Bonbeach Beach

Bonbeach Beach is a 1.5 kilometre stretch of calm, shallow sand on Port Phillip Bay, backed by the suburb's bathing boxes and linking north to Chelsea Beach and south to Carrum. Generous off-leash hours outside summer make it one of the easier bay beaches to plan a dog walk around, and the water suits dogs that like a paddle more than a surf.

Leash status

City of Kingston rules split the year. From 1 November to 31 March, dogs can be off-leash on the sand only between sunrise and 10am, must stay off the sand entirely from 10am to 7.30pm, and are on-leash from 7.30pm to sunrise. From 1 April to 31 October the sand is off-leash at all times. Outside the off-leash window, and everywhere in the car park areas, the lead goes on and effective control applies. Pick up after your dog. The foreshore rules do shift between adjacent Kingston beaches, so read the signage at your access point to be sure.

Water and terrain

Port Phillip Bay is flat and shallow here, which makes it an easy swim for dogs still finding their sea legs. Low tide opens up more flat sand and shallower water, the easiest paddling of the day, while high tide narrows the usable strip. The foreshore path is wheelchair-friendly down to the sand, so prams and older owners are not fighting dunes.

Pepsi: low tide opens up more flat sand and shallow water, which is the easiest time for a paddle if your dog is still finding its sea legs.

Getting there and parking

Ticketed street parking runs along the Nepean Highway and the side streets, and it fills on sunny weekends. Bonbeach railway station on the Frankston line is a short walk from the sand, which is the handy fallback when the kerbside bays are gone.

Worth knowing

Accessible toilets and outdoor showers sit at Bonbeach Foreshore Reserve, useful for rinsing a salty dog before the drive home. The Bonbeach Surf Life Saving Club patrols occasionally over summer, which is when the 10am no-dogs rule bites hardest. Weekday mornings are the quietest visits.

When to go

In summer, arrive at sunrise and be off the sand by 10. Anywhere from April to October, the whole day is fair game and the beach stays mellow. Aim for a low tide for the widest running room and easiest paddling.

While you're out there

Ministry - Kitchen & Bar on the Nepean Highway is a dog-friendly stop close to the beach. For a longer off-leash run nearby, Carrum Dog Beach continues the sand to the south and the Seaford (Keast Park) Off-Leash Dog Beach is just past that, with the Roy Dore Reserve Fenced Dog Park covering the no-sand days.

More options are on the Victoria dog beaches guide and the Bonbeach destination page.