Half Moon Bay Beach(Half Moon Beach)

Located in the community of Black Rock, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Half Moon Bay Beach - also known as Half Moon Beach - is a 500-meter-long, crescent-shaped, golden sand beach.  This beach is positioned about 20 kilometers southeast of the Melbourne city center along Port Phillip Bay and has a beautiful backdrop of red bluff cliffs, coastal vegetation, and several popular oceanfront buildings, including Black Rock Yacht Club, the Half Moon Bay Lifesaving Club, and the Cerberus Beach House Restaurant and Beach Kiosk, which together offer incredible views of the Melbourne skyline.  The beach is part of the Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary, encouraging sustainable tourism practices to preserve the natural beauty, flora, and fauna of the region.

The beach is home to the famous HMVS Cerberus shipwreck, a historic ironclad warship visible from the shore that served in the Victorian Navy during the late 19th century. HMVS Cerberus was the first iron-hulled British warship to be designed without masts and to be powered purely by steam. In 1926, it was deliberately scuttled to serve as a breakwater.  Today, HMVS Cerberus is a designated historical site that holds significance for its role in protecting Melbourne’s coast.

Half Moon Bay Beach, Melbourne, has many amenities, including lifeguards, restrooms, showers, changing rooms, a pier, picnic areas with barbeque grill facilities, picnic tables, benches, kiosks, walking paths, playgrounds, beach equipment rental facilities, a paved promenade, a life-saving club, a yacht club, boat ramps, a pier, restaurants, cafes, kiosks, and a public transportation facility.

Half Moon Bay Beach is a family-friendly beach that offers many fun activities, including swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling, kitesurfing, windsurfing, paddleboarding, boating, rock fishing, camping, picnicking, and jet skiing.  If you plan to go into the water, the shallow water and calm waves make it a perfect spot for swimming, but we recommend being careful as water is known to have rocky bottoms.    If you enjoy surfing, it is a popular sport among the tourists due to its frequently windy weather.  Snorkelers and divers may spot an array of marine life, making it a fascinating spot for nature enthusiasts.  In addition, snorkelers and divers may explore the wreck of the HMVS Cerberus shipwreck.  If you enjoy fishing, the beach offers opportunities for recreational fishing off the rocks or from small boats.  The beach hosts many interesting events throughout the year, including community events and seasonal festivals.  Despite its popularity, the beach retains a tranquil and secluded vibe.  The beach is known for its crystal-clear waters, striking rock formations, unique shape, beach bars, and spectacular views, making it a perfect spot to take amazing photos.  Dogs are allowed if they are on a leash, and it is open from sunrise until sunset.

Half Moon Bay Beach, Victoria, offers an access path for people with disabilities.

Getting to Half Moon Bay Beach is easy - the beach has a few street parking spots located near Cerberus Way, Black Rock Victoria 3193, Australia, which provides easy access to the beach.

The beach and the surrounding area are featured in the film "Mad Max" and the children's television show "Round The Twist" from the 1990s. Also, in one of the music videos of the Cat Empire song "The Wine Song," it mentions this beach. 

Interestingly, there are two other Half Moon Bays in Port Phillip, which are located at Mount Eliza, Victoria, and Indented Head, Victoria.

There are many attractions near Half Moon Bay Beach.  Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium has a wide collection of marine life, with over 10,000 animals representing 450 different species.  It is home to the Oceanarium, a massive water tank with a long underwater tunnel where visitors can walk through and observe sharks, rays, and other large marine species swimming overhead.  In addition, visitors can enjoy interactive encounters with penguins, crocodiles, turtles, starfish, and sea cucumbers.  The aquarium regularly hosts many interesting educational programs, special events, temporary exhibitions, and themed activities for visitors of all ages throughout the year.    Luna Park Melbourne is one of the oldest amusement parks in the region and features roller coasters, carousels, thrill rides, bumper cars, the Power Surge, Sky Rider, Twin Dragon, and many family-friendly rides like the Ghost Train and Dodgems that attract visitors of all ages. 

The Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria-Melbourne Gardens is spread over 36 hectares and is home to more than 8,500 native and non-native plant species, serene lakes, a cafe, a visitor center, an outdoor cinema, and themed gardens like the Australian Forest Walk and the Guilfoyle’s Volcano.  It’s a perfect spot to enjoy nature, family outings, picnicking, and relaxation.  The Melbourne Skydeck is located in the iconic Eureka Tower, offering breathtaking panoramic views of Melbourne and beyond from its vantage point on the 88th floor.  This observation deck features interactive displays, telescopes, and a glass cube that extends out from the building where visitors can enjoy incredible sunsets.  If you are looking for another nearby attraction, the Melbourne Museum has a gallery that offers many exhibits on nature, culture, and history.  It features a dinosaur walk, a Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre, and a living forest gallery.  In addition, visitors can enjoy interactive displays that offer insight into the evolution of Melbourne city, and it also has a children’s gallery that engages young minds.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Half Moon Bay Beach. The Cerberus Beach House is positioned on the beach and serves amazing salads, seafood, meat, and poultry dishes.  Thai Rani serves amazing curries, noodles, rice, seafood, meat, and poultry dishes. Ventuno 21 serves delicious soups, salads, pizzas, pastas, meat, seafood, and poultry dishes.  Winston's Melbourne serves incredible soups, salads, burgers, seafood, and meat dishes.  If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant nearby, Paketo serves delicious Greek food.

If you are looking for a Half Moon Bay Beach hotel, there are many great options nearby.  If you are looking for an upscale hotel, the 5-Star The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne, is 37 minutes away by car and offers many amenities, including an indoor pool, a spa, a sauna, hot tubs, and restaurants.  A more affordable hotel is the 4-Star The Motley Hotel Richmond, which offers a few amenities, including a restaurant and a terrace.  Another moderately priced option is the 4-Star Waterfront Melbourne Apartments, which has several amenities, including an indoor pool, a hot tub, a sauna, and a restaurant.  A more reasonably priced option is the 3-Star The Victoria Hotel, which offers many amenities, including an indoor pool, a hot tub, a sauna, a fitness room, and a restaurant.  If you are looking for another affordable hotel, City Limits Hotel offers a few amenities, including a dining room and kitchen in all rooms.