The Best Accessible Beaches in Melbourne and Regional Victoria
When the weather warms up there is no reason why a disability has to stop you having fun in the water. Everyone, irrespective of their abilities, deserves to enjoy the beach.
A number of beaches across Melbourne and parts of regional Victoria provide accessibility to the beach.
Accessible Beaches lists some of the components that make a beach accessible (generally the more the better!)
Accessible parking (multiple available) in a well located position close to access points
Wide clear pathways
Accessible bathrooms or Changing Places facility
Direct beach access from the pathways
Beach matting to the water's edge
Beach wheelchairs
Compliant ramps if needed
Access to shade and fresh water
Accessible by public transport
Food outlets nearby
A Master Locksmiths Access Key (MLAK) is generally required to access accessible change facilities. Even though a key may be available on site, it is recommended that you bring your own MLAK to ensure access. Keys may be purchased at https://masterlocksmiths.com.au/mlak and are free for Companion Card holders.
The Best Accessible Beaches in Western Melbourne
1. Williamstown Beach
A 550m long beach which can be reached by car or accessed from Williamstown Beach train station. There's a wide range of facilities and services, including a sandy swimming beach in a non-boating area, cafes, public toilets, picnic facilities, playgrounds and rotunda. Swimming is safest at the western end where the Williamstown Swimming and Surf Life Saving Club patrols the beach and the bar is relatively shallow.
Accessibility features are:
Beach matting available year-round access seven days a week.
Free hire of beach wheelchairs. There are two types of beach wheelchairs available for hire at Williamstown beach: MobiChair (designed to enter the water to waist height of the support person) and Sandpiper (designed for children to travel on the sand). Note: The Mobi-Chair and Sandpiper chairs are not designed for independent use and require support.
Free hire of beach walking frames which are designed for people who can walk but need some additional mobility support.
All beach wheelchairs and walking frames are free to hire during surf lifesaving club patrol hours (12pm to 5pm daily) but bookings are essential. Bookings are required at least 48 hours prior to proposed hire date and time. Please complete the online form, contact Hobsons Bay Council on 1300 179 944 or email accessiblebeaches@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au to make a booking.
Accessible change facility which does not have a hoist.
More information about Beach Accessibility (Hobsons Bay council)
2. Altona Beach
A long 3.1 km beach, with good facilities at the pier and reserves with picnic areas at each end with a 500m long Pier. The Altona Railway Station is located 500m north of the beach. The Altona Life Saving Club is located just east of the pier and patrols a bathing and No Boating Zone, extending 200m east of the pier. Sand flats front the beach, requiring a long wade to reach deep water.
It is best to bathe in the patrolled area east of the pier. The depth over the sand flats varies with the tide, and is best at high tide for a swim, or low tide for a wade.
Accessibility features:
Beach matting available year-round access seven days a week.
Accessible change facility with a change table and hoist available at Weaver Reserve (across the road from Altona Beach). This facility allows people with higher needs to transfer, shower, toilet and get changed in before and after using a beach wheelchair or walking frame. A MLAK is required to access the accessible change facility. There is a hoist available for transfer but please ensure you bring your own sling.
Free hire of beach wheelchairs. There are four types of beach wheelchairs available for hire at Altona beach: MobiChair (designed to enter the water to waist height of the support person), Sandpiper (designed for children to travel on the sand), Sandcruiser (designed for adults to travel on the sand), DaVinci (self-propelled beach wheelchair designed for use on the sand). Note: The Mobi-Chair, Sandpiper and Sandcruiser chairs are not designed for independent use and require support.
Free hire of beach walking frames which are designed for people who can walk but need some additional mobility support.
All beach wheelchairs and walking frames are free to hire during surf lifesaving club patrol hours (12pm to 5pm daily) but bookings are essential. Bookings are required at least 48 hours prior to proposed hire date and time. Please complete the online form, contact Hobsons Bay Council on 1300 179 944 or email accessiblebeaches@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au to make a booking.
More information about Beach Accessibility (Hobsons Bay council)
The Best Accessible Beaches in Central Melbourne
3. St Kilda Beach
St Kilda Beach is one of Melbourne's iconic beaches with plenty of eating places, attractions and is well served by public transport.
