Stretching 24 km along Victoria's wild south coast, Venus Bay's broad sandy beaches within Cape Liptrap Coastal Park offer dramatic snorkeling against a backdrop of windswept heathland and limestone cliffs. The turquoise ocean waters roll in relentlessly, with the seabed shifting from gentle sandy shallows near the patrolled No.1 Beach to more exposed sections further south. Historic lime kilns and tramway relics from the 1800s dot the headlands, while the Cape Liptrap Lighthouse stands sentinel above the rocky point — a striking juxtaposition of human history and raw coastal beauty.
Cape Liptrap Coastal Park (Venus Bay beaches)
AdvancedMAYBE
MAYBE
Fair. Experienced snorkellers only.
Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.1 mSwell Period 12 sWind Speed 1.4 knPrecipitation 28 mmTidal Phase flood
Last evaluated
© Åshild TelleDANGER: Explicit Risks Present
Cape Liptrap Coastal Park (Venus Bay beaches) has hazards marked as danger. Entering the water here means you may face serious risks to your personal safety.
- Strong Rips and Currents danger
Powerful rip currents are common along the entire Venus Bay stretch of coastline, especially at high tide and during southerly swells. Swimmers and snorkelers can be swept offshore quickly.
The spot
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Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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Logged by the community, confirmed by mods
High risk: Strong Rips and Currents
Powerful rip currents are common along the entire Venus Bay stretch of coastline, especially at high tide and during southerly swells. Swimmers and snorkelers can be swept offshore quickly.
Moderate risk: Dumping Shore Break
Steep, powerful shore-break waves can knock snorkelers off balance and cause injury in the shallows, particularly on exposed sections of the beach.
Moderate risk: Changing Conditions with Storm Weather
Conditions can shift from calm to wild and dangerous very rapidly — the park is known for sudden storm fronts rolling in from Bass Strait, creating hazardous surf.
Low risk: Ground Shooting Operations
Deer control ground shooting operations occasionally occur within the park. Visitors should check current conditions before visiting.
Wildlife Guide
No wildlife notes for this spot yet.
Gallery
2 photos from the community
Getting in
Shore entry
Entry
Cape Liptrap Coastal Park is 160 km southeast of Melbourne. Take the South Gippsland Highway to Leongatha, then follow signs to Venus Bay. Alternatively, approach via the Bass Highway from the south. Venus Bay beaches have multiple access points along the coastline.
Parking & facilities
Designated parking at Venus Bay No.2 Beach Access caters for approximately 10 vehicles. Additional parking available at No.1 Beach and other access points along Venus Bay Road. No rubbish bins — take all waste home.
toiletsparking
No entry fees for day visits to Cape Liptrap Coastal Park.
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About this data
- Conditions last evaluated
- Spot data last updated
- Data sources
- Open-Meteo (marine & weather conditions), tide predictions via UTide, community contributors (descriptions, hazards, marine life).
- License
- Spot content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. How's the Spot is open source.
Weather & swell ┬╖ Open-Meteo marine & weather APIs Tides ┬╖ UTide harmonic analysis Sea & safety ┬╖ community reports