16 of the Best Mornington Peninsula Beaches 2025 – A Local’s Guide
INTRODUCTION
Mornington Peninsula beaches are as varied as the people you’ll find swimming at them!
Meaning, the beaches here are not a one-size-fits-all scenario.
Some are wild with dangerous waves only the bravest of surfers would dare challenge, while others are as calm as a lagoon and perfect for young families.
Some beaches are hidden down 2.6km dirt tracks with Jurassic style cliffs and deep rock pools you can swim in, while others have long stretches of sand with calm, aquamarine waters that resemble the Mediterranean.
So if you’re coming to the Mornington Peninsula for the beaches, you’re going to want to know which is the best beach for you.
Which is where I come in! I’ve been to pretty much every beach on The Peninsula and I’m about to share with you my list of favourites.
I’ve divided the beaches up into categories and listed the best beaches within each category.
So whether you’re a surfer, a couple on a romanic get away, a solo explorer looking for adventure, or a family with young kids, I have the best beach option for you!
BEST SWIMMING BEACHES MORNINGTON PENINSULA (aka best family friendly beaches)
Most of the best beaches for swimming on the Mornington Peninsula can be found on the Port Phillip Bay side of the peninsula. Think towns like Mornington, Mount Martha, Dromana, Rosebud, Rye and more.
With long, white sandy beaches and calm, shallow waters (given the right weather conditions) that sparkle in the sun like the Mediterranean Sea, they’re the perfect place to swim, play beach cricket, build sand castles and just, hang out.
And because the waters are so calm, they’re the best beaches for families with young children. I have been swimming with my daughter at all the beaches mentioned in the list below, since the year she was born! With no rips, currents or big waves, I’ve always felt at ease bringing a young child to them.
(Disclaimer, any beach is always unpredictable, so water safety rules always apply)
Now, just to mix things up a bit, and for those who are more likely to visit the Western Port Bay side of the Peninsula, I’ll throw in my favourite beach for swimming on that side too.
So let’s go, here is a list of the best beaches for swimming on the Mornington Peninsula
1. Mothers Beach – Mornington
This is probably the most popular beach in the town of Mornington for families with young children, and for good reasons (which I’ve described in huge detail in my 8 Reasons to Visit Mothers Beach post)!
Of all the beaches on the peninsula, this is definitely the most lagoon-like beach. Now what do I mean by that?
Well, the waters are so very still (given the right weather conditions), shallow and crystal clear; you can literally see the starfish on the seabed and the tiny fish darting between your legs.
Swimming here is probably as safe as you’re going to get with any beach on the Mornington Peninsula.
With a playground and cafes nearby, large toilet and shower facilities, lots of parking and a stunning pier to admire and explore, you can swim and play here all day!
2. Mount Martha Beach
🌊 Want the above Mount Martha beach image on a wall in your home?! Visit our print shop for this image, plus more Mornington Peninsula images 🖼️
Mount Martha beach is so long (2km long in fact) that it is divided into two sections. Mount Martha Beach North and Mount Martha Beach South.
With the beach being 50m wide in some sections, it’s the ideal place to set up for a whole day of swimming and fun with your family and/or circle of friends.
This beach is the deepest of all the swimming beaches I’ll mention in this post due to a semi-deep water trough running just within the shoreline. This can create small waves for playing in, adding to the fun and thrill of your visit to Mount Martha Beach.
Stay in the shoreline to swim and play or head further out with your goggles and take advantage of the beaches length to swim some very long laps!
I have spent many summer days swimming with my family on this beach and I absolutely insist you do too!
Other benefits of Mount Martha Beach – close to shops/cafes, lots of parking, surf life saving club on one section of the beach, toilet facilities and one of the best spots for seeing Mornington Peninsula’s famous bathing boxes.
3. Rye Front Beach
With a beach that stretches the length of the whole town (approximately 4km), Rye Front Beach certainly is one of the Mornington Peninsula’s best beaches for swimming and family fun!
