12 Beautiful Beaches in Victoria You Need to Visit

Last Update: September 2026

Victoria might not have the tropical beaches of northern Australia, but what it lacks in palm trees and warm water, it certainly makes up for with dramatic coastal scenery.

From the rugged coastline of the Great Ocean Road to the white sand and granite boulders of Wilsons Promontory and the colourful bathing boxes of the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria has some incredibly photogenic beaches.

Having explored much of the state during our years living in Melbourne, these are 12 of the most beautiful beaches in Victoria that we discovered along the way.

1- Squeaky Beach Wilson Promotory

Squeaky Beach is Wilson Promontory’s most iconic beach and it’s my all-time favourite Victorian beach. It has pristine soft white sand, turquoise water and large granite boulders that create a maze of passages to explore. Its orange coated rocks contrast perfectly with the blue ocean. The rounded quartz sand squeaks as you walk across it, giving it its name. Although I always find the water way too cold to swim (I’m a chicken!), I could easily spend hours lying on that beach and enjoying the scenery.

Best for: Admiring the views, swimming, walking, bouldering

2- Woolamai Beach, Phillip Island

Woolamai Beach is 4.4 kilometres long and is the longest and the most exposed beach on Phillip Island. It has a spectacular backdrop, set against the pink granite cliffs of Cape Woolamai. It faces south-west into the high waves and westerly winds. This gives it some of the best surf breaks in Victoria. Woolamai is a popular spot for more experienced surfers. For non-surfers, there are excellent coastal walks up Cape Woolamai and patrolled areas for swimming.

Best for: Surfing, walking

3- Sorrento front beach

Sorrento’s front beach is idyllic, calm and has very inviting crystal clear water. It is one of the best beaches to visit in summer, although it can sometimes get a little crowded. Popular with families, the foreshore is not patrolled, but the waters are very sheltered and safe.

Best for: swimming and paddle boarding

4- Apollo Bay’s Main Beach, Great Ocean Road

Apollo Bay is located on the Great Ocean Road and its main attraction is its safe, family-friendly, arc-shaped beach. The beach stretches for four kilometres from the town’s harbour to the mouth of Wild Dog Creek and features sand dunes along most of its length.

Best for: Swimming, surfing, walking and fishing.

5- Ninety-mile beach East Gippsland

Ninety Mile Beach is a 90 mile long stretch of pristine golden sand that separates the Gippsland Lakes from the Bass Strait. It is the third longest uninterrupted beach in the world. It starts at Port Albert and finishes at Lakes Entrance. Ninety Mile Beach is one of the most unspoilt beaches in Australia and with so much beach to walk on, you might find you are the only one there!

Best for: Swimming, surfing, fishing, walking, whale spotting and camping

6- Brighton Beach

Brighton has one of the most photographed stretches of beach in Melbourne. This is due to its main landmark, a strip of 82 colourful bathing boxes that line its shore. Dating from Victorian times, these boxes were originally used as changing rooms. Nowadays, they will set you back over $300,000! Brighton Beach is also very picturesque, with panoramic views of Melbourne’s city skyline. Being a bay beach, the water is calm and there are lifeguards on duty.

Best for: Swimming, views of the city skyline, photography

7- Bells Beach Torquay

Bells Beach is located near Torquay on the southern coast of Victoria, at the start of the Great Ocean Road. It is Victoria’s most famous surf beach and it’s one of the world’s great surfing breaks. Every year you can watch the world’s best surfers carve up the waves at the Rip Curl Pro Surfing competition. Bells beach is for intermediate to advanced surfers only, and the waves are almost guaranteed to be good, especially in the colder months from March to October. I love looking at the waves crashing down and watching the surfers in action.

Best for: Surfing, checking out the surfers in action.

