walks drives scenic tours
Balnarring Beach on the Western Port side of the Mornington Peninsula.
Balnarring Beach
Chinaman’s Hat Port Phillip
Chinaman's Hat is an octagonal structure in the South Channel of Port Phillip, in the Australian state of Victoria, which serves as a shipping channel marker and haul-out for local brown fur seals. It is in the Mornington Peninsula Shire, 3 km (1.9 mi) east-south-east of Pope's Eye. Along with the latter, it served as a navigation beacon at the Heads of the bay.
You don't have to go far from Melbourne to experience the best of Australia's coastal attractions. Less than 2 hours from Melbourne you can meet the world-famous Little Penguins, sip pinot gris overlooking Port Phillip Bay, swim with dolphins, visit the home of surf culture in Australia and learn to surf, and indulge in the freshest seafood, straight off a boat. This touring route is 445 km/277 miles and can be completed in 5 days - a round trip of less than 7 hours drive time.
1916 Stutz Bearcat
Car Journeys
Air Journeys
An RAAF A17 De Havilland DH - 82A Tiger Moth Bi Plane from the 1940s, flies high above Point Nepean on the edge of the Mornington Peninsula.
While London Bridge can be construed as the end of The Coastal Walk, a pleasant extension through coastal Moonah woodlands leads into neighbouring Point Nepean National Park. The track passes Wilsons Folly and comes out on Defence Road. This trail takes walkers from the rugged Portsea Ocean Beach and London Bridge rock formation, back to civilisation at the Point Nepean Road side of the Mornington Peninsula. Visitors can continue along the walking track to the Quarantine Station and onto the historic forts of the Point Nepean National Park, or link to the Portsea section of the Mornington Peninsula Bay Trail.
London Bridge
Alex and Charlotte
Alex and Charlotte visiting London Bridge in Portsea on the Mornington Peninsula.
The Matthew Flinders cairn is an impressive monument set in a viewing area on the way to the top of Arthurs Seat. This is the location in April of 1802, from which the English explorer noted Port Phillip Bay’s characteristics and named what is now known as the Bellarine Peninsula “Indented Head”.
Matthew Flinders Cairn
Millionaire's Walk
This stunning cliff top walk has historic significance as it was the first time the Union Jack was used to claim possession of Australia. The breathtaking water views across Port Phillip to the Bellarine Peninsula, Melbourne and Mount Dandenong are amazing. Also you will get an insight into how Melbourne's elite spend time at their summer mansions.
Millionaires Walk makes up a small part of the Sorrento Portsea Artists’ Trail, with four of the fourteen sites that comprise the trail located along Millionaires Walk. Paintings by Sir Arthur Streeton, Arthur Boyd and Roy Hodgkinson are displayed along the walk.
Sorrento
The Mornington Botanical Rose Gardens
The Mornington Rose Garden is nestled between the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery and the community based Oakhill Gallery. Visitors to the Mornington Rose Garden can soak up the tranquil atmosphere of the gardens, enjoy the galleries that surround it or drive down to Main Street that boasts boutiques, coffee shops and cafes and numerous other retail outlets or drive down to the Mornington Pier precinct and enjoy the bay views.
The Mornington Rose Garden has over 4000 roses planted in 86 beds and is surrounded by a border of native Australian trees and shrubs. It was built and is maintained by volunteers, generous sponsor donations and the support of Mornington Peninsula Shire Council.
The Point Nepean Walk takes you right to the tip of the Mornington Peninsula in Point Nepean National Park, past the old Quarantine Station, World War Two military defences, along coastal and bush tracks. Wilson's Folly Track at London Bridge takes you into Point Nepean National Park and to the tip of famous Point Nepean. Visit the historic Quarantine Station, explore historic fortifications and gun emplacements, Moonah woodlands, enjoy views of Bass Strait and Port Phillip Bay at the Heads.
The Point Nepean National Park is a mix of beautiful landscape and rich history situated at the southern tip of the Mornington Peninsula. There is a range of amazing walks visitors can explore and an array of historic buildings that served various purposes during the early history of the Mornington Peninsula.
Point Nepean also offers some of the best views on the Mornington Peninsula across to Queenscliff and out the Port Phillip Bay Heads.
Point Nepean is part of Boonwurrung coutnry. the Boonwurrung people lived on and around Point nepean for thousands of years gathering shellfish and other foods along the coastline. The interaction with early settlers and ceremony make it an important place. Extensive shell middens are reminders of their enduring association.
Point Nepean has evidence of some of the earliest European settlement in Victoria, including pastoral activities and lime burning. Shepherd Hut, located in the Quarantine Station is one of the earliest intact limestone building in Victoria. It's cellar dates back to 1845.
The Quarantine Station was established in 1852 and was used for that purpose until 1979. The site later became the home of the Army Officer Cadet School (1952-1985) and the School of Army Health 1985-1998).