The sands here are so lovely and white and the water is calm, clear and aquamarine; you’ll definitely feel like you’ve escaped to an exotic location!
The waters of Rye Front Beach can be quite shallow at low tide. So shallow that on some sections of the beach, you can walk out through the water towards the horizon for quite some time, making paddling and playing with the kids safely in the water a cinch.
Swimming near Rye’s huge pier is always fun! Bring your snorkels and explore the sea life around the pier’s pilings.
A word of warning though about Rye Front Beach, come summer time, it is packed! With a camping ground along the foreshore, lots of shops and cafes nearby and the Rye Carnival in full swing, it’s most certainly a hive of activity!
4. McCrae Beach
Ahhhhh McCrae Beach, I’m not going to lie, I am a bit biased when it comes to McCrae Beach, I absolutely adore it! I adore it so much I’ve written about in numerous posts!
But let’s stick to the topic and talk about what makes McCrae Beach one of the Mornington Peninsula’s best beaches for swimming and family fun.
Well, at the sake of sounding repetitive, like the other bay beaches mentioned above, the waters here are calm, shallow and again, aquamarine! If you find yourself thinking you’ve escaped to the beach of a pacific island, then you’re not alone in these thoughts.
McCrae Beach is wide and long, around 3 km. And like Rye Beach, it stretches the whole length of the town, so plenty of room for swimming and paddling.
With a cute little lighthouse (that’s non operational), a smattering of Bathing boxes and a wooded area separating the beach from the road that runs behind it, McCrae beach is a picture perfect place to swim!
Other Benefits of McCrae Beach: playground, toilet blocks, cafes and shops nearby, campgrounds, plenty of parking (if not at the beach then in the vacant block off Bartels Street).
5. Somers Beach
While my favourite beaches for swimming are on the Port Phillip Bay side of the Mornington Peninsula, I think we should give an honourable mention to at least one beach on the opposite side of the Peninsula. Many tourists often overlook the eastern side of the peninsula, which is a shame as it has so much to offer.
So for swimming and a great family day out, my favourite beach on the Western Port Bay side of the Peninsula would have to be Somers Beach.
The beach here is approximately 3km long with a view towards Phillip Island. Like the beaches mentioned above, the water here is generally always calm with very rare ocean swell, so brilliant for swimming safely with your family.
The beach has a unique, bushland-meets-the-beach vibe (if that makes sense), with a foreshore reserve backing the entire beach. You’ll have to make your way through the scrubland to access the sand.
Other Benefits of Summers Beach – carpark, yacht club, toilet block, and the best part of all, one of my favourite cafes, Somers General Store is here! This cafe is right across the road and serves up spectacular coffee and amazing food.
– Map of Mornington Peninsula Best Swimming Beaches
Please note, any of the beaches you’ll find along the Port Phillip Bay side on the map above, are perfect for swimming! I just had to narrow them down to my favourites for this post.
BEST BACK BEACHES MORNINGTON PENINSULA (great for surfing)
Ok, if you’re ready to pick up the pace a little, and bring some adrenaline to your Mornington Peninsula beach experience, then read on…
Mornington Peninsula back beaches are like the wild, good-looking, big brother of its calm, Mediterranean style swimming beaches.
The back beaches are unruly and boisterous, some with ocean swell that only the bravest of surfers would tackle.
The best Mornington Peninsula back beaches are located on the South to Southwesterly side of the Peninsula with their waters stretching out into the deep ocean waters of Bass Straight.
While swimming is not prohibited in these beaches, be warned, the rips are strong, the waves can be 6 foot and there’s plenty of rocky outcrops hiding beneath the surface. They’re very popular spots for surfing (check out my 12 Best Surf Beaches post for more info).
I love to visit Mornington Peninsula’s back beaches to watch the surfers, go for long walks and watch some truly stunning sunsets.
