The Mornington Peninsula provides easy access to both the calm waters of Port Phillip Bay and the surf beaches of Bass Strait. The bay side is dotted with family friendly sandy beaches from Frankston in the north down to Sorrento on the southern tip of the Peninsula with foreshore camp grounds open in summer at the more popular Sorrento, Blairgowrie, Rosebud and Rye beaches.
The ocean beaches or "back" beaches such as Gunnamatta, Portsea Surf Beach, Sorrento Back Beach, and St Andrews Beach provide big waves to attract surfers and the more intrepid. The ocean beaches can be dangerous and only for strong, competent swimmers. All swimmers should swim between the flags at patrolled surf beaches in the summer months. Bridgewater Bay in Blairgowrie features rock pools exposed at low tide which are safe for swimming.
The ocean beaches have single large waves on rare occasions. Standing on the rocks above the shoreline is not safe; people do get swept off on occasion.
