Squeaky Beach, Victoria: White sand, red rocks & swimming safety

Squeaky Beach in Victoria’s Wilsons Promontory National Park offers stunning white sand and giant red boulders. But swimming at Squeaky Beach is dangerous.

Squeaky Beach, Victoria, is one of the most stunning beaches in Australia, and it is possible to visit on a day tour from Melbourne. Inside the Wilsons Promontory National Park, Squeaky Beach has a couple of aspects to it that make it distinctive.

How does Squeaky Beach get its name?

First up is the white sand. This white sand, made of a fine quartz, is what gives Squeaky Beach its name. It’s so fine that when you walk over it, the sand makes a squeaking noise.

Realistically, you have to drag your feet over it like a sullen teenager, however, if you want to generate the squeaking effect.

4 ways to explore Wilsons Promontory

Wilderness cruise from Tidal River – with plenty of wildlife viewing.
Small group day tour from Melbourne – with focus on hiking.
Small group eco tour from Melbourne – including Squeaky Beach.
Full day catamaran cruise from Port Welshpool.

The other striking feature of Squeaky Beach is the huge, rust-red granite boulders to the side of the beach. They’re next to the course of the creek that empties into Leonards Bay at the northern end of the beach.

Is it safe to swim at Squeaky Beach?

Squeaky Beach may be beautiful, but it is dangerous to swim there. Multiple signs warn of the dangers of swimming at Squeaky Beach. There are no lifeguards on patrol, the rips can be savage, and the waves can be unexpectedly huge.

Visitors are also warned of the dangers of fishing from the rocks at the northern end of the beach. Those unexpectedly big waves can surge in, crash against the rocks and sweep an unsuspecting angler away.

Where is Squeaky Beach, Victoria?

Squeaky Beach is on Leonards Bay in the Wilsons Promontory National Park. It is just to the north of Tidal River, the main townlet on Wilsons Promontory.

Squeaky Beach near Tidal River on Wilsons Promontory, Victoria. Photo courtesy of Visit Victoria.

From Tidal River, you can take the 4.2km Squeaky Beach Walk. This Wilsons Promontory walk is 4.2km long, and takes around 1.5 hours. Starting from the Tidal River footbridge, it heads over the headland and descends onto Squeaky Beach.

Alternatively, pull up at the Squeaky Beach car park and walk down to the beach. The track from the Squeaky Beach car park is about 300 metres long, and follows the creek.

Driving distances to Squeaky Beach, Victoria

From Fish Creek, it’s a 54km drive to Squeaky Beach. Coming from Melbourne, it’s 222km. Other beaches on Wilsons Prom include the dainty Fairy Cove and boulder-lined Whisky Bay.

The easy way to visit Squeaky Beach is on a Wilsons Promontory day tour from Melbourne. Book via Getyourguide and you can reserve now, pay later.

This article came as a result of a Melbourne to Sydney coastal road trip in March/ April 2022. This trip was supported by Tourism Australia and Visit Victoria.