Things to See & Do
Point Lonsdale forms the western side of Port Phillip Heads, with The Rip separating it from Point Nepean. The town of Point Lonsdale has a protected bay beach and more exposed ocean beaches.
The main ocean beach is known as the Surf or Back Beach and is the site of Point Lonsdale Surf Life Saving Club, founded in 1947. A walking track leads from the surf club over the dunes to the beach.
Surf Beach extends for 900 m from a wide, intertidal rock platform, located just east of the surf lifesaving club, to where more rocks and reefs outcrop in the surf. In fact, low tide rock flats dominate this beach and are clearly visible at low tide.
The beach faces south-west and receives waves averaging 1.4 m, which produce a single attached bar, cut by strong rips every 250 m. In addition, strong permanent rips run out against some of the reefs, the worst being The Escalator to the left of the club house. These rips have been responsible for many rescues, with an average of 30 each year. There have also been drownings at the beach, so be very wary and stay between the flags.
Swimming
A moderately hazardous beach owing to the moderate waves and strong permanent and shifting rips, together with rocks and reefs. Definitely stay on the bars, clear of the rips and rocks and between the flags.
Surfing
Beach breaks are common over the numerous reefs, with the best known as Glaneuses, located at the end of Glaneuse Road, and adjacent to The Escalator rip. It offers a good left over the reef. Surfing is best with northerly winds, a low to moderate swell at mid to high tide, as the reefs are exposed at low tide.
Fishing
A popular spot offering permanent rips and gutters, particularly adjacent to the reefs and rocks.
General
This is the surf beach for the popular Point Lonsdale holiday town and very popular with bathers in summer and surfers year round. However it is a hazardous beach with strong permanent rips, so use extreme care.
Carpark
Type: Formal parking area
Surface: Sealed
Spaces: 100
SLSA provides this information as a guide only. Surf conditions are variable and therefore this information should not be relied upon as a substitute for observation of local conditions and an understanding of your abilities in the surf. SLSA reminds you to always swim between the red and yellow flags and never swim at unpatrolled beaches. SLSA takes all care and responsibility for any translation but it cannot guarantee that all translations will be accurate.
General Beach Hazard Rating: 8
Least hazardous: 1-3
Moderately hazardous: 4-6
Highly hazardous: 7-8
Extremely hazardous: 9-10
Hazard rating refers to physical beach and surf conditions ONLY and does not include potentially dangerous marine life.
Queenscliff Beach fronts the town of the same name. It is 800 m long, faces south-east, and is backed by a large foreshore reserve with numerous facilities.
The Queenscliff harbour channel and breakwater form the northern boundary, with the vegetated slopes of 20 m high Shortland Bluff forming the southern boundary.
Two long jetties cross the beach, one servicing the passenger ferry to Portsea; and the other is the old Pilot Jetty. There are several boat sheds below the bluffs and the Queenscliff Lighthouse on top of Shortland Bluff.
The beach is low and flat, with a continuous, wide, shallow bar and no rips. Shallow reef flats extend east of the bluff.
Swimming
A relatively safe beach with a wide shallow bar.
Surfing
None.
Fishing
The harbour channel, the two jetties and the seawall round the base of the Bluff all provide excellent fishing locations.
General
A very accessible beach, with numerous facilities in the foreshore reserve and the attractive town of Queenscliff behind.
Carpark
Type: Formal parking area
Surface: Sealed
Spaces: 100
SLSA provides this information as a guide only. Surf conditions are variable and therefore this information should not be relied upon as a substitute for observation of local conditions and an understanding of your abilities in the surf. SLSA reminds you to always swim between the red and yellow flags and never swim at unpatrolled beaches. SLSA takes all care and responsibility for any translation but it cannot guarantee that all translations will be accurate.
General Beach Hazard Rating: 2
Least hazardous: 1-3
Moderately hazardous: 4-6
Highly hazardous: 7-8
Extremely hazardous: 9-10
Hazard rating refers to physical beach and surf conditions ONLY and does not include potentially dangerous marine life.
Beach
At Barwon Heads, the coast trends due west for 7 km to Black Rocks. The first 2 km are dominated by calcarenite rocks and reefs, which outcrop on the beach and in the surf.
