Birdrock Beach (Mount Martha)
.jpg "Birdrock Beach (Mount Martha)")
Birdrock Beach is one of four natural beaches (Birdrock, Dava, Fossil and Fosters) lying below the busy Esplanade, but little used owing to the difficult access and limited parking.
Between Craigie Beach and Linley Point is a 3 km section of rocky coast dominated by 20 to 30 m high sandstone bluffs. In amongst the bluffs are four beaches with Birdrock beach being 550 m long.
Although the Esplanade runs along the top of the bluffs behind the beaches, and there is a continuous foreshore reserve west of the road, access is restricted to a steep climb down the bluffs.
Swimming - A relatively isolated beach, so use care if bathing here. There is deep water close inshore at high tide and rips are present when waves are breaking.
Birdrock Beach has a General Beach Hazard Rating of 2/10 (Least hazardous). The beach is unpatrolled.
Review:
Birdrock Beach is named after a flat-topped sandstone reef located a short distance offshore which is a haven for seabirds.
Matthew Flinders, in command of H.M.S Investigator, came ashore here on April 29, 1802. He walked two miles towards Schnapper Point, the furthest part of the shore that he had seen from Arthur's Seat, and took observations.
At the centre and south end of the beach there access points from the cliff above. The centre section has a lovely wooden staircase which leads down from a car park opposite #585 Esplanade. On this staircase a tunnel is formed through the vegetation which opens out to lovely views of the bay.
The steps are easier to get up than the very steep path at the southern end. Your lungs will be gasping for air well before you reach the top of the path.
The north end of the beach has a shoreline littered with rocks, old metal objects and concrete blocks which look like the remnants of stone and concrete walls. Great for aficionados of stone and concrete walls and maybe a good area of exploration for the kids.
The south end is much nicer and sandy, although when we visited the sand had a degree of black colouring.
There is a car park and lookout point where the steep path reaches the cliff top (at Morrison's Avenue) and another car park opposite Birdrock Avenue. There is also limited parking in Birdrock Avenue and Shanns Avenue.
Access for Dogs:
During Daylight Savings
- Dogs are prohibited from the beach between 9am and 7pm.
- Leash free from 7pm to 9am the next day.
All Other Times of the Year
- Leash free at all times.
Map:
Photos:
Location
585 Esplanade, Mount Martha 3934 Map
Web Links
→ Birdrock Beach (BeachSafe)