The entrance to Port Phillip was the most heavily fortified fort in the Southern Hemisphere. There are many Colonial and Commonwealth structures from teh 1880's-1940s located about the park. Fort Nepean is considered to be one of the best examples in Australia of a major fort complex exhibiting the changes in military engineering over the 19th and 20th centuries.
Surrounding point Nepean is the Port Philip Heads National Park
Point Nepean
Glimpse the lifestyles of the rich and famous at Portsea's millionaire mansions, toast local characters at the historic Portsea Pub and feel the sun on your back as you learn to scuba dive.
Portsea
Point Nepean Quarantine Station offers a glimpse into the early European history of Victoria. Established in 1852, explore nearly 50 heritage-listed buildings. Learn about life at this once-remote location and the station's critical role in protecting Australia from introduced diseases.
Quarantine Station
Take a drive down the Mornington Peninsula and discover the delightful seaside town of Rosebud. Nestled between Rye and Dromana on the Nepean Highway, this popular summer holiday destination is the perfect base from which to explore the countless outdoor attractions nearby.
Rosebud
Rye Front Beach is a popular destination particularly during holiday season with the adjacent camping reserve and proximity to many delightful shops with ice creameries, take away food, restaurants and cafes. The beach is wonderful to walk year round and as the wind escalates in cooler months it becomes very popular with kite surfers.
The Rye Front Beach embraces Port Phillip Bay for the entire length of the town's borders beginning at White Cliffs, continuing past the 300 metres long Rye pier, almost due east for four kilometres. A foreshore reserve extends along the length of the beach and offers camping, boat ramp, yacht club, playground or just a pleasant place to stroll.
The beach has lovely white sand and clear water. Usually a safe beach close inshore, it is a fantastic swimming beach for the whole family as waves are usually low except during strong northerly winds.
Rye
Searoad Ferries is the iconic car and passenger ferry service sailing Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay between Sorrento and Queenscliff.
Searoad Ferries was originally known as Peninsula Searoad Transport and has been operating the car and passenger ferry service between Sorrento and Queenscliff since 1987. The service first crossed Port Phillip Heads on 13th September 1987 and was the culmination of 30 years of dreaming, planning and lobbying by many people and organisations in both communities of southern Port Phillip Bay.
The first purpose built 35 vehicle vessel was built in Carrington NSW. Despite scepticism about the viability of the service, especially during winter months, from September 1987 the “M.V. Peninsula Princess” rarely missed a scheduled crossing. A ticket office and transit lounge were built in Queenscliff during January 1990 and in Sorrento in April 1992.
Searoad Ferries
Seawinds
Seawinds Gardens, Arthurs Seat National Park on the Mornington Peninsula Australia.
Sorrento’s scenic ocean beach is known for its wonderful rock pools and rock ledges which can be explored at low tide. The beach can be accessed from a staircase or ramp and there is plenty of parking although this can get busy at peak times. The beach is popular for surfing, diving, fishing and exploring the rockpools
Sorrento Ocean Beach
This image is a still taken from the short film The Shell - shot entirely on the Mornington Peninsula.
A desperate and agitated bikie sets off on his Harley Davidson to the coast. He arrives at a solitary caravan near the water's edge. Inside the van is the keeper of a mysterious secret; an ancient and timeworn shell, once found by explorer Matthew Flinders on the very the same beach in 1802. The Shell is the key to the past and a gateway to the present.
Walking Journeys
Set out on two feet to explore Mornington Peninsula along rugged bushland tracks and bayside boardwalks.
Shoreline strolls and hinterland hikes
Don your walking shoes, grab a map and do your best to cover the 100 kilometres or more of walking trails included in the official Mornington Peninsula Walk. Prepare yourself to tackle the walk in its entirety, or embark on one of the shorter components to take in a diverse range of landscapes. Discover beautiful secluded bays and rugged headlands, pounding surf beaches and bushland, and lookouts with immense views.
Pound the safe and scenic walking tracks for the best perspectives of Mornington Peninsula's national and state parks, including Point Nepean, Arthurs Seat, French Island and Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park.
Take a leisurely shoreline stroll or hinterland hike, or undertake the epic two-day Arthurs Seat to Cape Schanck trek. Spot birds, kangaroos and koalas and be impressed by a series of stunning vistas.
Walk to the west
Have a change of scenery and stride along the boardwalk through Westernport's fertile mangroves and mud flats to the Bittern Coastal Wetlands, where lively birds await.
Walking Journeys
Western Port Ferries operates the passenger ferry service on spectacular Western Port Bay, sailing between Stony Point, on the Mornington Peninsula, Tankerton on French Island and Cowes on Phillip Island. The service operates 365 days per year, and is a vital connection to the mainland for French Island residents and is an extremely popular route for visitors to the area.