Sandringham Beach in Melbourne: Why should I visit?

Sandringham Beach on Port Phillip Bay is much quieter than better-known St Kilda. Sandringham Beach is 2.5km long, backed by dunes and half an hour by train from Flinders Street Station in Melbourne CBD.

Melbourne’s most popular beachside suburb, St Kilda has a lot going for it. You can enjoy throwback fairground rides at Luna Park, scoff cakes on Acland Street and try barefoot bowls at the St Kilda Sports Club. But quiet, St Kilda is not. And if you like your beach experience more chilled out, then you’re better off heading further around Port Phillip Bay.

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.

The honest truth is that Melbourne’s best beaches aren’t in Melbourne. They’re on the Mornington Peninsula, Bellarine Peninsula or Great Ocean Road. But there are some beaches in Melbourne that are still pretty decent by city standards, including Mentone Beach and Frankston Beach. Just don’t expect them to compete with white sand marvels like Lucky Bay, Meelup Beach, Cabarita Beach or Whitehaven elsewhere in Australia.

👇 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.

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How to get to Sandringham Beach

If what you’re after is a relatively pretty beach without huge crowds, easily accessible from Melbourne CBD, then Sandringham Beach should be the target. Further along the eastern side of Port Phillip Bay from St Kilda, Sandringham Beach is at the end of the Sandringham train line from Flinders Street Station. Trains take around half an hour to reach Sandringham, and depart every 20 minutes.

Much of Sandringham Beach’s appeal comes from the wild-looking dunes that back the southern half. These bluffs get as high as 30m, and a vegetation-covered reserve sits on top of them. This gives at least a hint of nature in the city.

Surfing at Sandringham Beach

Don’t expect much surf at Sandringham Beach – no-one comes to the Port Phillip Bay beaches for the surf conditions. But Sandringham Beach is 2.5km long, and generally safe for swimming. The beach is patrolled by lifeguards near the Sandringham Life Saving Club.

There is potential for confusion, however, as there is also a much smaller beach to the north of the Sandringham Yacht Club. This adjoins the Sandringham Anchorage, and is known as the Dog-Friendly Beach. If you’ve not got a dog with you, the real Sandringham Beach is far more appealing.