Mornington Peninsula

Mornington

In the cosmopolitan seaside town of Mornington, the main street is lined by almost a kilometre of excellent boutiques, homeware and designer stores, sidewalk cafes and restaurants with outdoor dining. There is always something happening in this town with its galleries, popular racecourse, markets and food and wine events. The beaches here are as refreshing as they are scenic and the wonderful harbour is framed by red sandstone cliffs and iconic bathing boxes.

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Arthur’s Seat

Rising above the Mornington Peninsula, Arthur’s Seat is an iconic landmark and provides dramatic views over the whole of Port Phillip Bay and down Point Nepean from its 314m summit (a steep and wonderful climb on a well formed trail). On a clear day the view extends as far as the city skyline, the You Yangs and Mount Macedon. It’s common to see wallabies and mobs of kangaroos in this area, and birdsong will accompany you as you walk.

Green’s Bush

Peaceful Green’s Bush is the heart of the Mornington National Park and the largest remnant of bushland on the Peninsula. It offers wonderful remote walking through eucalypt and grass tree forests, and with many resident wildlife and bird species it is a wildlife haven. Echidnas, swamp wallabies and reptiles are a regular sight along the walking tracks.

Cape Schanck

Cape Schanck is characterised by unspoilt and wild beaches, scenic walking tracks and spectacular ocean views. Constructed from limestone blocks and in operation since 1859, the working lighthouse continues to provide ships with safe passage between Mornington Peninsula and Melbourne through Bass Strait. From the lighthouse you can walk down the clifftops on a boardwalk that give dramatic views along the coast.

Rye Ocean Beaches

The wild and long back beaches that stretch from Cape Schanck to Portsea give wonderful ocean views and artfully eroded sandstone cliffs. They are famous for their rugged surf and beachside communities.

Sorrento

Sorrento is a stylish and charming resort town dating back to the 1800s. It is one of the most eclectic shopping destinations in Victoria, with antiques, galleries, homewares, books, artworks, jewellery, maritime keepsakes and more. Numerous historical buildings have been preserved, and there are plenty of great pubs, restaurants and cafes.

Point Nepean National Park

Point Nepean National Park is an amazing formation; a thin wedge of the Mornington Peninsula that juts out between Port Phillip Bay and Bass Strait. It once housed an army base and quarantine station, and there are many historical buildings to explore.

Portsea

The wealthy seaside village of Portsea is famous for the Millionaire’s Walk along the clifftops, which gives walkers closeup views of enormous mansions and gardens. Portsea is where Australian prime minister Harold Hold went missing while spearfishing off Cheviot Beach in 1967. Hi body was never recovered and the area where he went missing is now known as the Harold Holt Marine Reserve.