Your guide to the best things to do on the Mornington Peninsula
ON holidays and want to get away without travelling too far? There’s plenty to do in this slice of paradise — and it’s right on your doorstep.
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- Melbourne's best bayside beaches
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- The Peninsula’s best-kept secrets
ON holidays and want to get away without travelling too far?
There’s plenty to do on the beautiful Mornington Peninsula — something for everyone, from beautiful beaches to family friendly parks.
Here are the best things about this slice of paradise, only an hour from Melbourne.
PARKS AND GARDENS
SUMMER on the peninsula is about rest and rejuvenation, and there’s nowhere like a quiet park or garden to find your own slice of serenity.
Located in Dromana, Heronswood Gardens, Nursery and Restaurant offers an idyllic spot to escape the crowds, relax and shop for a huge range of plants, heirloom seeds and garden hardware.
Heronswood showcases the best flowers and plants for Australian conditions highlighted by a unique marriage of vegetables and flowers with fruits and herbs.
In Frankston, George Pentland Garden is still reminiscent of its former purpose as a golf course with wide open undulating grassed spaces. Offset by lush garden beds, these spaces are perfect for family gatherings. In one section of the garden is an extensive children’s playground and there are picnic and barbecue areas scattered throughout.
Just a short drive from the hustle and bustle of Main St, the Mornington Rose Garden features more than 4000 roses planted in scores of beds all surrounded by a border of native Australian trees and shrubs. The gardens form part of the greater Civic Reserve, which features a number of walking tracks suitable for all the family to enjoy.
At Arthurs Seat the stunning Seawinds is a garden to get lost in. Walking trails dotted with William Ricketts sculptures and garden beds of exotic and native plants make it a popular place to meander. It is also one of the most spectacular vantage points to take in the views across the Mornington and Bellarine peninsulas.
MARKETS
WHO doesn’t love a good market? There are plenty to choose from on the Mornington Peninsula.
POINT NEPEAN PORTSEA CRAFT MARKET
Soak up the atmosphere at the historic Quarantine Station at the end of Point Nepean Rd. Organised by the founders of the Red Hill Market, this event promotes quality homegrown wares. Free entry. Parking $5. No dogs.
Next market: Sunday, January 22, 9am to 2pm.
Details: 5976 3266 or craftmarkets.com.au
RED HILL COMMUNITY MARKET
The Grand Dame of Victoria’s craft markets has been operating since 1975 when just 28 local producers and crafts people met to sell and barter their goods. Now the market, held at Arthurs Seat Rd, Red Hill, has more than 300 stallholders. Free entry. Parking: $4
Next markets: Saturday, January 7, 8am-2pm and Friday, January 13, 3pm-8pm.
EMU PLAINS MARKET
The natural bush setting of this historic reserve is transformed on the third Saturday of every month. More than 200 stalls form a trail beneath the stringy bark gums and music from resident band The Whiskey Gypsies keeps toes tapping. Parking $4.
Next market: Saturday, January 21, 3pm-8pm at Balnarring Racecourse, Coolart Rd, Balnarring.
ROSEBUD COMMUNITY MARKET
Peruse about 160 stalls selling craft, hand produced and new items, produce and plants on the second Saturday of the month.
Next market: Saturday January 14, 8am-noon at Rosebud Primary School, cnr Jetty and Point Nepean roads, Rosebud.
MORNINGTON FARMERS MARKET
This is one of only two markets in the region accredited by the Victorian Farmers Market Association. Find fresh, seasonal produce including berries, juices, herbs, heirloom vegetables, honey, eggs, cheese, and seafood. Activities for the kids and food stalls. $2 entry with money going to The Men’s Shed. Variety of parking options.
Next market: Saturday, January 14, 9am-1pm at Mornington Park, Schnapper Point Drive, Mornington
BITTERN SUNDAY MARKET
Every Sunday Bittern Railway Station comes alive with more than 80 stalls selling new and used goods, crafts, plants, flowers, fruit and vegetables, food, coffee and more. Parking available.