Accessibility features:
Beach matting in front of the St Kilda Life Saving Club (34 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda) daily during the summer patrol season.
Mobi-Chair beach wheelchairs which can float are available for hire between the flags on weekends (12-5pm from November to April). Beach wheelchairs cannot be independently pushed so users may need to bring someone to assist with transfers and in deep water a minimum of two support people are needed. All bookings are for 1.5 hours, free and require a booking. Booking information available here.
Changing Places facility at St Kilda Saving Club. Includes larger-than-standard accessible toilets, height-adjustable, adult-sized changing bench and a tracking hoist system (hoist users must bring their own sling). A Master Locksmiths Access Key (MLAK) is required to access the facility.
Public transport connections and accessible tram stops are located along the St Kilda foreshore. Only tram routes 16, 96 and 109 are partly serviced by low floor trams.
More information about Beach Accessibility (Port Phillip council)
4. Port Melbourne Beach
A nice sandy beach with calm water close to the CBD.
Accessibility features:
Beach matting in front of the Port Melbourne Life Saving Club daily during summer patrol season.
Mobi-Chair beach wheelchairs which can float are available for hire between the flags on weekends (12-5pm from November to April). Beach wheelchairs cannot be independently pushed so users may need to bring someone to assist with transfers and in deep water a minimum of two support people are needed. All bookings are for 1.5 hours, free and require a booking. Booking information available here.
More information about Beach Accessibility (Port Phillip council)
The Best Accessible Beaches in Bayside Melbourne
5. Mordialloc Beach
A wide sandy beach with a surf life saving club and 300m long wooden pier surrounded by plenty of grassy areas.
Accessibility features:
60 metres of beach matting that provides a firm platform to the water's edge. The beach matting is rolled out by volunteer lifeguards on weekends during Mordialloc Life Saving Club's patrolled hours (every Saturday, Sunday and public holidays between November and the end of April, from 12 pm till 6 pm).
Free hire of the Hippocampe beach wheelchair available via the Mordialloc Life Saving Club on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 pm to 5.30 pm during the patrolled period of the year. Note that use of the beach wheelchairs require assistance.
The Mordialloc Surf Life Saving Club doesn't have a hoist, but they do have disabled shower facilities inside the club which could be used with advance notice. There is an outdoor shower with cold water.
Accessible parking, footpaths and toilets.
More information about Beach Accessibility (Kingston council)
6. Hampton Beach
The beach is a long, wide, sandy beach with a safe swimming area directly in front of the Life Saving Club.
Accessibility features:
40m beach access matting to the water
MobiChair and SandCruiser beach wheelchairs for free hire on Saturdays and Sundays, from midday to 4.30pm during life saver patrol season (typically December to early April). Bookings must be submitted before 4pm on the Friday before the weekend you plan to use the beach wheelchair. Make a booking enquiry here or call (03) 9555 4444 in business hours.
An accessible portable toilet is attached to the lifesaving club. There is no hoist or adult change table here.
Parking is available on Beach Road after 10am, but there is currently no designated accessible parking here. On Small Street, just off Beach Road, a limited amount of quieter on-street parking is available (2 hour limit on Monday to Saturday, 8am-6pm). There is a push-button pedestrian crossing at the corner of Beach Road.
For beach access, the nearest ramp to beach level is 60 metres to the north of the lifesaving club building. The ramp is concrete and is relatively steep (eight degree slope). If you are in a wheelchair you may require assistance with this slope. The ramp leads down to a flat concrete path which runs along the foreshore. Either side of the two storey life saving club there are steps to beach level.
More information about Beach Accessibility (Bayside council)
The Best Accessible Beaches in Mornington Peninsula
7. Mount Martha South Beach
A 1 km long beach south of the Balcombe Creek mouth.
Accessibility features:
Beach matting that provides a firm platform to the water's edge at the Mount Martha Lifesaving Club (available all day every day between November and May)
Two MobiChairs available for use between the flags during patrol (weekends 12-5pm). Contact info: (03) 5974 4140
More information about Beach Accessibility (Mornington Peninsula council)
8. Mothers Beach (Mornington)
A family friendly beach joined to two other beaches.
Accessibility features:
Beach matting that provides a firm platform to the water's edge (available all day every day between November and May)
More information about Beach Accessibility (Mornington Peninsula council)
9. Rosebud Beach
A long and narrow beach.
