Elwood Beach

Located just eight kilometers from Melbourne's central business district, Elwood Beach is a 1.3-kilometer-long, fine, golden sand beach.  This is positioned near the immensely popular St. Kilda Beach along Port Phillip Bay and has a beautiful backdrop of many oceanfront buildings, which together offer incredible views of the Melbourne skyline.  The beach is part of the Elwood Park & Elwood Foreshore Reserve, encouraging sustainable tourism practices to preserve the natural beauty, flora, and fauna of the region.

Elwood Beach, Melbourne, has many amenities, including lifeguards, restrooms, showers, changing rooms, a pier, picnic areas with barbeque grill facilities, picnic tables, drinking water fountains, benches, kiosks, walking paths, playgrounds, beach equipment rental facilities, a paved promenade, a sailing club, a pier, a bicycle track, an outdoor gym, restaurants, cafes, and a public transportation facility.

Elwood Beach is a family-friendly beach that offers many fun activities, including swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling, kitesurfing, windsurfing, paddleboarding, boating, rock fishing, walking, jogging, beach volleyball, jet skiing, and waterskiing.  If you plan to go into the water, the waves are typically calm due to the sheltered position in Port Phillip Bay, making it perfect for swimming.   It is an ideal spot for enjoying water sports.  If you enjoy surfing, it is a popular sport among the tourists due to its frequently windy weather and great waves from westerly winds.  Snorkelers and divers may spot an array of marine life, making it a fascinating spot for nature enthusiasts.   If you enjoy fishing, the beach offers opportunities for recreational fishing off the rocks or from small boats.  There is a paved coastal footpath that runs along the beach and is frequented by cyclists, runners, joggers, rollerbladers, and walkers.  The beach hosts many interesting events throughout the year, including fitness classes and seasonal festivals.  In addition, the Elwood community is actively involved in keeping the beach clean through various clean-up initiatives. There are also designated dog-friendly zones that allow dogs if they are on a leash, and it is open from sunrise until sunset.

Elwood Beach offers an access path for people with disabilities.

Getting parking at Elwood Beach is easy - the beach has a large paid parking lot at 15 Elwood Foreshore, Elwood, Victoria 3184, Australia, which provides easy access to the beach.  For Elwood Beach directions, you may refer to the Elwood Beach map.

Interestingly, there is a canal near the northern end of the beach that runs into the bay, popularly known as the Elwood Canal, which is a significant feature of the Elwood area, both historically and environmentally.  The canal was constructed as part of efforts to address frequent flooding that plagued the Elwood area, which was prone to waterlogging because of its low-lying location near Port Phillip Bay.

There are many attractions near Elwood 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 Elwood Beach.  Elwood Bathers is positioned on the beach and serves amazing salads, seafood, meat, and poultry dishes.  Odyssey serves delicious Greek food.   Republica St. Kilda Beach serves delicious soups, salads, pizzas, pastas, meat, seafood, and poultry dishes.  Hotel Esplanade serves incredible soups, salads, seafood, and meat dishes.  If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant nearby, Cher Thai St. Kilda serves amazing curries, noodles, rice, seafood, meat, and poultry dishes.

If you are looking for an Elwood Beach hotel, there are many great options nearby.  If you are looking for an upscale hotel, the 5-Star The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne, is 25 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.