Canonical: https://peninsulainsider.com.au/explore/ Publisher: Peninsula Insider Published: unknown Modified: unknown Format: public main text, generated from the canonical page; imagery and interactive controls omitted. Dates and caveats below retain their page meaning; this format is not a new fact check. # Things to do on the Mornington Peninsula Walk, beach or indoor day? Start with your time and effort, then check the details before you go. Cape Schanck lighthouse ## Find a specific outing Filter the complete guide, or open the map and choose a place. Save a possibility or plan a visit? **Save** keeps a shortlist in [Saved places](). **Add to trip** puts a chosen stop into [My trip](), where you can arrange your day. You can start as a guest on this device. Saving or adding a stop does not reserve a table, room or ticket. Check opening times and bookings with the operator before travelling. ## What kind of day are you after? Start with an idea, then compare the practical details. Before you go: times, access and conditions Times are guide estimates, not live conditions. Walking effort is shown where recorded; it is not an accessibility assessment. Check terrain, step-free access, toilets, shade and dog rules for your chosen stop. Use [Parks Victoria’s park notices](), [VicEmergency warnings]() and [Beachsafe beach and patrol information](). These links do not confirm that a route or beach is suitable on your day. ## Spring ideas for the day New menus, fresh vintage releases, wildflower walks, and the most generous midweek bookings of the year. The seasonal filter includes experiences tagged for spring or all year; it is a subset of the full directory, not a new factual check. [51 seasonal matches →]() - Attraction ### [Ashcombe Maze & Lavender Gardens]() Wander the hedge maze and gardens, then stop at the café. Check opening days before setting out. Shoreham - Image subject unverified Beach ### [Balnarring Beach]() Choose a Western Port beach outing from Balnarring. Check local beach conditions and rules before your visit. Balnarring 1 hr - Beach ### [Bushrangers Bay]() An ocean-coast outing reached on foot. Plan the return walk and check park notices before heading to the beach. Cape Schanck 2 hr ## The walks that reset the weekend Cape Schanck, Bushrangers Bay, the Two Bays. The ranked list lives at [the Peninsula's best walks](). [All 9 →]() - Image subject unverified Walk ### [Bushrangers Bay Walk]() Walk through coastal scrub to the bay; allow for the climb on the return. Check the park’s current track notices. Cape Schanck 2 hr · Moderate walk - Walk ### [Cape Schanck Lighthouse Walk]() Follow the lighthouse headland for Bass Strait views. Check track access and choose a section that suits your party. Cape Schanck 1.5 hr · Easy walk - Illustrative image Walk ### [Cape Schanck to London Bridge Coastal Walk]() Choose a section of the long coastal traverse. Check closures and arrange return transport for a one-way walk. Cape Schanck 10 hr · Moderate walk ## Which beach, and why Bay calm or back-beach surf: pick the water that matches the wind, not the closest car park. The full case for each is in [the beach guide](). [All 10 →]() - Beach ### [Dromana Beach]() Pair the bay foreshore with a stop in Dromana’s town strip. Check beach conditions before entering the water. Dromana 2 hr - Beach ### [Gunnamatta Ocean Beach]() Go for the open coastline and surf views. Check beach conditions and patrol information before deciding how to use the beach. Cape Schanck 1 hr - Image subject unverified Beach ### [Mount Martha Beach]() A bay-coast stop with bathing boxes and the village nearby. Check beach conditions rather than assuming calm water. Mount Martha 1 hr ## The indoor and culture layer Galleries, sculpture parks, gardens, and the national park at the tip. When the forecast turns, start with [rainy-day plans]() or [the hot springs](). [All 13 →]() - Lookout ### [Arthurs Seat Eagle]() Start with the bay views, then choose a summit walk. Check the Eagle separately if you want the gondola ride. Red Hill 1.5 hr - Lookout ### [Cape Schanck Boardwalk]() A shorter coastal stop for basalt formations and lighthouse views. Check current access before choosing the boardwalk. Cape Schanck - Gallery ### [Montalto Sculpture Trail]() Walk through sculpture, vineyard and gardens before or after a meal. Confirm trail access and restaurant bookings separately. Red Hill 1 hr ## Choose your kind of round From friendly country clubs to the ranked links at Cape Schanck and St Andrews Beach. Compared properly in [the golf guide](). [All 11 →]() - Golf course ### [Eagle Ridge Golf Course]() Choose a parkland round among gum trees and dams. Check tee times and visitor arrangements with the course. Boneo 4.5 hr - Golf course ### [Flinders Golf Club]() A coastal golf outing above Flinders. Check visitor tee times with the club before planning the rest of the day. Flinders 3.5 hr - Golf course ### [Moonah Links]() Make golf the centre of the stay, with two courses at the resort. Compare course choice and tee-time