Quiet Beaches To Go To In Melbourne?

[Two Best Dogs!]

Hey!

We are hoping someone can share their secret Melbourne beaches with us? Willing to travel a couple of hours east or west around or in port phillip. We have to avoid toll roads so that may add time. Would like to check one out this Saturday maybe.

It will be her FIRST VISIT TO A DOG BEACH EVER :D She loves swimming in dams and pools, so I'm hoping she'll be as eager for the beach.

what I'm looking for:

- ON LEAD BEACH. Don't fancy someone's "friendly" dog running up and ruining our chilling out play time. Hoping if other dogs are around they're obeying any on-lead rules. (I'll have the scared-vest with us but would prefer to let her play without it on.)

- NOT A DESIGNATED DOG BEACH - because all the dog owners will be flocking there ;) so just no

- I'd prefer sand - I have a bad leg and don't fancy having an injury. I'll wear my knee brace but still, better to avoid rocks. Also don't want her to cut her feet. Small pebbles are okay though.

- Around port phillip somewhere - but like I said, willing to travel an hour or two. Maybe even three hours. She likes her drives. *I* get bored but she's quite happy to sniff and watch things go past.

We are celebrating getting her damn NSW microchip registration FINALLY sorted. The NSW database has marked it as "out of date" and it apparently refers any NSW officers/finders to check out her rego on the national database instead of contacting old owner (a pound mgr??). I'd still prefer my name on it but I guess they're really anti non-nsw resident...

So to celebrate, grabbing the long lead and introducing her to sand and sea!

and I'll be back in a week to ask people about their secret hiking spots ;)

Thank you!

[gapvic]

Point Addis near Anglesea? Not sure if it is too far away for you. I believe it's a nudist beach but when I lived in Geelong, I took my dogs there most weekends over winter and almost always had the beach to myself (except for some surfers). It's a beautiful beach. There are a lot of steps to get down though.

[Two Best Dogs!]

Thanks for the warning about nudists! I don't mind but it's nice to be prepared XD that sounds perfect (although other ppl do share. We want to check out a new place every Saturday!)

I'm good for steps! We will just go carefully. My main problem is I just don't know the beaches of Melbourne so don't know what they're like daily.

[gapvic]

Portarlington is lovely too, and closer for you than Point Addis. Addis is a surf beach and Portarlington is in the bay, so quite different, but nice for paddling. I've not been for a few years but it used to be fairly quiet - everyone seems to go to Queenscliff instead.

I rarely came across nudists at Point Addis, and never in winter :laugh: .

[HazyWal]

Plenty of quiet beaches here on the Mornington Peninsula. I've walked my greyhounds at the southern end of Dromana beach and not seen a soul. McCrae and Rosebud you'll see the odd dog but there are so many tracks off the beach you can avoid them fairly easily when you see them up ahead and the walk from McCrae lighthouse to Rosebud along the bay trail is just beautiful. Plenty of dog friendly cafes too, I highly recommend The Pavilion at McCrae it's got plenty of room outside and tables well spaced which is good for us as my girl hates other dogs. We are on the bay as well so no waves, an hour on the freeway from Melbourne.

Edited August 11, 2015 by HazyWal

[Two Best Dogs!]

Thank you both! The Mornington place sounds really picturesque because obviously a gorgeous dog needs gorgeous photos and I can appreciate a place thoughtful enough to leave space around their tables! It'd take a couple of walkbys so she can scope the place out (idk what she's looking for but letting her inspect and sniff a place helps her relax).

Also a fan of that closer bay. Not that I mind long trips but sometimes closer is appreciated XD

[HazyWal]

I like the café as it's not on the footpath, it's set back so people aren't walking past you. It's straight across the road from the lighthouse and the beach.

We usually sit up on the deck but we have sat on the lounges, they supply water bowls.

[JulesP]

Even on the dog beaches down on the Mornington Peninsula I've found the people super polite. As in I put my dogs back on lead and the other people call their dogs away. It is really pleasant.

And thank goodness Hazy has found this after my raving about it before she moved!!!

The dog beaches closer to Melbourne are a bit hair raising.

I love Rye beach. The bit before you get to the Rye township is very quiet.

I stay in doggie friendly cottages down there :)

[Two Best Dogs!]

Hazy and Jules it looks adorable! Rave away about places you like :D

Yeah the few beaches I have been in, closer to the city and minus a dog, have been chockablock with people. Which neither of us are keen on. Banking on the cold keeping most away and when summer comes I am happy to drive further out. Would do a weekend trip but don't dare miss obedience classes! Someday soon I hope tho.

It's great to hear they have such a polite dog culture down there. Sometimes we just want to have coffee and not bother with dog socialising - we work so hard on it all the other time XD

And of course - water fetch :D

[Ci]

As there others have said plenty of quieter beaches down Mornington way. You don't need to go as far as Rye. Can start around Mt Eliza. Plus Somers has a gorgeous beach.

[Rascalmyshadow]

Another vote for Mornington Peninsula beaches, if you don't want to go too far down Seaford beach is really nice and very few people around this time of year. There is also quite a few take away shops and cafes on the highway opposite the beach. Every 1in 4 Sundays there is a dog friendly farmers market behind the shops.

[HazyWal]

A friend posted this on FB for me a while ago "21 Melbourne Walks That Will Take Your Breath Away".

Some state dogs allowed in the blurb but others you would have to check with National Parks. There sure are some beautiful spots close to Melbourne.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/laurenvadnjal/melbourne-walks-are-the-best-walks#.khP6MY2yV

Edited August 12, 2015 by HazyWal

[Two Best Dogs!]

Haha I used to do Merri Creek with my old housemate's dog! Thank you Hazy :D After all the places that can make good day trips, beach and forest alike. some are so cleverly hidden and others are so often advertised they're a bit too busy (You yangs was a lot of fun but so crowded! She did really well, I was just irked kids were in the photos XD)