Sun, sand & smiles: accessible beaches

Nothing says Aussie summer quite like a family day at the beach. Not only is having fun in the sand and sea accompanied by some ice-cream and hot chips the perfect way to spend a sunny day, but beach life also offers a world of exploration, sensory experiences, and development opportunities for our kids with disability.

If you’re anything like our family, however, the idyllic vision I’ve presented here is often far from the actual reality. Car parks miles from the sand, difficult terrain, cramped, unsanitary changing facilities, a whole heap of extra equipment and food to service our kids’ needs – can all turn a dream day out into a bit of a nightmare.

Fortunately, more and more of our beautiful beaches are being made inclusive and accessible for all, with facilities that make a day out much less stressful for everyone involved.

Beach accessibility differs by location and can include things like beach wheelchairs, accessible bathrooms, pathways, and improved parking, all making the beach more inclusive and usable by all.

Accessible Beaches Australia is a volunteer-driven organisation, that has been a catalyst for the expansion of these type of facilities since 2016.

Founder, Shane Hryhorec is a wheelchair user after an accident in 2007. At 21 years of age, he suffered a serious injury to his C5 spinal cord and was left an incomplete quadriplegic — in addition to also having a hypoxic acquired brain injury (ABI).

After quickly discovering that the thin wheels of his wheelchair were too easily bogged down in the sand, he searched for a solution that would once again allow him to go to a place he loved so much, the beach.

He stumbled upon an image of a wheelchair-friendly beach mat and decided to do everything he could to advocate for Australia’s world-famous beaches to become more accessible and to make the necessary equipment available to those who need it.

In 2020, Shane founded the Accessible Beaches not-for-profit organisation to help achieve this vision of beach accessibility.

Accessible Beaches collaborates towards this goal with other organisations, lifesaving clubs, government, people with disability and their families.

Alongside their advocacy, training and consultancy work, their website features a searchable directory of accessible beaches and their facilities in states around Australia.

Over the next couple of pages, you’ll find just a selection of these beaches and the information Accessible Beaches provides about them.

So, with summer here there is no better time to enjoy all the fun the sand and surf has to offer. Take a look at the info we’ve sampled, and make sure to visit accessiblebeaches.com to access the full directory and find out more about the brilliant work they’re doing.

NSW

JETTY BEACH

Jetty Beach is a protected beach which is popular with both locals and tourists alike, especially families. A mobi-mat is in place year-round except during rough sea conditions. Two Hippocampe beach wheelchairs are available for booking.

This beach caters for people with high support needs who travel with a support person. It has a Changing Places or Lift & Change toilet with a hoist and adult change table.

Beach wheelchairs can be booked online at coffsharbour.nsw.gov.au/ Community-and-recreation/Your- neighbourhood/Beaches/Beach- wheelchairs or by calling the Coffs Harbour Yacht Club on (02) 6652 4390. The beach also has:
• Accessible bathroom
• Multiple accessible car parks
• Accessible beach matting
• Accessible toilet
• Accessible changeroom
• Accessible shower
• Step free outdoor pathways (includes picnic areas, barbecues and shelters)

BONDI BEACH

Probably the most famous beach in Australia, Bondi Beach is a must-see destination for Australians and tourists alike. Boasting 1km of stunning beach and home to one of the oldest Surf Life Saving Clubs in Australia, Bondi beach has something
for everyone.

Beach mats are in use at Bondi on Thursdays and Saturdays from 8.30am to 2pm, surf and weather conditions permitting. They are located at the northern end ramp of Bondi Beach, near Wally Weekes pool.

The beach also has:

• A wide ramp at North Bondi making access to the beach easy
• Mobi-Mat beach access mat is rolled out on Thursdays & Saturdays from 8.30am to 2pm. Please note that the matting does NOT reach the ocean’s edge! The beach wheelchairs will enable access to the water
• Beach wheelchairs are available for hire: you can choose between the Sandcruiser (adults) or Sandpiper (children). Please use the beach wheelchairs to access and swim between the flags
• Two accessible parking spots are located right near the ramp down to the beach at North Bondi
• Plenty of accessible parking
• Accessible bathrooms and showers

QLD

MOOLOOLABA

With a fully accessible Surf Life Saving Club and surrounded by places to eat, including a beach-side kiosk, Mooloolaba Beach on the Sunshine Coast is a great place to visit.

The beach also has:

• Accessible parking
• Accessible beach matting
• Accessible bathroom
• Beach wheelchair availability • Accessible outdoor shower
• Accessible shade
• Accessible fresh water
• Accessible Life Saving Club

WOORIM BEACH

Woorim Beach is located on picturesque Bribie Island and is a must-visit destination for an adventure weekend or accessible holiday. Woorim Beach is 75kms north of Brisbane (approximately 1.5hours drive) and about the same distance south of Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast.