ON THE WATER
NOTHING says summer like spending time on the water. Take off in a boat from one of the peninsula’s many boat ramps, or join a fishing charter and catch yourself dinner.
BOAT RAMPS
Mornington — (two ramps), Schnapper Point (Schnapper Point Drive) and Fishermans Beach (opposite 716 Esplanade)
Safety Beach — Marine Drive (between Victoria and Tonkin streets)
Rye — Jetty Launching Ramp (entry access between Dundas St and Elgan Ave off Point Nepean Rd)
Sorrento — St Aubins Way (off Point Nepean Rd)
Hastings — Marine Pde
Olivers Hill (Nepean Highway, Frankston)
Kananook Creek (Pier Promenade, Frankston)
Patterson River — True Ave, Carrum
FISHING CHARTERS
Oliver Proline Fishing Charters — Berth 1, Sorrento Pier, Sorrento. Phone: 0429 846 279. Details: prolinecharters.com.au
Relax, Go Fishing! — Schnapper Point Drive, Mornington. Phone: 0428 986 381. Details: relaxgofishing.com.au
Jillian Fishing Trips — Rosebud Parade, Rosebud. Phone: 0418 148 426. Details: thejillian.com.au
Western Port Fishing Charters — Westernport Marina, Mullet St, Hastings. Phone: 9769 5544. Details: westernportfishingcharters.com.au
FIND YOUR SEA LEGS
MORNINGTON Yacht Club is gearing up for its peak season during the summer holidays.
The club is hosting a range of programs aimed at getting people of all abilities out and sailing.
“You don’t need a boat, you don’t need anything. Just come down and we’ll provide everything for you,” chief executive Rod Austin said.
“Every week in January, there’s always something going on at the club in regards to a course.”
One activity Mr Austin highly recommends is twilight races on Thursday nights, where adults can come down and experience a race as a crew member on the larger keel boats. “It’s great fun,” he said.
The club’s Sailability program will be running on January 15 before becoming more regular once school returns. Program co-ordinator Graeme Lyell said the event was about getting people with all abilities on to yachts.
“We encourage special needs or autistic children and their mums and dads — or others who may just want to get out there and try sailing but don’t have the confidence — to come down,” he said. “Not only is it a great opportunity to learn to sail, but it is also a family activity, which not many sports can claim.”
The boats are specially rigged for people with disabilities.
“It is designed so people can steer and control the boats with controls similar to what they use to control their wheelchair,” Mr Lyell said.
Bookings are required, so phone the club on 5975 7001 for information. For details about the club and activities, visit morningtonyc.net.au
TOP BEACHES
WHATEVER beach day you fancy, you will find it on the Mornington Peninsula.
For the lazy day by the seaside, Port Phillip Bay beaches have it all. The most popular spots are the wide expanses of sand at Seaford, Frankston, Mt Martha, Safety Beach, Dromana, Rosebud, Rye, Blairgowrie, Sorrento and Portsea. For something more secluded, beaches dot the coastline among the sandstone cliffs of Mt Eliza and Mornington. And the bay piers are a haven for marine life, making snorkelling a popular pastime.
In stark contrast, the ocean beaches that stretch from Portsea Back Beach to Flinders feature some of the most spectacular but dangerous coastline anywhere in the country.
Portsea and Gunnamatta are patrolled in summer but the rest of the coast isn’t ideal for swimming due to rips and reefs. Taking in the rugged coastline while safely walking along the water rather than in it is your best option in many areas.
The variety continues along Western Port beaches with Merricks, Balnarring and Somers offering safe and picturesque options. Point Leo, which is also patrolled, offers genuine surf beach experience while Shoreham and Flinders are great spots for a stroll among the rockpools. Flinders is also considered ideal for longboarders.
For more information about Frankston and peninsula beaches, go to parkweb.vic.gov.au
FOODIE HEAVEN
WITH plenty of free time and an abundance of top notch ingredients at your doorstep, holiday cooking has never been easier.
