The Best Beaches Near Melbourne, Australia

The epicentre of tourism in Melbourne, St Kilda is the city’s most popular beach, where you’ll see skaters, rollerbladers, surfers, skimboarders, kitesurfers, stand-up paddleboarders, windsurfers and more around this famous shoreline, with many shops hiring out equipment. If you’re not interested in getting physical, St Kilda Beach offers much more than sport. Take a wander to find the local wildlife; at the far end of the beach, you will often discover little penguins and seals, with the rockpools full of crabs and smaller fish. The beach’s Esplanade is full of appealing bars and eateries where you can indulge. Head to Captain Baxter for delicious cocktails and an unbeatable coastal view.

The brightly coloured beach huts of Brighton Beach set the tone for this friendly Melbourne suburb. Visitors can’t change into their swimming costumes here, though; since c1900, each one is privately owned, with one previously reported to have been sold for AU$250,000 (£139,000). The beachside Baths café has a view of the beach that makes it worth dropping into for a drink, but if you want something substantial to eat, we’d recommend heading further away from the sands, where there are many great dining choices in and around Brighton.

This wide-open beach is within easy walking distance of Mordialloc’s station and shops, with pedestrian and cycle paths leading down the sand. This beach offers everything you need for a day out by the sea, with clean white sands and shaded spots, as well as calm, pristine waters with fish-filled reefs for snorkelling. Mordialloc Beach is best for a group outing, especially if you have kids. The beach has playgrounds nearby, as well as BBQ and picnic areas overlooking the sand. If you don’t want to carry your own food, a traditional seaside lunch of fish and chips is the order of the day here, with various shops and restaurants offering fresh seafood all year round.

If you don’t enjoy lazing around on the sand and fancy an adventure instead, head to Half Moon Bay. More secluded than its neighbours, cove-like Half Moon Bay feels like a hidden gem among Melbourne’s other long beaches. Around 22km (14mi) from Melbourne’s CBD, this 350m (1,150ft) bay hides the shipwrecked HMVS Cerberus, Australia’s only intact colonial warship under the water, which you can explore by snorkelling or scuba diving. A day to Half Moon Bay would not be complete without visiting the Cerberus Beach House. Located right on the waterfront with outside seating available, it has a kiosk for fresh seafood and snacks to take away, or if you have some time to spare, get a table in the restaurant for a delicious lunch.