There are so many beautiful things to do in Mornington Peninsula! Mornington Peninsula is a great side trip from Melbourne, whether as a relaxing weekend trip to escape the big city or a fun day out to explore. I loved it because the gorgeous sandy beaches and coastal walking tracks offered a stone’s throw away from Melbourne.
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Take your pick from wineries, stately homes, gorgeous lighthouses and miles of blue, blue coastline. Other highlights include pampering yourself at the Peninsula Hot Springs or taking in the marvellous viewpoints around Cape Schanck and Sorrento.
One of the highlights of visiting Mornington Peninsula is the ocean views on your drive down to the various experiences! Take the scenic route along the ocean-side road for beautiful beach views along the way.
Read on for the best places to visit on your next Mornington Peninsula day trip or getaway. The list begins at the furthest point along the peninsula – Point Nepean, before winding along the coastline all the way back to Melbourne.
Things to do in Mornington Peninsula
POINT NEPEAN NATIONAL PARK
By Helena from HelenaBradbury.com
Point Nepean National Park is located at the southernmost tip of the Mornington Peninsula and is the perfect combination of easy walks with incredible views, pristine beaches with turquoise water and historical significance to learn about.
Point Nepean is full of forts and tunnels as it was used for a quarantine station in the 19th century, then later as fortifications in WWII. The fortifications are now open to the public to explore, with information and displays for visitors to learn about the history.
There are several walks to do in the national park, which vary in length, so there’s something to suit everyone. The walk to the Fort at the tip of the park is the most beautiful, with the calm blue waters of Port Phillip Bay on one side and the wild waves of the Bass Strait on the other. The walk is on a paved road, mostly flat, but a shuttle bus runs every half hour from the quarantine station car park to the fort. Tickets cost $12.
The walk from Gunner’s Cottage down to the historic Cattle Jetty is just a short walk through the bush on a clear path. It leads out to a beautiful white sand beach with calm, clear waters, and it’s usually much quieter than other beaches further up the Peninsula. Here you could easily spend an afternoon swimming, reading or enjoying a picnic with views of the fort in the distance.
Opening Hours: 24 hours daily
Address: Point Nepean National Park, Ochiltree Rd, Portsea VIC 3944
DISCOVER THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN SORRENTO
Boasting both a historic village lined with limestone houses and a genuinely breathtaking coastline, Sorrento is the perfect spot for any Melburnian needing a relaxing escape from the city. Head first to Diamond Bay, a stunning sandy beach for swimming and relaxation. Next, take a stroll along the boardwalk to the Bay of Islands viewpoint.
I also followed the boardwalk further through the bush to enjoy the view from St Paul’s lookout. It’s also only a 20-minute walk to the viewpoints along Coppin’s track or (in the opposite direction), around Diamond Bay to Jubilee Point.
On the other side of the bay, enjoy the Millionaires Walk before watching the sunset over Sorrento pier. This area has many charming restaurants and accommodations, so it’s an ideal spot to stay overnight if you want to treat yourself.
The breathtaking scenic views around Sorrento are just one of the reasons why Mornington Peninsula is amongst the best day trips from Melbourne!
Address: Esplanade, Sorrento VIC 3943
LONDON BRIDGE, PORTSEA
by Fiona from Travelling Thirties
London Bridge is a rock formation located on Portsea’s back beach. From the car park, follow the signs to the lookout to get a beautiful bird’s eye view of the impressive amphitheatre – this is the perfect photo spot. London bridge is made of sandstone and the structure you see today is the result of thousands of years of weathering from the wind and waves. At low tide, or if you’re adventurous and there’s a break in the waves, venture inside London Bridge and listen to the waves crash as they’ll tumble through the “portholes”.
Once you are inside London bridge, you can climb up onto the outside and explore the rocks. If you’re on the shorter side or with youngsters, you will need to stretch your legs to get back down into London bridge. Make sure you are comfortable around water and rocks before heading into or onto the rock formation, as this is not a patrolled beach.
