Find a beach
Our spectacular foreshore extends for 11 kilometres from Port Melbourne, through St Kilda to Elwood. Our beaches and foreshore are popular with both locals and visitors. They are also an important habitat for indigenous vegetation and wildlife.
Our beaches can be accessed by public transport. They offer lots of great walking and cycling trails.
Fun for everyone at our beaches
Along our foreshore, you can enjoy activities like swimming, sunbathing, picnics, BBQs, walking, jogging, bike riding, beach volleyball, beach tennis, triathlons, paddle boarding, kayaking, angling, sailing and sky diving.
Our spectacular foreshore is home to popular sporting and cultural events, shopping experiences, restaurants, cafes and entertainment venues. Before you go, check out our listings of What’s on or Major events and road closures to help plan your trip.
Facilities available include bicycle and pedestrian pathways, boating and sporting facilities, restaurants, pavilions, children's playgrounds, BBQs, public toilets and car parking.
Exercising your dog on our beaches is a great way to enjoy the outdoors. There are rules about where and when dogs can be on the beach. For more information check out our foreshore map or visit Dog parks and beaches
We are working to make our beaches more accessible for everyone. Find out more at Accessible Beaches
Playing safe at the beach
We all have a role in keeping our beaches safe. Find out how you can Play Your Part in caring for our beaches and playing safe. This includes leaving glass at home, being weather and water-wise and binning your rubbish.
Litter damages the environment and hurts wildlife. Our beaches are regularly cleaned using both mechanical beach cleaners and manual litter pickers. Find out more at Beach and foreshore cleaning.
Litter and other pollutants wash into our stormwater drains when it rains. Polluted stormwater can lead to litter on our beaches, brown, smelly beach water, and a higher bacteria count. We have litter and gross pollutant traps along our drains that help capture litter. We also use raingardens and water sensitive urban design across the municipality to filter stormwater before it reaches the water. Check for signs of pollution before you swim and stay up to date with the EPA’s Beach Report
For everyone's safety, there are rules about what activities can be done in different parts of the water. Visit Boating and swimming zones to see which areas are zoned for swimming only, shared swimming and boating and rules for personal watercraft (PWCs or jetskis).
Foreshore map
The City of Port Phillip Foreshore Map shows where you can find:
- swimming only zones
- public toilets
- where and when you can bring your dog to the beach.
Learn more about our beaches
We have six amazing beaches for you to explore, each offering a unique experience. Whether you want to hit one of our busier beaches or try something a little quieter, there’s something for everyone.
Sandridge Beach
Located in Garden City, this is a quiet beach with views to the city. The nearby piers, playground, picnic facilities, BBQ areas and public toilets make this a great place to bring the family. Beacon Cove has great restaurants. Nearby Perce White Reserve and the Webb Dock Trail are highly valued coastal nature reserves. It is home to the Sandridge Life Saving Club and the headquarters of Life Saving Victoria. There is a swimming-only zone in front of the Sandridge Life Saving Club.
Next to Sandridge Beach there is a dog off-leash area. However, no dogs are allowed at Perce White Reserve. For more information about dog restrictions visit Dog parks and beaches
Sandridge Beach with CBD in background
Beacon Cove (courtesy S.K. Westmore)
Port Melbourne Beach
Wide sand beaches and grass areas dotted with palm trees make this a truly beautiful beach. Close to the CBD and public transport, its walking paths, bike paths and beach tennis make it popular for residents and visitors. It is home to the Port Melbourne Yacht and Life Saving Clubs. There are 3 public toilets between the Station Pier carpark and the Port Melbourne Life Saving Club.
There is a swimming-only/no boating zone in front of the Port Melbourne Life Saving Club. There is also accessible equipment available during summer so people with limited mobility can enjoy the beach.
It is always a dog off-leash area next to Lagoon Pier. For more information about dog restrictions visit Dog parks and beaches
Port Melbourne Bandstand Rotunda
South Melbourne and Middle Park Beaches
These popular beaches and the picturesque Kerferd Road Pier are great for families, sunbathers, anglers, volleyball players and swimmers.
South Melbourne Beach is home to the South Melbourne Life Saving Club, Plum Garland Memorial Playground, beach volleyball courts, kiosk, café and public toilets at each end. There is a swimming-only/no boating zone between Lagoon Pier and Kerferd Road.
On the other side of Kerferd Road Pier, Middle Park Beach has restaurants, an exercise station and public toilets. There is a swimming-only/no boating zone between Wright and Armstrong streets.
Outdoor Fitness Station Middle Park
St Kilda Beach
St Kilda Beach and Promenade is one of Melbourne's most popular attractions. The historic pier, summer sporting and music events, kiteboarding, cafes, restaurants, nightlife and the Promenade provide something for everyone.
It is home to the St Kilda Lifesaving Club and is a swimming-only/no boating zone from St Kilda Pier to Marina Reserve.
St Kilda Harbour is a shared wind sport zone. Dogs are always permitted off- leash at St Kilda West Beach but not on the native grass dune habitat. For more information about dog restrictions visit Dog parks and beaches
West Beach
From pier to pavilion, the dunes at Fraser Street stretch along Beaconsfield Parade for approximately 180 meters. This is known as West Beach. It covers 1.2 hectares and has an ecological classification of scrub, grassland and saltmarsh. Of the 66 species, 31 are indigenous. This gives the area local ecological significance. Five regionally significant plant species are present:
- Carex pumila (Strand Sedge)
- Distichlis distichophylla (Australian Salt-grass)
- Spinifex sericeus (Hairy Spinifex)
- Sporobolus virginicus (Salt Couch)
- Suaeda australis (Austral seablite).
St Kilda Promenade and Beach
West Beach, St Kilda
Elwood Beach
The beautiful Elwood foreshore is a great place to take the family. Elwood has walking paths, bike paths, coastal vegetation, BBQ areas, Life Saving, sailing and angling clubs, sea scouts, restaurant, café, kiosk, children’s playground, sports fields and ample carparking.
There is a swimming-only/no boating area in front of the Elwood Life Saving Club. For information about dog restrictions visit Dog parks and beaches
The nearby Point Ormond, playground and canal bridges are also popular areas to enjoy the coastal views.
Beach resources
Here’s a range of useful resources so you can enjoy our beaches safely.