Another 3 family friendly photography spots on the Mornington Peninsula
Coming at you with another 3 fabulous, family friendly spots to check out on the Mornington Peninsula - they are so worth the visit and have the added bonus of being absolutely EPIC locations for your next family photoshoot. This has unintentionally become a mini series of blogs that I love to update regularly, as there is such a wealth of options down here. I’m sticking with the theme of the last blog and giving you another 3 incredible beach locations to visit any time of year…cos beaches work ALL YEAR ROUND. You’ll see I’ve included as much info as I can to help you plan your trip and get those awe-inspiring pics…mostly because I know as an anxious mum that’s what I appreciate the most when making plans!
Balnarring Beach, Balnarring
This is such an underrated family beach - easy access, kid friendly swimming, so much gorgeous sand to play on, and borders up to some stunning bush for all sorts of tree climbing fun! Well worth the extra time to pop over to the other side of the Peninsula for an afternoon. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for dolphins, local horses going for a leisurely stroll, epic surfers and some pretty cool rock pools just begging to be explored (and don’t forget the cafe right at the beach entrance for your caffeine hit pre-play). I love how versatile this location is for photos, and that it’s so easy to keep the kids entertained while snapping those gorgeous candids.
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Click HERE to find directions to Balnarring Beach.
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Carpark near beach entrance - 15m walk through sand to the beach
Not ideal for prams, however there is seating 5m from the carpark if able to walk/lift pram that far.
Not wheelchair accessible
Toilets available in the carpark
Safe bushland to explore, as well as water and rockpools
Talum General Store next to carpark - coffee and snacks available
Can be busy in summer as there is a caravan park nearby. Very quiet in the cooler months. Commonly visited by kindergartens for bush kinder - and you may even see the odd horse being ridden along the shore!
Number 16 Beach, Rye
This is one of the most jaw dropping, photo worthy, picturesque beaches on the Mornington Peninsula - it has provided some killer dramatic backdrops to my work on more than one occasion. It does however, requite quite the trek in from the carpark - your girl is often a smidge out of breath by the time we get there. But if you can manage the walk in..? STUNNING. Every direction you look will be a winner for your photos, and if wild and woolly back beaches are your thing - this would be my number one recommendation.
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Click HERE for direction to the Number 16 Beach carpark.
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Not pram or wheelchair accessible
A steep walk on a sandy path from the carpark, until you reach a steep set of stairs to get to the beach. It will take 15-20 minutes to walk in, and although the path is clear, some very young children and older folks find it challenging
Options to stop along the way for incredible cliff photos, with spectacular views.
The temperature can be a bit cooler, and it can be a bit windier as this is a back beach
Never overly busy, though does get visitors in summer/tourist season
Large beach, lots of rockpools and great exploration at the bottom of cliffs
General store opposite the carpark that serves coffee, drinks and snacks
The carpark is quite small, and more like empty land vs a planned carpark space.
Coral Beach, Mornington
Let me introduce you to a very small, unique hidden beach in Mornington. This hidden gem has a small beach strip, backed by steep cliffs, giant rocks and a very pebbly bottom under water. And when that sunset light hits the cliffs..? MAGIC. This spot is almost always quiet, full of little nooks and crannies for kids to explore, dog friendly and contained by the cliffs so no running away to worry about (for the kids or dogs!). If you’re looking for a quiet, small, empty beach that’s still located in the heart of Mornington - this is the one. A gorgeous spot for a calm, contained beach play session that will give epic backdrops to your family photoshoot.
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Click HERE for directions to Coral Beach carpark.
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Not pram or wheelchair accessible
No toilets or facilities on the beach
Capark is located at the top of the cliff, with a small walk down a steep stair to access the beach. Once at the bottom of the stairs, you will need to navigate a narrow rock path to get to the sand.
Although a little tricky - most children could manage.
Lots of space to run and explore, as well as rock pools.
Dog Friendly.
Quite protected from weather (wind).
Never overly busy, even during Summer.
Carpark is small, along the Esplanade.
Many cafes close by throughout Mornington - a 1min drive.
Grab your snacks and towels and head out to these incredible spots friends - so worth the visit, and they are all beautiful choices for your next family photoshoot. Reach out if you want even more hints on when the best time of year is for each location, AND what time of day to rock up for the most magical photos you can get at your next family photoshoot. Have fun exploring, Legends!