
Off-grid beach — no shops, no fuel, no mobile reception in parts. The anti-tourist beach. Four toilet locations mapped across this remote coastal settlement of 400 permanent residents that swells to 3,000 in summer. Venus Bay is the kind of place where you bring everything you need or you go without.
4 facilities available in Venus Bay
📍 Street View
Click on a toilet marker to see the street view
Venus Bay's toilets are all basic — pit or composting, no flushing, no lighting at night. This is as remote as beach towns get in Victoria. Plan accordingly.
Venus Bay Beach toilet
Basic toilet at the main beach access point. Pit toilet, no water, no lighting.
The main beach at Venus Bay is a long, wild stretch of ocean. Strong currents, no patrols. The toilet is at the beach access car park. Bring your own toilet paper — supplies run out in summer.
Surf Beach car park toilet
Toilet at the Surf Beach access. Popular with surfers and fishers.
Surf Beach is the other ocean beach access at Venus Bay. The waves here attract local surfers. Toilet is basic pit-style at the car park. No other facilities.
Anderson Inlet foreshore
The inlet side is calmer. Toilet at the foreshore area. Better for families.
Anderson Inlet is the sheltered side of Venus Bay. The water is calmer and safer for kids. The toilet here is the same basic standard as the ocean side — pit toilet, no frills.
Cape Liptrap car park
Pit toilet at the Cape Liptrap Coastal Park car park. The only facility on the headland.
Cape Liptrap is a beautiful headland south of Venus Bay with coastal walking tracks. The car park toilet is the only facility — once you're on the trails, there's nothing. Bring water, food, and toilet paper.
Bring everything from Inverloch
Venus Bay has zero shops. The nearest supermarket is Inverloch (30min). Nearest fuel is Tarwin Lower (10min).
This cannot be overstated: Venus Bay has nothing. No takeaway, no cafe, no general store, no fuel. If you run out of anything — food, water, sunscreen, toilet paper — the nearest shops are a 30-minute drive in Inverloch.
Cape Liptrap bush camping
No campground at Venus Bay itself. Bush camping at Cape Liptrap Coastal Park with pit toilets.
Cape Liptrap Coastal Park has basic bush camping sites with pit toilets. No water, no power, no phone reception. Bring everything. For serviced camping, head to Inverloch or Tarwin Lower.
Venus Bay is not a resort town. It's a loose collection of holiday houses on dirt tracks near a wild ocean beach. That's the appeal — and the challenge.
Venus Bay is about doing nothing — or doing outdoor things that don't require infrastructure. Wild swimming, surfing, fishing, walking, and staring at the ocean.

Venus Bay gets consistent swell. Surf Beach is the main break. No crowds, no surf shop — bring everything. Experienced surfers only, no patrols.
Walking tracks along the headland with dramatic ocean views. Several hours of trails. Basic pit toilet at the car park only.
Beach fishing on the ocean side, estuary fishing at Anderson Inlet. Flathead, bream, Australian salmon. Remote spots, bring all gear.
The inlet is calm enough for kayaking and SUP. Launch from the foreshore. Wildlife spotting — birds, rays, dolphins.
Zero light pollution. On a clear night, the Milky Way is incredible. Bring a blanket and lie on the beach.
Wombats at dusk, echidnas on the tracks, wallabies in the scrub. The lack of development means wildlife is everywhere.
The beach is covered in shells. Good for kids — one of the few Venus Bay activities that requires no equipment.
That's the point. No WiFi, no shops, no agenda. Read a book, watch the waves, cook on the barbecue. That's Venus Bay.
Holiday house rentals are the only option at Venus Bay itself. No hotels, no motels, no B&Bs. The nearest serviced accommodation is at Inverloch.

Private holiday houses available on Airbnb and Stayz. Most are basic — don't expect luxury. Some are pet-friendly. $150-350/night, minimum stays often apply in peak.
Nearest dunny: Holiday house bathroom + Venus Bay Beach (varies).
Basic bush camping in Cape Liptrap Coastal Park. No facilities except pit toilets. BYO everything — water, firewood (in season), food. Free or minimal fee.
Nearest dunny: Cape Liptrap car park pit toilet.
