Bayside, stretching roughly from St Kilda to Frankston along a sparkling Port Phillip Bay, offers much more than beautiful sandy beaches. Between al fresco dining in cafes & restaurants, exploring tracks and trails and the Coastal Art Trail, and maybe trying out a few wild watersports, it's a waterside playground full of fun!
While a short drive from the CBD will have you enjoying long, hot summer days cooled by a quick dip, sea breezes, scenic vistas and spectacular sunsets, there' much more.
Explore the wonderful web of
tracks and trails that wind their way along the picturesque coastline, providing plenty of walking, jogging, cycling or perhaps even rollerblading opportunities – a great way to work off Christmas indulgences!
Check out the fascinating
Coastal Art Trail, stretching 17 kilometres from Brighton to Beaumaris, which highlights more than 50 works by notable Australian artists passionate about painting outdoors, or 'en plein air'. It reflects the area as it was in the 19th and 20th centuries and is Australia's biggest outdoor art gallery.
Watersports abound. Enjoy a spot of boating, yachting, canoeing or kayaking. If that's too hard, lap up a lazy half-day, full-day or overnight cruise around Queenscilff, Portsea and Sorrento with
Baysail Cruises.
While the area attracts plenty of windsurfers, the more adventurous amongst you might like to try the latest watersport craze to hit our shores,
kitesurfing. For those who've yet to witness this extraordinary feat, a visit to watch these daredevils in action is a must. If you're game enough to give it a try, check out this beautiful website for
kitesurfing lessons, which are highly recommended for your own safety.
Fishing off the piers and rocks keeps the anglers happy, or you might like to catch your own dinner with
Melbourne Fishing Charters, departing daily from St Kilda Pier. (Do you know there are penguins at St Kilda Pier? It's true. I've seen them!)
If you prefer your fish pre-packed and wrapped in white paper, there are some excellent fish 'n' chips to be picked up from any number of local
shopping villages, including Brighton's Church Street and Hampton Street.
You can also pick up a fabulous variety of cooked seafood, and excellent coffee, at Half Moon Bay in Black Rock. Enjoy at waterside café tables with views of the semi-sunken remains of the battleship, HMVS Cerberus.
Bayside is dotted with plenty of other great eateries and seaside cafes, including
Little Blue (named after the nearby colony of little blue penguins). It's located at the very end of St Kilda Pier and not only has excellent food, but million dollar views too.
Donovans Restaurant, right on the water's edge in St Kilda, is a must-do, food-lover's experience. Think extraordinary, Italy-inspired, memorable food in the most luxuriously decked-out 'beach house' I've ever seen. Take a look
here and please check out the menu.
Also check out Bayside's
tourism website for a whole bunch of other things to see and so.