8- Portsea Back Beach

Portsea’s back beach is 2.5 kilometres long with rugged coastal cliffs. It’s a popular beach on the Mornington Peninsula. It has rock pools that are sheltered by outcrops and its cliffs. Visit at low tide and you’ll find plenty of starfish and other small sea life to investigate. From here, it’s a short walk to London Bridge. This towering rock formation has a window to the sea which makes for great photos.

Best for: Surfing, swimming, rock pools exploring, walking and ocean fishing

9- Gibson Steps, Port Campbell

Gibson steps is a must do when visiting the Great Ocean Road. While you do need to navigate eighty-six steps before reaching the beach, once there its free-standing rock formations and limestone cliffs will take your breath away.

You can park at the Gibson Steps car park if you are lucky enough to find a spot. If not you can walk down from the Twelve Apostles carpark (about one kilometre each way).

Best for: Views, walking, fishing and surfing

10- Aspendale beach

Aspendale Beach was our local beach when we lived in Melbourne, and we still think it’s one of the city’s best-kept secrets. We lived just a ten-minute walk away and spent countless hours walking along this beautiful stretch of coastline.

Aspendale forms part of the long stretch of sand between the Patterson River and Mordialloc. It’s also easy to reach from central Melbourne by train, with Aspendale Station only a short walk from the beach.

With clear water, sandbars at low tide, colourful bathing boxes and some spectacular sunsets, there’s a lot to love about Aspendale Beach. Head there early in the morning and you might even be lucky enough to spot dolphins playing in the shallows, something we were fortunate enough to see during our years living nearby.

Best for: Swimming, kayaking, sunsets

11 – Norman Beach, Wilson Promotory National park

Norman Beach is located right next to Tidal River camping ground and it’s a great beach to head to for a dip and to relax at after a long day spent exploring the National Park. It offers scenic views of Mount Oberon, and of the islands offshore. You’ll also be surrounded by large rock formations.  The beach is patrolled in the summer months and is perfect for families. If you’re staying at the campground, be sure to catch the sunset from the beach.

Best for: Swimming, surfing, camping, fishing, sunsets

12- Waratah Bay beach, South Gippsland

Waratah Bay beach stretches for fifteen kilometres and has sweeping white sand and unspoilt views of the Wilsons Promontory National Park. Being such a long stretch of beach, Waratah Bay never feels crowded and you will easily find a spot for yourself, away from everyone else.

Best for: Swimming, surfing, windsurfing, horse riding and kite surfing

Best Time to Visit Victoria’s Beaches

Summer (December to February) is the best time for swimming and enjoying Victoria’s beaches, although popular coastal spots can get very busy during the Christmas and January school holidays. Late spring and early autumn can also bring beautiful beach days with fewer crowds.

Victoria’s weather is famously unpredictable, even in summer, and the ocean can be surprisingly cold. If you’re visiting mainly for coastal walks, photography and sightseeing rather than swimming, Victoria’s beaches are beautiful at any time of year.

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Victoria Beaches FAQs

What is the most famous beach in Victoria?

Bells Beach is probably Victoria’s most famous beach, particularly among surfers. It’s located along the Great Ocean Road near Torquay and hosts the annual Rip Curl Pro surfing competition.

Does Victoria have white-sand beaches?

Yes. Some of Victoria’s whitest and most beautiful beaches are found at Wilsons Promontory, including the appropriately named Squeaky Beach.

Can you swim at Victoria’s beaches?

Yes, but conditions vary considerably between beaches. Some are sheltered and suitable for swimming, while others have strong currents and large surf. Always check local conditions and swim between the flags where lifeguards are present.

Are there good beaches near Melbourne?

Absolutely. Melbourne has a long stretch of beaches along Port Phillip Bay, including Brighton and Aspendale. The Mornington Peninsula also has some beautiful beaches within easy reach of the city.

Which part of Victoria has the best beaches?

You’ll find spectacular beaches all along Victoria’s coastline, but the Great Ocean Road, Mornington Peninsula and Wilsons Promontory are particularly good areas for combining several beautiful beaches in one trip.

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