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!

Beachcombing hike at Balnarring, Westernport Coast

Suspension Bridge, Merricks Creek Estuary


Merricks Creek Estuary

On a bleak, overcast and cold Sunday afternoon, June 28, 2009, I ventured down to the Balnarring Foreshore Reserve, Wssternport Coast, about 70 km SE of Melbourne.

This is one of my favourite places, with a long sweeping coast extending from the Balnarring Point in the west, to Somers Beach, in the east.

I left the car at Robertson's Park, next to Balnarring Beach, and beach-hiked along the foreshore to the interesting swaying suspension bridge at Somers. This crosses the Merricks Creek estuary, and leads into the Coolart Wetlands and Woodlands.

Nearby is the large Somers Childrens' School Camp.

This was my turnabout point, and I safely negotiated the return hike along the coast, trying to avoid huge nipping barking hounds taking their owners for beach walks!

Unfortunately, a heavy winter mist had come down over the Bay, blocking the normally good views to Phillip Island.

The hike was about 4 km return. See the full set of Photos, with giant dogs, and an image taken around 1940!