Brighton Beach, Melbourne: Swimming, surfing & bathing boxes

Brighton Beach, Melbourne, is patrolled by lifeguards, occasionally sees some surf and is famous for its colourful bathing boxes. Accommodation is available at the Brighton Savoy.

Where is Brighton Beach?

Brighton Beach is one of the Port Phillip Bay beaches in Melbourne, Australia. It is on the eastern side of Port Phillip Bay, between Elwood Beach and Hampton Beach.

To visit as part of a bayside bike tour, head here. To visit as part of a Phillip Island day tour, head here.

14 fantastic experiences that make the most of your free time in Melbourne

Get the very best views – on a hot air balloon flight over the city.
See the changing colours of the river – on a sunset kayaking tour – with dinner. (Highly recommended ✅)
Feast and see the sights at the same time – on a four course dinner cruise along the Yarra River.
A genuinely excellent street art tour, led by prominent street artists. (Highly recommended ✅)
The also superb Aboriginal heritage, plants and bush food tour in the Botanic Gardens. (💲 Great value 💲)
Best of Melbourne bike tour – you can see more on two wheels than walking.
Hidden laneways bar crawl OR foodie discovery tour OR chocolate and dessert tour.
Combo ticket for Australian Sports Museum and MCG tour.
Hassle-dodging advance tickets for the Melbourne Skydeck, Melbourne Zoo, the Ice Bar (with cocktails) and Sea Life Aquarium.

Is it safe to swim at Brighton Beach?

Brighton Beach is a reasonably safe swimming beach, and is patrolled by lifeguards. However, there is a fairly steep drop from the beach, and the water gets deep pretty quickly. Be aware of this, particularly if children are going into the water.

Can I surf at Brighton Beach?

The beaches of Port Phillip Bay are generally not surf beaches, as the bay is fairly well protected. However, Brighton Beach does have some exposure to winds and swells from the south west. When the weather conditions are right, there can be some surf here.

👇 7 great day trips while you’re in Melbourne 👇

Great Ocean Road tour – with koalas 🐨.
Brighton Beach, Moonlit Sanctuary and Phillip Island tour – with penguins 🐧.
Yarra Valley wine tour – with gin, cider and cheese 🍷.
Grampians National Park tour – with bushwalks and LOADS of kangaroos 🦘.
Mornington Peninsula tour – with hot springs bathing 🛀.
Wilsons Promontory tour – with all manner of native wildlife 🦘🐨.
Dandenong Ranges steam train ride – plus wildlife at Healesville Sanctuary and chocolate-tasting in the Yarra Valley.

Why not BROWSE THE BEST DEALS – with instant confirmation and hassle-free, mobile-friendly tickets?

What is Brighton Beach famous for?

Brighton Beach is famous for its colourful bathing boxes. People who have no intention of staying on the beach come here to photograph the bathing boxes.

The Brighton Beach bathing boxes are a highlight of the half day Melbourne Bayside cycling tour, which uses the bike paths around Port Phillip Bay to explore some of the city’s best beaches.

It’s also possible to visit Brighton Beach on a Phillip Island day tour, which also stops at the Moonlit Sanctuary wildlife centre before taking in the Penguin Parade. This tour can be booked, with mobile-friendly tickets, instant confirmation and hotel pick-ups, through Viator.

How to do Melbourne IN STYLE

If there’s a special occasion while you’re in Melbourne, consider splashing out on these memory-making experiences…

An indulgent Yarra Valley food and wine tour – with lunch at Yering Station.
A sunrise hot air balloon flight across the city – followed by a champagne breakfast.
See the city by helicopter.
A private Great Ocean Road tour – with an early start to beat the crowds.
Tandem skydive from 14,000ft – and land on the beach.

Brighton Beach accommodation

Brighton Beach is fairly unusual in Melbourne in that there’s a fairly luxurious hotel right behind it. If you want to stay at the beach in Melbourne, then the Brighton Savoy is a very tempting option.

Other Melbourne beaches worth investigation include Mordialloc Beach, Sandringham Beach and Carrum Beach.