Accessibility features:
Beach matting that provides a firm platform to the water's edge located next to the Rosebud jetty (available all day every day between November and May)
More information about Beach Accessibility (Mornington Peninsula council)
10. Rye Beach
A popular and safe beach.
Accessibility features:
Beach matting that provides a firm platform to the water's edge located next to the pier (available all day every day between November and May)
More information about Beach Accessibility (Mornington Peninsula council)
11. Sorrento Front Beach
A popular beach with a foreshore reserve.
Accessibility features:
Beach matting that provides a firm platform to the water's edge located next to next to The Baths restaurant (available all day every day between November and May)
More information about Beach Accessibility (Mornington Peninsula council)
12. Point Leo Surf Beach
A relatively safe patrolled beach.
Accessibility features:
A Sandcruiser beach wheelchair can be booked for free from the Point Leo Surf Life-Saving Club. Contact info: 0407 332 264
More information about Beach Accessibility (Mornington Peninsula council)
The Best Accessible Beaches in the Surf Coast Region
13. Lorne Beach
Accessibility features:
40 metres of beach access matting is in place from 4 January to Easter each year, located adjacent to Lorne Surf Lifesaving Club. The matting provides a stable pathway for people with crutches, walking sticks, wheelchairs, walking frames and prams to safely cross the softer sand.
The Mobi-Chair provides seamless transitions from the car park, to the beach, and into the ocean. The Mobi-Chair is the only floating beach wheelchair tested and approved under the requirements of the Australian Standard. Available for free hire from the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA) from 4 January - Easter, 8am - 2pm. Located adjacent to Lorne Surf Lifesaving Club. A hoist is available on site, however you will need to provide your own sling. Users will require the assistance of one or more carers to access the wheelchair and for water safety. Booking are essential at least two business days prior to use by either calling 1300 736 533 or emailing info@greatoceanroadauthority.vic.gov.au.
More information about Beach Accessibility
14. Fishermans Beach (Torquay)
Accessibility features:
40 metres of beach access matting is in place from November until Easter. The matting also looks to offer an alternative to people entering the beach from the boat ramp.
Free hire of a Sandcruiser wheelchair has large balloon-like tyres which make for easy access on soft sand and in shallow water and is ideal for people who have limited mobility. Hire of the Sandcruiser wheelchair is free from Go Ride a Wave at 1/15 Bell Street, Torquay. Users will require at least one support person to push the chair. Bookings are essential - call Go Ride A Wave on 1300 132 441 or book online now. Bookings should be made at least 24 hours in advance.
More information about Beach Accessibility.
15. Anglesea Beach
Accessibility features:
Free beach wheelchairs are available to hire year round from the YMCA Anglesea Recreation Camp: 1535 Great Ocean Road, Anglesea. Wheelchair models include the Sandcruiser, Aussie Beach and Hippocampe. To make a booking call or email Monday - Friday. Phone: (03) 5263 1512, e-mail: anglesea@ymca.org.au.
Anglesea Changing Places Facility
Changing Places facilities are large public toilets with full sized change tables and hoists for people with high support needs and their carers. The facility is located at Four Kings Carpark, next to the public car park and toilet block, 8 Great Ocean Road, Anglesea. Open 24 hours, users can access with their own MLAK key.
More information about Beach Accessibility
The Best Accessible Beaches in the Bellarine Region
16. Ocean Grove Beach
A popular summer beach which has a wide, shallow surf zone with rips increasing up the beach, so it is best to stay near the surf club and swim in the patrolled area.
Accessibility features:
Wheelchair ramp access from the car park to the sand
Disabled toilets and changing amenities
Free hire of beach wheelchairs for adults and children. Bookings are essential. Contact Go Ride A Wave on 1300 132 441. To reach Go Ride A Wave, if coming from Geelong via Barwon Heads, as you enter Ocean Grove via the Barwon Heads bridge, turn right into Surf Beach Road. You'll see the main beach carpark on the right hand side, 200 metres past the Surf Life Saving Club you will find the Go Ride A Wave trailer (near the toilet block).
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The Best Accessible Beaches in Melbourne and Regional Victoria, , Victoria,
