Victoria is home to 2512 kilometres of amazingly beautiful coastline, starting at the South Australian border in the west and finishing in the east at the New South Wales border. Much of this coastline is underdeveloped and inaccessible to many, with cliffs, gorges and thick coastal flora.
In saying this, there are many beaches in Victoria that can be accessed and loved by people who love nothing more than going to the best Victorian beaches.
- Where are the best beaches in Victoria?
- Yambuk beach
- Best Victorian Beaches – Gibsons Steps Great Ocean Road
- Best Victoria beaches – Fairhaven beach
- Surf beaches in Victoria – Torquay
- Best Victorian beaches – Point Roadknight
- Mornington Peninsula beaches – Dromana Beach
- Little Waterloo Bay
- 90 Mile Beach Victoria – Golden Beach
- Sunset Cove Paynesville
- Gippsland Beaches – The Lakes Entrance Beach
- Cape Conron beach
- Explore Victoria
Where are the best beaches in Victoria?
If you ask any Victorian local they will have their own favourite beach in Victoria. Visiting the beach in Victoria is a pastime for many people and in the summertime, you will find many beaches in Victoria full to the brim, with swimmers, sunbakers and surfers.
In this post, we have asked our amazing Explore Victoria Facebook Group members to recommend their best beaches in Victoria.
Yambuk beach
If you’re looking for a beautiful beach to enjoy a swim, some sun and sand, then Yambuck Beach in Victoria, Australia is the place for you. With crystal-clear water and pristine white sand, it’s easy to spend a lazy day lounging on the beach here.
The beach can be accessed via a small car park at the end of Yambuck Road. From there, it’s an easy walk down to the sand. Keep in mind that there are no toilets or showers available, so come prepared.
The surf at Yambuck beach is considered dangerous for those with no ocean swimming experience and there are likely to be strong rips around the reefs.
If you decide to swim here stay close to the shore and cool down in the wash and stay well clear of the rips and reefs. There’s also plenty of space to spread out on the sand and relax at this picturesque location making Yambuck beach one of the best Victorian beaches.
Best Victorian Beaches – Gibsons Steps Great Ocean Road
If you’re looking for a great spot for some epic pictures of one of the best Victorian beaches on the Great Ocean Road, Gibson’s Steps Beach is definitely worth a visit. It’s located just near the 12 apostles, with 86 steps leading you down to the beach.
The beach is one of the most picturesque in the world with towering cliff faces and the 12 apostles’ in sight. The beach is 1.1 km long with sometimes hazardous swimming conditions, usually with two large rips.
This is undoubtedly a beautiful beach in Victoria to be admired and looked at without going in the water. There is parking and toilets available at the 12 Apostles visitor’s center, making this one of the most picturesque Victorian beaches and best attractions on the Great Ocean Road.
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Best Victoria beaches – Fairhaven beach
Fairhaven Beach is located on the Surf Coast in Victoria. This 6-kilometre long beach is a beautiful, sandy beach that is perfect for swimming and sunbathing.
The beach is also great for fishing, with a number of good spots for catching salmon. The conditions at Fairhaven Beach are usually mild, making it a great place to swim and visit all year round. There is plenty of parking available, and the beach is patrolled by lifeguards during the summer months.
Surf beaches in Victoria – Torquay
If you’re looking for a great Australian beach to visit, Torquay is definitely worth considering having some of the best Victorian beaches right on its doorstep. With its sweeping ocean views and wide, sandy beaches, it’s easy to see why this location is so popular.
The water conditions are generally safe for swimming, although it can get a little rough at times, and there is plenty of parking available close to the beach.
The 800 meters long Torquay beach can become quite crowded during the summer months, so arrive early if you want to find a spot to spread out your towel. On the foreshore above the beach, you will find lots of grass areas, perfect for picnics and BBQs.
Klook.comBest Victorian beaches – Point Roadknight
Point Roadknight is a well-known spot for locals and visitors alike who are looking for a great beach to swim, sunbathe and surf. The location is perfect, situated on the Bellarine Peninsula only minutes from Geelong and Queenscliff.
The beach is also close to the popular tourist destination of Point Lonsdale. The conditions at Point Roadknight are usually very good, with a wide-open bay that offers plenty of space for swimming, surfing, and kayaking.
The waves here can get pretty big, so it’s a great spot for experienced surfers. There is also a good break wall for those who prefer calmer waters.
Parking can be a bit of an issue at peak times, but overall it’s not too bad. And there are toilets and showers available on site.
