Rye Suburb Profile

It may be a holiday hotspot during the summer, but residents enjoy Living in Rye’s laid-back yet active lifestyle year-round. Gracing many a postcard, the pristine beaches of Phillip Bay are the town’s beating heart, and on any given day, locals can be spotted swimming and walking along the Peninsula’s western shoreline or perusing the perfect wave. For all things entertainment, head to the foreshore where many of the area’s seasonal activities take place. Boasting a children’s playground, it’s popular with families year-round. 

When locals seek greener pastures, the Mornington Peninsula National Park showcases the area’s spectacular coastline and pristine wilderness of hidden beaches, hiking trails, and rock pools. What’s more, the award-winning Peninsula Hot Springs are nearby when you need to unwind. 

Living in Rye means having a village that’s compact, with the majority of its shops sitting east of Dundas Street. While a high-end shopping spree isn’t likely to be on the cards, daily essentials, as well as accommodation, a major supermarket, and multiple eateries, can be found just back from the beach. When life calls for dinner, drinks, or catchup, the RSL is a local favourite offering regular live music and entertainment. 

One of the bigger events on the calendar is the annual Rye Summer Carnival along the foreshore, where locals and visitors come together to enjoy the sunshine and holiday period. Boasting rides, games, food trucks, and some killer bay views, this local treasure is adored by all. 

Away from the shoreline, family homes and holiday properties of all shapes and sizes line the streets. Some hail from times past, while others are contemporary abodes. And although there is only a primary school in Rye itself, locals need only travel to nearby Tootgarook, Sorrento, and Rosebud for a good selection of schools and other peninsula gems. 

Area Features

Rye Beaches

Gracing many a postcard, the beaches of Rye remain the cornerstone of the community. The bay offers up calm waters that are ideal for swimming, diving, and sailing, while the ocean beaches – many only accessible by walking trails through national parkland – feel seemingly worlds away.

Mornington Peninsula National Park

Hugging the Bass Strait coastline is Mornington Peninsula National Park, lush bushland with a network of hiking trails that meander along the clifftops, across sand dunes, and onto the beaches themselves. All offer plenty of lookout spots along the way.

Rye Foreshore Reserve

A hive of activity in the summer months, the Rye Foreshore Reserve boasts BBQ facilities, picnic areas, and the much-loved foreshore playground. A popular meeting place, on Saturdays you’ll find locals and weekenders browsing the stalls of the Rye Foreshore Market.