St Kilda Pier

Stayed out saturday evening to hang out with the penguins. It was definitely worth it. Can’t get closer to nature than that. Make sure you say hello to the volunteers who dedicate their time to preserve this free activity.

I made my way up and down St Kilda pier several times during my week long stay in Melbourne. For one it was an enjoyable jog along the pier and down to the dock where some of the boats pull in. There were many people walking the pier at night but it was fairly quiet in the morning. There’s a restaurant at the end that I never made it to that seemed to draw a fairly fun weekend crowd. At the end of the pier along a dirt path there are the native protected penguins that come in from hunting at night. I stumbled upon this by mistake but it was a fun event none the less. They have guides that are there to explain the habitat that the penguins live in and how they maintain it. Overall the pier was fun to see if you’re by St. Kilda beach but not worth visiting on its own.

I would say that this is one of St Kilda’s icons, but then again St Kilda actually has quite a few icons (such as Luna Park and the Espy). However this is one of those places that does pretty much define this popular beachside suburb. I’ve walked out of in quite a few times, especially when I was a kid, and one thing about it is the kiosk located halfway across. You’ll usually find fisherpeople standing along its lengths attempting (sometimes quite successfully — especially if you have the knack) to catch dinner, as well as the average punter out for a walk. One cool thing is that the breakwater at the end is a haven for penguins, and if you are really lucky you might actually see some (though during the day they tend to be hiding in the rocks, but I found a couple simply by watching other people because they tend to go all crazy when they see a penguin, which means you can pull out your phone, take a photo of it, and post it on Facebook — which tends to be quite popular, unless of course you have a bunch of friends that don’t like penguins).

A beautiful pier for a walk on a balmy summer night with that special someone.
A favourite place for me

The Saint Kilda pier is indeed ‘local flavour.’ It’s a lovely stroll out on the water with picturesque views looking back to the city sky line. And there is free penguin watching! Just join the crowd at dusk at the end of the pier — the little guys don’t come out until dark.
Full disclosure, I’ve been here twice on a whim hoping to spot some penguins during a Melbourne «summer» and both times left early because my penguin watching buddies and I were too cold. So bring some extra layers — it will make the experience more enjoyable.

Love standing at the end of this pier on a cold night. You have to try it.

A great spot for locals and tourists, the St Kilda Pier is a nice way to spend an hour or two. Walk the full length, grab a hot chocolate from the kiosk and then wander down to the rocky area where, if you time it right, you might spy some of the baby penguins that come here each evening.

It’s a little known fact in Melbourne that, instead of going all the way to Phillip Island, you need look no further than the St Kilda pier to get up close and personal with wild penguins. Just rock up at sunset, any time of the year, and you’re likely to see penguins emerging from the water and waddling their way up to their nests amongst the rocks. Cute overload.

As you head away from Acland Street as you have walked the beachfront; now its time to experience St Kilda Pier with a kiosk at the end of the short trek into the pier as you reach the marina. A word of warming; cyclists should dismount, and it is also advisable not to run here. The pier gets very windy regardless of the weather at the time; and please remember your sunscreen on a warm day. The wind will blow you around a bit as your walking to and from the beach.
If you love the water and/​or water views, give St Kilda Pier a go. It is a beautiful walk to immerse yourself in treeless nature. The view of the city skyline on your left as your heading back to the beach is beautiful; even a glimpse of the MCG where the bright lights are evident with AFL Grand Final fever at the time I walked through this pier.
As you head to the kiosk, keep going and you might discover some little penguins (no photography allowed) in the daytime, although in saying this you might be better off going to the pier at night as the penguins would come alive then; just like they do at Phillip Island.