Best spots to camp and caravan on the Mornington Peninsula

GET out into the great outdoors with these great camping experiences on the Mornington Peninsula, from beach front to a secluded bush hideaway.

Capel Sound foreshore beach is close to everything but still offers beach frontage.

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GET out into the great outdoors this summer at Victoria’s best camping spots.

These are the best camping experiences on the Mornington Peninsula.

MOST SECLUDED

Lightwood Camping Area

Located in Greens Bush and part of the Two Bays Trail.

It is secluded mainly because no one knows it exists and it’s a bit of a hike to get there, but worth the effort.

parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/mornington-peninsula-national-park/things-to-do/greens-bush2

GLAMPING

Happy Glamper

It’s not roughing it when you’re glamping. Mark Lobo Photography

Enjoy the scent of the sea and snuggle into fresh linen on a comfy bed. Happy Glamper provides pop-up glamping on the Mornington Peninsula. Choose your location (whether it’s at one of their recommended campgrounds or your own private property) and Happy Glamper will set everything up. They tow a vintage Airstream to your campsite or pitch a canvas tent for you, prepare a fresh bed, furnish and style your oasis with books/magazines, mats, board games and chairs. And then they pack at all up again when you leave.

happyglamper.com.au

HIDDEN GEM

Capel Sound Foreshore

Stay along the beautiful, calm beaches along Port Phillip Bay at Capel Sound (formerly Rosebud West) and Tootgarook with some sites offering absolute beachfront — wake up to amazing water views.

The area is close to shops, cafes, and not far from the Peninsula Hot Springs.

If you have been out and about gathering local produce you can also take advantage of the great on-site camp kitchen with herb garden. It’s open all year round.

capelsoundforeshore.com.au

MOST SCENIC

Rye or Sorrento Foreshore

Rye foreshore reserve is near to Rye village and boat ramps.

The Rye foreshore camping reserve occupies the picturesque spot along 2km of beachfront, with 174 sites and Rye village just over the road.

Camping facilities include shower and toilet blocks, grassy areas shaded by large trees and boat launching ramps close by.

Sorrento foreshore stretches for 1km along the beach.

Further along the peninsula, the Sorrento foreshore offers a smaller campground, stretching 1km along the beach.

Visitors only need to drive a short distance to the village of Sorrento, or to access the Sorrento to Queenscliff ferry which crosses Port Phillip Bay to the Bellarine Peninsula.

The campground has 147 sites, also with toilet and shower facilities.

mornpen.vic.gov.au/Activities/Camping/Rye-Foreshore-camping

mornpen.vic.gov.au/Activities/Camping/Sorrento-Foreshore-Camping

FAMILY

Rosebud Foreshore

Family favourite Rosebud foreshore.

The largest of Mornington Peninsula Shire’s camping reserves, Rosebud’s popular camping sites are spread along Port Phillip Bay from Rosebud to McCrae.

The campground has facilities including shower and toilet blocks, grassy areas, kids’ play areas and barbecues.

Boat launching ramps are located nearby, with the Rosebud shopping strip just over the road. There are powered and unpowered sites in the reserve, which sits along a 7km stretch from Anthony’s Nose in McCrae down to Chinaman’s Creek in Rosebud West.

mornpen.vic.gov.au/Activities/Camping/ Rosebud-camping

*We asked the experts — the local tourism authorities — to nominate the best camp spots in their region and tell us what makes those spots so special.