Yes, I said coastal holiday destinations in Victoria, Australia! Surprised?
A well-known fact: Australia has over 11,000 beaches, with 50,000km+ of coastline to explore. A lesser-known fact: some of the best beaches in Australia aren’t on the Sunshine Coast as you’d expect them to be.
In fact, the humble state of Victoria actually has its fair share of breathtaking beachside towns and coastal attractions – and they’re not all just along the Great Ocean Road!
If you want to explore all the hidden gems that you can find across Victoria’s understated coastline, then this is the guide for you.
Stick with us as we outline 10 of the best coastal holiday destinations that Victoria has to offer.
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Mornington Peninsula
A favourite weekend getaway destination for many Melburnians, Mornington offers all the convenience of being centrally located with the added benefits of peace and serenity – all the makings of an idyllic coastal holiday setting.
On top of gorgeous coastal views, Mornington has the added selling point of natural, geothermal hot springs, making this beachside town the perfect place for a ‘wellness weekend’.
You can find plenty of Mornington Peninsula accommodation that offers spa facilities, ocean views, and even access to other local luxury amenities and facilities like golf courses.
And once you’ve had plenty of R&R, you can also enjoy ample opportunities to shop at Mornington’s many boutique stores, sit down for a fresh meal in the town’s many artisanal cafes and other eateries.
Rosebud
But what about Mornington’s beaches?
As the Mornington Peninsula region every suburb from Mount Eliza to Point Nepean, virtually every beach across this stretch of coastline can technically be considered to be a Mornington beach.
For Melburnians, however, holidaying in the Mornington Peninsula Shire typically involves staying hyper-local to a particular coastal town.
For some, that town is Mornington or Mount Martha (i.e. closer to Melbourne), and for others, it’s Rosebud or Rye.
Rosebud in particular is a highly popular coastal destination that boasts plenty of accommodation year-round, including camping grounds along the Rosebud Foreshore.
The reason why Rosebud is so popular, however, is because it provides a safe, family-friendly beach going experience.
Rosebud Beach provides a wide open bay that’s protected on either end by sandbars, meaning you can always expect a tamer swell.
There are also opportunities to do some saltwater fishing along the Rosebud Jetty, making this coastal destination a must for Melbourne families.
Geelong
Over the past ten years, Geelong has rapidly developed to become Victoria’s second-most populous city outside of the greater Melbourne region.
In fact, Geelong’s population boom has been so monumental that the city’s just been recognised as one of the top 5 fastest growing regions in Australia.
This is all to say that on top of being a picturesque coastal destination with ferry services to Tasmania and across Port Phillip Bay and back to Melbourne, Geelong is also a thriving regional hub.
It has plenty of professional opportunities on offer for those who are considering living in their very own beach paradise.
Geelong’s proximity to other coastal towns like Barwon Heads, Torquay and Anglesea only add to the city’s appeal.
If you’re looking to stay close to the Great Ocean Road, living in Geelong could provide the perfect balance of city-living and coastal escape.
Great Ocean Road
And speaking of the Great Ocean Road, we admit that we’re cheating on this next one a little bit because the Great Ocean Road isn’t so much one destination as it is about…two dozen or so.
After all, the Great Ocean Road does stretch for 240 km across Victoria’s south-eastern coastline, namely between the two coastal towns of Torquay and Allansford.
Along this 240 km stretch, there are countless places to stop and savour that ocean air, including the Twelve Apostles, Cape Otway and the wider Otways National Park, and Bells Beach – just to name a few.
But if you want our opinion, the best way to experience all that the Great Ocean Road has to offer is to just plan out a multi-week road trip that lets you stay a few nights in every town across this coastal highway.
Brighton
Let’s return closer to the city centre for this next one because truthfully, a list of Victoria’s best coastal destinations would be incomplete without mentioning the state’s most iconic coastal attraction: the Melbourne Beach Boxes.
Located along Brighton Beach, the original beach boxes are a whimsical sight and the perfect photo opportunity for any coast-crazy tourist.
But there is a lot more to Brighton Beach than meets the eye as well.
For starters, the region is filled with gorgeous trails and lookout points, making Brighton the perfect location for snapping photos of the sunset or capturing panoramic views of Port Phillip Bay.
Brighton also boasts a dog-friendly beach, so you can take your pups out for a swim as well.
Similarly and much like Mornington, Brighton boasts a thriving urban hub, this time along the Esplanade, a coastal roadway that stretches all the way to St Kilda and connects Brighton up with South Melbourne.
Along the Esplanade, you can expect to find cosy pubs and clubs that offer live music, freshly caught seafood dishes, and plenty of alfresco dining spaces.
Phillip Island
Another popular coastal destination that Melburnians typically visit on a weekend getaway, Phillip Island is less of an undiscovered gem and more of a certified Victorian institution.
With plenty of unique wildlife like kangaroos, koalas, fur seals, and the famous Little Penguins and an abundance of coastal trails and hikes, Phillip Island is a must-visit for all families travelling across Victoria just based on its natural attractions alone.
