Sandringham Beach
A beach of two parts: a narrow, difficult to access southern half; and a very accessible and well-serviced northern half. The northern section is the most popular and is patrolled by the lifesaving club.
Sandringham Beach is a straight, 2.5 km long beach that faces the south-west. The southern half is backed by steep bluffs, which rise to 30 m at Red Bluff. This section has been eroding and is often narrow. Some seawalls and a groyne have been constructed to manage both the beach and bluff erosion. The eroding bluffs have also left shallow reefs in the surf zone.
Beach Road parallels the beach. It is fronted by the bluffs in the south, with the best access between the Sandringham Life Saving Club and Picnic Point. As the name suggests, there is a foreshore reserve along this section with parking and picnic facilities, as well as the Brighton Amateur Swimming Club.
Swimming - Due to the high degree of variability in the nature of the beach, bar and surf, it is safer to bathe in front of the lifesaving club. Stay on the shallower bars and clear of the rocks and reefs.
Review:
The beach is very long (2.5 km in total). From the north end there is a 600m long stretch of wide sandy beach down to the Sandringham Life Saving Club building. There is a beach shower, water tap and toilets here. Scattered along the beach at the northern end are rocky outcrops in the water and there is a big drain pipe about 20m from the Life Saving Club. The best place to swim is in the general area of the Life Saving Club but trying to avoid the area of the drain, especially if the water from the drain is reaching the shoreline.
To the south just past the life saving club the beach has a promenade for 100m. Here the beach narrows to a rocky strip, widens out and then peters away to another rocky area. At the south end of this area a wooden staircase leads up to the road at the top of the cliff. South of here there are areas of sand but lots of rocks and a number of stormwater drain pipes. It isn't worth bothering with this area if you are looking for a nice swimming location.
Around Royal Avenue the beach is accessed by a lot of steps. North of this point is often called Sandringham beach and south of this point is often called Edwards Street beach. At the extreme south end of the beach between two groynes is a 150m sandy stretch.
In this area there is some free parking in the side streets off Beach Road. An arc curves around from the groyne at the bottom of the steps at Royal Avenue to a headland. The beach is quite sandy but narrow and backed by cliffs protected by a fence. Towards the south end is a concrete path from the cliff top opposite Edwards Street.
As you get to the south end of the beach there is a rocky outcrop in the water and a drain pipe which discharges onto the beach. The sand also becomes coarser in places. The water looks shallow along the beach here. The high steep cliff has huge blocks of concrete embedded in it from some unknown source. At low tide it is possible to pass around Red Bluff and get to Half Moon Bay.
Access for Dogs:
Peak period: 1 November - 31 March
- Dogs are prohibited between 10am and 7.30pm
- Dogs are permitted off leash between 7.30pm and 10am
Off Peak period: 1 April - 31 October
- Dogs are permitted off leash at all times.
Map:
Photos:
Location
116 Beach Road, Sandringham 3191 Map
Web Links
→ Sandringham Beach (BeachSafe)
→ Sandringham Life Saving Club
→ Walking your Dog Bayside
