The Mornington Peninsula is a wonderland of the water, with its plethora of beaches, bays and harbours. If you love water sports, you’ll feel right at home here with plenty of surfing, fishing, diving, boating, and of course fishing. This has to be one of Victoria’s top tourist spots to kick back and enjoy the ocean at its best, and the perfect destination for your self-drive holiday.
Located just over 100 kilometers south of Melbourne on the eastern side of Port Philip Bay, many travelers find a spot near the water and enjoy the peace and quiet of the ocean and its treasures. Mornington Peninsula National Park is like heaven on earth, with coastlines and beaches unlike many. Swimming with bottlenose dolphins is another unforgettable experience that is common in this stretch of water.
There are a number of amazing walks that will take you through incredible scenery, cliffs and lighthouses, and no matter which direction you take there is always a majestic view of the ocean, the smooth waters of the bay or the inland coastline. The weather is wonderful year-round, making this region a magnet for Australian sun worshipers.
With so many beaches to choose from, you can always be guaranteed a nice spot, as the ocean side is in direct contrast to the calm waters along Port Philip Bay. The best place to view the bay is from Arthurs Seat, which offers incredible views across the peninsula to the city skyline.
Sorrento is known as one of the most popular and elegant seaside towns and is well worth a visit. It’s laid back and beautiful, with the beach so close and always plenty of picnic spots close to town. You can enjoy sailing, boating, hiking, diving, and fishing here, and there are campgrounds nearby, one of the best known being Sorrento Village Campgrounds. One of the best attractions are the dolphin cruises, the Sorrento Museum and the coastal walks that are magical at sunset.
There are many beaches in this region, one of the most popular being Frankston which has long sandy beaches perfect for all kinds of water sports. Mornington has safe beaches around the bay harbor with fantastic lookouts at Schnapper Point.
One of the best is at Rye, with a long jetty, children’s playground and walking paths nearby. It is a tradition for many locals to camp on the beach in this area and take the kids to the wildlife park, enjoy horseback riding along the water’s edge, or just relax and make the most of the glorious water views.
Flinders has great views of Phillip Island and Seal Rocks, and is well known for its great fishing, Pelican Park Aquatic Center, breathing holes, and incredible views of Bass Strait. It’s great for a stopover or to take a closer look at the abundance of wildlife, especially at night.
Home to the rich and famous, Portsea sits at the top of the Mornington Peninsula. It is an attractive stretch of coast with magnificent trees and a coastline that is worth visiting. However, it may cost a bit more to eat and drink here.
Located inland, there are wineries, orchards, and fantastic arts and crafts shops at Red Hill. Famous for its monthly markets, you’ll find plenty of treasures here, even if it means picking strawberries at the berry farm. It will be an enriching experience to spend a few days here, in the heart of this welcoming town.
The Mornington Peninsula is a tourist paradise, especially for those who need to get away and enjoy the natural wonder of the ocean, beaches and seaside towns. If you can get away here for several days or more, you’ll come back tanned, relaxed and counting down the days until you return for more hours in the Mornington sun.
