martyrs, which is located at the outskirts of Peterborough, is an ideal place to see the Bay of Islands at sunset, with the islands and Massacre Point backlit by the sun. Other lookouts at Worm Bay, Crofts Bay and Boat Bay also offer stunning views of the surroundings.
Wilsons Promontory
Around three hour’s drive south-east of Melbourne in the stunning Gippsland region, Wilsons Promontory National Park (or ‘the Prom’) is Victoria’s largest coastal wilderness area (spans 50,000 hectares) and is threaded with labyrinths of walking tracks that weave through abundant wildlife.
Norman Bay and the Tidal River provide wide beaches perfect for cycling, kite-flying and cricket, and an abundance of wetlands to be explored. Wilsons Promontory is also home to Squeaky Beach, named after the rounded grains of quartz that make up the white, dry sand on the beach, which literally make a squeaking sound when walked upon. The other side of ‘the Prom’ has protected and pristine beach gems like Sealers Cove, Refuge Cove, and Little Waterloo Bay with fine white sand and aquamarine water.
Ninety Mile Beach, Lakes Entrance
Further along the coast from Wilsons Promontory in the vast Gipplsand region, this 90 mile-long stretch of pristine golden sand is one of the most natural and unspoilt beaches in the world. From beach fishing and swimming to walking, whale and dolphin-spotting, or just lazing in the sun, this beach is ideal for any number of beach activities. Nearby towns of Woodside Beach, Seaspray, Golden Beach, Loch Sport and Lakes Entrance offer unspoilt locations for the perfect beach holiday, complete with fish and chips, picnic facilities, as well as paddleboat and canoe for hire.
For more information, visit www.visitmelbourne.com
Source: Tourism Australia, January 2014