The region has its own food and produce trail to explore with dozens of farmgates selling everything from vegies straight out of the ground and cherries and berries you can pick yourself to handmade cheeses from the local dairy and artisan bread, olive oil, honey and chocolates.
A selection of our favourites should get you started on filling that shopping basket and you can find more options at visitmorningtonpeninsula.org
MEAT
Hillock Downs Produce Store
151 Dundas St, Rye
Grass fed beef that is pasture certified (hormone free) and approved by the Meat Standards of Australia.
Closed January 1 and 2
Details: facebook.com/Hillock-Downs-Produce-Store
Woolumbi Farm
233 Coolart Rd, Tyabb
Free Range, ethically farmed pork, lamb and beef, smallgoods, salamis and handmade condiments.
Open: Friday and Sunday, 10am-4pm; Saturday, 9am- 5pm.
Details: facebook.com/woolumbifarmptyltd/
FISH/SEAFOOD
Peninsula Fresh Seafood
Opposite 128 Marine Pde, Safety Beach
Open: Fridays, 2-5pm, weekends 10.30am-3.30pm (times weather dependent)
Details: 0409 192 770
Fresh fish
For fish caught fresh from the bay head to the shed at Fisherman’s Beach, Mornington where the Hutchins family will be selling the catch of the day.
EGGS
Sommerville Egg Farm
Free-range eggs are packed daily, hormone free and are not bleached guaranteeing a fresher, longer lasting, more natural product.
220 Eramosa Rd West, Moorooduc
Open: Weekdays 8am-4.30pm and Saturdays 8am-12.30pm and January 1.
Details: somervilleeggfarm.ypsitesmart.com.au
FRUIT AND VEG
Hawkes Vegetables and Farm Gate
661 Boneo Rd, Boneo
Open: daily, 8am-5pm.
Details: hawkesvegetables.com.au
Peninsula Fresh Organics
6 Henderson Rd, Baxter
Open: Fridays, 8am-6pm; Saturdays, 8am-2pm; Mon, 9am-3pm
Details: peninsulafresh.com
Red Hill Cherry Farm
69 Prossors Ln, Red Hill. 03 5989 2237
Open: November to January weekdays, 10am-4pm and weekends, 9am-4pm.
Details: redhill-cherryfarm.com.au
Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm
244 Shands Rd, Main Ridge
November to April. (U-Pick): 7 days, 9am-5pm
CHEESE
Main Ridge Dairy
295 Main Creek Rd, Main Ridge 03 5989 6622
Open: daily through January 10am-4.30pm, public holidays 12 noon-4pm
Details: mainridgedairy.com.au
Red Hill Cheese
81 William Rd, Red Hill 03 5989 2035
Weekends and public holidays, 11am-5pm.
Open daily to end January.
Details: redhillcheese.com.au
WALKS
THE region’s most picturesque vistas are best seen on foot.
There are about 100 walking tracks and trails on the Mornington Peninsula ranging in length and difficulty from gentle coastal strolls that take less than an hour to the epic 100km Mornington Peninsula Walk which takes several days.
Ranger for Southern Peninsula Parks and Reserve Julie Van Lieshout said her favourite walk was a 30km hike from Cape Schanck to Portsea Back Beach.
“It offers such a diverse mix of long beach walks, clifftop tracks with magnificent views of surf, sand, tidal rock pools and short tracks inland through dense coastal scrub,” Ms Van Lieshout said.
“The section of this walk I particularly love is from Bridgewater Bay to Sorrento Ocean Beach — the views are stunning and the vegetation ranges from ancient Moonah trees creating a covered walkway in places, to many varieties of coastal shrubs, climbers and grasses; natures garden at its best.”
That section of the walk is known locally as the Lifesaving Track because the track was used more than 100 years ago by rescuers rushing to the aid of victims of shipwrecks on the rugged coast.
