Accessible Beaches, Accessible Changing spaces and Toilets
Victoria’s surf coast is an ideal weekend escape, with plenty of things to see and do, and now, many of our local beaches are now even more accessible. Beaches in Anglesea, Lorne, Torquay and Jan Juc all have different types of accessibility options including different beach matting, wheelchair hire and hoists available. Things such as “Changing Places” change rooms and toilet facilities are available in Anglesea, Torquay and Winchelsea.
Beach accessible wheelchairs can be hired for free through the various companies. I have listed a few below who specialise in mobility equipment.
- The Mobi-Chair Floating Beach wheelchair
- Sandcruiser Beach Chair
- Hippocampe Children’s Wheelchair
Supported Leisure and Travel activities
If you have the funds through your NDIS plan, and your support goals align with it, another way to enjoy your summer holidays is to consider participating in supported leisure travel activities** with a support worker. This can be fun, creative, and they offer a range of social activities designed to help you with your social skills, form new friendships, (or reconnect with old friends) and build up your overall confidence in travelling.
Gary Elliot and Cathy Boyce are National NDIS registered licenced travel agents who own an award-winning inclusive Melbourne based travel company called Leisure Options. They specialise in helping many adults with disabilities reach their supported travel goals in Australia and overseas. They have been in business for over 30 years and have hosted over 70 yearly group travel tours. They have a full-time registered nurse on staff and over 12 key tour leaders who are highly trained to ensure that every trip goes smoothly. They do many Melbourne based holidays, and numbers are always kept low.
Their team understands the importance of letting someone with a disability have choice and control to plan their own holiday destination and activities, always with their needs and wants carefully considered..not to mention the positive impact travel has on the participants' mental health.
Gary says the key to having a good holiday experience is the logistics and planning. If it’s done well and planned thoroughly, it will be great for everyone involved.
“We always get to see the best version of that person [on their holidays and trips] because, they've chosen to go away on holidays, they've chosen their own holiday, and they wanna be there. So my advice would be not to go to standard regular travel agent because they will not understand the logistics and challenges that the person will face if they're going to be embarking on a trip on their own.”
Gary says that they understand the nuances and challenges of booking things such as specialist accommodation with accessible bathrooms, or slightly wider door entrances to accommodate someone's mobiilty aids, or accomdation with fewer stairs, or lift access.
“Often the key to organising our types of travel experiences is just giving people that extra time…take things at a slower pace, better to have too much time than not enough."
For example, if someone has anxiety, Leisure Options will program a mixture of activities into someone's travel plans to promote calm first before excitement, it prepares them in advance for that experience, and their heightened responses or emotions are lessened if we take those sorts of things into consideration. "It makes the whole thing run smoother, more efficiently, " Gary says.
** Note: the NDIS does NOT cover travel costs such as accommodation, flights, meals or activities. These expenses must be covered by you or your family.
Don’t get Locked Out – Get a MLAK
Another thing that may be handy when it comes to accessing places such as public changing spaces, is a MLAK key. A MLAK Key is a Master Locksmiths Access Key. These can be ordered through the Master Locksmiths Association of Australasia.
In Victoria and South Australia, every Companion Card holder is entitled to their own MLAK key. It allows you to access various "Changing Places" and public toilets 24/7, and the key comes in handy if the one you need is locked.
Don’t get caught out either, trying to find a bathroom when you’re out and about. There is now a very good online map that you can access to find your nearest public toilet. The National Public Toilet Map has been produced as part of the National Continence Program, and it is a game changer for those long car journeys.
Frankston Beach
Frankston beach is fast becoming Australia’s most popular accessible suburban beach. A trial is underway now until 28 February 2026 in Melbourne over our summer, thanks to Accessible Beaches Australia and Frankston City Council. Modelled around a beach in Antibes, France, it will allow people with wheelchairs to experience what our beaches are like. There will be special matting placed on the beach, and accessible wheelchairs available for all to use.
The beach is easily accessible and has a 500-metre long pier, suitable for a spot of fishing. The beach features three metre wide raised timber boardwalks, walking tracks, playgrounds, barbecue areas and safe, shallow water swimming areas.
Nearby is also the popular 5km walking track Seaford Foreshore Reserve, with plenty to explore as well, including play equipment, public amenities, and places to picnic.
Accessible Water parks, Swimming Pools and Water Leisure activities
For a different leisure activity, there’s accessible cable wakeboarding in Bangholme, in southeast of Melbourne just 35 minutes from Melbourne's CBD. They run classes on selected afternoons during the school terrm.
Cable wakeboarding allows you to wakeboard or kneeboard without a boat. A overhead cable system pulls riders around the lake. Riders grab a handle, take off from the start dock and complete laps of the lake. There are strategically placed obstacles around the lake.
Sailability
Sailability has several locations around Melbourne and regional Victoria including Shepparton, Newhaven, Mornington, Mordialloc, Gippsland, Lilydale, Blairgowrie, Bendigo and Albert Park.
No matter what your ability level, anyone can learn to drive their sailing boats, called Hansas. They are accessible with a C crane, and slings are available for getting in and out of the boat. They have evenly weighted keels, for even stability. You can join public classes, have a private booking, or bring your own group of six people or more. You can even sail with a support worker.
Fun Fields and local public community pools
Fun Fields in Whittlesea will keep you busy all day with their zero depth entry pools, a heated lazy river and wave pool. They also have accessible changing spaces.
Many of our wonderful public pools and community centres have accessible features such as hoists, beach entries, "Changing Places" change rooms, water wheelchairs, ramps, sensory areas and much more.
Locations include:
- Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC)
- Brunswick Baths, Watermarc Greensborough, Northcote Aquatic Centre
- Brimbank Aquatic and Wellness Centre
- Kensington Aquatic and Recreation Centre.
MSAC also has a wave pool, hydrotherapy and cold plunge pool.
Our team also visited the Mill Park all abilities play space and splash park earlier in the year, which was great fun for accessible playground activities and water play.
Lotus Flower ponds and more
Another place you might wish to visit is the Blue Lotus Water Gardens in Yarra Junction. Wander over the boardwalks to see the beautiful lillies over the various ponds. They are open from Boxing Day (December 26th 2025) though until April 19th 2026.
There are plenty of barbeque areas, (you can take your own food, for a picnic, or dine in their cafe) There are many accessible shaded picnic spots / huts / pavilions.
Children under 15 years are admitted for free and there are kids playgrounds. Ring ahead if you wish to hire wheelchairs to use for the day. There are numerous children’s activities happening over the summer holidays. You can find out more here.
Further Resources
My CP Guide have also got a page in their website to Accessible beaches and other activities you can find here.
If you've found some summer holiday splash fun in your local area that's accessible, let us know via our Facebook or Instagram page. We'd love to add it to our list and share it with our community. Enjoy the upcoming warmer weather, stay safe and have fun! Remember, we're here to help. Contact us any time via email: cpsn@cpsn.org.au
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