The Best Beaches In Victoria Australia

Australia is renowned for its sun, surf and sand, and the state of Victoria is no exception. The southernmost state on the mainland is home to 2,500 kilometres of coastline straddling the Southern Ocean, including these scenic swimming spots. Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.

St Kilda Beach

There’s no doubt St Kilda is Melbourne’s favourite city beach, even if it’s not Victoria’s most naturally beautiful strip of sand. Situated just a short tram trip from the middle of town, the beach is shielded from Port Phillip Bay by the long breakwater of St Kilda Pier, ending with a picturesque Edwardian kiosk. It’s little details like those that make St Kilda what it is, such as the joggers and rollerbladers racing down the esplanade, the toothy grin at the entrance to Luna Park, the cake shops on Acland St, the historic St Kilda Baths, the trendy bayside bars and restaurants, and of course, the colony of little penguins that return to shelter in the harbour every evening at dusk.

Brighton Beach

Bells Beach

The world’s premier surfers converge on Bells Beach for the Rip Curl Pro every Easter weekend, and the waves are popular with beach bums all year, especially when conditions are at their best during autumn and winter. Located about a 90-minute drive south-west of Melbourne near Torquay at the start of the Great Ocean Road, Bells enjoys huge swells rolling in from the Southern Ocean, making it a mecca for big wave riders. Visitors can watch them from the dramatic cliffs that overlook the beach to offer sweeping vistas along this rugged section of coastline, not far from the iconic 12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge rock formations.

Cape Woolamai

Visitors to Victoria should make a beeline to Phillip Island for its pristine landscapes and unique wildlife, and Cape Woolamai ought to be one of the first stops on the itinerary. With ancient pink granite rising out of the ocean at one end of the beach, and pretty rock pools at the other, this golden strip of sand is one of Victoria’s premier surfing spots, and has recently been declared a National Surfing Reserve. Stroll along the walking tracks and viewing platforms to admire Phillip Island’s highest point, then keep an eye out for the population of short-tailed shearwaters (also known as Australian mutton birds) that return to shore here each sunset after a long day fishing at sea.

Sorrento Beach

Aerial panorama of Sorrento Back Beach and coastline. Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne, Australia

A long line of lovely beaches link Melbourne with the Mornington Peninsula, including Sorrento, which is wedged between Port Phillip Bay and Bass Strait near the tip of Point Nepean. The serene waters of Sorrento Beach are well worth the 90-minute drive from Melbourne, providing the perfect conditions for a swim, kayak, scuba diving expedition, fishing trip, or even a tour to swim with dolphins and seals. And Sorrento isn’t just home to one of Victoria’s best beaches—the town itself is one of the state’s most charming villages, dotted with gorgeous limestone homes and hotels dating back to the 1860s that now house upmarket boutiques, galleries and eateries.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

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