Elwood Beach is a sheltered sandy crescent on Port Phillip Bay, just south of St Kilda. A short swim from shore reveals a low-profile sandstone reef system that comes alive at higher tides, offering clear, calm conditions ideal for beginners. The beach is backed by grassy parkland and a scenic cycling and walking path that stretches along the bay, making it a popular urban escape for Melbourne snorkelers seeking easy-access marine exploration without leaving the city.
Elwood Beach
BeginnerMAYBE
MAYBE
Fair. Experienced snorkellers only.
Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.1 mSwell Period 5.5 sWind Speed 1.4 knPrecipitation 40 mmTidal Phase flood
Last evaluated
© Chris OlszewskiThe spot
Community-maintained
Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
Know before you go
Logged by the community, confirmed by mods
Low risk: Boat traffic
Elwood Beach is near the St Kilda marina channel; powerboats and sailing vessels operate in the bay, especially on weekends.
Low risk: Variable visibility
After wind or rain, Port Phillip Bay visibility can drop significantly (sometimes under 2 m), making reef navigation harder.
Wildlife Guide
No wildlife notes for this spot yet.
Gallery
5 photos from the community
Getting in
Shore entry
Entry
Elwood Beach is located along the Esplanade in Elwood, about 7 km south of Melbourne's CBD. Take the Nepean Highway to Brighton Road, then turn left onto Ormond Road and follow it to the Esplanade. Public transport: Route 246 bus or the Route 3/16 tram to Elwood Junction, then a short walk west.
Parking & facilities
Free street parking is available along the Esplanade and side streets such as Mitford Street and Ormond Road. Spaces fill up on warm weekends.
toiletsparkingdrinking_waterpicnic_tables
No entry fees. Free public access.
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Gallery ┬╖ 5 photos
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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