When visiting the Mornington Peninsula, we stayed in the cutest Airbnb I have ever seen, called Windmill Cottage, located 10 minutes outside of Mornington.
Opening Hours: 24 hours daily
Address: London Bridge Lookout, London Bridge Rd, Portsea VIC 3944
UNWIND AT THE PENINSULA HOT SPRINGS
by Jessica from JessicaPascoe.com
One of the best things to do when visiting Mornington Peninsula is to relax at the iconic Peninsula Hot Springs, a 90-minute drive from Melbourne. This award-winning natural hot springs and day spa is based on thermal mineral waters flowing into well-positioned pools and private baths. You can’t go wrong at the hot springs, with stunning views, various dining options, and creative ways to relax.
You can choose one of three booking options. The most accessible option is ‘The Bathe House’ from $45 per adult, which includes access to thermal mineral pools, reflexology walks, Turkish Hamman, sauna, family pool, baby baths, the Bath House Amphitheatre and numerous other experiences.
You could choose the Spa Dreaming Centre, the adults-only section from $110 per adult, which includes massaging bamboo showers, Zen Chi massage, hanging tree pods and poolside lounges, or finally, you could choose the Private Bathing option for $175 per adult and enjoy private geothermal bathing either indoor or outdoor. There’s also an on-site spa with many options to help you relax and detox.
Suppose you’re visiting as a couple or without children. In that case, I highly recommend booking into the adults-only section or treating yourself to the Spa Dreaming Centre Dine and Bathe for some guaranteed tranquillity, as it can get quite busy and noisy with splashing children!
Opening hours: 5am – 11pm daily
Ticket cost: From $35 pp for 60-minute Bathhouse bathing to $310 for a romantic ‘retreat’ for two – recommend for couples. Many other options are available.
Address: Peninsula Hot Springs, 140 Springs Ln, Fingal VIC 3939
COASTAL WALKS AT CAPE SCHANCK
The Southernmost tip of the peninsula brings you to Cape Schanck, another fabulous outdoor activity in Mornington Peninsula.
The cape’s walking tracks and boardwalks are the only ones I visited near Melbourne that competed with the coastal walks in Sydney. For me, these well-maintained footpaths were the highlight of the area, and at Cape Schanck, I was wowed by the rugged rock formations rising from the endless ocean views.
While you’re there, make a stop at Cape Schanck Lighthouse, a limestone structure built in the 19th century. You will have more stunning views across the Cape from the viewing platform.
You can begin on one of the coastal tracks from the lighthouse car park. Personally, I enjoyed the Bushranger’s Bay track; those with more time could embark on the 26km hike, known as Two Bays Trail.
Opening hours: 24 hours daily
Address: Cape Schanck, Victoria, 3939
TAKE FLIGHT UPON THE ARTHURS SEAT EAGLE
Don’t miss the Arthurs Seat Eagle cable cars for a family-friendly tourist attraction in Mornington Peninsula.
An aerial journey along the Arthurs Seat Eagle gondola system will give you a beautiful bird’s eye view over Arthurs Seat State Park. The 15-minute flight passes between the base station in Dromana to the summit of Arthurs Seat.
I’d highly recommend this Mornington Peninsular attraction if travelling with beloved family members, young and old, as this is an accessible attraction both inclusive to disabled and elderly loved ones, alongside prams. With 8 people per gondola, you can all enjoy sightseeing together.
Opening Hours: 10am – 5pm (Saturday, Sunday, Monday) and 10am – 4pm (Tuesday to Friday)
Return Ticket Cost: $29.50 for adults, $18.50 for children, $79.50 for families.
Address: 1085 Arthurs Seat Rd, Arthurs Seat VIC 3936
ENCHANTED ADVENTURE
Part natural attraction, part theme park, Enchanted Adventure has to be one of the most fun and unusual places to visit in the Mornington Peninsula!