Let me share with you what I believe to be Mornington Peninsula’s best back beaches…
6. Sorrento Back Beach
(Image courtesy of Adobe Stock Images)
Of all the back beaches on the Mornington Peninsula, Sorrento back beach is not just a favourite of mine, but also the most popular one for visitors.
And why is this you may be asking?
Well, its ampitheatre style setting comprised of a wide beach, spectacular rock formations and deep rock pools large enough to swim in, are its big drawcards.
Plus the beach is patrolled over summer and Easter making it a great place for people of all ages to bodyboard, surf and play in the waves.
And let’s not forget about all the walks you can do along the headlands (Coppins Track being very popular) which provide spectacular panoramic views out across Bass Strait.
With a large car park and cafe too, Sorrento Back Beach is a spectacular place to spend the day all year round.
7. Portsea Surf Beach (aka Portsea Back Beach)
I lived on the Peninsula for five years before I ever visited this beach and man was I missing out!
This 2.5km long beach is awesome with its golden sands and never ending swells rolling onto the shore thanks to the westerly winds.
Obviously popular with surfers, Portsea Back Beach is also popular with tourists who flock here to swim and while away the hours come summer time.
Park at the end of Portsea’s Back Beach Road near the surf life saving club if you’d like to come here for a swim under the watchful eyes of the life savers.
Or, alternatively, park further west in the carpark at the end of London Bridge Road and take a walk to Portsea’s infamous London Bridge rock formation. Time this when the tide is going out and you’ll be presented with some calm lagoon-like rock pools to swim in and an opportunity to clamber through the bottom of the London Bridge rock formation.
8. Gunnamatta (Fingal)
(Image courtesy of Adobe Stock Images)
An article about Mornington Peninsula back beaches wouldn’t be complete without a mention of the most famous surf beach in this area, Gunnamatta.
It’s a world class surfing destination with extremely strong rips and year-round, consistent swells that are meant for the pros. So if you’re a beginner on a longboard, step away from the surf! Read my 12 Mornington Peninsula Surf Beaches article for more details.
This beach is patrolled during summer and some school holidays, so if you’re brave enough for a swim, come when the surf life savers are there keeping an eye on you.
I however, don’t really come to Gunnamatta to surf or swim though, I just love visiting here to walk along the shore and feel the chaos and pure awesomeness of that clever lady we call, Mother Nature. It’s also worth visiting just to sit and watch the surfers tackling the waves.
Pack some snacks (no cafes here, but there are bathrooms) and your sense of adventure, Gunnamatta is waiting!
9. Black Rock Beach (Cape Schanck)
This is the only beach on the Mornigton Peninsula that is purely black! And there’s really no sand in sight. It’s actually a volcanic rock beach, unique right!
Black Rock Beach is part of the Cape Schanck Lighthouse trail and lies at the base of a wooden staircase and boardwalk.
Wear sturdy shoes and wander the rock platform, picking up rocks to find crabs and other sea creatures scuttling beneath.
Head south along Black Rock Beach to find your way to Pulpit Rock, one of the Mornington Peninsula’s most famous landmarks.
Put aside at least two hours when visiting here, as there’s so much to see and do.
Plus it’s just so mysteriously beautiful here that you could just sit and admire the scenery for hours on end.
So pack some lunch, or some dinner if you want to experience the dramatic sunsets here, and be prepared to be awed by the beauty that is Cape Schanck and Black Rock Beach.
– More Great Mornington Peninsula Back Beaches
I have written a whole article on 12 of the Mornington Peninsula’s best surf beaches, which pretty much lists all the great back beaches on The Peninsula, so check it out for more info.
– Map of Mornington Peninsula Best Back Beaches
BEST HIDDEN BEACHES MORNINGTON PENINSULA
Hidden below cliffs, behind scrubland and sometimes down 2.5km tracks, are the hidden beaches of Mornington Peninsula that not even some of the locals know about!
I’ve written about 11 of these hidden beaches in a previous post, but I’ll share my favourite three here for you to narrow down your choices and make which one to visit maybe a little easier for you.
