Family-Friendly Stays in Frankston, Victoria
Frankston sits on the eastern shore of Port Phillip Bay, at the end of the Frankston train line from Melbourne and at the gateway to the Mornington Peninsula. For families, its strength is a calm bay beach close to the town centre. Quest Frankston has apartments with cooking facilities and an outdoor pool 150 metres from the sand, Quest Frankston on the Bay offers self-contained apartments 200 metres from the beach in the restaurant precinct, and Nightcap at The Cheeky Squire pairs family rooms with an on-site restaurant and bar.
Frankston, often seen as the gateway to the Mornington Peninsula, has a relaxed, coastal personality that appeals to families. It's a place where the bay meets the city, offering a blend of urban conveniences and natural beauty. The town embraces an outdoor lifestyle, with its extensive foreshore and numerous parks providing ample space for children to play. From the Frankston Pier to the local markets, there's a community feel that makes it easy for families to settle in and enjoy their stay, whether for a short break or a longer holiday.
Apartments by the beach or a pub stay
A family stay in Frankston works because the beach, the town centre and the train to Melbourne are all close together, and the Mornington Peninsula begins just to the south. Two of the three stays here are apartments with kitchens, which keeps meals simple with children.
Quest Frankston is the most complete family choice in town. Its spacious, air-conditioned apartments come with cooking facilities, so breakfasts and early dinners for children are easy to manage, and the outdoor swimming pool and barbecue area give families something to do on warm afternoons. The apartments sit in the centre of Frankston, just 150 metres from the beach, and free off-street private parking makes day trips down the Mornington Peninsula simple. With 1,070 reviews and a score of 7.9, it is the most reviewed stay in this selection and a practical base for a family holiday by the bay.
Quest Frankston on the Bay suits families who want to be among the restaurants and still walk to the water. Its self-contained apartments include kitchen facilities, and the property sits in the restaurant precinct, just 200 metres from the beach. Guests have a fitness centre and a sun terrace with barbecue facilities, and the hotel also welcomes pet owners, which helps families travelling with a dog. It is rated 7.8 across 830 reviews. For an extended stay or a road trip around the peninsula, the apartment layout gives children more room than a standard hotel room, with a kitchen for simple meals.
Nightcap at The Cheeky Squire offers a different kind of family stay, attached to a pub with an Australian restaurant and a bar on site. Its air-conditioned rooms have private bathrooms, a flat-screen TV and complimentary toiletries, and some rooms include a kitchen with a microwave for heating meals or bottles. Free WiFi is available throughout. It has the highest guest score of the three, 8.2 across 674 reviews. It works well for a short family stay where dinner downstairs is the easiest option after a day out, rather than for a long holiday with self-catering at its heart.
Frankston itself is easy with children. The bay beach is calm compared with the ocean coast, Frankston Pier and the foreshore are close to the town centre, and Kananook Creek runs through town towards the bay. Trains run directly to Melbourne from Frankston station, which saves driving into the city for a day of museums. To the south, the Mornington Peninsula offers beaches, walking tracks and family attractions within a short drive. Staying in central Frankston keeps the beach within walking distance while leaving the peninsula and the city both easy to reach by car or train.
A traveler's takeI would choose Quest Frankston for a family stay, because its apartments with cooking facilities sit 150 metres from the beach and it is the only one of the three with an outdoor pool. Our advice is to walk to Frankston Pier in the early evening, when the bay is usually calm and the foreshore is quieter.
Family-friendlyNightcap at The Cheeky Squire
★4.1Family-friendly Frankston stay with an Australian restaurant and bar
Why guests love itNightcap at The Cheeky Squire is a family-friendly pub stay in Frankston. Rooms are air-conditioned with private bathrooms, a flat-screen TV and complimentary toiletries, and some have a kitchen with a microwave. There is an Australian restaurant and a bar on site, and Wi-Fi is free. I would choose it as a practical, casual base for exploring Frankston, not for a quiet retreat, since the bar sits under the same roof.
Family-friendlyQuest Frankston
★4.0Family-friendly apartments near Frankston beach with a pool and parking
Why guests love itQuest Frankston gives families a full apartment 150 metres from Frankston beach, which changes how a trip feels with small children. The air-conditioned apartments have cooking facilities, so breakfasts and early dinners happen at your own pace, and the outdoor pool and barbecue area fill the late afternoons. Parking is free and off-street. Over 1,000 guests rate it 7.9. Our editorial advice: shop for groceries on arrival, walk to the beach each morning, and use the car for Mornington Peninsula day trips.
Family-friendlyQuest Frankston on the Bay
★3.9Family-friendly apartments near the beach with pet-friendly options
Why guests love itQuest Frankston on the Bay suits families who want apartment space close to the water. The beach is about 200 metres away, so morning swims and evening walks are easy, and full kitchens make meals with children simple. The barbecue terrace is a relaxed spot for dinner, and pets are welcome, which is rare. Our editorial advice: book an apartment with a separate bedroom and use the restaurant precinct on the doorstep for nights off cooking. Guests rate it 7.8.
Local tips
- 1Book Quest Frankston if a pool matters, as it is the only stay of the three with an outdoor pool.
- 2Choose Quest Frankston on the Bay to be in the restaurant precinct and 200 metres from the beach.
- 3Ask Nightcap at The Cheeky Squire for a room with a kitchen if you need to heat meals or bottles.
- 4Take the train from Frankston station for a day in Melbourne rather than driving into the city.
- 5Plan a day on the Mornington Peninsula, which starts just south of Frankston.
- 6Pack sun protection for the bay beach, since Victorian summers can be very bright.