If you are looking for day trip options in Melbourne, how about stepping out of the city and exploring its beautiful suburbs? Exploring Williamstown Beach has something for all. We aren’t just talking about the different age groups, but also talking about the absolute contrast of activities for adventure lovers and those who prefer to sprawl on the beach. Your day trip need not be limited to a day out on the beach either, as there are many attractions just a couple of minutes’ walk away from this beach, waiting to be explored and charm the visitors.
What to expect from Williamstown Beach Victoria
Williamstown beach is Melbourne’s first seaport, and it is definitely one of the better-developed beaches in Melbourne with many conveniences and facilities available on site. You will find clean toilets and shower facilities for the public, ample parking space, and wheelchairs that can be hired and taken right on the beach. The time of year and time of day might impact the Williamstown beach parking availability.
This beach is dotted with cafes and restaurants offering some great authentic cuisines and flavours from different parts of the world. Williamstown beach restaurants are very popular and draw a big crowd on the weekend, making them an attraction in themselves.
If you are planning to have a swim and sample the Williamstown Beach cafes, bakeries and eateries nearby – a couple of hours might not be sufficient time to cover it all as there are lots of things to do in Williamstown Victoria! We have prepared a full-day trip guide for you which includes some key attractions and must-dos so that your trip to Williamstown beach is a memorable one.
Enjoy a good picnic with your family and friends
Williamstown beach Victoria is a very clean beach which makes it a good picnic spot. It’s a good choice for families with kids because of the safe and shallow water which has a general beach hazard rating of 2/10, making it the least hazardous beach in all of Melbourne. But do watch out for the rocks on either end of the beach if you plan on letting the little ones explore.
An extremely Instagrammable beach with pristine, clean sands and rocky cliffs on either side – the location is a photographer’s delight. During the peak season try to get there a bit early if you want to grab that perfect picnic spot at Williamstown Beach.
Visit the Williamstown Botanic Gardens
If you are looking for things to do in Williamstown Victoria that are active and social, then the Williamstown Botanic Gardens are a great place to explore. Opened in 1860, your day trip to Williamstown beach is incomplete if you don’t visit these beautiful Botanic gardens. Only 10 minutes from the ferry terminal and a few minutes from the beach – where you will find one of the first Botanic Gardens in Victoria! The gardens are just 500 meters away from the beach and are quite popular among the locals and tourists.
The government redesigned the Williamstown Botanic Gardens in 2020 during the lockdown, resulting in a more spaced-out area that invites a crowd most days. The main attraction of this garden is the palm-tree-lined avenue. You can also spend some quality time here sitting by one of the ponds and escaping the buzz of Melbourne city.
Visit the Seaworks maritime museum
Many tourists have no idea about the Seaworks museum in Williamstown. It is located at Nelson Place and is a museum that celebrates the maritime history of Williamstown, Victoria. Not too big but a very interesting museum not just for the adults but for the children also. On display are some model ships and historic artifacts, and media presentations played within the premises are very informative and entertaining. Get to know everything about the early colonial history of Williamstown there with an entry fee of just $5 per person. If history interests you, this makes for a good attraction when visiting Williamstown Beach!
Adventure activities
If you are someone who loves adventures and some adrenaline rush, Williamstown beach Victoria is the ideal place for you. The activity options there are unlimited. Water activities include paddle swimming, deep water swimming, sailing and snorkelling. If beach sports are not your thing, you have the option of fishing in a couple of spots!
Close to the beach are fishing spots in Williamstown Beach, which is pretty popular among the locals and you will see many people with their fishing lines out there from sunrise until sunset. Who knows, you just might get lucky and bring home dinner!
Visit Wyndham Park with kids
Located on the banks of the Werribee River, Wyndham Park is another top attraction of Williamstown. If you have kids, you will not want to miss out on this newly redeveloped park. The park has beautiful playgrounds, cycling tracks, walking paths and many more things for the visitors. This can be a great spot for a birthday party, get-together, or just a place to spend the day. You won’t regret a day at Wyndham Park, and it is a great place to visit at any time of the day.
Grab a bite at one of the restaurants
Tickle your taste buds with different flavours at the many restaurants in the area. From authentic Italian street food to premium seafood – you will want to come back so that you can eat at them all. Whether you fancy a good cup of coffee or a cold beer at the end of the day, the eateries have you covered. For a guide to the best Williamstown Beach restaurants – check out this list! The extensive menus at these Williamstown Beach cafes make this beach a food paradise for all, so don’t pack a lunch! Having lunch or dinner at one of the Williamstown Beach restaurants is absolutely a must-do!
Is Williamstown beach dog friendly?
Dogs are not allowed in the main beach area in the months of November-April; those are the summer months and the peak tourist season of Australia. However, if you want to travel with your beloved pet there is a green patch of land, just next to the children’s playground area, just a few meters away from the main beach where you can lay your mat and picnic with your doggie. Wyndham Park is also a great Williamstown dog park and close enough to the beach that you can split your day and party between both destinations.
How to reach Williamstown Beach
Williamstown beach Victoria lies just around 11kms southwest of Melbourne, right at the mouth of the Yarra River. Car and train are the preferred modes of transport, and Williamstown Beach Station is right next door to the beach, making Williamstown beach well connected to not only Melbourne but other nearby locations too. If you start your journey from central Melbourne by car it will take you 30 minutes, by train it will take 20 minutes.
You also have the option of a ferry ride, though it will take around one hour to reach Williamstown. The ferry ride will make for a memorable experience as you will be able to sit, relax and soak in the city skyline of Melbourne so choose this mode of transport if you have the time. Ferry services are available from different locations including Port Melbourne, Federation Square, St Kilda Pier, Docklands, and Southbank. You can book tickets online too if you want to avoid the lines.
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Truly a gem of a place, Williamstown beach has earned its reputation as one of the more trendy beaches in Melbourne. It is frequented by local Melburnians and tourists in the summer and winter months. Go there for a day to soak in its vibe with so many attractions just within a walking distance of the main beach.
Let us know which of these activities you have done at Williamstown Beach in Victoria and be sure to check out our other Melbourne travel destinations. We have covered the best Airbnbs in Torquay Victoria, the best Airbnbs in Mornington Peninsula, and so many other holiday spots!
