Book excerpt: Beaches of the Victorian Coast and Port Phillip Bay provides the first description of all Victorian ocean and Port Phillip Bay beaches. It is based on the results of the Victorian section of the Australian Beach Safety and Management Program. This book has two aims. First, to provide the public with general information on the origin and nature of all Victoria's beaches, including the contribution of geology, oceanography, climate and biota to the beaches, and information on beach hazards and safety. Second, to provide a description of each beach, including its name(s), location, access, facilities, dimensions and the character of the beach and surf zone. The book comments on the suitability of the beach for bathing, surfing and fishing, with special emphasis on the natural hazards. Based on the physical hazards, all beaches are rated in terms of public safety and scaled from 1 (least hazardous) to 10 (most hazardous).