ST KILDA BEACH

St Kilda Beach ranks as Melbourne’s most visited beach and is the ultimate destination for tourists who wish to spend a day in the balmy breeze and sands of the seashore. With white sands and numerous water-based adventures, St Kilda Beach offers amazing shopping and dining opportunities for visitors looking for a ‘local’ experience. Renowned for its penguin sightings, the beach offers stunning views of the ocean waters and Melbourne’s skyline.

Summer in Melbourne seems quite incomplete until someone has spent a day sitting by the seaside at St Kilda Beach. Located at a distance of 6 kms from the main center of the city, St Kilda beach is considered to be the most famous place to visit in Melbourne.

Spread across an area of 700 m, this beach is known for its white-sand shorelines and a wide span of waterfront activities that happen between St Kilda Marina and St Kilda Harbour. St Kilda Beach is surrounded by the St Kilda Esplanade which houses the famous Sunday Esplanade market, Luna Park Melbourne, Palais Theatre, and the St Kilda Sea Baths.

Alongside that, there is a hive of enthralling activities that attract walkers, joggers, kite surfers and swimmers. The place also gives a chance to encounter wildlife. Walking down to the St Kilda Pier, people can get a glimpse of the resident population of tiny penguins burrowing in the rocks.   

In addition, there is a glut of restaurants, bars, and cafes lined up along the beach which gives an amazing experience to cherish. Know more about this beautiful beach in Melbourne which makes it one of the finest attractions of the city.

Planning A Honeymoon in Australia, Checkout Our Australia Honeymoon Packages!

Highlights

• Visit the most famous and most-visited beach of Melbourne, St Kilda Beach, for a relaxed day out with friends and family.
• From bright sunshine to calm waters, St Kilda Beach is renowned for its white sands and water adventures that range from swimming to surfing.
• Dine at one of the numerous restaurants and cafes or chill at the bars as you relish delicious local meals and beverages along with stunning views of the sunset and sea waters.
• Shop at the Sunday Esplanade Market and explore the prominent attractions around like Luna Park, Palais Theatre, and St Kilda Baths.
• A major attraction of St Kilda Beach is the unique penguin sighting experience that visitors can indulge in during the evenings and night hours.

How To Reach

St Kilda Beach is situated 27 kilometres from the Melbourne airport which can be accessed by taxi, car or a shuttle bus. 

By Bus: There are many shuttle buses which run from the beach to the Melbourne airport that have to be booked in advance. 

By Tram: There are also trams like No. 16 tram from Swanston Street, No. 96 from Bourke Street, No. 12 from Collins Street to reach St Kilda. It takes around 10 minutes to reach from Melbourne airport to St Kilda beach. 

By Car/Taxi: This is one of the most convenient ways to reach St Kilda beach from the Melbourne airport. It takes approximately 30 minutes to travel from the airport to the beach. 

By Bicycle: People can also rent a bicycle to ride around Melbourne city. There are designated cycle tracks alongside the foreshore of the St Kilda beach.

Recommended Read: Best Theme Parks In Australia

Best Time To Visit

The best time to visit the St Kilda beach is around October to April when the weather is quite pleasant to enjoy a beach vacation. Alongside that around this time, there are many festivals hosted at the beach which are worth experiencing. 

The best time of the day to visit St Kilda beach is at night or before sunrise. During this time the beach is really quiet and offers pleasant surroundings to enjoy a peaceful time and admire the beauty of nature. Alongside this, one can also get to see the penguins roaming at the beach as there is less crowd.

Recommended Read: Best Things To Do In Australia

Other Essential Information

Location: Jacka Boulevard, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 

Timings: 24-Hours 

Distance from Melbourne Airport: 31.7 kms

St. Kilda Little Penguins 

St Kilda Beach is famous for taking a sight of penguins which reside around there all year-round. The best months when the penguins can be seen walking around the beach are around August and September. The best time of the day to visit and enjoy a relaxing time at the beach along with spotting some of the penguins is after sunset.

