The Best Beaches Near Melbourne

Summer is on it’s way to Melbourne which means you are probably planning to hit the beach! Where are the best beaches near Melbourne you ask? Well, lucky for you there is a wide choice of amazingly beautiful family friendly beaches around Melbourne to visit. So, if you are ready to hit the Aussie golden sands for the day, consider this your guide to Melbourne’s beaches with kids!

Best Beaches Near Melbourne for Families

We are self confessed beach lovers who live in Melbourne with our kids. We absolutely LOVE the beach and I am always in search for the best beaches near Melbourne to visit with my family.

Some of Melbourne’s beaches are among some of the best beaches in Victoria and an there are plenty of beaches in Melbourne to choose if you are looking to head out for the day or weekend trip.

While the city itself is not ON the beach, but there are many beautiful beaches close by that you can visit easily by car or with public transport. As you can imagine, the further you go out of the city, the better they become. But Melbourne itself does have some stunning coastlines.

10 best beaches around Melbourne

If you’re looking for ideas on where to spend your sunny days, and want to know the best beaches near Melbourne we have you sorted with our top picks in no particular order.

1. Williamstown Beach

On the West coast, just 15km from the city is Melbourne’s first sea port, Williamstown. With plenty of cafes and restaurants, Williamstown comes alive in the Summer time as a popular beach near Melbourne.

The actual beach is away from the main street making it fairly easy to find parking. With a surf club and kiosk, Williamstown beach is a quiet spot to relax.

If you have kids, head over near the port afterwards where there is a huge park and playground with views of the city.
Read More: Williamstown Beach

2. Brighton Beach

If you are researching the best beaches near Melbourne you have probably seen photos of the famous bathing boxes. Although there are a few of Melbourne’s beaches that have them, the most famous can be found on Brighton Beach, about 15kms South East from the city. They are one of Melbourne’s best attractions.

82 wooden boxes line the foreshore decorating the coastline making it one of the most photographed beaches in Melbourne by tourists.

Not only is Brighton a beautiful beach to look at, but its conditions are perfect for swimming for the whole family.

3. Mordialloc Beach

If you are looking for a kid friendly beach in Melbourne with everything, Mordialloc beach is perfect. Located about 40 minutes down the East coast of Melbourne, the gorgeous golden sand and clear waters make perfect conditions for a swim or bathe on the beach.

The long wooden peer usually hosts fisherman and even the occasional musician. It makes a beautiful walk to take in that gorgeous view.

Bring along a picnic, cook up a bbq or head to the café, or restaurant close by. Families will also love the huge playground close by where the kids can run a muck and burn off their energy.

4. Half Moon Bay

A quieter sandy beach with a relaxing atmosphere is Half Moon Bay at Black Rock famous for its crescent shape and beautiful waters. The beach itself is quite wide and suitable for families as the close to the shore is quite shallow.

Just half an hour South East of the city centre, it is well worth a day trip. With a boat ramp and jetty, Half Moon Bay is a popular fishing destination, but it is also the perfect place to enjoy a picnic while watching the sunset over the bay.

5. Mornington Beach

Mothers Beach in Mornington is a great beach in Melbourne for families to spend the morning, afternoon, or the whole day. It is one of the most beautiful beaches along Melbourne’s south east coast near the Mornington Peninsula.

This family friendly beach offers soft golden sand and shallow water which is great if you have little ones. It is also a great place for stand up paddle boarding and other water sports, and there is also a place to hire canoes, kayaks SUPS and more. Over by the marina you can also hire boats.

Just a short walk away you can find a large park with a playground, and the main street filled with cafes and restaurants.
Read More: Mornington Beach

6. Torquay Beach

Hands down one of the best beaches near Melbourne for any type of traveller. Torquay is known for being a surf beach, but also attracts families and those who love the waves.

About an hour from Melbourne, Torquay is popular all year round, however it is swarmed with tourists during the Summer months and especially during special events such as the Rip Curl Pro.

Spend the day there or spend the week, Torquay is your gateway to the gorgeous Great Ocean Road and a great beach to start at if you are planning on taking a road trip.

7. Ocean Grove

Take your pick at the best spot to park your towels along the 2km of stunning coastline that makes up Ocean Grove.

Located in the middle of the 12km interrupted sandy coast that runs from Pt Lonsdale all the way to Barwon Heads, Ocean Grove is the one of the best beaches around Melbourne for families with kids.

Build a sandcastle, swim in the ocean or take a stroll along the walking tracks. At the end of the day take your pick from the nearby cafes and restaurants to enjoy a local dinner.

Ocean Grove is among the finest of Melbourne’s beaches and are well worth the day trip, or even a weekend away from the city!

8. Mount Martha

We really are spoilt with options on the Mornington Peninsula. Mount Martha is another breathtaking beach near Melbourne. Surrounded by rocky cliffs and bushland above, Mount Martha has 2km of wide sandy beaches where you can find the famous rows of colourful bathing boxes.

South Beach is conveniently located close to cafes where you can have a drink or bite to eat with a beach view. It is a great place for kids to explore as you can find lots of little rocks and shells. The beach is a fantastic swimming spot, but does get deep quite quickly so careful if you have a toddler.

There are also plenty of other beautiful beaches nearby if you want to explore.

9. Sorrento Beaches

On the opposite side of the bay from the Great Ocean Road,  is the Mornington Peninsula which is home to the popular holiday destination Sorrento. Almost everyone living in Melbourne knows someone with a beach house here or one of the nearby towns. And if you don’t you probably want one as there are some of the best beaches in Melbourne along this coast.

You can lay around on the beach and relax or head for a swim in clear protected waters. Try your luck fishing, or for the more adventurous try out some water sports.

Sorrento is about an hour and half south east from the centre of Melbourne, so can be visited in a day trip, however best to take a weekend and make it worth it!

While you are there check out the nearby Morning Peninsula Springs in Finegal.

10. Altona Beach

Altona beach is the largest recreational beach in Melbourne’s west. With a 3km coastline the beach is popular for many water activities such as paddle boarding, and kite surfing.

The 3km stretch of sand means there is plenty of room for playing volleyball or other sand spots. Parts of the beach are patrolled in summer, and the shallow water means it is perfect for families with young kids.

There is a beautiful pier which is popular for a stroll and for those who want to fish. The esplanade has plenty of parks, picnic and bbq areas including Logan Reserve on Pier street which is filled with shops, cafe’s and restaurants.

The summer evenings are busy with those looking to watch the sunset over the water.

Best beaches near Melbourne

Maybe I’m bias, but it really isn’t hard to find a good beach around Melbourne. No matter where you live or where you are staying, there is bound to be one of Melbourne’s beaches nearby.

Melbourne and its surroundings has some of the most lively seaside suburbs, and stunning coastlines. So, if you are looking for the best beaches near Melbourne, make sure you visit some of these, you won’t be disappointed.

Heading to the beach? Check out our list of the best beach tents and our stylish sand free towels. See our full list of Summer Essentials!

For more inspiration check out our Melbourne for Kids page and follow Mum’s Little Explorers on Facebook and Instagram!