All Australians, including the 4 million people with a disability, deserve to be able to access the beach. Check out these accessible beach options across Australia.
During the summer months, a trip to the beach should be for everyone, including the 4 million Australians living with a disability.
This vision is becoming more of a reality, thanks to the support of many organisations and individuals who fundraise for the provision of equipment to make this possible.
In NSW, the following beaches are accessible or have the equipment to hire:
- Both Ballina – Lighthouse Beach and Avoca Beach have accessible beach matting (a portable and removable rollout access pathway for wheelchair users, prams and bike users)
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Batemans Bay SLSC - Clubhouse George Bass Drive, Malua Bay. One chair with smooth tyres. Phone 02 4471 2416.
Batehaven- One adult and one child chair are available for hire at Clyde View Holiday Park opposite the shopping centre at Batehaven. The chairs are also next to Corrigans Reserve where the accessible playground is located. Phone 02 44724224 -
Broulee Surfers SLSC - Free to hire with donations welcome. Two chairs with smooth tyres available from SLS Club southern end of Heath Street, Broulee. Phone 02 4471 6657
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Moruya SLSC - Clubhouse Charles Moffitt Drive, Moruya Heads Phone: 02 44742674
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Narooma SLSC - Clubhouse Main Beach, Willcocks Avenue, Narooma 02 44761745
Tuross Beach Holiday Park - also offers a beach wheelchair. Bookings are required, please call (02) 44738236 - Malabar Beach (Randwick) - Permanent Wheelchair Access with Mobi matting.
- Beach wheelchairs are available to hire at:
- Bermagui Surf Life Saving Club - 0459 238 442, www.bermaguisls.org.au
- Bilgola Surf Life Saving Club -soft balloon tyre wheelchair – bookings required, 02 9918 2337 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Collaroy Beach Reserve - beach lifeguards 02 9982 9261, both freewheeler and submersible each chairs available, there is also an accessible change table with adult change table and hoist using the MLAK key
- Coffs Harbour - Coffs Harbour City Council 02 6648 4000, ask for the Life Guard (1 chair, free), Coffs Harbour Yacht Club, 02 6652 4390, (1 chair no pre-bookings), Northcott Society, 02 6651 2366, (1 chair, hire fee and a deposit applies for non Northcott clients), Chairs available at Park Beach Surf Club 02 6652 9870, Sawtell Surf Lifesaving Club 02 6653 2164
- Cronulla - http://www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au/Community/Community-Support-Services/Beach-Wheelchair/Beach-Wheelchair-Requests, bookings can be made on 02 9544 5399
- Manly - free loan of beach wheelchair available from the lifeguard at South Steyne Surf Pavillion, 02 9976 1497
- Bondi - accessible promenade, beach access by ramps, accessible toilet facilities at Bondi Pavilion using MLAK key, beach wheelchair available from lifeguard
- Northern Beaches - freewheeler chair available, ramp access and can be booked through Newport Surf Life Saving Club 02 9997 6274 weekends
02 0418 628 362 weekdays This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Newcastle & Central Coast – Cooks Hills Surf Life Saving Club has a Lasher sports beach wheelchair and a sling and hoist
In Victoria, you have access to accessible equipment at the following beaches:
- Altona Beach – there is accessible beach matting which is laid down 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, there is a sandcruiser and mobi-chair accessible beach wheelchair, as well as accessible bathroom, shower, change room and parking
- Mordialloc Beach – there is accessible beach matting, parking and a bathroom
- Mornington Peninsula - you have access to a sandcruiser and hippocampe beach wheelchair, as well as a sandpiper kid’s beach wheelchair. There is also an accessible bathroom, shower and changeroom
- Both St Kilda Beach and South Melbourne have accessible beach matting and a Mobi-chair accessible wheelchair
- Williamstown Beach – has 24x7 beach matting, accessible facilities and a Mobi-chair wheelchair
- Hobsons Bay - Beach walking frames are available to hire. The frames can be collected at Altona and Williamstown Beaches on Saturdays and Sundays, from 12 pm to 5 pm throughout summer. Hobsons Bay City Council website lists all the accessible facilities available in their area.
- Lorne - Approx 50m of Mobi-matting during Summer 24 hours per day. Outdoor shower next to toilet block that is wheelchair accessible. Free Hoist – BYO Sling, both chair and hoist can be booked at Make a Booking and are available for hours that Lifeguards patrol the beaches.
In Queensland, you have access to accessible equipment at the following beaches:
- North Burleigh Heads and Port Douglas have accessible beach matting
- Southport has a floating pontoon and two sandcruiser wheelchairs, as well as matting
- Mowbray Park at Burleigh Heads has matting, parking, an accessible bathroom at the Surf Life Saving Club and access to a floating and sandpiper beach wheelchair (contact IDEAS for more information on booking as there are different stipulations and people to contact)
- Now offer wheelchair access at Burleigh Heads, Kurrawa Beach, Nobby Beach, North Burleigh, Southport, Southport Broadwater Parklands (Aqua Splash), Tallebudgera, and Tallebudgera Creek. The City of Gold Coast information on accessible beaches website lists further details on bookings and facilities.
- Sunshine Coast - Kings, Coolum, Mooloolaba and Alexandra Headland.
- Bundaberg - Nielson's, Elliott Heads and Moore Park Beach. Sand wheelchairs, Floating wheelchairs.
South Australia
- Seacliff Beach has access to a Mobi-chair and slat type access platform.
- Henley beach - Changing Places facility, including adult changing space. Beach matting will now be available 24 hours a day and free hire of beach wheelchairs for half days. Details on Accessibility are available through City of Charles Sturt.
Western Australia
- Have upgraded Beach Trekker chairs which are now available through Quindalup Sea Rescue Centre via the Dunsborough Visitor Centre on 08 9755 3517 and Equinox Café on 08 9752 4641. Busselton Foreshore, Bunker bay and Old Dunsborough Beach have beach access ramps installed.
For the latest on beach accessibility across Australia
New wheelchair beaches in Australia
Do you need help finding with your accessible travel plans? Contact IDEAS on 1800 029 904 or visit www.ideas.org.au
IDEAS does information so you can do life.
