Rae's Guidebook

Rae
Rae's Guidebook

Beaches

There are 3 beaches at Cape - the bay beach is really safe and calm so perfect for little kids, SUPs and it is known for good snorkelling. It also has a man made swimming/ rock pool that the kids absolutely love, good fishing and discovering what lies underneath all those rocks!
11 locals recommend
Cape Paterson Bay Beach
16 Bay Beach Rd
11 locals recommend
There are 3 beaches at Cape - the bay beach is really safe and calm so perfect for little kids, SUPs and it is known for good snorkelling. It also has a man made swimming/ rock pool that the kids absolutely love, good fishing and discovering what lies underneath all those rocks!
Cape Paterson Surf Beach is fun with its waves and is pretty safe (usually no rips). The surf beach is patrolled and always a hit with teenagers for boogie boarding, surfing or having fun diving under the waves. Younger kids love climbing elephant rock and playing in the pools below.
7 locals recommend
Cape Paterson Surf Life Saving Club
15 Legge Way
7 locals recommend
Cape Paterson Surf Beach is fun with its waves and is pretty safe (usually no rips). The surf beach is patrolled and always a hit with teenagers for boogie boarding, surfing or having fun diving under the waves. Younger kids love climbing elephant rock and playing in the pools below.
The Channel Beach at Cape Paterson is a real favorite of ours especially in the winter as it’s quite protected. It’s a small, 50 m long beach fronted by a near continuous intertidal rock platform, with just a narrow, 5 m wide, straight channel through the centre of the platform. It is located inbetwen the Bay and Surf beaches. At low tide our teenagers love jumping off the rocks into the channel (as pictured)... This beach is really rocky so when they’re not swimming they enjoy building very tall Cairns. For the experienced surfer there is a right hand reef break off the platform that is very popular with the locals. A popular fishing spot with excellent rock platforms and of course the channel itself.
17 locals recommend
Cape Paterson
17 locals recommend
The Channel Beach at Cape Paterson is a real favorite of ours especially in the winter as it’s quite protected. It’s a small, 50 m long beach fronted by a near continuous intertidal rock platform, with just a narrow, 5 m wide, straight channel through the centre of the platform. It is located inbetwen the Bay and Surf beaches. At low tide our teenagers love jumping off the rocks into the channel (as pictured)... This beach is really rocky so when they’re not swimming they enjoy building very tall Cairns. For the experienced surfer there is a right hand reef break off the platform that is very popular with the locals. A popular fishing spot with excellent rock platforms and of course the channel itself.
Second Surf Beach. For many years our kids have running and jumping and sliding down the several hundred meters of sand dunes pictured here ( as young adults they still love it)! It’s accessed via the car park at the top of Surf beach road (or a track from the Surf life saving club) and is 2 km long so makes for a great beach walk. This beach has permanent rips every 250m with ticks and reef so makes for some pretty dangerous swimming. Surfing; A popular spot that works with a moderate to large outside swell, with best conditions over the reefs at high tide. Fishing; Cape Paterson's best beach for beach fishing, with persistent rip holes and gutters, together with reefs close inshore.
17 locals recommend
Cape Paterson
17 locals recommend
Second Surf Beach. For many years our kids have running and jumping and sliding down the several hundred meters of sand dunes pictured here ( as young adults they still love it)! It’s accessed via the car park at the top of Surf beach road (or a track from the Surf life saving club) and is 2 km long so makes for a great beach walk. This beach has permanent rips every 250m with ticks and reef so makes for some pretty dangerous swimming. Surfing; A popular spot that works with a moderate to large outside swell, with best conditions over the reefs at high tide. Fishing; Cape Paterson's best beach for beach fishing, with persistent rip holes and gutters, together with reefs close inshore.
A short drive away is one of our favourite beaches -Shack Bay. Lovely beach and great for snorkelling, swimming & surfing ( check condition for each).
13 locals recommend
Shack Bay
600 Cape Paterson-Inverloch Rd
13 locals recommend
A short drive away is one of our favourite beaches -Shack Bay. Lovely beach and great for snorkelling, swimming & surfing ( check condition for each).

Walk/ Cycle/ Tennis/ Basketball

There's a cliff top walk which is worthwhile, and is pram and bike friendly). There’s also a nice walk through the sustainability/ eco village which is also interesting (you can do a loop and again very pram and bike friendly).
17 locals recommend
Cape Paterson
17 locals recommend
There's a cliff top walk which is worthwhile, and is pram and bike friendly). There’s also a nice walk through the sustainability/ eco village which is also interesting (you can do a loop and again very pram and bike friendly).
The Bass Coast Rail Trail has been constructed along a section of the former Wonthaggi line. The trail starts at the former Anderson station and finishes shortly after the former Wonthaggi Station. The trail is 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) long and travels from Anderson heading towards the coast downhill to Kilcunda where you will see the iconic bridge and heads along coastal sand dunes into the open farmland surrounding Wonthaggi. You can walk or cycle and do all or part of the trail - for more info visit: https://www.railtrails.org.au/trail?view=trail&id=143
15 locals recommend
Wonthaggi
15 locals recommend
The Bass Coast Rail Trail has been constructed along a section of the former Wonthaggi line. The trail starts at the former Anderson station and finishes shortly after the former Wonthaggi Station. The trail is 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) long and travels from Anderson heading towards the coast downhill to Kilcunda where you will see the iconic bridge and heads along coastal sand dunes into the open farmland surrounding Wonthaggi. You can walk or cycle and do all or part of the trail - for more info visit: https://www.railtrails.org.au/trail?view=trail&id=143
Free tennis courts are at Cape Paterson and if you would like a hit there are some rackets (and hopefully balls) stored under the house. There is also basketball courts next to the courts (BYO Basketball).
Cape Paterson Tennis and Basketball Courts
566 Cape Paterson Rd
Free tennis courts are at Cape Paterson and if you would like a hit there are some rackets (and hopefully balls) stored under the house. There is also basketball courts next to the courts (BYO Basketball).

