Take a break from the hustle and bustle of central Melbourne and head to the quiet suburbs of historic Williamstown.

Grab a coffee or lunch at one of the many cafes in the city centre, snap a photo of the distant Melbourne skyline and the retired military ship HMAS Castlemaine at Gem Pier, then take a dip at Williamstown Beach.

View the top hotels near the beaches

Historic Harbour at Gem Pier

Williamstown was established in 1837 as Melbourne's first port. This makes it one of the oldest neighbourhoods in the city.

Today, the harbour is only used by private small yachts and the only reminders of its history are an information sign at Gem Pier and a few houses with cafes and restaurants along the main street, Nelson Place.

Visit HMAS Castlemaine

An old military ship, the HMAS Castlemaine, moored at Gem Pier, served during the Second World War.

Since 1974, it has been owned by a private association which has restored the ship and now serves as a museum.

The ship is well preserved and you can find out what life was like for the crew during their service.

• Opening hours - weekends and public holidays only from 11:00 to 16:00
• Admission - adults for 10 aud, children under 15 for 5 aud
• Official website - hmascastlemaine.org.au

Walks along the sea

Williamstown is an absolutely perfect place to take long walks or play sport along the sea.

There are considerably fewer people here than on the beaches around St Kilda or South Melbourne, and the setting is in turn nicer, as the traffic on the local streets is much less.

An ideal walking circuit runs from the train terminus through Gem Pier, Point Gellibrand with its historic 1835 lighthouse (the second oldest in Victoria after Cape Otway Lighthouse) and on through the park to Williamstown Beach.

Swimming in the sea

Williamstown Beach on the southern coast of the peninsula is a great alternative to the busier beaches closer to the city centre.

The beach is ideal for families with children, as the entrance to the water is very gradual, the sea is calm and the beach surface is fine golden sand.

Around the beach you will find many restaurants, free toilets, changing rooms and showers.

Relax in the botanical garden

Next to Williamstown Beach, visit the small botanical garden, which is actually a free park open 24/7.

You can walk through the small garden in 5 minutes or have a picnic and lunch under the shade of the trees.

Hotels in Williamstown?

Would we recommend accommodation in Williamstown? If you like a very peaceful environment, then feel free!

You can get to downtown in 15 minutes by train, and Williamstown is within the city limits, so fares aren't any more expensive.

We'd recommend a superbly rated hotel set in a stylish historic building - Captains Retreat Apartments and Cottages.

How to get there

Williamstown is easily accessible by the Green Line city train, which runs from the centre (Southern Cross and Flinders Street) and continues south-east towards Frakston.

Trains to Williamstown run every 15 minutes, and in some cases in the evening or on Sundays it is necessary to change at Newport station from the Werribee line when travelling from the centre.

Find out detailed information about transport in Melbourne in our guide.

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