My first visit to
Edithvale beach has always been a lingering memory for me. Not only because it was my first time at a beach but because of the beach itself. It is one of the lesser-known treasures of Melbourne with its white sands, pristine water and colourfully quaint bathing boxes.
It is around 30 km south-east of the CBD. Though it's a popular spot for locals to hang around during the hot summer days, it's still relatively quieter and majorly cleaner than its famous counterpart, St Kilda beach.
Edithvale beach stretches about 1.5km between Chelsea and Aspendale beaches, overlooking Port Philip Bay. During the summer months, the sun sets almost perpendicular to the shore, imparting spectacular glistening views. It is flat, which makes it perfect for beach sports, which, in turn, makes it my favourite spot for volleyball and cricket.
The evenings at Edithvale beach are as good or even better as the crowd usually retreats by sundown/early evening, making it perfect for a musing walk along the shore or simply to enjoy the sunset in serenity.
Ice-cream trucks and food kiosks operate on most days. The beach parking bay is convenient though not enough to accommodate the crowd on summer weekends, but you can easily find parking spaces along the streets.
The train station and the bus stop are a stone's throw from the beach. But before moving back, make a stopover at the
House of Elegant Cakes (286 Nepean Highway, Edithvale VIC 3196; Ph: 03 9772 7031), specialising in, well, cakes. A forkful of the same will tell you why.
