(Visited 12/16/24 MO @ 4:30pm): Melbourne's beach right next to its cruise port!…read more A friend and I were on Day 3 of our 12-Day Southern Australia Explorer cruise with Princess Cruises, we took the local train into town, and after an exploratory day in Melbourne's commercial business district (CBD), we made it back to the cruise terminal, but before we boarded, we decided to cool off at Port Melbourne Beach. It was a scorching 100°, and my back was wet most of the day as if I was a migrant farm worker! So, this dunk into the refreshing water was much needed. Sure, we could've just waited until we got back onto the ship and went into one of the pools. But then, we had to deal with the many kids or their parents. Would this strip of beach along Melbourne's port help to cool us down!? PURCHASE Nada... nothing... zilch. We didn't see any businesses or vendors to spend our money on - 'nuff said. SERVICE The portion of beach we were on lacked any form of service whatsoever. We didn't see any lifeguards, law enforcement, staffers, etc. - 'nuff said. PARKING (Varied; N/A this instance) I honestly didn't notice any onsite parking. However, there was a nearby passenger drop-off/pick-up location and potentially some street parking just outside the security gates to the nearby cruise terminal area. Otherwise, the 109 Tram conveniently took you to/from the Station Pier into the City Center with stops in between to pick you up from - 'nuff said. ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE A lonely no-nonsense soft-sand beach conveniently (for us anyway) next to the cruise terminal https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=zM7uZ2NoKGc7Ll48HX23xw that didn't appear to offer much if any amenities (maybe if we walked further down the beach we may have found something). This was perfectly fine with us; the less-crowded https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=QtKWUINN8TUxzJXLOQnEsg the less-noisy the better! The water was really shallow https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=IZHnQoaD9v0ySTASwM_LZg (maybe it was low tide?) as I walked out pretty far and eventually had to dunk myself to get fully wet. The sand seemed clear of any trash which was a good thing although I didn't recall seeing any trash cans. Plenty of natural lighting (duh... you were outside!) while nearby electric street lights filled in the rest. There were no TVs while the sounds of chatter and traffic played in the background. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=GRAPbGLNRubkuG723cMSHw ATTIRE Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops. OVERALL Port Melbourne Beach served its purpose which was to cool us down after walking all over downtown Melbourne and to then to relax. There was nothing picturesque about this beach nor was there truly anything else to say about it; it was a "boring" beach with little around it. However, I really liked the general peace and tranquility about it, and honestly didn't need all of the common amenities found at more well-known beaches. But a more aesthetically-pleasing scenery wouldn't hurt. I found very good value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $0.00AUD / $0.00USD BEFORE any discounts/tip). And, there didn't appear to be anywhere to accept my credit card of choice... AMEX! 4.0 STARS

A bit of a sad beach if you prefer a ton of people to socialize with, but an amazing beach if you…read morelike to be alone. I personally loved it and miss it xx

This wasn't a bad beach at all, but then again it was rather quiet when I was here, something that…read moreI certainly do appreciate when it comes to beaches. There isn't too much here, but they do have some good facilities, and while it isn't close to a major shopping strip, there are shops a short walk away, including a number of cafes. It isn't bad, and certainly one to visit if you want to avoid the crowds.

Crystal clear turquoise waters on a stretch of white sand, if the waters were warmer I'd mistaken…read moremyself to be in the Caribbean (not that I've been but imagine so). There are those cute colourful beach huts synonymous with Brighton Beach but I like the idea I get the Melbourne Beach experience without being where the touristy crowds are. Don't get me wrong, on a 35+ Sunday this place was pumping, but in a nice atmospheric way... families with their umbrellas, kids playing paddle ball, the hipsters with their eskies & adult sized floaties. One big pool party! Toilets, change room, surf life savers & ice cream trucks all available at your convenience.

This is a great beach for the Naturist, and legal too. On a…read morenice day get there before 12 or the tiny car park will be full. The north end appear to be where single men meet & the middle is usually more couples oriented & entire families are often at the middle & south end of the beach. This is our favourite Melbourne beach & my wife & I love it there.

