Accessible beaches

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Council is working in partnership with the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA) and others, such as local Surf Life Saving Clubs, to improve access to our beaches.

Beach wheelchairs and matting are available at a number of locations in the Surf Coast Shire, to help more of community enjoy our beautiful beaches.

Read more about GORCAPA's Accessible Beaches Initiatives.

Below is the list of locations for beach accessible wheelchairs, beach accessible matting, plus other supporting resources.

All wheelchair hire is free. Please contact the relevant hiring partner listed below for more information or to book.

Torquay

Accessible Beaches Initiative at Fishermans Beach

In partnership with Life Saving Victoria and a number of local Life Saving Clubs, the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA) is delivering an Accessible Beaches initiative at Fishermans Beach.

Facilities include:

  • Beach access matting 
  • Disabled parking  
  • Disabled toilet  
  • Liberty Swing – key and access instructions required, please email info@greatoceanroadauthority.vic.gov.au
  • Beach wheelchair hire – bookings are essential 

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Sandcruiser wheelchair

Beach accessible wheelchair hire at Go Ride A Wave

Hire of a Sandcruiser wheelchair is free from Go Ride A Wave, located at 1/15 Bell St, Torquay. The Sandcruiser has large balloon-like tyres, which make for easy access on soft sand and in shallow water and is ideal for people who have limited mobility. For further information about the Sandcruiser Beach wheelchair visit www.sandcruiser.com.au.

Users will require at least one support person to push the chair and you must read the safety procedures and sign a Loan Agreement and Indemnity Agreement prior to use.

Bookings are essential and should be made at least 24 hours in advance. Call Go Ride A Wave on 1300 132 441 or book online now

Beach accessible wheelchair hire at Torquay Angling Club

In partnership with Jan Juc SLSC, a Mobi-Chair beach accessible wheelchair is available free to hire at Torquay Angling Club, Fisherman’s Beach, 48 the Esplanade, Torquay.

The Mobi-Chair is a high-quality amphibious, floating beach wheelchair. Read about the Mobi-Chair.

Bookings are essential and should be made at least 24 hours in advance.

To book through the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA), email: info@greatoceanroadauthority.vic.gov.au or call 1300 736 533.

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Mobi-Chairs

Beach accessible wheelchair hire at Torquay Surf Life Saving Club

A Sandcruiser beach accessible wheelchair is available free to hire at Torquay SLSC, Surf Beach Drive, Torquay.

Bookings are essential and should be made 24 hours in advance; however, for weekend usage, ensure you call Monday to Friday to secure your weekend booking.

To book, email info@torquayslsc.com.au or call 5261 4110, 9am-5pm Monday to Friday.

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Sandcruiser wheelchair

Fisherman's Beach access matting 

40 metres of beach access matting is in place at Fisherman's Beach, 48 the Esplanade Torquay.

Installed by Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA), the matting provides a stable pathway for people with crutches, walking sticks, wheelchairs, walking frames and prams to safely cross the softer sand. It also looks to offer an alternative to people entering the beach from the boat ramp.

Please note that the beach is not patrolled and swimming or entry to the water is not recommended.

For more information, please contact Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA), on 1300 736 533 or by emailing info@greatoceanroadauthority.vic.gov.au

Anglesea

Accessible Beaches Initiative at Anglesea Riverbank

In partnership with Life Saving Victoria and a number of local Life Saving Clubs, the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA) is delivering an Accessible Beaches initiative at Anglesea Riverbank.

Facilities include:

  • Beach wheelchair hire 
  • Riverside access matting, which is located in a quiet space suitable for those that may experience sensory overload at busy locations
  • Disabled parking
  • Disabled toilet
  • Changing Place (MLAK key required)

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Aussie Beach Wheelchair and the Hippocampe Children's Wheelchair

Beach accessible wheelchair hire at YMCA Anglesea 

There are three types of beach accessible wheelchairs available to hire from the YMCA Anglesea Recreation Camp, located at 1535 Great Ocean Road, Anglesea. They are the Sandcruiser Wheelchair, the Aussie Beach Wheelchair and the Hippocampe Children's Wheelchair.

All chairs are available for hire year round; however, pickup must occur between 9am to 3pm Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. You will need a large van, ute with a tray, or small trailer to transport the chairs safely. Chairs must be returned clean and any damage must be reported to YMCA staff.

Please call 03 5263 1512 or email anglesea@ymca.org.au between Monday and Friday to make a booking.

Anglesea Changing Places Facility 

Changing Places facilities are large public toilets with full sized change tables and hoists for people with high support needs and their carers.

The facility is located at Four Kings Carpark, next to the public car park and toilet block, 78 Great Ocean Road, Anglesea. Open 24 hours, users can access with their own MLAK key.

The facility is managed by the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA). Phone: 1300 736 533 or email: info@greatoceanroadauthority.vic.gov.au.

For more information, please see the Surf Coast Shire Changing Places webpage.

Lorne

Accessible Beaches Initiative at Lorne Beach

In partnership with Life Saving Victoria and a number of local Life Saving Clubs, the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA) is delivering an Accessible Beaches initiative at Lorne Beach.

Facilities include:

  • Beach wheelchair and hoist (bookings required two business days prior)
  • Beach access matting
  • Disabled parking
  • Disabled toilet

Two beach wheelchairs parked in front of a Starfish Nippers sign

Mobi-Chairs

Beach accessible wheelchair and hoist hire

A Mobi-Chair is available for free hire from Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA), which is located adjacent to the Lorne Surf Lifesaving Club on Mountjoy Parade, Lorne. The Mobi-Chair provides seamless transitions from the car park, to the beach, and into the ocean and is the only floating beach wheelchair tested and approved under the requirements of the Australian Standard.

A hoist is available on site; however, you will need to provide your own sling. Users will require the assistance of one or more carers to access the wheelchair and for water safety.

Due to Covid-19, increased cleaning and hygiene protocols apply and the chair may not be available at all times. 

Booking are essential at least two business days prior to use. Call 1300 736 533 or email info@greatoceanroadauthority.vic.gov.au to book. 

Lorne Beach access matting

Installed by Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA), beach matting provides a stable pathway for people with crutches, walking sticks, wheelchairs, walking frames and prams to safely cross the softer sand.

40 metres of beach access matting is in place, located adjacent to Lorne Surf Lifesaving Club. 

For more information, please contact Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA) directly: 1300 736 533 or info@greatoceanroadauthority.vic.gov.au.

Jan Juc

Beach accessible wheelchair hire at Jan Juc Surf Life Saving Club

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Mobi-Chair

A Mobi-Chair beach accessible wheelchair is available free to hire at Jan Juc Surf Life Saving Club, 10 Clubhouse Road, Jan Juc.

The Mobi-Chair is a high-quality amphibious, floating beach wheelchair. Read about the Mobi-Chair.

The Jan Juc Surf Life Saving Club Mobi-Chair is reserved for use at the Jan Juc beach and cannot be transported to other locations. Surf Life Saving club volunteers are responsible for the loan of the chair only and do not provide supporting/caring roles.

The Mobi-Chair is available during beach patrol hours. Refer to Beachsafe App | SLSA Beachsafe

Bookings are essential and should be made at least 24 hours in advance. To book call 0475 265 820 or email the office on info@janjucsurfclub.com.au

Office Hours: Tues: 10am - 3pm and Thurs: 10am - 5pm.