Summerlands Peninsula Beaches

Description

Surfers are spoilt for choice along the Summerlands Peninsula, with a number of beaches featuring great waves for beginners and experienced surfers.

Shelly Beach: A reef break offering nice waves for beginners and experienced surfboard riders. The steep descent will take you down to the 750 metre long sandy beach. Waves are generally low, averaging 0.5 metres and the beach is narrow and steep at high tide, while at low tide it widens a little, but is fronted by rock flats. Swimming is only suitable when the waves are low during high tide. You can find more about beach conditions and safety here.

Cat Bay: A reef break suitable for beginner to experienced surfers. The steep descent will take you down to the golden sandy beach where the waves are generally one metre, however only experienced surfers take on the summer swell when the south to east winds increase the swell to two metres. Swimming is only suitable when the waves are low during high tide.

Flynns Beach: Known for its great waves for experienced surfers. The steep descent will take you down to a 1.3 kilometres long beach where waves average 0.6 metres. The northern and southern reefs produce a steep, narrow beach, which widens as the tide falls. Swimming is only suitable when the waves are low. You can find more about beach conditions and safety here.

Summerlands Beach: 1.2 kilometres long, with entry to the beach via the Penguin Parade car park. Waves average just over one metre, with the fine sand producing a wide beach front with a continuous sand bar. The bar is usually cut by two or three rips toward the central-eastern end. Public access is available during the day; however the beach is closed off for the nightly Penguin Parade in the evening. Swimming is safest at the western end of the beach, as waves and rips increase to the east; however, watch the rip against the western rocks. You can find more about beach conditions and safety here.

Cowrie Bay: Another reef break with waves for the experienced surfer. The steep descent takes you down to the 400 metre long beach. Waves average one metre at high tide; however at low tide they break over the rocks and reefs. You can find more about beach conditions and safety here.

Beach Facts

• Popular beach for surfing, beach walkers and fishing
• Amenities – Toilets at Shelly Beach, Flynns Beach and Summerlands Beach (all access toilets available at Summerlands Beach within the main building)
• Parking - Sealed car park Flynns Beach, Cat Bay and Summerlands (parking available at Penguin Parade including disabled car parking spaces available). Gravel parking at Shelly Beach and Cowrie Beach.
• Food – Food and drinks available at the Nobbies Centre
• Access - Via steep stairs

Beach Safety

• These beaches have strong rips and currents and are not patrolled by Lifesavers
• For more information visit www.lifesavingvictoria.com.au
• Rock fishermen are advised to exercise extreme caution. Download the rock fishing safety brochure (multiple languages)
• For multilingual information on rips and beach safety click here