Local Parks

This park is just around the corner from the house (Park Parade) with kids equipment and a cricket pitch (there is a cricket set at the house). There’s also a fantastic park on the foreshore too with fantastic climbing equipment and bbq facilities etc (at top of boat ramp).
17 locals recommend
Cape Paterson
17 locals recommend
This park is just around the corner from the house (Park Parade) with kids equipment and a cricket pitch (there is a cricket set at the house). There’s also a fantastic park on the foreshore too with fantastic climbing equipment and bbq facilities etc (at top of boat ramp).
The Cape Playground

Food scene

Cape Paterson Tavern- Don’t leave without eating here (yum!) - great food, a fantastic place to eat and/ or have a few drinks and you can easily walk home. You will need to book on any weekend as it does book out on most weekends.
17 locals recommend
Cape Paterson
17 locals recommend
Cape Paterson Tavern- Don’t leave without eating here (yum!) - great food, a fantastic place to eat and/ or have a few drinks and you can easily walk home. You will need to book on any weekend as it does book out on most weekends.
The drive between Cape Paterson and Inverloch is just spectacular! We love to stop into the Zenith lounge at the RACV resort on top of the hill for a wine or a coffee and tapas. It has panoramic sea views with its floor to (high) ceiling windows and is a wonderful spot to relax and enjoy the view (just make sure it’s a clear day). They also do a great Buffet Breakfast.
18 locals recommend
RACV Inverloch Resort
70 Cape Paterson-Inverloch Rd
18 locals recommend
The drive between Cape Paterson and Inverloch is just spectacular! We love to stop into the Zenith lounge at the RACV resort on top of the hill for a wine or a coffee and tapas. It has panoramic sea views with its floor to (high) ceiling windows and is a wonderful spot to relax and enjoy the view (just make sure it’s a clear day). They also do a great Buffet Breakfast.
Although not a restaurant they have great cheese platters and of course wine! Often on weekends they will have a couple of yummy food trucks and a band which makes for a great afternoon.
58 locals recommend
Dirty Three Wines
64 Cashin St
58 locals recommend
Although not a restaurant they have great cheese platters and of course wine! Often on weekends they will have a couple of yummy food trucks and a band which makes for a great afternoon.
Pub with family Bistro with great food. The Calamari is usually pretty Yum! Meals are on the large size :)
23 locals recommend
Inverloch Esplanade Hotel
1 A'Beckett St
23 locals recommend
Pub with family Bistro with great food. The Calamari is usually pretty Yum! Meals are on the large size :)
Actually named Folks Coffee. We love Folks! Great vibe, Great Coffee with great breakfasts and lunches. Lovely service by lovely people.
beand
132 Graham St
Actually named Folks Coffee. We love Folks! Great vibe, Great Coffee with great breakfasts and lunches. Lovely service by lovely people.

Sightseeing

Between Cape Paterson and Inverloch there are quite a few must see beaches that make up the Bunurong National Marine Park. With a diverse range of wildlife and amazing rock formations it really is worth a wander. Take the Inverloch Rd from Cape Paterson and head towards Inverloch - you can stop at the beaches along the way. Stop at Eagles Next and climb the rocks, stop at “The Caves and check out the Caves and finally see if you can find some dinosaur fossils at “Flat Rocks” - a real dig site! We highly recommend the Dinosaur Dreaming Tour at (you can book online) Make sure you go at low tide otherwise you won’t be able to get out to Eagles Nest or explore the inside of the caves and the Flat Rocks will be covered by water if the tide is up.
15 locals recommend
Bunurong Marine National Park
15 locals recommend
Between Cape Paterson and Inverloch there are quite a few must see beaches that make up the Bunurong National Marine Park. With a diverse range of wildlife and amazing rock formations it really is worth a wander. Take the Inverloch Rd from Cape Paterson and head towards Inverloch - you can stop at the beaches along the way. Stop at Eagles Next and climb the rocks, stop at “The Caves and check out the Caves and finally see if you can find some dinosaur fossils at “Flat Rocks” - a real dig site! We highly recommend the Dinosaur Dreaming Tour at (you can book online) Make sure you go at low tide otherwise you won’t be able to get out to Eagles Nest or explore the inside of the caves and the Flat Rocks will be covered by water if the tide is up.