These divide the coast into three beaches. The first (285) is below Point Finders and is a 50 m pocket of sand facing south-east and bordered by rock platforms and reefs.
The two Barwon Heads beaches (286, 287) face south and are more exposed, with higher waves and patchy reefs. These conditions result in a wide, low gradient beach, rock flat and surf, with persistent and some permanent rips against the reefs.
All three beaches are easily accessible. There is a car park and a lookout on Point Flinders, and car parks on the Torquay Road, which parallels the two Barwon Heads beaches.
Swimming
Point Flinders is relatively safe close inshore, however there are rocks and reefs off the beach. The Barwon Heads beaches are both potentially hazardous, owing to the higher waves, reefs and strong permanent rips.
Surfing
There are several breaks along this section, mostly reef breaks that work best at higher tide, with a low to moderate swell and north winds. Those immediately west of Point Flinders are called The Hole.
Fishing
There are excellent rip holes and gutters next to the reefs, together with rocks and reefs to fish from at low tide.
General
A reef dominated section of coast, most suitable for beach fishing and experienced surfers.
Carpark
Type: Formal parking area
Surface: Sealed
Spaces: 100
SLSA provides this information as a guide only. Surf conditions are variable and therefore this information should not be relied upon as a substitute for observation of local conditions and an understanding of your abilities in the surf. SLSA reminds you to always swim between the red and yellow flags and never swim at unpatrolled beaches. SLSA takes all care and responsibility for any translation but it cannot guarantee that all translations will be accurate.
General Beach Hazard Rating: 7
Least hazardous: 1-3
Moderately hazardous: 4-6
Highly hazardous: 7-8
Extremely hazardous: 9-10
Hazard rating refers to physical beach and surf conditions ONLY and does not include potentially dangerous marine life.
The Barwon Heads Bridge is a road connecting Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove.
The deteriorating 100+ year old bridge has been reconstructed in recent years and a second bridge has been built alongside to take pedestrian traffic, cyclists and recreational anglers.
From its beginnings in the Otway Ranges, the Barwon River winds its way through suburban Geelong before flowing into the ocean at Barwon Heads.
The mouth of the river has sandy banks that are popular with walkers and families having a paddle or building sandcastles. Fishing is popular on the jetties near the mouth of the river and kayakers and paddlers are often seen in this area.
Barwon Heads has a sailing club where laser yachts are often seen at high tide. There are also BBQs and picnic areas alongside the riverbank.
Collendina Beach occupies most of the open bay between Point Lonsdale and Barwon Heads. It is 6 km long, extending from the reefs west of Point Lonsdale Beach to 1 km west of the Collendina Beach car park.
The only public access is at the car park, together with tracks over the foredune from the caravan park.
The beach faces south-south-east and for the most part is backed by 10 to 20 m high, vegetated dunes, with a few blowouts. It receives waves averaging between 1 and 1.5 m, which break over a wide, low gradient surf zone and occasional reefs and rocks. Persistent rips occur every 250 m, with some permanent rips against the more prominent reefs. During bigger seas, waves break on outer, deeper reefs.
Swimming
Be careful on this beach as there are usually deep rip holes and strong currents along the beach. Stay inshore on the attached section of the bars and well clear of the rips and reefs.
Surfing
There are many beach and a few reef breaks along the beach, with best conditions in a low to moderate swell and northerly winds.
Fishing
There are excellent persistent rip holes and occasional gutters along the beach, plus some occasional reefs.
General
A long relatively natural beach offering plenty of sand, a low gradient inner surf for bathing, rip holes for fishing and numerous beach breaks for surfing.
Carpark
Type: Formal parking area
Surface: Sealed
Spaces: 200
SLSA provides this information as a guide only. Surf conditions are variable and therefore this information should not be relied upon as a substitute for observation of local conditions and an understanding of your abilities in the surf. SLSA reminds you to always swim between the red and yellow flags and never swim at unpatrolled beaches. SLSA takes all care and responsibility for any translation but it cannot guarantee that all translations will be accurate.
