Accessible beaches around Australia: outdoor fun for all
Beaches are a cornerstone of Aussie life – we’re blessed with some of the best beaches in the world and with every summer that comes around more and more of them are becoming accessible for the 4 million+ Australians living with a disability.
There are a number of key features that make a beach accessible and different spots may have one or all facilities available at different times throughout the year. Beach wheelchairs – including those that float in the water, facilities with bathrooms, showers and changing rooms that can be accessed by wheelchair, wide walkways and matting as well as transport infrastructure and parking are all elements that contribute to a beach’s accessibility.
Accessible Beaches Australia is a volunteer-led organisation that has been the driving force behind the growth of beaches offering these facilities. In 2016 they launched their campaign to improve access to beaches around the country, with a target of making most of Australia’s patrolled beaches wheelchair accessible by 2020.
According to their stats, Australia now has 13 active accessible beach pathways with 8 pending launch, 37 beach wheelchairs around the country and 12 major events happening throughout the summer to celebrate and encourage beach access for all.
So, with summer here there is no better time to enjoy all the fun the sand and surf has to offer. Here’s a rundown of what you can find and where.
VICTORIA
Victoria is home to Australia’s only two beaches with 24×7 installations of matting.
Williamstown Beach
15 mins west of Melbourne-
Features
24×7 Accessible Beach Matting
Mobi-Chair Beach Wheelchair
Accessible Bathroom
Accessible Shower
Accessible Change Room
Accessible Parking
Altona Beach
22 mins west of Melbourne-
Features24×7
Accessible Beach Matting
Sandcruiser Beach Wheelchair
Mobi-Chair Beach
Wheelchair Accessible Bathroom
Accessible Shower
Accessible Change Room
Accessible Parking
Mordialloc Beach
25 mins south of Melbourne-
Features
Accessible Beach Matting
Accessible Bathroom
Accessible Parking
Mt Martha Beach
Mornington Peninsula-
Features
Accessible Beach
Accessible Bathroom
Accessible Shower
Accessible Change Room
Sandcruiser Beach Wheelchair
Sandpiper Kids Beach Wheelchair
Hippocampe Beach Wheelchair
St Kilda Beach
10 mins south of Melbourne-
Features
Accessible Beach Matting
Mobi-Chair Beach Wheelchair
Changing Places Accessible Bathroom
Port Melbourne
5 mins south of Melbourne CBD-
Features
Accessible Beach Matting
Mobi-Chair Beach Wheelchair
QUEENSLAND
Some of the most beautiful beaches in the world are now accessible:
Burleigh Heads Beach
Gold Coast-
Features
Accessible Beach Matting
Accessible Bathroom (SLSC)
Accessible Parking
Floating Beach Wheelchair
Sandcruiser Beach Wheelchair
Alexandra Headland
Sunshine Coast-
Features
Accessible Beach Matting
Accessible Bathroom (SLSC)
Hervey Bay
Central Queensland Coast-
Features
Accessible Beach Matting
Floating Beach Wheelchair
Port Douglas
Far North Queensland-
Features
Accessible Beach Matting
Southport
Coming soon to the Gold Coast-
Features
Accessible Beach Matting
North Burleigh Heads
Coming soon to the Gold Coast-
Features
Accessible Beach Matting
NEW SOUTH WALES
Bondi Beach
Eastern Sydney-
Features
Accessible Beach Matting
2 x Sandcruiser Beach Wheelchairs
Ballina Lighthouse Beach
Northern Rivers Region-
Features
Accessible Beach Matting
Avoca Beach
Central Coast of NSW-
Features
Accessible Beach Matting
Newcastle (Cooks Hill SLSC)
Central Coast of NSW-
Features
Lasher Sport Beach Wheelchair
South Australia
Seacliff Beach
Adelaide Beaches-
Features
Mobi-Chair Floating Beach Wheelchair
Slat Type Access Platform
Normanville Beach
Adelaide Beaches- Features
Mobi-Chair Floating Beach Wheelchair
Slat Type Access Platform
Accessiblebeaches.com has more detailed information on each location including useful videos, dates and times of operation and information on how to make bookings for wheelchairs. Visit their site for more details and also to find out how you can help the campaign for more accessible facilities in your area.
