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Beachcombing

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Beachcombing has to be one of those natural soul healing things that you can do for yourself.

You can find yourself wandering for hours along remote beaches lost in your own thoughts and occasionally stooping to pick up a little piece of beach debris.

If you are a collector then perhaps it is the chance of finding hidden treasure, that one off unique curio or that beautiful, unblemished perfect sea shell.

Deposited by the action of the waves, wind and tides these prized beach treasures end up on a mantelpiece, bookshelf or wall.

Small curios can also be made into interesting jewelry bits to be kept, sold or given away.

"I do not know what I may appear to the world, but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the sea-shore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me."

Sir Isaac Newton, reported in Sir David Brewster, Memoirs of the Life, Writings, and Discoveries of Sir Isaac Newton (1855), Volume II. Ch. 27.

I visit one of my favorite beaches, Frankston quite often. It is one of Port Phillip Bay's prettiest beaches and a favorite for family getaways, picnics and safe swimming.

To the left of the pier and at the base of Olivers Hill is one of the best places I have found so far to beachcombe for my favorite beach treasure.

Here I usually am able to find more sea glass to add to my collection.

Beachcombing the foreshores

If you want to collect along a popular beach then make sure that you do so during the week when it is quieter or very early first thing on a Saturday morning.

These beaches can become quite crowded and your pickings may end up being rather slim! Too many people, too late in the weekend and most of the good stuff will be gone.

Sea Beachcomb Collectables

Best Beachcombing Melbourne Beaches

Sorrento back beach Mornington Peninsula

Check the list here for beaches that are easily accessible for a great beachcombing experience. Be aware of tidal times and if there are any restrictions displayed regarding what you can collect or not collect, more importantly.

It fascinates me to see the latest trend in beachcombing.

There they are with their Metal Detectors and boy do they find interesting bits and pieces.

It is fun to beachcombe modern city beaches to find coins, watches and jewellery.

Beaches in less populated areas that can sometimes offer up old artifacts, coins and jewelry from shipwrecks and for the real dedicated fossickers ... GOLD, the ultimate treasure.

Metal detectors used on the Frankston Foreshore

"The hollow sea-shell, which for years hath stood

On dusty shelves, when held against the ear

Proclaims its stormy parent, and we hear

The faint, far murmur of the breaking flood.

We hear the sea. The Sea? It is the blood

In our own veins, impetuous and near."

Eugene Lee-Hamilton, Sonnet. Sea-shell Murmurs, reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919).

What can You Find On Melbourne Beaches?

Seashells

These are found along the seashore. Brought in with the tide, the varieties are in the thousands.

Usually found empty of marine life and clean ready to add to the collection.

The hobby of shell collecting is worldwide.

Sometimes Exoskeletons can be washed up on the shoreline. These shells include the remains of different marine life. The skeleton of the Seahorse is very tough and is usually found intact on the shoreline.

Seadragon found in Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne, Australia

Find lots of interesting sea creature's houses that have been abandoned, such as ...

• Sea Urchins.
• Crabs and Lobster Skeletons.
• Shells of Barnacles.
• Horseshoe Crab shells.
• Sand Dollars.
• Brachiopod Shells.
• Shells of Marine Annelid worms. These create calcareous tubes cemented onto different surfaces
• Sea Stars.

Sea Urchins found along the Melbourne foreshores

Kelp Holdfast is part of a seaweed that is attached to a rock, similar to a tree root. During storms this can be dislodged and finally is washed up onto the shore.

Washed and cleaned well, they can be either stained or lacquered and displayed as interesting curios.

Kelp Holdfast found along the Mornington Peninsula

Sea Sponges are made up of lots of little marine animals living together as a community.

The ones that are washed up onto the shoreline are usually the skeleton remains of this colony.

Living sponges are usually very bright in colour, some shapes are quite unique. Tree shapes can often be found that make for interesting display pieces.

Collectable Sea Sponge

Some sharks actually lay eggs.

These are very well camouflaged, they resemble kelp or seaweed, this way they blend in and are protected from predators.

They are usually washed up onto the shoreline after the young have hatched.

I have found many on Shelly Beach, Phillip Island, near The Nobbies along with lots of different shapes, sizes and types of sponges.

Port Jackson Shark Egg found at Coronet Bay Victoria

Along a lot of the back beaches you will be able to find dried Cuttlefish.

When the Cuttlefish dies and the soft body dries, rots or is eaten away, the bone floats to the surface and finally is washed to the shore.

As a youngster I used to call cuttlebones, seachalk. Because they are soft and easy to work with you are able to whittle them and make interesting shapes, animals etc.

Kids love to create, why not try using a cuttle bone, something different to use for kids crafting.

Cuttlefish Skeleton Bone

An Addition To Your Beach Library

Over the past few months, my 'beachy' library has grown. One addition to it has been this wonderful book called, The Sea Glass Hunter's Handbook by C. S. Lambert

This book reveals how to locate the best beaches and predict optimum conditions; understand coastal access laws; determine the personal and professional value of sea glass' and identify the source of individual fragments.

Sea glass hunters handbook

Beachcombing Tips And Suggestions

Spray up with insect repellent as the pesky March Fly can be a real nuisance.

His bite really stings!

• No point beachcombing in loose sandy areas if the wind is blowing in from the sea as your treasures will be covered up.
• However if you like to beachcombe the base of cliffs then this condition is invaluable...Be careful of overhanging ledges and unstable soil.
• Beachcombing after a storm is a great time to find treasures from Davey Jones's Locker.
• Living on the eastern coast of Australia the winter westerly winds (June through to September) bring the best finds.
• Heavy breaking waves and strong winds open up the sea's treasure chest.
• Low tide is best when more open areas are exposed to explore.

Great Ocean Road coastline

Great Ocean Road Day Tour from Melbourne

Visit the Great Ocean Road on this full day tour from Melbourne to witness one of the world's great drives in true, epic detail; a dramatic, powerful, dangerous and majestic Victorian coastline which is also known as the Ship Wreck Coast - one of Australia's most famous "must do" experiences.

This full day tour on the Great Ocean Road extends from Geelong to Apollo Bay through Torquay and Lorne, featuring all the key natural and historical highlights that make this stretch of coast unique and all conducted aboard a comfortable coach with informative commentary given along the way.

Enjoy the Otway National Park, to the rugged beauty of the Twelve Apostle National Park and the Twelve Apostles themselves - are there really twelve?

To Loch Ard Gorge and Port Campbell shaped by the wild Southern Ocean this coastline will not fail to impress; so be sure to bring your camera! Add in extras such as complimentary hotel pickups, free on-board Wi-Fi to browse as you travel, and refreshments along the way, and you'll have everything you need for experiencing the best of the Great Ocean Road in comfort and style.

Click here for more information on this fun "Great Ocean Road" Tour

There you have it. A few suggestions on where to go beachcombing, what to expect and what to look out for when you are out there. I would love you to subscribe to the Newsletter below and if you do manage to find something that you would like to share or maybe a great beach you have discovered for beachcombing, pop in and let us know all about it. 

The form below makes this really easy. Love to hear from you.

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