Add to this the fact that Phillip Island also has a range of different accommodation options available as well as fun attractions like surf schools, kayaking spots, and spa facilities.
Include a scenic flight or helicopter tours, and the reasons to book a weekend away at Melbourne’s favourite island destination really do start to add up.
Inverloch
Just to the east of Phillip Island and back on the mainland, Victorian beachgoers can expect to find Inverloch and Venus Bay, two more coastal holiday destinations that provide plenty of opportunities for enrichment as well as rest and relaxation.
Inverloch Beach offers great mild swells that are perfect for beginner surfers and even avid kitesurfers. Clear water conditions also make Inverloch an ideal destination for snorkelling and boating.
If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you may opt to hire a boat and travel from Inverloch to Venus Bay for the day!
As for places to stay, Inverloch is packed full of a range of different accommodation options, spanning from five-star resorts and glamping sites to unpowered campsites that offer gorgeous ocean views.
Wilsons Promontory
Most tourists who visit Victoria and get to see Wilsons Promontory consider the attraction a once-in-a-lifetime travel experience.
For Melburnians, however, an annual trip to Wilsons Prom is a must for detoxing city living.
The issue is that Wilsons Prom is a bit of a trek from Melbourne’s city centre, being located around a 3.5-hour drive from the CBD.
As the entire Promontory National Park is under-developed to preserve the region’s natural beauty, there are also limited places to stay, with the exception of unpowered campsites across the ‘island’ and the cabins at Tidal River Campgrounds.
But you don’t go to Wilsons Prom to stay indoors.
And with amazing attractions like the Big Drift sand dunes, the quartz sands of Squeaky Beach, and a handful of amazing overnight hiking trails that’ll take you all over the park, Wilsons Prom is so much more than just a coastal holiday destination.
So if you are looking for sun, sand, stargazing, and trailblazing, then pencilling out at least a week at Wilsons Prom is an absolute must for your Victorian coastal explorations.
Waratah Bay
If you don’t want to camp overnight at Wilsons Prom, you do have the option of finding accommodation nearby and driving over to the Prom for a daytrip.
Thankfully, there are plenty of local towns near Yanakie, which is considered to be the gateway to the Prom itself.
One of the best places to hitch up your tent is Waratah Bay and Sandy Point.
Located just to the west of Yanakie and Wilsons Prom, Waratah Bay is renowned for its wide, open coastline with gentle surf conditions, making it an idyllic swimming spot for young travellers and families.
Waratah Bay is also a lot quieter and less populated than other coastal regions around Wilsons Prom, providing a great respite from summertime beach going crowds.
Lakes Entrance
Finally, Lakes Entrance is perhaps one of Victoria’s most unique coastal destinations, namely because of the many winding inland waterways that make up the Gippsland Lakes.
From fishing and boating to surfing, snorkelling, and kayaking, there are so many ways to get out on the water and really explore this dynamic landscape all on your own.
And trust us, you’re better off exploring on your own because you will be too awe-struck to hold much conversation.
Even if you’re not one for watersports, Lakes Entrance still boasts plenty of great beaches to relax, or even coastal trails that allow you to bear witness to some truly breathtaking views of the lakes and the winding estuaries that make up this singular landscape.
Sunrises and sunsets at Lakes Entrance are also quite a sight to behold from any angle, as the reflections of light on the water make for some unforgettable shots.
How many of these Victorian coastal destinations have you explored yourself? And are there any across this guide that you’re yet to tick off the bucket list?
If so, then now is the perfect time to start planning your summer coastal road trips across Victoria.
Be sure to book your accommodation and activities nice and early to ensure you and your fellow travellers can beat the summer crowds.
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The Historic Port of Echuca
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TRAVEL PLANNING ESSENTIALS
Find flights – I always use Skyscanner as my starting point when searching for flights. One search will give many options including airlines I may not have thought of. This means I can find the best possible flights to suit my needs
Book accommodation – my go to is always Booking.com for the best places to stay. It’s not just hotels anymore, but hostels, apartments, B&Bs and more. I love that the bookings are usually cancellable, and that I can book now and pay later.
Hire a rental car – RentalCars.com is my go to here. It allows me to do just one search and it finds cars from many of the different supplies, so no checking multiple websites to compare.
Get travel insurance – you would have heard by now that saying “if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel”. If we’ve learnt anything from the last couple of years it should be how essential travel insurance is. I use CoverMore for my insurance.
Pick up an eSIM – I tried an eSIM on my last trip and it was fantastic. I set it up before I went so it was ready as soon as I landed, and I still had access to my home number for emergencies. Get your own eSIM at Airalo.
Book activities, tours & attractions – I use a few different websites for this. Viator and Get Your Guide tend to be the first places I look. In Asia, Klook often has more options, and in Australia it’s Experience Oz.
Manage your money – the best way to manage your different currencies is with an account from Wise. You can hold money in many different currencies, and use them with the ATM card or from your phone.
