Sam Bloom's guide to Australia's best wheelchair accessible beaches
Three-time adaptive surfing world champion Sam Bloom reveals her favourite accessible Australian beaches.
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“For quite a long time, I loved the ocean, but I hated it at the same time because it just made me sad,” says Sam Bloom.
The three-time adaptive surfing world champion has had quite the emotional journey in her relationship to the beach since an accident rendered her paralysed from the chest down. Now with her story well-documented via two books and the 2021 film Penguin Bloom starring Naomi Watts, Sam has overcome severe depression and found a way to return to her most beloved pastime – surfing.
“When I first came home from hospital stuck in a wheelchair, it used to make me sad and angry. It was so bittersweet looking at the ocean, but not being able to run down and enjoy it. I used to say to (husband) Cam, ‘I want to go live in the desert where there’s no beach, so it’s not rubbed in my face’.”
While Sam’s access to the beach is different to many other wheelchair users – she gets to her favourite spots piggybacked by Cam – she’s happy to find more beaches along the coast catering to all abilities. On a recent trip as an ambassador for Tourism Australia, Sam and Cam discovered beaches from Tropical North Queensland to Kangaroo Island that fit the bill.
“Queensland is so awesome,” she says. “Even up in the Daintree, you’ve got all those boardwalks that lead to the beach.”
Drawing from Sam’s personal faves, we’ve rounded up six of the most accessible beaches in the country:
1. Bilgola Beach, NSW
“My favourite is Bilgola Beach because that’s where I grew up,” says Sam. “That was my happy place.”
The 500m beach is bounded by two headlands, between Newport and Avalon on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, and has a 50m accessible ocean pool built into the rocks. Bilgola Surf Life Saving Club, at the southern end of the beach, has a FreeWheeler beach wheelchair available for free hire on weekends, its soft balloon tyres able to roll easily over sand. You’ll also find a unisex accessible toilet with MLAK lock at the club.
2. Seal Bay, SA
A little off the beaten track, this beach is more about observing than making sandcastles or swimming.
“Honestly, Kangaroo Island is unreal,” says Sam. “They’ve got the most amazing walkway, like a boardwalk, which is completely accessible. It’s not too steep. You can go all the way above the beach, through the dunes, and see all the seals and it’s awesome.”
3. Jervis Bay, NSW
“We used to go down the South Coast quite a lot with the boys (Sam’s sons, Rueben, Noah and Oliver) because our friend had a house down there, near Rosedale,” says Sam. “The beaches at Jervis Bay are absolutely beautiful; the sand is so white.”
Shoalhaven Council provides beach wheelchairs for free across the region, with one of the closest at Holiday Haven Huskisson Beach. According to Julie Jones from Have Wheelchair Will Travel, Greenfield Beach in Jervis Bay National Park is one of the most accessible.
4. Byron Bay, NSW
“I do love Byron,” says Sam. “It’s really popular these days, but it’s always beautiful.” While Sam prefers the peeling surf break of The Pass, Main Beach offers the most accessible beach experience in the Byron Shire, with a Sandcruiser wheelchair available for free loan from the lifeguards during patrol times.
5. Noosa Main Beach, Qld
“Noosa is beautiful, especially with the national park right there,” Sam says. “The beaches up there are amazing.”
Adding to its boardwalk and the accessible coastal path to Boiling Pot lookout in Noosa National Park, Noosa Main Beach recently welcomed permanent beach matting, which runs to the water. The 50m Mobi-Mat connects to the access ramp in front of the surf club where you can also rent sand wheelchairs.
6. Torquay, Vic
Known as Fishos, Fishermans Beach on Victoria’s Surf Coast is more sedate than the thumping breaks nearby such as Bells Beach. You’ll find 40m of beach access matting, accessible parking and toilet, and a Liberty Swing. Sandcruiser wheelchairs are available for free from both Torquay SLSC and Go Ride a Wave, while a Mobi-Chair beach wheelchair is free to use at Torquay Angling Club.
Beach days to everyone
The relatively new national database Accessible Beaches aims to showcase and rate Aussie beaches on their accessibility merit.
It lists amenities from accessible parking to Changing Places changerooms, beach matting and wheelchairs, and direct beach access from pathways.
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Originally published as Sam Bloom's guide to Australia's best wheelchair accessible beaches
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