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Mornington Peninsula beaches – Dromana Beach
Dromana Beach is on the Mornington Peninsula near Melbourne. Beaches on the Mornington Peninsula are voted as some of the best Victorian beaches and are popular on hot days with people from the city heading out for a swim.
Port Phillip bay has a sandy bottom and has next to no waves, making Dromana Beach a safe option for families with little kids.
The beach is also great for sunbathing and watching the sunset over the water of the bay. The beach is home to the expensive and famous colourful Melbourne bathing boxes. For the more adventurous you can jump off the Dromana Pier into the water. You will see many kids doing tricks and jumping off the pier into the water.
The Dromana Beach is generally safe, but take care as always when swimming. There’s plenty of parking, but it can get busy on weekends. There are some great Mornington Peninsula beaches nearby.
Klook.comLittle Waterloo Bay
If you’re looking for a secluded beach to relax on, Little Waterloo Bay is a great option for the best beaches in Victoria. This beach at Wilsons Promontory is reachable via a 32-kilometre return hike to the Tidal River.
Most visitors to Little Waterloo Bay bring a tent and camp for a few days to enjoy the isolated locations. The campground is well maintained by Parks Victoria and has drop toilets for use. The beach is 300 meters long and the conditions are usually good with small to moderate waves making this another one of the best Victorian beaches.
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90 Mile Beach Victoria – Golden Beach
Golden Beach is a small coastal town in the east of the state accessible off the South Gippsland Highway. The small community is made up of a general store, cafe and a real estate office. Golden Beach is popular for day-trippers who want the sand and waves all to themselves.
You will see kilometres of beach in each direction and maybe even a whale heading past at certain times of the year. There is car parking for caravans, public toilets, BBQs and a picnic area. The beach is not patrolled by surf lifesavers, so it is suitable only for experienced beach swimmers.
Sunset Cove Paynesville
Paynesville is located in Gippsland just 15 kilometres from Bairnsdale. Sunset Cove is not a traditional surf beach like the rest, but a sandy beach area on the Gippsland Lakes.
This small sandy beach faces a westerly direction and is known for its stunning sunsets across the water. It is not a typical beach as we know it here in Australia but there are no such waves making it a popular place for families with small kids who want to enjoy the water.
The Paynesville beach has a small car park, BBQ area and playground, making it an ultra family-friendly destination in Gippsland. You can even pop over to see the Raymond Island Koalas
Gippsland Beaches – The Lakes Entrance Beach
Lakes Entrance is the capital of the Gippsland Lakes region in Gippsland Australia. The town is one of the most popular seaside towns in the state with its population swelling over the summer holidays, Easter and warm weather long weekends.
The main beach at Lakes Entrance is accessible in the middle of town. A waterway, Cunningham Arm, separates the town from the beach, so you have to walk over a 190-meter-long footbridge and then cross the sand dunes to access the 90-mile beach. You will find toilets, a surf lifesaving club and a café on the town side of the dunes.
Klook.comThe main beach is a wide sandy beach that is patrolled by lifesavers during peak season which is in the summer and on weekends. The beach has a sandy bottom, channel and sandbars and is known for its dumping shore break waves that can be quite powerful at times. Overall, it’s a pretty safe beach for families in Victoria who love hanging out at one of the best Victorian beaches.
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Cape Conron beach
Cape Conron is located 401 kilometres east of Melbourne in Far East Gippsland, making it one of the most secluded Victoria beaches. Cape Conron is an area of rugged coastlines, turbulent seas and pristine sand beaches. Cape Conron is split into 2 different areas with beaches at both East Cape and West Cape.
The facilities are basic at best, with a car park and toilets at each location. The white sand beaches on Conron seem to stretch on as far as the eye can see making them some of the best Victorian beaches. On most days (besides school holidays) you will be one of only a handful of people on the beach.
The conditions of the water change dramatically from the east to west capes. It can be rough on East Cape and calm on the West Cape. The ocean has a mostly sandy bottom and is good for swimmers with some ocean experience. Cape Conron beaches are not patrolled by surf lifesavers, so you need to take precautions when swimming here.
We hope this article has shown you some of the most beautiful beaches in Victoria. Beaches in Victoria are out there waiting to be enjoyed, you will find nice beaches near Melbourne and secluded beaches along the east and west coast. Some of the best beaches in Victoria for swimming can be found in popular locations that are patrolled by lifesavers.
If you are looking for more amazing and best places to visit in Victoria or more travel in Victoria destinations Explore Victoria has some more articles below for you to check out. If you have an idea, attraction or top spot feel free to leave us a comment or email us at contact@explorevictoriaaustralia.com