Gunnamatta Beach, Victoria: Surf or swim at this Mornington Peninsula Beach?
In the Mornington Peninsula National Park, Victoria, Gunnamatta Beach gets famously big waves for surfing. It is potentially dangerous for swimming, however.
What is Gunnamatta Beach?
Gunnamatta Beach, Victoria, is one of the most attractive beaches in the Mornington Peninsula National Park.
In the small town of Fingal near Cape Schanck, Gunnamatta Beach is 3km long and faces south-west. It has a gloriously wild feel to it. The Southern Ocean pounds in, often with big waves.
Surfing at Gunnamatta Beach, Victoria
For surfers, this Mornington Peninsula Beach is hugely appealing. The average wave is nearly two metres high at Gunnamatta Beach, as the westerly winds whip up the ocean swell.
There are several surf breaks to tackle along the beach, with one large 150 metre wide surf zone courtesy of a sand bar.
However, Gunnamatta Beach on the Mornington Peninsula is not the sort of beach for novices. There is a series of strong rips along the beach, plus bonus rips next to the reefs and rocks. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you can find yourself in serious trouble.
13 fabulous Mornington Peninsula experiences to book
There are dozens of Mornington Peninsula tours available from Melbourne. The experiences listed below are aimed at those staying on the Peninsula, or with their own transport.
- Half day dolphin and seal swim from Sorrento.
- Peninsula Hot Springs fire, ice and bathe experience.
- Moonlit Sanctuary wildlife park entry ticket.
- Guided e-bike tour in Arthurs Seat State Park and beyond.
- Wildlife kayaking tour from Portsea.
- Waterbike tour from Mornington.
- Point Nepean National Park bike hire.
- French cooking class in Fingal.
- Dolphin and seal watching cruise from Sorrento.
- Mornington Peninsula wineries hop-on, hop-off bus.
- Montalto Vineyard discovery wine-tasting with lunch.
- Enchanted Garden entry ticket.
- Snorkelling with sea dragons in Portsea.
Is it safe to swim at Gunnamatta Beach?
That said, it is possible to swim at Gunnamatta Beach. The Gunnamatta Beach Surf Life Saving Club has its beach at the end of Truemans Road, and provides lifeguards.
Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security by the lifeguards, though. This Mornington Peninsula beach is unquestionably hazardous to swim at, and venturing beyond the red and yellow flags is an act of tremendous stupidity.
If coming from Melbourne, it’s a 98km drive to Gunnamatta Beach. There’s a big car park next to the Surf Life Saving Club.
Other things to do on the Mornington Peninsula include the Arthurs Seat Eagle cable car from Dromana, the St Andrews Beach Brewery and snorkelling with seals from Sorrento. You can also see kangaroos on the St Andrews Beach Golf Course.
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