Balnarring Beach - Kitesurfing and Boats

Balranning Beach is about 70 km SE of Melbourne, on Westernport Bay.

It's popular for sheltered swimming, small boats, sailing, kitesurfing, beachwalking and low-tide reef exploring.

Kitesurfing is a surface water sport that uses wind power to pull a rider through the water on a small surfboard or a kiteboard (similar to a wakeboard).

I visited the Beach on March 22, 2009, a very windy day, with kitesurfers and small boats active.

I walked about 6 km (return) along the beach to Somers Beach, with a side trip into the adjacent extensive Coolart Wetlands Sanctuary, Homestead and Lagoons.

Coolart is separated from the Beach by the scenic Merricks Creek, reached by an interesting suspension bridge.

The region was first settled in the 1830s, and Coolert has a rich history.

The original inhabitants of Coolart were the Bunurong tribe of Aborigines and it is from the word "Colourt" or "Callert" - their name for nearby Sandy Point - that the present name of Coolart is derived.

In 1895, Frederick Sheppard Grimwade bought the estate and built the imposing homestead as the family's country retreat. Between 1907 and 1937 Coolart was held at different times by Thomas Armstrong, James Balmain and John Sylvester Feehan. The late Tom Luxton purchased the property in 1937 and immediately had the property declared a sanctuary for native wildlife and embarked upon a program of habitat development. The 87 hectare nucleus of the Coolart area was purchased by the Victorian State Government in 1977 and it was proclaimed as a reserve for "Conservation and Education Purposes".

For information about Coolert, please see

http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/resources/22_2144.pdf

See my complete set of Photos

Balnarring Beach - Coastal Walk

Balnarring Beach is located on the northern section of Westernport Bay, about 60 km SW of Melbourne.

At low tide, a magnificent reef is exposed, with crabs and fishes galore!

The wide sandy beach is a 2 km strip, extending past the Coolart Wetlands. It is not a surf beach!

Its calm waters are excellent for swimming, paddling, snorkelling, canoes, kayaks, yachts, and catamarans.

I visited this excellent beach on March 11, 2009, and walked the 4 km (return) route westerly along the sand towards Pt Leo and back.

There were fine views across Westernport Bay towards Phillip Island.

See the full set of Photos of my trip

Somers Coastline and Beachwalk

Somers is a small coastal settlement 75 km SE of Melbourne, on the west side of Westernport Bay.

It is reached from the Frankston-Flinders Rd, to Balnarring, then along Sandy Point Rd, leading to the General Store at Somers Beach.

Two interesting short walking tracks start at the upper level car park - these are Koala Walk and Sheoak Walk, which are described on a large map board.

Sheoak Walk passes through bushland and its eastern end is on the beach. It is possible to walk all the way easterly from this point along the beach to Sandy Point, a return trip of about 12 km, ending at the high security fence surrounding HMAS Cerberus, the RAN naval facility.

I visited Somers Beach on March 1, 2009, completing the Koala and Sheoak Walks, as well as the beach walk extension towards Sandy Point, about 5 km in total.

From the viewpoint on Sheoak Walk, there are good views across the Bay to Phillip Island, about 12 km direct, with The Nobbies and Seal Rocks clearly visible.

On this day, groups of dolphins had come to about 20 m from the beach in search of fish!

See the full set of Photos of my trip, and the dolphins!

Merricks Beach - Westernport Bay

Merricks is a small settlement on Westernport Bay, about 70 south of Melbourne.

I visited Merricks on February 1, 2009, and did a 4 beachwalk north to Balnarring and back.

The tide was out, and the reef was exposed, with many water fowls waiting for fish!

Other beachwalkers, some with hounds, and a few swimmers, were enjoying themselves!

Please see the complete set of Photos of this trip, which includes an historical image taken around the year 1940, showing the beach, looking south to Merricks.

Balnarring Beach Walk - Westernport Bay

Balnarring Beach is located on the northern section of Westernport Bay, about 60 km SW of Melbourne.

At low tide, a magnificent reef is exposed, with crabs and fishes galore!

The wide sandy beach is a 2 km strip, extending past the Coolart Wetlands. It is not a surf beach!

Its calm waters are excellent for swimming, paddling, snorkelling, canoes, kayaks, yachts, and catamarans.

I visited this excellent beach on January 19, 2009, a day of extreme heat, and walked the 4 km (return) route along the sand.

See the full set of Photos of my beach walk!