General Beach Hazard Rating: 7
Least hazardous: 1-3
Moderately hazardous: 4-6
Highly hazardous: 7-8
Extremely hazardous: 9-10
Hazard rating refers to physical beach and surf conditions ONLY and does not include potentially dangerous marine life.
Ocean Grove Beach is located in the centre of the 9.5 km long beach that curves in a broad, south facing arc from Point Lonsdale to the Barwon River mouth.
The Ocean Grove section is 2 km long and faces south-east. Some protection is offered by Barwon Heads and the beach receives waves averaging 1.4m. These waves interact with the fine beach sand to produce a wide, low gradient beach face, fronted by a 300m wide surf zone that contains strong rips every 250m.
During moderate waves, the rips increase in size and intensity toward Collendina, while decreasing toward Barwon Heads. At low tide, the beach and exposed bar can be over 100 m wide, with the deeper rip channels clearly visible.
The town of Ocean Grove backs the beach, with a wide, well-arranged foreshore reserve between the town and the beach. It provides extensive parking, together with most beach amenities. The good parking and easy access, together with the surf club patrols and slightly lower waves make this a popular summer beach. The Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club was formed in 1948 and performs an average of 8 rescues each year.
Swimming
A moderately safe beach, particularly during average summer conditions, when extensive bars dominate. Best at high tide, however watch the rips, particularly at low tide. Best to stay between the flags.
Surfing
Usually has wide, moderate to low beach breaks; more popular with summer surfers.
Fishing
Best to go up the beach away from the summer crowds, and where rip holes are more common.
General
A popular summer beach, which can hold a large crowd. It has a wide, shallow surf zone with rips increasing up the beach, so it is best to stay near the surf club and bathe in the patrolled area.
Carpark
Type: Formal parking area
Surface: Sealed
Spaces: 200
SLSA provides this information as a guide only. Surf conditions are variable and therefore this information should not be relied upon as a substitute for observation of local conditions and an understanding of your abilities in the surf. SLSA reminds you to always swim between the red and yellow flags and never swim at unpatrolled beaches. SLSA takes all care and responsibility for any translation but it cannot guarantee that all translations will be accurate.
General Beach Hazard Rating: 6
Least hazardous: 1-3
Moderately hazardous: 4-6
Highly hazardous: 7-8
Extremely hazardous: 9-10
Hazard rating refers to physical beach and surf conditions ONLY and does not include potentially dangerous marine life.
At Indented Head, the coast turns and runs due south for 3 km down to the low bluffs at St Leonards. The Esplanade runs right behind the beach and low foredune.
There are two picnic areas behind the main beach, with a camping reserve toward St Leonards, and a foreshore reserve with numerous facilities backing the bluffs and St Leonards Pier Beach.
Toward the southern end of St Leonards Beach, there are several wooden groynes, as well as the breakwater and pier, that form the boundary with the 300 m long St Leonards Pier Beach. This beach terminates at a low, rocky point and reef flats.
Both beaches are low and narrow and fronted by shallow, 100 to 200 m wide sand flats, containing low amplitude bars and runnels. The flats are exposed at low tide.
Swimming
Two relatively safe beaches fronted by shallow sand flats and low bars. Bathing is better at mid to high tide when the flats are covered.
Surfing
None.
Fishing
The rocks on the south side of Indented Head and the St Leonards Pier are the two best places to reach deeper water.
General
A long, relatively natural beach, with good access and numerous facilities, plus the small town of St Leonards at the southern end.
Carpark
Type: Formal parking area
Surface: Sealed
Spaces: 100
SLSA provides this information as a guide only. Surf conditions are variable and therefore this information should not be relied upon as a substitute for observation of local conditions and an understanding of your abilities in the surf. SLSA reminds you to always swim between the red and yellow flags and never swim at unpatrolled beaches. SLSA takes all care and responsibility for any translation but it cannot guarantee that all translations will be accurate.
General Beach Hazard Rating: 2
Least hazardous: 1-3
Moderately hazardous: 4-6
Highly hazardous: 7-8
Extremely hazardous: 9-10
Hazard rating refers to physical beach and surf conditions ONLY and does not include potentially dangerous marine life.