Altona Beach
A long, 3.1 km accessible beach, with good facilities at the pier and reserves at each end.
Altona Beach forms the southern boundary of Altona with the Esplanade paralleling the beach. The Altona Railway Station is located 500 m north of the beach, and the beach is crossed by the 500 m long Altona Pier.
The Altona Life Saving Club is located just east of the pier and patrols a bathing and No Boating Zone, extending 200 m east of the pier.
The beach runs roughly east-west for 3 km from the point at Frazer Reserve, past the town to the western drainage channel, called Laverton Creek. Most facilities are located near the pier and lifesaving club. There are also picnic areas in foreshore reserves at either end of the beach. The beach is widest near the pier, but narrows west of the groyne, which is located 100 m past the pier. Intertidal and subtidal sand flats front the beach, requiring a long wade to reach deep water.
It is best to bathe in the patrolled area east of the pier. The depth over the sand flats varies with the tide, and is best at high tide for a swim, or low tide for a wade.
Altona Beach has a General Beach Hazard Rating of 1/10 (Least hazardous)
Review:
At the corner of Millers Road and the Esplanade there is a grassy corner block, Frazer Reserve, with two unshaded tables, toilets and water tap. From this point the Altona Life Saving Club flags are 600m to the west.
There is a promenade which is a shared use concrete path running beside the beach.
The eastern section is full of rocks. The road curves around to Cresser beach in Seaholme where there is a playground. South of the playground is an area with some sand which is fairly unattractive with a lot of seaweed.
To the west from Fraser Reserve you pass historical Flemings Pool which is a 40m wide sandy area with rocks on either side and a launching ramp for very small boats. Annie and Lawrence Fleming with their children moved to Altona in 1914. At that time Altona consisted of 11 houses and a population of 20. The Flemings were civic minded leaders who established much needed community services in the young settlement. Over the years it has become known as Fleming's Pool in recognition of the valuable role the family played in the development of Altona.
If you are looking for the best beach area continue to head west. The rock groyne opposite Bayview Street is the demarcation point. East of here is rocky and west of here is sandy.
The main part of the beach which is east of the pier is patrolled by the Altona Life Saving Club and is quite wide and nice and sandy. Along the foreshore is a row of Cypress trees with a few shaded tables and seats underneath.
To the east of the pier, no vessels of any type are allowed and this is definitely the best area to swim.
Opposite Bent Street is Beach Bites which sells fish and chips, ice-creams and hot and cold drinks. Altona Life Saving Club which has beach showers on the side of the building is next door and then there is Norfolk SUP Hire and cafe.
At Pier Street there is Logan Reserve which has a playground and it is only a short walk to the shops. Logan Reserve has a grassy area, trees, shelter and tables. At the pier there is a water tap and some lovely sculptures of sea creatures named "Seaborn" which was created by Pauline Fraser in 2005. Seaborn symbolizes the rich diversity of marine life that exists in Port Phillip Bay. Sculptures include the "Weedy Sea Dragon" which is Victoria's official marine emblem and inhabits the sea grass beds in the bay, "Shell" which was inspired by two local varieties commonly found on Altona Beach, "Leatherjackets" which is an abundant fish found in the bay which has a main spine above its eye, "Giant Cuttlefish" which can change its shape and colour dramatically and the "Reef Crab" which has powerful nippers which it uses to crush snail shells,
Near Logan Reserve is Weaver Reserve which is grassy and dotted with trees and has a toilet.
100m to the west of the pier there is a stormwater drain into the water and a long sandy beach backed by grassy areas continues for a long way. The water is shallow here. To the extreme west the beach eventually peters out to nothing.
Access for Dogs:
On the sandy beach on the eastern side of the pier, dogs are not allowed from 10am - 9:30pm from 1st November to 30th April. At all other times dogs must be on-leash.
At the extreme west end of the beach dogs are allowed off-leash on the beach at all times.
Map:
Photos:
Location
141 Esplanade, Altona 3018 Map
Web Links
→ Altona (Main) Beach (BeachSafe)
→ Altona Life Saving Club
→ Altona Life Saving Club on Facebook
