Iconic beaches in Melbourne

St Kilda Beach to the southeast of Melbourne isn’t just a beach – it’s an entire seaside experience. Tourists rollerblade, saunter and cycle along its esplanade. Families are drawn to its fun-filled Luna Park and a great selection of restaurants, cafes and bars.

Brighton’s 82 colorful bathing boxes and huts make this timeless tourist destination a photographer’s dream. Come before sunset to sip a drink at one of its beachside bars and watch the ocean transform from azure blue to liquid gold.

St Kilda Beach

St Kilda Beach is a lively beach that offers a range of beachside activities. You can work on your tan, cycle, skateboard and stroll along the pretty foreshore under palms. You can also sail, windsurf and kitesurf out on the glittering bay.

The esplanade is home to a Sunday market and bars, cafes and restaurants. Enjoy a meal of fresh seafood on the waterfront. The beach is popular with tourists and locals alike. You can also spot penguins at the breakwater.

The calm waters of Port Phillip Bay make it a great spot for swimming and fishing. You can also walk around the beautiful Elwood foreshore with its scenic coastal scenery and long sea trestle bridge.

Brighton Beach

Brighton Beach is a popular summer beach with calm bay waters and scenic views of Melbourne. It is renowned for its colorful Victorian-era bathing boxes that line the sand, which are an iconic sight that is recognized around the world.

Owners are not allowed to repaint their boxes or remodel them so that the history is preserved for generations to come. The beach also attracts crowds in summer, so if you want to take unobstructed photos of the bathing boxes, arrive early.

To reach the beach, hop on a train on the Sandringham line from Flinders Street Station in the city center and alight at Brighton Beach railway station. Then, it’s a scenic 500m walk through pretty scenery to the bathing boxes.

Williamstown Beach

Situated close to the city, Williamstown Beach is a family-friendly and favored destination among the weekend getaways for locals. Its wide stretches of sandy beach, boating and fishing hub, and recreational facilities make this a great spot for swimming, picnicking, sunbathing, jogging, and cycling. A waterside handicrafts stall at Nelson’s Place Point and a children’s playground are some of the many kid-friendly amenities here.

Swimmers can head to the eastern pier for a spot of fishing in the calm waters, and families will find plenty of barbecues, playgrounds and picnic areas. Scrub up with a detoxifying scrub at Wild Gypsea or go for an invigorating sea swim at the western end of the beach, monitored by surf life savers during summer.

Mills Beach

A lovely little beach that is a favourite with families, it features beautiful native vegetation and colorful Mornington Peninsula Beach Boxes. The shallow water is great for swimming and there are plenty of picnic and barbecue facilities.

Less than a 20-minute drive from Melbourne, this gorgeous beach has a stunning backdrop of the city skyline and is sheltered by tall trees. It also has a lifesaving club, playground, pier and lots of parking.

A sheltered beach that is ideal for families, it has soft white sand, picnic and barbecue facilities and plenty of shade. It’s also patrolled in summer. If you’re feeling adventurous, it’s also a great spot to explore the rock pools at low tide.

Moondah Beach

The eastern beach reserve is a beautiful and unique area that’s great for families. It’s perfect for swimming, exploring rock pools and walking along the pier. It also has a playground, picnic facilities and BBQs. It can get quite crowded, especially on weekends and during holidays.

Situated in the Mount Eliza suburb, Moondah Beach is one of Melbourne’s best-kept secrets. It’s a sheltered and shallow beach that’s lined with colorful bathing boxes, making it one of the most popular beaches for locals. There’s also a lookout point that provides amazing views over the bay.