Balnarring Beach and the "Spit"

On Oct 10 2015 I visited the small coastal town of Balnarring Beach, a popular tourist destination since the late 1800s, some 90 km SE of Melbourne, on Westernport Bay, 

The tide was out, with lots of shells and marine creatures in the explosed rock pools being investigated by visitors.
 

The actual beach is a sandy sheltered strip of some 1.5 km, extending to the end of the Merricks Creek Estuary. The "Spit" is the Protected Area of woodland running between the beach and the Creek.

Walking tracks pass through the Spit, on both sides of the Estuary.

Click the link (below) to see a Slide Show of all of the pictures of this visit - you may select a Dynamic Slide Show, a Moving Story. or a series of static images.

Balnarring Coastal Hike

Pix of October 19 2013 on a 4 km hike along the Balnarring Coast.

 

 

 

 

Click here to see all pf the Photos of my visit, in Static or Slideshow format!

Now jump in a chopper and do the 3D Flyover of my route!

Coastal Hike - Balnarring Beach to Somers

These pix were taken on October 14, 2012.

They show the scenery and environment on a 5 km (return) coastal hike between Balnarring Beach and Somers Beach, 65 km south of Melbourne, on Westernport Bay.

Many strange creatures had been washed up on the beach!

Click here to see a Slideshow of all of the Phoos of my visit

Very low tide at Balnarring Beach, Westernport Bay

These pix were taken at Balnarring Beach, on Westernport Bay, 80 km south of Melbourne, on January 22, 2012.

There was an extraordinarily low tide, exposing magnificent reefs and rockpools.

My visit was a 4 km return baach-hike, to the adjacent beach of Merricks.

There was plenty of action, with many visitors exploring the rockpools!

A strange Sea Beast emerged from the ocean, wearing a large hat!

See all of the Photos of my visit in slideshow format, and check out my YouTube Video!

Boating at Tulum Beach (Balnarring)

 

YouTube Video above!

These pix were taken on December 28, 2011, at the Tulum Beach, Westernport Bay, 80 km south of Melbourne, on a 4 km (return) coastal hike starting at Balnarring Beach.

Watch the YouTube video (above) and see all of the Photos of my visit!

Balnarring Beach Hike

These photos were taken on February 26, 2011, at Balnarring Beach, 80 km south of Melbourne.

They show the coastline on a 4 km return hike, starting at the main car park at the end of Balnarring Beach Rd.

Plenty of boating action!


See the Video and the Slideshow!

Kitesurfing at Tulum Beach

These photos were taken on December 29, 2010, at Tulum Beach, Balnarring, on Westernport Bay, 80 km south of Melbourne.

They show Kiteboard action, and people having a good time!

Tulum Beach is the long, sheltered coastline extending from the main car park at the end of Balnarring Beach Rd, easterly to the Merricks Creek Estuary, passing through the Coastal Foreshore.

The very large Coolart Homestead and Woodlands Reserve is on the north bank of the Estuary, reached by footbridges from Tulum Beach.

See all of the Photos!

Winter coastal hike, Balnarring Beach to Somers

Monday July 5, 2010 was a cold midwinter day, so I headed down to Balnarring Beach, on Westernport Bay, 80 km south of Melbourne.

From the car park at the end of Balnarring Beach Rd, I followed the Coastal Heath Trail, past the Yacht Club, then on to Bayview Trail, reaching the Tulum Beach.

Tulum Beach is the eastern section of the Balnarring Beach, adjacent to the Merricks Estuary Bushland/Heathland and the Coolart Historical Homestead Reserve.

I followed the beach to the Merricks Creek Estuary, at Somers Beach. My return was along the beach, with a short detour to the Suspension Beach over the Merricks Creek. This was about 4 km in total.

There was action along the beach - beachcombing, walking, fishing, and hounds!

See all of the Photos of my visit, which include an archival image taken in 1940!

Tulum Beach coastal hike, Balnarring

Tulum Beach is the long strip of sheltered coast linking Balnarring Beach with Somers Beach, Westernport Bay, 65 km south of Melbourne.

It has been a popular spot since the early 1900s, and is adjacent to the Merricks Creek Eastuary and Coolart Wetlands.

I visited Tulum Beach on Friday afternoon April 16, 2010, enjoying a 4 km beach hike.

There was plenty of canoe action on the Estuary, with students from a Geelong school learning boating skills as part of a nine-day excursion. They were accommodated at the nearby Somers Education Camp.

Somers Beach

Merricks Estuary action

Tulum Beach - boat launching ramp

See all of the Photos of my visit!

Balnarring Beach hike

Friday February 19, 2010 was a hot bay, so I headed down to Balnarring Beach, on Westernport Bay, 80 km south of Melbourne.

From the car park at the end of Balnarring Beach Rd, I followed the Coastal Heath Trail, past the Yacht Club, then on to Bayview Trail, reaching the Tulum Beach.

Tulum Beach is the eastern section of the Balnarring Beach, adjacent to the Merricks Estuary Bushland/Heathland and the Coolart Historical Homestead Reserve.

I followed the beach to Somers Beach. My return was along the beach, with a short detour to the Suspension Beach over the Merricks Creek. This was about 5 km in total.

There was action along the beach!

Saee all of the Photos , which tell the story!

Action on Balnarring Coast in mid-summer

Saturday January 9, 2010 was a hot bay, so I headed down to Balnarring Beach, on Westernport Bay, 80 km south of Melbourne.

From the car park at the end of Balnarring Beach Rd, I followed the Coastal Heath Trail, past the Yacht Club, then on to Bayview Trail, reaching the Tulum Beach.

Tulum Beach is the eastern section of the Balnarring Beach, adjacent to the Merricks Estuary Bushland/Heathland and the Coolart Historical Homestead Reserve.

I followed the beach to Somers Beach. My return was along the beach, with a short detour to the Suspension Beach over the Merricks Creek. This was about 4 km in total.

There was plenty of color and action along the beach - swimming, beachcombing, sand castles, moats, rockpooling, cricket, paddling, sun tanning, yachting, boating, kites, and windsurfing!

See the full set of Photos!

Tulum Beach - Coastal Hike

On Tuesday November 24, 2009, I visited the Tulum Beach Foreshore, Balnarring Beach district, abut 70 km south of Melbourne, on Westernport Bay.

From the main car park at the end of Balnarring Beach Rd, I followed the Coastal Heath Track, leading into Merricks Track.

This was in pleasant coastal bushland alongside the Merricks Creek Estuary, reaching the main Tulum Beach.

I returned to the car park along the Beach, via the western point - the total distance was about 3 km.

The views across the Bay to Phillip Island were excellent!

The network of walking tracks in the heathland is well signed, with some nice views of the Merricks Creek Estuary and water birds.

Tulum Beach is a nice spot for swimming, boating, fishing, suntanning, or beachcombing, and extends to Somers Beach.

Action at Tulum Beach, Westernport Coast!

The Tulum Beach is a 3 km strip of sandy coastline, extending from the Balranning Beach to Somers Beach, about 70 km south of Melbourne, on Westernport Bay.

The Merricks Creek Bushland and Coolart Woodlands border the Beach.

It is a popular spot for small boats, kayaking, yachts, surfboarding, wind-kites, land kites, swimming, paddling, sand castles, lying on the sand and beachwalking!

I visited this Beach on Saturday November 7, 2009, a hot day (32 degrees!) for the 4 km return beach walk to Somers Beach.

There was plenty of action, and many yachts were out in the main channel, off Phillip Island.

See all of the Photos of my visit!