Explore what Sandy Point and the surrounding region has to offer
Here's a list of places that we've tried and recommend.
Sandy Point
The Surf Club serves Fish and Chips and Pizza's over the summer months. It's basic but does the trick if you can't be bothered cooking. The outdoor area has great views over the beach and of Wilson's Prom in the distance.
Taya's Coffee van is the place for a coffee (near the General Store). Taya makes some of the best coffee from a van we've ever had. This is also a local meeting place. Unsurprisingly, expect a queue over the holiday periods.
Fish Creek
The jewel in the crown here is the Fish Creek Pub. There's a good range of pubs classics and specials, along with a good selection of beers and local wines. Bookings are required over the holiday periods. We're frequent visitors the pub.
The cafe across the road ('Long John Pickle') is also good for lunch and there's a couple of decent lunch options up near the Post Office.
Fish Creek is 15 mins drive from Sandy Point.
Waratah Hills Vineyard
The Waratah Hills Vineyard serves coffee, cake & wine tastings from 10am. Lunch is from 11.30am till 3pm. Bookings are appreciated. The Vineyard is 15 mins from Sandy Point.
Meeniyan
There's a couple of great dining options here and you can get a great coffee.
Mahob at Moo's serves Aussie classics during the day and modern Cambodian at night. It's well appointed and a delightful place for a meal.
Trulli Outdoors serves the best wood fired gourmet pizzas for far and wide and has a good selection of local craft beers. Its pastries are excellent. Over summer, it has a lovely outdoor dining area.
For coffee, The Meeniyan Store, knocks the ball out of the park. On par with the best barista made coffee you'll get in inner Melbourne. It's a good pity stop for lunch as well. There's also a bakery across the street.
Meeniyan is 30 mins drive from Sandy Point.
Foster
We recommend two cafes here - The Kitchen Table and Bohnny's Cafe (both on the Main Street) are open for breakfast and lunch and serve good coffee and tasty meals. We've eaten at both multiple times.
Foster is 20 mins drive from Sandy Point
Walkerville
Over the summer months, the Walky Kiosk in the caravan park serves excellent burgers (including a veggie burger), fish and chips and toasties. It's well worth checking out if you're over there.
Walkerville is 15mins drive from Sandy Point.
Sandy Point is a quiet coastal village for most of the year, offering beautiful beaches, stunning sunsets, and a relaxed pace of life.
General Store
The Sandy Point General Store is open until 6pm daily. Fresh bread is often available at the front of the store, but it sells out fast — get there before 10am if you want to grab a loaf. The store also has a bottle shop stocking local wines, beers, and spirits.
Important: There is no ATM in Sandy Point. If you need cash (e.g. for the tennis courts), the nearest ATMs are in Foster.
Surf Club
Volunteers open up the bar over summer, and you're welcome to drop in as a guest to enjoy a drink, food, (and occasional live music). See the Best Places to Eat section on the Places to Visit page.
Sandy Point Electric Community Bus
Details on the volunteer-run electric community bus can be found here.. Bookings should be 24 hours in advance and a small donation is requested for the fare.
In addition to being a great place to fish and wind surf, Shallow Inlet (5 minutes drive from Sandy Point) is globally famous as a speed sailing paradise. Known to enthusiasts as "The Pit," the unique geography of Shallow Inlet creates perfectly flat water and consistent winds that have powered some of the fastest sailing runs in history.
In March 2009, the Australian craft Macquarie Innovation made history here, becoming the first sailing vessel in the world to officially average over 50 knots (93 km/h) over a 500-metre course.
This built on a legacy started in 1993, when the Yellow Pages Endeavour set a world record of 46.52 knots at the same spot—a record that stood for 11 years.
Situated further along Waratah Bay, Walkerville has a distinctly different feel to Sandy Point. Sitting on the edge of the Cape Liptrap National Park, its combination of rocky coastline, bushland, and historic features gives it a quieter, more secluded character. We always take visitors here for a walk along the beach to the Kiln's (during low tide).
See the Hiking section on the Activities page for details on walks in the area.
Walkerville South Beach is a sheltered bay with clear water, rock pools, and views across to Wilsons Promontory. This is the safest beach in the area for very young children.
