Urban beaches

Relax in the summer sun on calm bay beaches across Melbourne, from the popular swimming spots and shoreside diners at St Kilda to the colourful landmark bathing huts at Brighton.

Lifeguards and lifesavers patrol beaches during peak holiday times. Swim only between the red and yellow flags. Visit beachsafe.org.au to locate patrolled beaches, or download the BeachSafe app .

St Kilda Beach

One of the most popular of the Port Phillip Bay beaches, St Kilda is a wide, sandy beach suitable for swimming and other fun water activities. St Kilda Pier is a favourite for promenading and taking in fabulous city skyline views and sunsets. A ferry service operates to Williamstown and Southbank; the marina has extensive boating facilities, including ramps. Nearby reserves have picnic, barbecue and play facilities and there are paths suitable for bicycling, walking and rollerblading.

Brighton Beach

This long stretch of safe, sandy bay swimming beaches includes Dendy Street, Middle Brighton and Brighton beaches. The area is famous for quaint, colourful bathing boxes along the beach, set against the spectacular Melbourne city skyline. Extensive foreshore reserves have barbecue and play facilities. There are opportunities for windsurfing, yachting and boating, and a walking and cycling path.

Port Melbourne, South Melbourne and Middle Park

These sandy swimming beaches on the bay are close to central Melbourne. With playgrounds as well as walking and bicycle paths, they make up a series of favourite 'top of the bay' beaches. Some areas allow off-leash dog walking, and Middle Park is a popular spot for kitesurfing and beach volleyball.

Kerford Road

An extremely popular stretch of wide, sandy Port Phillip Bay swimming beach that has special zones that exclude boating, power ski and sailboard to protect swimmers. There is also a playground and a walking and cycling path.

Elwood

An excellent sandy bay beach for swimming, sailing and boating. Extensive foreshore reserves have barbecue, picnic and play facilities. There is a walking and cycling path and boat ramps nearby.

Williamstown

This expansive bay swimming beach is located next to a series of excellent reserves. Williamstown Beach has opportunities for a variety of water-based leisure activities, as well as nearby barbecue and playground facilities.

Altona

Altona Beach is popular bay swimming beach that is fully accessible, with beach matting down to the water to enable wheelchair access. It has a 'no-boat' zone and opportunity for many water-based recreational activities. Nearby are boating and yachting facilities (including a six-lane boat ramp), a pier, barbecues and playgrounds.

Beaumaris

This safe, sandy bay swimming beach is also a popular yachting and boating area. Ricketts Point and Table Rock Point are prominent natural features. There is a foreshore reserve with picnic, barbecue and play facilities, and a walking and cycling path.

Bonbeach

This sandy bay beach is close to major boating facilities at Patterson River.

Carrum

A popular, safe, sandy bay swimming beach near the mouth of Patterson River. Excellent boating facilities, including launch ramps, mooring and refuelling stops, and the foreshore reserves have boardwalks, picnic, barbecue and play facilities.

Hampton

A safe, sandy bay swimming beach with a popular boating and sailing area. The extensive foreshore reserve has barbecue and playground facilities, and there is also a walking and cycling path.

Mentone

A safe, sandy bay swimming beach with a popular area nearby for water-skiers. The extensive foreshore reserve area has picnic, barbecue and play facilities, as well as a walking and cycling track.

Mordialloc

This wide, safe, sandy bay swimming beach is a popular area for boating. There are boat ramp facilities nearby and an excellent foreshore reserve with picnic, barbecue and play facilities. There are also beaches at Aspenvale, Edithvale and Chelsea.

Sandridge

This sandy swimming beach is located on the bay between Webb Dock and Princes Pier on Hobsons Bay. The nearby reserves offer picnic and barbecue facilities.

Sandringham and Black Rock

These long, safe, sandy bay beaches have excellent boating and marina facilities. The extensive foreshore reserve area is perfect for picnics, and there is also a walking and cycling path.

Werribee South

Werribee South bay beach is popular for boating, with an all-weather, all-tide, multi-lane launch ramp and jetty. There is a power ski ramp and zone nearby, and also a playground, reserve and barbecue facilities.