Go here is you can. As we are from the UK we never really can experience swimming of this kind on a long gorgeous beach. The waves and the rip are huge so families need to beware. But walk along the beach and sit in the rock pools and all the way to London Bridge(!) and this makes a wonderful day out. Only gripe would be that they do offer the usual hot dogs and sausage rolls but avoid them as they are poor quality and expensive. Take your own food anyway.
Back beach ? you meant the beaches at the other side of Portsea as opposed the Sorrento side ? If this reference to back beaches cover the beachfront from Port Nepean Nat Park to Cape Schank and beyond, I am on the right track. Locals there can better explain 'back beaches".Yes the stretch of back beaches has amazing sceneries and the waves on certain days can be as high as 3m (10 ft) good for surfers but not for weak swimmers esp with the rips. Apparently you can walk many miles along the back beach stretch but believe walking in loose sand is not all that easy. Overall the scenery is spectacular and the blue seas and golden sands with beautiful sunsets make this visit or hike most pleasurable. Check out the waves and the pictures I posted and this is a place I would bring foreign visitors in place of 12 Apostles or Phillip Island for a change.
The Portsea area in Mornington Peninsula is very beautiful. The water is turquoise in color and with different shades. No wonder this is the most expensive area in the whole Australia.
...Hence the "very good" rating. I'm a beach-lover; Portsea is OK. Coastline not as dramatic as I'd been told it was.Rough water - swim only when patrolled (think of Harold Holt, people...) It's also real cold!!If you are time-poor tourists&have to choose between ocean/beaches scenery for your happy snaps - go the Otway Peninsula (Great Ocean Rd), rather than Mornington Peninsula. Twelve Apostles&further west wins hands-down every time, or if you can do both, do the Mornington Peninsula first, so you save the best-for-last.Of course, if all you want to do is swim, this beach is clean&pretty enough
Portsea back beach is one of nature's delight's. It can be like a mill pond and equally as rough and tough a stretch of water that you would find anywhere. On the right day you can feel the ocean swell wanting to take you out to sea (like the ex PM Harold Holt). The beach is patrolled over Summer and needs it. Off season this beach will deal with poor swimmers adversely so beware. The sand is beautiful and the water exhilarating.
Last weekend we visited the lower Mornington Peninsula and the town of Portsea. After a stop at Sorrento for a walk along the esplanade we moved onto Portsea for lunch (fish and chips) and to soak up the sun and beach. Portsea isn't a very big town but it's a great place to walk along the jetty and only a short distance to the beach. This area is a must see when visiting Mornington Peninsula.
The crowds, great weather and big (albeit at times erratic) swell, all combine to make this a great beach to come and enjoy.
A good place to relax and enjoy the blue water. Worth place to go.The beach well maintain and very clean.
At low tides, there are little rock pools that you can safely swim in. Kid friendly as well. They are beautiful to even just look at. Starfish and other little sea creatures live in them as well but it is safe to go in. Beautiful beach
Great views & if you are athletic great to walk on the beach, but lots of stairs to get down there. However you dont need to walk to still get a breathtaking view.