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BACKPACKERS GUIDE TO AUSTRALIA
MORNINGTON PENINSULA
AUSTRALIA > VICTORIA > MORNINGTON PENINSULA
INTRODUCTION 
The Mornington Peninsula provides a pleasant day trip 100km south from Melbourne with coastal views and small seaside resorts. The peninsula has many wineries open for winetasting and some have restaurants. Red Hill Estate winery restaurant has superb views. Climb Arthur's Seat for a distant view of Melbourne.
INDEX 
Attractions 
  • Arthurs Seat
  • Ashcombe Maze
  • Portsea & Sorrento
  • Surfing 
  • Point Nepean
  • Cape Schank Lighthouse 
  • Wineries

  • Places To Eat 
    Entertainment 
    Getting Around 
    Getting There & Away 
    Where to Go Next
     

    ATTRACTIONS  

    Beach extends south along the bay all the way from Melbourne only with the exception of a couple of rocky headlands. 

    Arthurs Seat 

    Travelling south down the west coast of the peninsula from Melbourne you will come to Arthurs Seat. The top of this tall hill provides views along the coast and the Melbourne skyscrapers are visable in the distance. There is also an expensive restaurant here placed to take the most of the view. 

    Ashcombe Maze 

    Inland at Red Hill is Ashcombe Maze made from hedges. 

    A little further is the Red Hill Estate winery and restaurant with views of over Westernport Bay to Phillip Island. 

    Portsea and Sorrento - Bay Beachside Towns 

    The two main beachside towns for holiday makers are Portsea at the end of the peninsula and Sorrento just before it. Portsea particularly is where the affluent have holiday homes. 

    Surfing 

    Behind Portsea and Sorrento on the southern side of peninsula are the surf beaches, Sorrento Ocean Beach and Portsea Back Beach.. 

    Point Nepean 

    At Portsea it is possible to go to Point Nepean for a view across the very narrow entrance to Port Phillip Bay at the head of which Melbourne is built. 

    Cape Shank Lighthouse 

    Cape Shank is a rugged rocky place with a lighthouse designating the southern tip of the peninsula. A walking trail lead to the tip of the cape. Allow one hour. Car parking $5? 

    Wineries 

    There are many wineries on the Morninton Peninsula. One is Red Hill Estate. This winery and restaurant has great views over Western Port Bay to Phillip Island. 
     


    PLACES TO EAT 

    Red Hill Estate This winery and restaurant has great views over Western Port Bay to Phillip Island. 

    Arthurs Seat The top of this tall hill provides views along the coast and the Melbourne skyscrapers are visable in the distance. The expensive restaurant here is placed to take the most of the view. 
     


    ENTERTAINMENT 

    Nightclubs 

    The Continental Hotel on Main Street Sorrento has a nightclub. Otherwise you will have to return to the large outer Melbourne suburb of Frankston where the 21st Century Dance Club is on the corner of the Nepean Highway and Davey Street in town. 

    Pubs 

    Each town has pubs. The larger the town the busier. Sorrento and Portsea are more touristy. Don't discount the large outer Melbourne suburb of Frankston where the action is centred on the corner of Nepean Highway and Davey Street. 
     


    GETTING AROUND 

    Public transport is irregular. Some buses travel along the west coast of the peninsula. Otherwise drive or get an organised tour. 
     
     


    GETTING THERE AND AWAY 

    By Car 

    Drive south from Melbourne along St Kilda Road (Melbourne map ref N17). This road changes name to Brighton Road then Nepean Highway which continues all the way along the Peninsula. The drive takes an hour. 

    By Train and Bus 

    Catch the Melbourne metropolitan train to Frankston and change to a bus there going south along the coast to get to Portsea. Allow three hours. 

    By Ferry 

    A passenger and vehicle ferry operates between Sorrento and Queenscliff of the otherside of the entrance to Port Philip Bay. 
     


    WHERE TO GO NEXT 

    Return to Melbourne 

    Take the vehicular ferry from Sorrento across the entrance of Port Phillip Bay to Queenscliff on the Surf Coast then continue west along the Great Ocean Road 
     
     

     Copyright (c) 2000 Graham Warren. Backpackers Guide to Australia is a trademark.

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