The beach also has:

• MobiChair floating beach wheelchair
• SandCruiser beach wheelchair
• Accessible car parking approx. 20m from the surf club
• Accessible bathroom at the surf club with a flip down shower chair and toilet with a grab bar
• Wide footpaths around the surf club. Some limited curb cuts in drop off areas
• Large public bathroom block in Bluey Piva Park with an outdoor shower and an accessible bathroom
• Wide footpaths with steady gradients with a smooth transition from concrete path to the MobiMat path
• 30m of MobiMat path down onto the beach with a great view over the water • Lots of shaded areas to cool down on hot days
• Wheelchair accessible water fountain with wheelchair under cut out

SA

HENLEY BEACH

Spend a beautiful day out at this gorgeous beach, surrounded by grassed areas and plenty of restaurants. It is approximately 11.1kms long and just a 23-minute drive from the Adelaide CBD on the stunning southern coast.

• Beach mats from Thursday to Sunday between October and Easter each year. Mat roll out is subject to tide times, weather conditions and resources
• Plenty of Mobi-Mat wheelchair parking on the sand
• Beach wheelchairs available for free half day hire from October to Easter. You can choose from the Mobi-Chair or the Davinci Mobile Beachster or a mobility walker
• 6 accessible parking spaces down by the beach
• Fully equipped Changing Place facility, BYO sling Beach wheelchair bookings are essential. Book by calling 08 8408 1333.

WHYALLA FORESHORE

The Whyalla Foreshore zone features a marina and boat ramp; café; change rooms; showers and toilets; lawns; beach shelters; free electric BBQs; lifesaving; a large,
shaded playground area and is linked with a walkway to the beautiful Ada Ryan Gardens.

• Beach mats are available on Saturday and Sunday between October and Easter each year. Mat roll out is subject to tide times, weather conditions and resources!
• Beach wheelchairs are available for free use from 9.00am till 1.00pm Saturday & Sunday, from October to Easter. Available chairs are Sandpiper (children) & the Sandcruiser (adults)
• There are 4 accessible parking spaces available down by the beach
• A fully equipped Changing Place facility BYO sling • Accessible toilet Beach wheelchair bookings are recommended but not essential!

VIC

Rosebud Beach

A fantastic beach featuring everything you need for a great day out. There is a ramp down to the beach matting, 4 accessible car parks, a playground featuring accessible barbeques, accessible seating, accessible shade and accessible fresh water. There is also a lovely boardwalk running along the beach.

The beach also has:

• Accessible beach matting
• Accessible bathroom
• Accessible parking
• Accessible shower
• Accessible shade area
• Lead up pathways
• Accessible fresh water
• Accessible barbeques
• Retail within 150 metres.

ST KILDA BEACH

Located in the iconic suburb of St Kilda, full of cafes and restaurants and home to some great festivals and events.

• Mobi-Mat beach access mat all the way to the hard sand.
• MobiChair wheelchair available at the Life Saving Club 7 days a week throughout summer patrol, bookings required
• Accessible toilet just on the side of the Life Saving club
• Changing places with a hoist located at the Life Saving Club and available with the use of MLAK key
• Wide footpaths all compliant, flat and easy to wheel along
• Standard street parking and several wheelchair car parks on the main road

WA

MULLALOO BEACH

Mullaloo Beach has accessible toilets, parking, all terrain walker and beach wheelchairs. Tom Simpson Park overlooking the beach is also accessible with seating, picnic and BBQ areas. The footpath from the carpark to the toilets is slightly steep. The beach is patrolled by Mullaloo Surf Life Saving Club.

The beach also has:

• Beach overview
• Accessible parking
• Accessible beach matting
• Accessible bathroom
• Beach wheelchair availability
• Accessible shade area
• Retail within 150 metres

HILLARY’S BEACH

The Harbour has been developed to be accessible to all – providing some unique facilities to cater for people with disabilities, including universal access floating pontoon, fishing platform, beach access pathway, a beach wheelchair, accessible barbeque facilities, drinking fountains and hotel rooms specifically tailored for people with limited mobility.

The beach also has:

• Accessible parking
• Accessible bathroom
• Accessible beach matting
• Beach wheelchair availability
• Retail within 150 metres
• Lead up pathways
• Accessible shaded area
• Accessible Surf Life Saving Club

To access more information from Accessible Beaches and also learn how you can support the brilliant work they do visit accessiblebeaches.com