10. Bushrangers Bay (Cape Schanck)
Of all the hidden beaches on the Mornington Peninsula, this is the MOST hidden!
Bushrangers Bay is tucked away at the end of two different 2.5km tracks which you can only access by foot. Neither of the tracks are suitable for prams or beach trolley’s due to their rugged terrain so be prepared to carry your gear and the tired legs of your little ones if you happen to take them (which I have done on quite a few occasions).
But let me tell you, the effort to reach Bushrangers Bay is most certainly worth it!
When you drop down from the track onto the beach you’ll be greeted by tall, rugged cliffs standing like ancient sentinels surrounding this pristine location.
Come when the tide is low and you’ll have plenty of pool-sized rockpools to swim in while the waves of Bass Strait roll in around you. It’s truly thrilling.
As mentioned, there are two tracks to access this beach. One track is accessed from the Boneo Road Bushrangers Bay carpark and the other is accessed from the Cape Schanck Lighthouse carpark. Both tracks are of similar effort to navigate and walk.
So pack your snacks and get going, this is by far one of the best beaches Mornington Peninsula has on offer!
12. The Pillars (Mount Martha)
While The Pillars is very hidden, with absoloutely no sign posts hinting at it’s location, on a hot summer’s weekend, it can be one of the most happening places on the Peninsula!
To be honest, The Pillars is not even a beach! It’s a rock-shelf of varying heights with cliffs you can jump off, landing into the most crystal-clear, aquamarine waters your eyes could ever imagine! It’s Melbourne’s version of The Mediterranean.
Located off to the side of one of Mount Martha’s busiest roads, the Esplanade, and hidden behind a large stretch of rocky scrubland, you’ll need sturdy joints to trek down the cliffside to reach The Pillars.
A word or warning, DO NOT BRING CHILDREN HERE, The Pillars is dangerous to access.
There is no carpark and you cannot park in the side streets during Summer and the months either side of it.
Most people seem to park at Mount Martha Beach North and trek their way along the narrow path (if you can even call it a path) alongside The Esplanade to access The Pillars. This is by no means safe, but that’s what people do. Come summer, just follow the stream of teenagers snaking their way from the Mount Martha Beach carpark to the popular ledges of The Pillars.
So most certainly pack your sense of adventure and enjoy the aquamarine waters of The Pillars…if you dare!
13. Point King Beach (Sorrento)
Time to include a hidden beach that’s not so strenuous to reach like the two mentioned above. No need to grease the joints in order to access Point King Beach in Sorrento!
Hidden down Point King Road in Sorrento and down a gentle walking track is the picturesque Point King Beach.
Point King Beach is in a sheltered alcove with 20m high cliffs encircling it.
With a couple of private jetties stretching out into the waters of Port Phillip Bay, a sprinkling of boat sheds lining the sands, and the houses of the millionaire’s nestled into the cliffside, this beach definitely has a ‘Hamptons-like’ vibe.
The waters here are calm and shallow, with gentle waves that lap upon the shore when the Searoad Ferry cruises by every hour. My daughter squeals in delight when this happens.
Point King Beach is a great family friendly beach or, it also makes for a secluded romantic spot to spend the day with your significant other. Come in the evening for some glorious, romantic sunsets.
A word from the wise tough, there are not public toilets or any other amenities here.
– More Great Hidden Beaches
There are way more than three hidden beaches on the Peninsula! Make sure to read my article on Mornington Peninsula’s best hidden beaches with details on 8 more hidden beaches for you to explore.
– Map of Mornington Peninsula’s Best Hidden Beaches
BEST MORNINGTON PENINSULA BEACHES WITH ROCK POOLS
It wasn’t until I started writing this website that I actually begun to explore, with great tenacity, the spectacular rock pools the Mornington Peninsula has hidden along its coast.
There’s rock pools that are deep enough to dive in and others that extend far out into the ocean in large mushroom shapes! True story!
