Carrum Beach

Carrum Beach forms the northern 2 km of the 9 km long Frankston-Carrum beach. Located at the beach are the Carrum Surf Life Saving Club, Carrum Sailing Club and Patterson River Yacht Club.

The Carrum Surf Life Saving Club patrols the northern section of the beach. The beach increases in width toward the Patterson river entrance walls, which act as a sand trap. Be careful bathing near the river mouth, as there is a deep tidal channel and strong tidal currents in the river and over the adjoining bars.

Swimming is safest on the shallow parts of the inner bar. Watch children near the rip holes and troughs that parallel the inner bar. Stay clear of the river mouth, which has strong tidal currents and boat traffic. It is best to bathe between the flags in front of the surf lifesaving club.

One kilometre south of the surf club is a short, concrete groyne, backed by a large park and car park. This is also a popular summer bathing area.

The beach is is located 200m west of Carrum railway station.

Carrum Beach has a General Beach Hazard Rating of 3/10 (Least hazardous)

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The parking area (ticketed) with space for 150 cars on a sealed surface is accessed either via Stephens Street or Old Post Office Lane. It is ticketed parking 7 days a week including public holidays. The minimum fee is $3.40, hourly rate is $3.40 and all day parking is $12.30. Residents of the City of Kingston can park for free if they display their Kingston Council Parking Permit which is available to all Kingston Council residents. There is also some limited free parking on Nepean Highway.

The beach is only about 200m away from Carrum railway station which makes the train a valid way of getting to the beach.

There is a lovely playground at the Carrum Foreshore near the Surf Life Saving Club which is mainly fenced. Next to the playground, which has a soft sandy base, are two shelters each with a table and BBQs. There are also toilets, water tap, wooden deck chairs for adults and beach showers.

There is access to the beach at the Surf Life Saving Club and at various points from the roads running parallel to the length of the beach.

The sandy, reasonably wide beach stretches for a very long way to the south and a fairly short distance to the north where the Patterson River entrance forms the northern border.

Just to the north of the Surf Life Saving Club there is a pipe which can drain into the bay at times. In this area there is a 100m long rock wall at the back of the beach with a nice elevated boardwalk which has seats stationed along the boardwalk to provide view points. At the end of the boardwalk is a beach shower and water tap. When the boardwalk ends there is another 40m of beach before ending where the wide Patterson River cuts into the bay.

At this point beside the River there is a grassy park known as the Beauty Spot which has three unshaded tables, BBQs and a statue to remember the heroes of Carrum who made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War 1914-1919. This is a nice spot, usually protected from the wind, for a picnic. There is a seat beside the river to watch the fishing and pleasure boats go to and from the bay.

About one kilometre south of the Surf Life Saving Club is large park (Keast Park) and car park which is a popular bathing area. This is opposite #11 Nepean Highway, Seaford.

Access for Dogs:

The following regulations apply for the northern part of the beach (north of McLeod Road).

Summer Foreshore Dog Regulations (1 November - 31 March)

Between sunrise and 10am dogs are permitted off leash on sand only
Between 10am and 7:30pm dogs are prohibited on sand
Between 7:30pm and sunrise dogs must be on leash on sand

Winter Foreshore Dog Regulations (1 April - 31 October)

Between 11am and 3pm it is an on leash area.
At all other times of the day it is an off leash area on sand only.

The following regulations apply for the southern part of the beach (between Old Post Office Lane and Osprey Lane)

Summer Foreshore Dog Regulations (1 November - 31 March)

Between 7:30pm and 10am off leash area on sand only
Between 10am and 7:30pm dogs are prohibited on sand

Winter Foreshore Dog Regulations (1 April - 31 October)

24 hr off leash area. All day off leash area on sand only

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