Throughout the evening these birds waddle around after hunting for fish at sea. To enjoy a peaceful time at the beach with the penguins, the time around 11 pm or in the early morning before sunrise is the best time to visit. Alongside that, the time after 11 pm is quiet as well except for Friday and Saturday nights.

The number of penguins may decrease in the late spring and winter months of May, June and July. And with the onset of the winter season, these birds go on their winter jaunt.   

Tip: To take the best of the St Kilda penguin experience, stay one night at a nearby hotel and enjoy an amazing time watching the little creatures roaming around the beach.

Places to Stay at St Kilda Beach 

1. Quest St Kilda Bayside: This is an apartment-style hotel which ensures that their guests feel at home and enjoy their stay at St Kilda. The Quest is located at the residential street which is just a few steps away from the main attractions of St Kilda. The rooms are spacious and make a good alternative to a hotel room.  

2. Mantra St Kilda Road Melbourne: People who are looking for comfortable and luxurious accommodation in Melbourne, the Mantra offers an ideal staycation. This keeps the visitors close to Melbourne's main attractions which include the National Gallery of Victoria, Royal Botanic Gardens and the Crown Casino. Equipped with all the facilities, this apartment accommodation sounds perfect for a long stay plan at St Kilda.  

3. Cosmopolitan Hotel: The Cosmopolitan Hotel is known as the darling of St Kilda which has a vast range of accommodations to suit every kind of budget and need. Another highlight of this hotel is its location which keeps the visitors close to all the best attractions of St Kilda.  

4. Rydges St Kilda: This hotel stands different from all the places to stay in Melbourne because of its modern and contemporary style. Staying at this hotel gives a feeling of beach town and offers a wide array of features and amenities which completes this boutique Melbourne hotel. 

5. Tolarno Hotel: Reflecting the local artwork, the Tolarno Hotel is considered one of the best places to stay. People can enjoy the stylish guest rooms and also a vast variety of facilities which makes the stay comfortable. Alongside that, the hotel is located in an ideal place which keeps the visitors close to some of the major attractions near the beach which includes the Acland street galleries and the Esplanade market. 

Places to Eat at St Kilda Beach 

1. Supernormal Canteen: This is the ideal snack-driven food space which offers a wide array of northern-Chinese style food. People can find some of the familiar menu headings like the dumpling and bao, prawn, and also scallion-minced chilli & soy sauce. Alongside that there are some of Hong Kong’s classic cuisine which one can relish sitting in Australia.  

2. Stokehouse: Stokehouse is known for serving the best steaks which are served with a decent oyster blade and watercress salad. Alongside that, there is a simple twist given to the dishes like the honey and native pepper which is served as a sidekick with charred broccolini and nutmeg. 

3. Cafe Di Stasio: This place gives all the best reasons to dine and enjoy a lavish three-course meal served along with a glass of champagne. Not just good food, but the courteous staff and the beautiful interiors are also a reason to come to this place. 

4. Claypots: Claypots is located at the old St Kilda town which is known for its lantern-strewn courtyard. The restaurant boasts dark and mysterious interiors and enormous seafood platters which are worth a try.  

5. St Kilda Burger Bar: Grab the best burger in town at this takeaway joint located at the St Kilda East drive. Sharing walls with the Grosvenor Hotel pub, the burger bar serves some of the best classic burgers along with streaky bacon, melty cheese and pickles.   

6. Uncle St Kilda: This restaurant has delicious Vietnamese cuisine and boasts a triple-treat venue which combines a cocktail bar, restaurant and a rooftop garden which is ringed with bamboo. Their famous dish that does wonders is the beef pho glazed in a bowl of firm flat noodles. 

Tips for Visiting St Kilda Beach 

It is advised to stay on the wooden platform and keep a distance from the penguins at the St Kilda Beach. Volunteers and rangers roam around at the beach during the night to protect the penguins. 

No flash photography is allowed on the beach as it scares off the penguins. 

It is requested to not take selfie sticks near the rocks. 

Yelling and loud music is not allowed on the beach

People are asked to not walk on the rocks

It is not allowed to feed the penguins at St Kilda beach. 

Checkout and Book Now: Sea Life Sydney Aquarium Tickets