Ms Van Lieshout said families with younger children should head for Point Nepean for a variety of short walks suitable for little legs, with forts and tunnels to explore and good tracks suitable for strollers.
She said Sorrento Back Beach was also home to some shorter walks including the start of the historic Coppins Track which wound its way across cliff tops to Diamond Bay along sections of an original 1800s limestone-paved footpath.
Veer inland and be rewarded with spectacular bush at Lookout Hill. A little over 1km, this track in Red Hill takes you through stringybark forest and open sheoak woodlands.
Point Nepean was a good location for older walkers and those with limited mobility.
“The 500m Walter Pisterman Heritage Walk is generally accessible to the Observatory Point picnic area, which is a relatively level, open space with low picnic tables,” Ms Van Lieshout said.
“The Quarantine Station precinct has almost 50 heritage-listed buildings along with views of Port Phillip Bay. Much of the area is sealed and accessible for wheelchairs.”
Details: parkweb.vic.gov.au and visitmorningtonpeninsula.org
WALKS WITH THE BEST VIEWS
Cape Schanck lookouts give spectacular views over the geological formations of Pulpit Rock and Devils Desk. A wooden staircase and boardwalk descends to the beach overlooking the rock platform.
Cheviot Hill, Point Nepean Park’s highest point, overlooks Cheviot Beach, the site where former Australian Prime minister Harold Holt disappeared in 1967.
Coppins Lookout at Sorrento provides views along the coast including Cape Schanck, the Otways and the Dandenong Ranges.
MAZES
ENCHANTED ADVENTURE GARDEN
Wander through the garden, challenge yourself with the spooky indoor 3D maze, brave the thrilling tube slides and take flight with the Tree Surfing Big Zip. This award-winning natural attraction at Arthurs Seat has 10 different activities to keep the whole family entertained for the day. There is also a cafe that offers light snacks and meals with indoor and outdoor eating areas available. BYO picnics are also welcomed.
Location: 55 Purves Rd, Arthurs Seat
Tickets: From $29 (adults) $19 (child/senior)
Bookings recommended.
Details: enchantedmaze.com.au
ASHCOMBE MAZE AND LAVENDER FARM
The peninsula is home to Australia’s oldest and most famous hedge maze. The hedges, which are now more than 3m tall, were planted more than 40 years ago. The property also has a lavender labyrinth and circular rose garden to explore as well as a licensed cafe. The seeds and oil collected from the lavender are used in a range of products for sale at the maze. Location: 15 Shoreham Rd, Shoreham. Tickets: $18.50 (adults) $10 (children aged 4-15, under 4 free)
Details: ashcombemaze.com.au/
BONEO MAZE
AN ethereal Night Garden is now open at Fingal with more than 80 handcrafted lanterns lighting up the gardens and wetlands of Boneo Maze.
The silk sculptures are scattered across 10ha with visitors invited to wander the boardwalk and outdoor play spaces.
This year’s Lantasia whispers the story of Australian animals and plants and explores ideas underpinning the Dreamtime stories.
New lanterns, specially designed for the event, include the Elder wombat, Waa the wise crow, the heroic eagle Bunjil and Tiddalik the thirsty frog.
Lionel Lauch, a Gunditjmara Kirrae Wurrung-Bundjalung man of Living Culture will share indigenous culture with visitors through didgeridoo meditation performances, bush tucker gatherings and tools and weapons demonstrations.
Boneo Maze managers Tyson Savanah and Justine Watt said they were thrilled to incorporate new designs and storytelling elements into this year’s event.
“By opening the gardens of Boneo Maze at night, and creating a unique light sculpture ambience, we’re hoping to bring a little bit of magic to the Mornington Peninsula,” Mr Savanah said.
Lantasia tickets include Boneo Maze’s popular twilight minigolf in the entry price, and the newly licensed cafe will serve indigenous inspired meals accompanied by Mornington Peninsula wines and beers.
695 Limestone Rd, Fingal. Phone: 5988 6385