Middle Park Beach

Middle Park Beach is a readily accessible beach, with amenities at the lifesaving club. This is a popular windsurfing area.

Middle Park is part of a 4 km long beach that runs from the Cowdroy Street drain to the large Station Street Pier.

The Middle Park section is a straight, 1 km long, south-west facing beach, backed by a low seawall, promenade and busy Beaconsfield Parade. Access is available along the length of the beach, with parking limited to the road. Middle Park Beach extends from Kerferd Road Pier to West Beach (Cowderoy Street drain).

The beach is exposed to any south through westerly winds and waves, and these usually build a 50 m wide beach, with a moderate slope and a single bar about 50 m wide. The bar is predominantly shallow and attached to the beach, with rip channels sometimes cutting across the bar every 100 m. The rips are only active when waves are breaking across the bar.

Middle Park Beach is one of the sandy, swimming beaches on the bay which are close to central Melbourne. With playgrounds as well as walking and bicycle paths, they make up a series of favourite 'top of the bay' beaches. Some areas allow off-leash dog walking and Middle Park is also a popular spot for kitesurfing and beach volleyball.

Middle Park beach has a General Beach Hazard Rating of 3/10 (Least hazardous) and is unpatrolled.

Access for Dogs:

Between Kerford Road Pier and Langridge Street
1 April - 31 October: Dogs permitted at all times on the beach
1 November - 31 March: Dogs permitted on the beach only between 7:30pm and 10:00am.

Between Langridge Street and St Kilda West Beach Natural History Precinct
1 April - 31 October: Dogs permitted at all times on the beach
1 November - 31 March: Dogs prohibited at all times on the beach

St Kilda West Beach Natural History Precinct (near Cowderoy Street)
Dogs prohibited at all times

Review:

There is some limited 1P, 2P and 4P free parking along Beaconsfield Parade. Parking in the side streets is typically 1P. A tram might be the best option. The 136-Danks St/Mills St (Middle Park) tram stops at the end of Mills Street.

The Middle Park Beach extends from South Melbourne beach at Kerford Road pier to the west all the way to Cowderoy Street in West St Kilda.

At the west end there are toilets, water tap and Nshry cafe. The cafe focusses on Asian fusion food and exceptional coffee.

At the west end the beach is wide and sandy, although dotted with broken sea-shells. As you head along the beach you reach Sandbar Beach Cafe which has public change rooms and offers casual dining for breakfast and lunch. The cafe has outdoor tables overlooking the beach.

The beach stretches for a very long way to the east with a couple of drains separated by a few hundred metres, one opposite Harold Street and the other at McGregor Street. At the point of the first drain the beach reduces in width by about 10m. There is a shelter with seats here and a little further on are toilets. Swimming is not advised within 20m of these drains.

A promenade footpath and bike path run beside the beach.

When you get to Langridge Street the sandy beach narrows and shallows are formed at the shoreline. This area often has windsurfers and kite boarders and is located near a harbour and is not the best area for swimming. The beach opens out here to form a huge sandy area with the West Beach Bathers Pavilion in the corner. It is a 1920s bathers' pavilion with a laid-back vibe, serving burgers, pizza and hearty breakfasts. The area has some boardwalks traversing through a small dune area. This is on the border of St Kilda West Beach.

There are some volleyball courts near the cafe as well as some beach showers and a water tap. Zu Boardsports which offer kite boarding, stand up paddle and wind surfing lessons operate from here.

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