So amazing are the rock pools here, that I’ve actually written a whole article outlining them that you can read here.
For now though, I’ll share with you two of my favourites.
14. Bridgewater Bay (Blairegowrie)
Located down a dirt road, at the back of the town of Blairgowrie, is the truly spectacular Bridgewater Bay.
After you park your car in one of the very limited car spots and then shuffle your way over a sandy trail through the coastline shrubbery, you’ll arrive at the top of a cliff with a view that will knock your socks off!
A vista of open, wild ocean, crashing upon a stretch of extensive rock pools and a small beach, with craggy sandstone cliffs standing sentinel in an amphitheatre shape, to encase it all in. Jaw-droppingly spectacular!
To the left you’ll spot a bridge-shaped rock formation. Climb your way over the rocks towards the formation, and this is where you’ll find the Bridgewater Bay jumping ledges, where you can jump off 2-8 metre high platforms into the crystal clear rock pools below!
With rock pools you can dive into and an extensive selection of other rock pools you can just jump over and look for crabs in, this place is truly rock pooling heaven!
Just make sure to come at low tide for the best rock pooling experience you’ll ever have!
15. Mushroom Reef Marine Sancturary (Flinders)
Mushroom Reef Marine Sancturary is a wonderful family friendly place to go rock pooling.
Located in Flinders, the most popular part of this marine sanctuary is the long line of cobbles that stretch out to sea, blooming into a wide platform of even more rock pools. From the image above, it’s quite easy to see that this is the Mushroom Reef part of the marine sanctuary!
And if the huge mushroom shaped reef isn’t enough rock pooling for you, then you’ll be happy to know that there’s a mosaic of other rock pools all along this stretch of wild and pristine coastline.
You could wander around the rock pools here for hours, in fact, my family and I have done this numerous times. Or why not bring your goggles and snorkel and paddle in the shallow water? You might just spot a weedy seadragon, a black and white sea star or the very interesting looking cowfish.
Again, make sure to come at low tide and bring a cooler full of food and drinks to keep you energised as you while away the hours at this rock pooling place of amazement!
16. Sorrento Ocean Beach
Ok, I was only going to mention two rock pooling beaches in this article to stop this post being a million miles long, but I just can’t not mention the rock pools of Sorrento Ocean Beach.
Sorrento Ocean Beach literally has rock pools to explore as far as the eye can see, to both the left and right of the beach, and then plenty more you can’t see until you keep walking off into the unseen distance!
I dub this place, Rock Pooling Disney Land!
There’s a large selection of rock pools to dive into, and others to just poke around in with the kids for hours on end.
There’s also some shallow caves tucked into the cliffs that surround Sorrento Ocean Beach which brings squeals of scary excitement to the kids.
Come at low tide and be prepared to spend at least a few hours here for a day of fun & adventure!
– More of the Best Mornington Peninsula Rock Pool Beaches
Check out four more beaches with rock pools to both swim in and/or just wander around with the kids while you hunt for crabs. They’re outlined in detail in my article called…
– Map of Mornington Peninsula’s Best Rock Pool Beaches
TO SUM UP – My Absoloute Favourite Beaches
I’ve mentioned 16 of the best Mornington Peninsula beaches above, but if someone put gun to my head (sorry to be so dramatic!) and said I could only pick three of the best, three of my absoloute favourites, then this would be my selection…
For swimming and enjoying a relaxing day of play and lounging around on gorgeous white sand, then I would have to pick McCrae Beach. There’s something so special about this beach that really just strikes a chord in my heart and makes me feel joy.
If you’re after a mixed bag of fun that includes the opportunity for surfing, body boarding, rock pooling and a stretch of sand to chill out on, then Sorrento Ocean Beach, when the tide is low, is my top choice.
And lastly, if you’re looking to escape the crowds and step off the beaten track into the wild, then pack your essential supplies and take the 2.5km walk to Bushrangers Bay. It’s truly raw and untamed and brings all your senses to life.