This beach is easily accessible and reasonably private, considering it ajoins a camp! You can get…read morethere via a 5 min walk along a thin path, starting out North from the car park or by walking directly on the rocks around the bend. As this beach faces the bay, the water is cool and calm and it is a bit more protected from the weather and elements than some other beachs (such as point impossible) As with all nudist beaches, the creepy male presence is high and detracts from the experience, especially if you are female. I actually ended up confronting one particular man after he stared at me non stop for a good 30 min. Also had a funny moment with a passing by stand up paddle boarder who I thought would fall into the water considering he didn't watch where he was going for a good 5 min until I waved and he promptly pretended the water was more interesting. I was pleased to see that I wasn't the only women on the beach (as I often am) and that the people were quite friendly. We ended up meeting a few nice people who chatted easily and shared stories. Unfortunately some of these stories were about sexual assaults perpetrated on the beach :( I encourage women to frequent places like this and speak up and report inappropriate behaviors. This is the only way we can change the sexist culture and enjoy our own freedoms. Ladies, next time you feel gawked at, say something. You'd be surprised by how well supported you will feel by the regulars who frequent this beach and want everyone to feel safe

Yeah, this beach isn't really the easiest to get to, but sometimes these beaches are actually…read morepretty good because they tend not to be anywhere near as crowded. The other thing is that it is at the bottom of a bluff, so there are cliffs sort of all around, which certainly does make for a lovely place to spend a summers day. Still, it is a Melbourne beach, and apparently they aren't the cleanest of beaches out there, and also being in the city they can get pretty crowded, even if somewhat secluded. Still, I didn't mind it.

This little hiding hole is a perfect spot when you're in a group looking to head to the beach where…read morenot many people are around. Normally, you will be able to find a quiet spot to enjoy with your friends and hang out but recently more and more people have discovered this area of the beach where it may be a little more crowded. Either way, it has the sandiness you want, plus a few rock pools and also a beautiful looking cliff's edge to admire also. Maybe Half Moon Bay isn't as private as it used to be but it's still one of my favourite beach positions to hang out at. Fish and chips + esky is the way to go!

With the sun shining, parklands across the road, rock pools a little further up the road and a pier…read moreto walk along - I don't think you could ask for more. Just as we were arriving the bulldozer was clearing the seaweed off the beach and there was a distinctive smell that you knew you'd arrived at the beach. With the tide out there were a lot of children playing in the shallows and parents paddling near by. With free street parking, shops close by, parks across the road, grassed area if sand isn't your thing, I'd suggest you pack your swimmers and take a splash. Enjoy.

Honestly, this really isn't one of my favourite beaches, but that is probably because everybody…read morecomes down here, and as such it tends to be pretty touristy. It's sort of like Melbourne's version of Bondi, except there is a lot more stuff around here, and it is much easier to get to as well (namely because multiple trams pass through here). Like, it's convenient, and there are some pretty good pubs around here as well, but honestly, there are much better beaches to go to in Melbourne.

Too many people!!!! not enough parking stalls..... But the beach itself... just perfect. Warm…read morewater, warmer sand, blue skies, and a young vibe!!! There is actually just one concentrated area (where they sell the ice cream), close to the restaurants and the SeaBaths, that is the best for sunning and relaxing. Unfortunately, that's also where the hordes gather as well. November was warm and the tan I had to show for afterward was too cool... tan in November. For a North American, that's pretty novel stuff! Lots of options for eating or getting a cocktail after laying like a fish. Love that sand.....not the cleanest, however.

Not too loud, beautiful views. Waves not too tall. Theres toilets and showers but they're a bit…read moremanky... Theres also a restaurant that i have not visited yet.

This isn't one of the largest beaches in Melbourne, and I certainly haven't seen how crowded that…read moreit can get on those days that tend to draw a multitude of Australians down to the sandy shores of the continent. However, it is close to the railway station, which means that there isn't a huge walk to get here (though the trains can be a bit tricky at times). Still, this beach isn't too bad, and while it ins't really close to the main strip, there are still some places to get some food and what-not. Yeah, it's not bad at all.