Rye Ocean Beach lies 4 km due south of the more quiescent Rye Bay Beach. The beach is accessed via Sandy Beach Road, with a signposted road leading to a large car park. The beach is located inside the Mornington Peninsula National Park, and natural sand dunes back the length of this 4 km long beach. Foot tracks also lead to the beach from the St Andrews settlement at the eastern end, and at Orr Point at the western end.
The beach faces southwest and receives waves averaging 1.8 m. These produce large persistent rips every 300 m, with permanent rips against the rocks and reefs below the car park.
Swimming
A hazardous beach dominated by a wide surf zone with rips, rocks and reefs. Use extreme care if bathing here; stay close inshore on the bar and well clear of the above hazards.
Surfing
There are a number of reef breaks along the beach including at the rocks in front of the car park, which produces lefts and rights; at Sunset Rocks towards St Andrews; and Snatches toward Orr Point; together with beach breaks elsewhere.
Fishing
There are excellent permanent rip holes against the car park rocks, together with persistent rip holes and gutters along the length of the beach.
General
An exposed beach backed by sand dunes and fronted by a wide, energetic, rip and reef dominated surf. Only for experienced surfers.
Carpark
Type: Formal parking area Surface: Sealed Spaces: 200
Please Note – SLSA provides this information as a guide only. Surf conditions are variable and therefore this information should not be relied upon as a substitute for observation of local conditions and an understanding of your abilities in the surf. SLSA reminds you to always swim between the red and yellow flags and never swim at unpatrolled beaches. SLSA takes all care and responsibility for any translation but it cannot guarantee that all translations will be accurate.