McCrae: Beach, Bay Trail and history

McCrae offers a range of ways to spend your days away: the expansive McCrae Beach, the shared Bay Trail and stories ranging from seafaring to McCrae Homestead. This mix helps you choose the focus of your stay—with time by the water, getting around on foot or by bike, and historical themes. When choosing a holiday rental, you can consider which experiences matter most to your trip.

Beach, water sports and seasonal camping

McCrae Beach stretches for several kilometres from Anthony’s Nose to Rosebud. It is considered one of the better beaches on this stretch of the Port Phillip coast. Swimming and stand-up paddleboarding are possible activities here. If you plan to swim, check local conditions first.

Camping in the Foreshore Reserve is available annually from the last weekend in October to the last weekend in April. The camping area lies between the main road and the beach, stretching from Anthony’s Nose in McCrae to Chinaman’s Creek in Capel Sound (Rosebud West). If your stay falls within this period, check the council’s latest information before you travel.

On foot or by bike along the Bay Trail

The Bay Trail passes through McCrae and is a shared path for pedestrians and cyclists. This offers another way to experience the area alongside beach activities: you can use the trail on foot or by bike. This gives your day a different focus from swimming or stand-up paddleboarding, with the journey along the trail itself taking centre stage.

Lighthouse and homestead tell the story of the area

The McCrae Lighthouse, also known as the Eastern Shore Light, guided ships through the South Channel of Port Phillip for more than a century. It was decommissioned in 1994. Its history reflects the earlier navigation of this waterway and provides a maritime point of reference alongside the area’s other historical themes.

McCrae Homestead offers a different historical perspective. The lawyer Andrew McCrae and his wife Georgiana, an artist, built it in 1844. At the property, the visitor centre displays photographs, artefacts and items belonging to the Burrell-Twycross family, who lived at the homestead from 1851 to 1926. The two stories have different emphases: the lighthouse is about its former role in shipping, while the homestead tells of its construction and the family history that followed.

Choose the right focus for your holiday rental

If you’d like to include the Bay Trail or historical sites in your plans, give these interests the weight you prefer. You can choose a holiday rental to suit your days away based on the experiences that matter to you.

Discover more destinations: Carrum Downs, Merricks, Taradale, Dunkeld, Tinamba, Alma, Thomastown and Skye.

For the broader travel overview: Victoria.