Once the site of an active lime-burning industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, remnants of the impressive kilns can still be seen along the shoreline.
Walkerville is 15 mins drive from Sandy Point.
Originally a dairy farming town, Fish Creek has a well-established arts scene, several places to eat and drink, and a relaxed country atmosphere. The Fish Creek Hotel, recognisable by the giant mullet sculpture on its roof, is a landmark in the centre of town.
The Fish Creek Pub
The Fish Creek Hotel bistro serves dinner and lunch and is one of the best places to eat in the area. Booking ahead online is recommended as it fills up over summer and weekends. The pub also has a bottle shop on site.
The town has other cafes which are also popular. See the Best Places to Eat section on the Places to Visit page.
Galleries & Shopping
Fish Creek has several galleries along its main street, including the Celia Rosser Gallery (botanical art), the Alison Lester Gallery (children's author and illustrator), and Ride the Wild Goat (furniture and sculptures made from salvaged timber). Specialty shops sell homewares, books, photography, and handcrafted gifts.
Local Produce
Local producers in and around the town sell cheeses, honey, olive oil, and cool-climate wines. Waratah Hills Vineyard, just outside town, offers wine tasting and a restaurant overlooking the vines.
Great Southern Rail Trail
The Great Southern Rail Trail passes through Fish Creek. The section from Fish Creek to Foster (about 12km) runs through pine forests and fern gullies with views toward Wilsons Promontory. The trail can be accessed from Pearl Park in the centre of town.
Mt Nicoll Lookout
Mt Nicoll Lookout is a short, steep 15-minute climb from the car park, located just out of town toward Foster. The summit has views across to Wilsons Promontory and the surrounding farmland.
Fish Creek is about 15 minutes' drive from Sandy Point.
Historically associated with dairy farming and agriculture, Foster now functionals as a key service town to the surrounding coastal areas and Wilson's Prom.
Foster is the closest sizeable town to Sandy Point to stock up on essentials. The town hosts two supermarkets, a pharmacy, bakery, butchers, fish shop. Also an Op shop and vintage shop. The closest vet is located in Foster.
Food & Drink
Dining options include a couple of decent cafes and a bakery providing breakfast and lunch (see the Places to Eat section on this page). Some venues feature locally sourced produce from the South Gippsland region.
Great Southern Rail Trail
The Great Southern Rail Trail passes through Foster and is accessible from the town centre. The section between Foster and Fish Creek (approximately 12 km) passing through farmland, bushland, and low hills.
Foster is about 20 mins drive from Sandy Point
Wilsons Promontory National Park is one of the best national parks in Australia, known for its spectacular coastal landscapes, granite mountain ranges, and diverse ecosystems. The park features a network of walking tracks ranging from short walks to multi-day hikes, including routes to locations such as Squeaky Beach, Mount Oberon, and Sealers Cove. Inland areas consist of forests, heathland, and wetlands that support native wildlife including kangaroos, wombats, emus, and a variety of bird species.
The Prom Wildlife Walk is popular for first time visitors. It's an easy stroll and you're almost guaranteed to see some of the Proms iconic animals.
Squeaky Beach has been described as one of the world's best and is well worth the short walk to visit it.
See the Hiking section on the Activities page for details on our favourite walks in the Prom.
Facilities are concentrated around Tidal River, which provides camping and visitor services, making it a central base for exploring the park. The Park gets very busy during the holiday periods and attracts visitors from around the world.
Tidal River is 55mins drive from Sandy Point and entry to the National Park is free. Go prepared - hat, sun screen, bug spray, water, rain jacket, jumper and fully charged mobile.
While the surrounding district remains strongly agricultural, Meeniyan has developed a reputation for attracting artists, makers, and small-scale producers. The town regularly hosts markets, live music, and community events that contribute to its relaxed, inclusive atmosphere.
See the Places to Eat section for details on Meeniyan’s excellent culinary options.
The town is a key staging point on The Great Southern Rail Trail and E-Bikes can be hired here. The sections to Fish Creek and to Leongatha are the two of the most scenic sections on the trail.
Meeniyan is 30 mins drive from Sandy Point.