If you or your family get bored quickly, you’ll find it hard to complain about all the different activities on offer here! With everything from tube slides, canopy walks and tree surfing, to themed gardens, mazes and giant sculptures, there are endless things to do!
What’s great is that all these experiences are beautifully set within beautiful wildlife, just a stone’s throw away from each other on the 25-acre property. There’s enough to do here for a day trip, and bringing picnics is welcome, though there are also cafes on site.
Opening hours: 9am – 5pm daily
General admission: $35 for adults, $25 children aged 3-17, $25 for seniors.
Address: Enchanted Adventure, 55 Purves Rd, Arthurs Seat VIC 3936
SUNNY RIDGE STRAWBERRY FARM
by Lucas from See You There Travel
The Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm is Australia’s second-largest producer of strawberries in the Mornington Peninsula’s winery region of Main Ridge. From November to April each year, the farm invites the public to go strawberry picking in their fields. It makes for a great family-friendly activity or a fun stop before a day of winery hopping.
Entry is $10 per adult for a 500-gram punnet of strawberries and $5 per child for 250 grams. Upon entry, you will be given an empty punnet to fill, and staff will show you which fields have the best strawberries that day. Make sure you pick only red, ripe strawberries, as they will not ripen any further once picked.
Sunny Ridge also features a shop with every type of strawberry-inspired food you could think of, from strawberry wine, jams and chocolates to fresh strawberry ice cream. The farm can get busy during weekends and school holidays, so arrive early to secure a car park and snag the best strawberries. This also ensures you miss the afternoon sun, as there is little shade once you’re out in the fields.
After you have picked your berries, consider having lunch at one of the region’s many wineries. The Mornington Sun Vineyard is just a 3-minute drive from the farm and features a cellar door and delicious wood-fired pizzas.
Opening hours: Relaunching 29 October 2022. Check Sunny Ridge Australia for details.
Address: 695 Boneo Road, Boneo VIC 3939
VISIT THE BEST MORNINGTON PENINSULA WINERIES
by Monique from tripanthropologist.com
Just over an hour from Melbourne are the Mornington Peninsula wineries, many of them with wonderful views of the sea and to Western Port Bay. They range from charming with small high-quality Chardonnays and Pinots (like Merricks Creek winery) to spectacular architectural showcases with sculpture parks, fine dining and luxury villas.
Montalto and Point Leo Estate have extensive gardens, sculpture trails and restaurants. Montalto excels in wood-fired pizza, and Point Leo has two sophisticated restaurants. Vineyards such as Crittenden Estate and Polperro have luxury villas set among the rolling green countryside surrounded by rows of vines.
Many of these wineries offer cellar door sales and wine tastings, but delivery and wine sales, such as by Ocean Eight, means that you can sample and take home the region’s wines on a day trip without necessarily staying for lunch.
The wines themselves range from Chardonnay, Pinot, and Shiraz to sparkling wine, but most are made by families, and that makes for friendly, warm and convivial service amongst beautiful scenery.
The wineries are a wonderful thing to do with your partner, or combine this with the Peninsula Hot Springs for the perfect Australian girls’ trip.
EXPLORE BALNARRING
by Erin from Aussie Mountains to Sea
Balnarring is located just one hour from Melbourne, on the Western Port side of the Peninsula, halfway between Hastings and the ever-popular Flinders; Balnarring is somewhere everyone should stop in. Balnarring is one of our favourite places to visit outside Melbourne.
The central hub of Balnarring is the town’s group of shops and cafes. There are lots of great little shops which include all the essentials as well as lovely eateries. The Red Hill Bakery is a family favourite of ours, they serve great food and coffee as well as ready made take home meals featuring local produce.
Balnarring beach, the village reserve and the foreshore are all worth exploring. There are great spots for families to explore protected waters, picnic, enjoy the playground and wander along the trails. For surfers, there are plenty of surfing location options in and around Balnarring, although you’re best to ask a local if you’re looking for the best break.