The nearest proper town with hotels, holiday parks, and restaurants. Base yourself here and drive to Venus Bay for the day — much easier for families.
Nearest dunny: Inverloch facilities.
Since Venus Bay has nothing, here's where to find what you need before arrival.
| Service | Location | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel | Tarwin Lower | 10min | Small town fuel stop. May close early on weekends. |
| Supermarket | Inverloch (IGA) | 30min | Full supermarket. Stock up before Venus Bay. |
| Medical / Doctor | Inverloch | 30min | Nearest medical centre. Hospital at Wonthaggi (40min). |
| Cafe / Food | Tarwin Lower | 10min | Small general store and cafe. Limited hours. |
| Mobile reception | Patchy (Telstra only) | — | Optus/Vodafone: minimal. Download offline maps. |
Venus Bay is not the place to run out of anything. Bring everything — food, water, fuel, toilet paper, first aid, phone charger.
South Gippsland Highway to Leongatha, then south through Tarwin Lower. The last 10km from Tarwin Lower is a winding country road — single lane, watch for wildlife.
No public transport to Venus Bay. Car essential.
Via the Inverloch-Venus Bay Road. Sealed road but narrow in sections. Fill up with fuel and supplies at Inverloch before the drive — there is nothing at Venus Bay.
Fill your fuel tank at Tarwin Lower or Inverloch. No fuel at Venus Bay.
Buy all food and supplies before arrival. Seriously — there are no shops.
Download offline maps. Mobile reception is unreliable.
Bring toilet paper. The pit toilets run out, especially in summer.
Yes. Venus Bay has 4 public toilet locations — at the main beach access, Surf Beach car park, Anderson Inlet, and Cape Liptrap car park. All are basic pit or composting toilets maintained by Bass Coast Shire. There are no flushing toilets at Venus Bay — it's an off-grid coastal settlement.
No. Venus Bay has no shops, no supermarket, no fuel station, no cafes, and no restaurants. The nearest shops are at Tarwin Lower (10 minutes) for basic supplies, or Inverloch (30 minutes) for a supermarket. Bring everything you need before you arrive.
Limited. Telstra has patchy coverage in the township. Optus and Vodafone have very limited or no coverage. Don't rely on mobile data for navigation — download offline maps before you go.
Venus Bay ocean beaches have strong currents, rips, and no lifeguard patrols. They are not safe for inexperienced swimmers. Anderson Inlet (the inlet side) is calmer and safer for families. Never swim alone at Venus Bay — this is remote, unpatrolled ocean.
Venus Bay is approximately 170km from Melbourne, about a 2.5-hour drive via the South Gippsland Highway through Leongatha, then via Tarwin Lower. The last 10km from Tarwin Lower to Venus Bay is a winding country road.
There is no formal campground at Venus Bay itself. The nearest camping is at Cape Liptrap Coastal Park (basic bush camping with pit toilets) or at Tarwin Lower. Some Venus Bay holiday houses allow pets and can be rented for camping-style stays.
Venus Bay has a permanent population of approximately 400 people. In summer and during holiday periods, this swells to around 3,000 as holiday house owners and renters arrive. It's primarily a holiday settlement, not a services town.
Cape Liptrap is a headland and coastal park south of Venus Bay. It has walking tracks, a lighthouse site (no lighthouse remains), and spectacular ocean views. Basic pit toilet at the car park. The Cape Liptrap Coastal Park stretches along the coast with bush camping and walking trails.
Summer (Dec-Feb): Population swells from 400 to 3,000. Holiday houses are full. The beaches are busy (by Venus Bay standards). Pit toilets get more use and can run low on paper. Bring your own. Swimming is best in Anderson Inlet — the ocean side is always wild.
Winter (Jun-Aug): You'll have the beach to yourself. Cold, windy, often raining. The off-grid emptiness is even more pronounced. Wombats are more active at dusk. Whale sightings from Cape Liptrap are possible. Toilets are the same year-round — basic and unheated.
Venus Bay is a remote coastal settlement in South Gippsland, Victoria. Permanent population approximately 400, swelling to 3,000 in summer. Part of Bass Coast Shire. No shops, fuel, or commercial facilities. Bunurong country.
