MORNINGTON PENINSULA

As you drive along the Mornington Peninsula you could be forgiven for thinking that you have left Australia behind. Rolling hills of olive groves and vineyards meet accommodation with sea views, and local produce is served in romantic restaurants and sold at bustling markets. All an hour from Melbourne.

The Mornington Peninsula's h......[More]

MORNINGTON PENINSULA

As you drive along the Mornington Peninsula you could be forgiven for thinking that you have left Australia behind. Rolling hills of olive groves and vineyards meet accommodation with sea views, and local produce is served in romantic restaurants and sold at bustling markets. All an hour from Melbourne.

The Mornington Peninsula's hinterland hills and rich, fertile coastal plains produce an abundance of grapes at more than 170 vineyards. This includes 60 wineries with cellar doors that open for tastings. Most are concentrated in the hinterland area around Red Hill, Merricks, Main Ridge, Balnarring, Moorooduc and Shoreham, making touring and tasting easy. Pinot noir and chardonnay are the specialities of the region, complemented by sweeping bay, ocean and hinterland views.

A visit to the area offers more than just the opportunity to enjoy award-winning wines. There is no shortage of restaurants and cafés offering outstanding food and wine served against a backdrop of breathtaking bay and country scenery.

The local produce is also exceptional and available direct at farm gates and roadside stalls. Fertile soils ensure top quality berries, apples and vegetables as well as speciality cheeses, lavender, olives and other delights.

Mornington Peninsula features a dazzling array of natural attractions, from Port Phillip's beautiful bay beaches to the exposed rugged coastline of the Mornington Peninsula National Park.

Golden sand fringes the calm waters of Port Phillip Bay along the Mornington Peninsula to the bay’s entrance at The Rip. This almost unbroken string of sandy beaches link Frankston with the inlets around Mount Eliza and Mount Martha and then stretch from Safety Beach to Dromana, Rosebud, Rye and on to Sorrento and Portsea. These beaches are a great place to cool off when it’s hot, take a long walks or have a picnic.

The tranquil waters of the beaches along Port Phillip Bay are in stark contrast to Mornington Peninsula's wild ocean side. A narrow isthmus of land separates the bay from Bass Strait, which is ranked as one of the world's most dangerous stretches of water. Rough seas have their indelible mark on this coastline, sculpting kilometres of sandy beaches and creating rugged, rocky basalt headlands. The tall wind- and sea-battered cliffs around Cape Schanck epitomise the rugged nature of this coastline. To reach Cape Schanck from Melbourne, drive along the Mornington Peninsula Freeway, Boneo Road and finally Cape Schanck Road to take in its rugged beauty. Other ocean-side beaches to explore include Portsea, Sorrento and Gunnamatta.

Arthurs Seat is the best place to survey Port Phillip Bay, Mornington Peninsula and the Melbourne skyline. There are several lookouts along the scenic drive winding up to Arthurs Seat, but the best views are from the summit. And don’t miss Point Nepean. Located at the end of the Peninsula the point also offers spectacular view of Port Phillip Bay and the ocean.

For anybody who has ever teed up, the Mornington Peninsula is golfing heaven. The peninsula’s natural topography is perfect for links-style layouts and includes challenging courses designed by golfing greats Greg Norman, Peter Thomson, Robert Trent Jones Jr, Tom Doak and Tony Cashmore.

Tee off at the daunting 6,800-metre Moonah Links, specifically designed for the prestigious Australian Open, or head to The National, arguably the hardest golf package in the country.

Sorrento

The seaside village of Sorrento is one of the most popular and well-known holiday escapes on the Mornington Peninsula. In the 1870s, entrepreneur and parliamentarian George Coppin, since dubbed ‘the Father of Sorrento’, realised the holiday potential of Sorrento and encouraged Melburnians to escape their everyday lives and seek respite from the city's scorching summer winds in an idyllic seaside setting. Sorrento's popularity blossomed as a result of Coppin's efforts.

Most of Sorrento’s attractions are within walking distance and the town has earned acclaim for its fine buildings, many made from local limestone giving them a unique character. Impressive hotels, excellent eateries, sidewalk cafes, boutiques, galleries and specialist shops add extra appeal to the Sorrento experience.

The gentle front beach is an ideal place to wile away some time, have a picnic, go for a stroll, take a cooling swim or keep watch for wild bottlenose dolphins which frolic in the clean bay waters. For some surf-pounding action, the back beach on the Bass Strait side of the peninsula is close by. Sorrento offers a long list of other recreational opportunities, including golf, bushwalking, sailing, scuba diving, fishing and boating.

A year-round car and passenger ferry service connects Sorrento with Queenscliff on the Bellarine Peninsula, adding an extra dimension to the scenic experience. This makes exploring the region simple and completes the 'Around the Bay' touring route.

Red Hill

Red Hill is a beautiful area set in the Mornington Peninsula’s hinterland hills. It is characterised by large gum trees, quiet lanes and gentle rolling hills and tucked away amidst the trees and hills are an abundance of vineyards, orchards and galleries. The Red Hill Market on the first Saturday of every month is also famous in the region for selling a huge range of high quality local produce.

Portsea

Portsea is situated at the tip of the Mornington Peninsula. Its end-of-the-road location and cathedral-like canopy of trees sets the scene for the million dollar mansions inhabited on weekends and during holidays by Melbourne’s rich and famous.

Although the town faces over the calm waters of Port Phillip Bay, the land is so narrow at this point that the town extends from the calm waters of the bay across to the surf beaches on the ocean side.

Portsea also borders the Point Nepean section of the Mornington Peninsula National Park where visitors can explore a fascinating labyrinth of tunnels and fortifications guarding Port Phillip heads since the 1880s.

Flinders

Situated on Bass Strait and Western Port Bay, Flinders is close to both surf and safe beaches and has unparalleled views of Phillip Island, The Nobbies and Seal Rocks. Centrally located near many wineries, the town offers delicious and diverse dining, as well as golf, fishing, and antique and curio shopping as well as a wide range of comfortable accommodation options.

Flinders is a peaceful retreat and a popular holiday retreat that has flourished with architect designed homes during recent years. The local golf club, established in the early 1900s, is one of the most scenic courses in Australia.

Travel

A great way to see the Mornington Peninsula is to set out on a driving tour. The Peninsula’s compact nature and excellent roads make it easy to get around.

Follow the East of the Bay Touring Route to the best the region has to offer. And if you have time for an extended tour take the Around the Bay Touring Route, crossing Port Phillip by ferry to explore the Bellarine Peninsula on the other side.

If you prefer to leave the driving to someone else, join a guided tour to discover the region with a local who knows its best kept secrets. [Less]