Swimming through Princes pIEr
Places we swim
The Pier
Princes pier is a historic pier on Melbourne's Port Phillip Bay which was constructed between 1912 and 1915, with public access closed in the 90's due to fire making the pier unsound. Part of the pier was restored in 2006, and although restored, the pier is no longer in use but remains as a memorial to the part it played in Melbourne's history as the major port for Post War migrant arrivals. Only the first 196m of the pier has been fully restored with the remaining pylons left as a reminder of what was originally there.
The Swim
There is a sandy beach access to the water along side of the pier, but for something a little further, you can park at Sandridge Beach and swim north approximately 900m towards the pier from the Life Saving Club, swimming parallel to the beach. When you get to the pier you will then be able to swim alongside the pier and if you're game, through the pylons, with water depth close to 30m in some parts.
Things to look for
Be mindful of the conditions as you do not want to get too close to the pier or pylons if the water is choppy, but this is a bay swim so the water is relatively calm at most times. During the summer the area is known to have some jet skis motoring around, so be mindful to be visible and always keep an eye on them incase they're not watching.
After the swim
The area is close to Beacon Cove where there are restaurants and cafes for a late breakfast or coffee after your swim.
Open Water/Summer, 2016 9