From Balnarring, we would highly recommend a visit to Merricks General Store and Shoreham Beach.
Address: Balnarring, Victoria 3926
ASHCOMBE MAZE & GARDENS
Challenge yourself by strolling through the winding paths of Ashcombe Maze and see if you can find the centre garden! The maze has two halves, each with a different layout to explore! This hedge maze is 3 metres high and 2 metres thick, so cheating is almost impossible!
After finding your way out, there are some beautiful gardens to relax in. The Rose Maze is the oldest circular Rose Maze in the world, with over 1200 bushes and 217 different varieties of rose.
There are some fabulous views here, too. The lavender labyrinth overlooks the Ashcombe Arboretum, and there are several viewing platforms to enjoy as you take the bending pathways through the 4000 lavender plants.
Finally, enjoy the Woodland Gardens before enjoying lunch at the cafe.
Opening hours: 10a.m – 5pm Thursday – Monday. (Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays)
Admission: $18.50 for adults and $10 for children – free for children under 3. $52 for family tickets.
Address: 15 Red Hill-Shoreham Rd, Shoreham VIC 3916
BRIGHTON BEACH AND BATHING BOXES
by Pauline from Beeloved City
Located only 20 minutes away from Melbourne CBD, Brighton Beach is a great place to stop by on your way to the Mornington Peninsula. This coastal town is particularly famous for its beautifully colourful bathing boxes, making it one of the most instagrammable spots in Australia.
You can quickly get there from Melbourne by train or car. Walking up the promenade is a great thing to do as you will get to enjoy the views of the Melbourne skyline on one side, the Mornington Peninsula on the other and the Brighton Beach Bathing Boxes in front of you.
You are allowed to swim at Brighton Beach, so if you are going on a nice day, make sure to take your swimming costume! But the best thing to do is to look at the beach boxes. They are quite an institution in the area. They’ve been around since the 19th century! Nowadays, they are used as beach sheds to get changed and store water sports equipment. A lot of owners also use them to have a picnic on the beach.
Each bathing box features a different theme and colours. The most famous is the one with the Australian flag. It’s one of the first ones you visit from the car park.
If you are into photography, you will love Brighton Beach. There are so many photo opportunities to fill out your favourite Melbourne Instagram spots.
Address: Brighton Beach Bathing Boxes, Esplanade, Brighton VIC 3186
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The region’s compact size and diverse array of activities means there’s plenty to fill up your days.
I grew up on the Mornington Peninsula and can happily say- you nailed this list!! Not many people mention Balnarring, but I think it’s one of the best little towns in Australia.
Mornington Peninsula is definitely a good shout for a beach lover!
Mornington Peninsula was so stunning!
This looks like such a lovely part of Australia. I pinned your blog for inspo, because those hop springs have my name written all over them!
Oh wow, this looks stunning!
oh this sounds absolutely amazing!! I love strawberries and beaches so it sounds like heaven!!
Sad I missed this the last time I was in Australia, I’ll have to make my way back soon
Sounds like a great long weekend destination. Such a fun variety of sights and activities!
Wow this region has it all! Beautiful pictures, love how you match your outfit with the surroundings. This post us detailed and informative. Thank you for sharing..
I love the coastline here – it looks so pretty and not overcrowded!
Wow! That looks amazing! I cannot WAIT to start road tripping here in Aus – hurry up Covid!!!!
Mornington looks absolutely divine and totally spoils a traveler for choice. I would have been convinced with the beaches, coastal walks and the wineries but this place has so much more to offer. Lovely pictures Cassie 🙂
Woooow all the places in this post look amazing. I can’t wait until it’s safe to travel again and visit!
Mornington Peninsula looks absolutely amazing! I am totally keeping this article on hand for when I eventually do my big Australia trip. 🙂