availability directly. Cape Schanck 4.5 hr ## Find your part of the Peninsula Browse 37 towns and localities, with places to eat, stay and explore in each area. [Explore all towns]() Open the town index - [Arthurs Seat]() Arthurs Seat is the highest point on the Mornington Peninsula, rising above Dromana… - [Balnarring]() The village the rest of the Peninsula forgets, on the quiet Western Port side. - [Bittern]() A working Western Port village hiding one of Victoria's best wading-bird wetlands… - [Blairgowrie]() The gap between Rye and Sorrento - less talked about, underrated for a Peninsula… - [Boneo]() A farmgate stop, a bush track and a quieter inland route through the Peninsula. - [Cape Schanck]() The boardwalk at the tip of the headland, where the Southern Ocean comes in. - [Capel Sound]() A broad bay foreshore where camping and a flat coast walk set the pace. - [Crib Point]() The walking village between Hastings and the Stony Point ferry - quiet, mangrove-edged, train-accessible. - [Dromana]() The gateway town - more accessible than the hinterland, still genuinely Peninsula. - [Fingal]() The Peninsula's thermal heart - where the weekend slows all the way down. - [Flinders]() The village that the Peninsula keeps to itself. - [Hastings]() The Peninsula's working port, where the seafood is better than the streetscape. - [Main Ridge]() The highest point on the Peninsula, where the pinot is best and the road… - [McCrae]() Bayside swimming, a lighthouse, and the Peninsula's oldest homestead - the bay's quiet middle. - [Merricks]() A quiet corridor between the ridge and the bay, with the best wine shop… - [Merricks Beach]() A 1950s holiday-house hamlet with a tide-flat beach and no commercial centre… - [Merricks North]() The older, quieter half of the Peninsula's wine country - pioneer vineyards on quiet… - [Moorooduc]() The overlooked northern wine pocket where serious producers work without the Red Hill fuss. - [Mornington]() The commercial hub - the most town-like part of the Peninsula, still worth knowing. - [Mount Eliza]() The Peninsula's underrated northern village - quietly the best brunch strip and the closest… - [Mount Martha]() The most liveable part of the Peninsula - where the beach meets the suburb… - [Point Leo]() Sixteen and a half acres of contemporary sculpture rolling toward Western Port… - [Point Nepean]() The end of the Peninsula, where military ruins and ocean light do the same… - [Portsea]() The most private end of the Peninsula - the back beach is one… - [Red Hill]() The most concentrated food and wine precinct on the Peninsula, on the plateau… - [Red Hill South]() The quieter, lower-elevation half of the Peninsula's wine country - better B&Bs, fewer crowds… - [Rosebud]() The practical bay town where the beach is better than the reputation suggests. - [Rye]() A practical two-coast base: calm bay water in town, an exposed ocean beach nearby… - [Safety Beach]() The calmest broad bay foreshore on the Peninsula, with the ridge rising straight… - [Shoreham]() A tiny coastal settlement where bush, vineyard and beach sit almost on top… - [Somers]() A sheltered Western Port beach and a wetland reserve at the village edge… - [Sorrento]() Ocean baths carved from limestone at the tip of the Peninsula. - [St Andrews Beach]() A wild Bass Strait beach, dunes and rock pools, with a quiet settlement… - [Stony Point]() The only point in Victoria where you step off a train… - [Tootgarook]() A quiet bayside village with a shallow beach and public access to part… - [Tuerong]() The wine-country back door, where some of the Peninsula's best bottles come from roads… - [Tyabb]() The Peninsula's antiques district and grass-strip airshow town - two reasons to take… ## Go deeper into an interest - [Golf → All courses, ranked]() - [Spa & springs → Treatments and thermal water]() - [Dog-friendly → Beaches, walks, cafes]() - [Fishing → Jetties, charters, seasons]() - [Boating → Ramps, hire, moorings]() - [Tours → Guided days and operators]() Planning basics: [getting here]() [getting around]() [where to base yourself]() [things to do, ranked]() [day trips]() [weekend trips]() [with kids]() [free things to do]() [markets]() [rainy day]() Markets, exhibitions, and family programs run most weekends. The live calendar is at [What's On](). ## All 52 experiences Walks, beaches, golf, galleries, lookouts, markets and day spas. Filter the guide above or open the full list. Browse the complete directory - ### [Alba Thermal Springs & Spa]() Contemporary geothermal bathing and spa treatments in a landscaped Fingal setting. Springs & spa Fingal - ### [Arthurs Seat Eagle]() Start with the bay views, then choose a summit walk. Check the Eagle separately if you want the gondola ride. Lookout Red Hill 1.5 hr - ### [Ashcombe Maze & Lavender Gardens]() Wander the hedge maze and gardens, then stop at the café. Check opening days before setting out. Attraction Shoreham - ### [Balnarring Beach]() Choose a Western Port beach outing from Balnarring. Check local beach conditions and rules before your visit. Beach Balnarring 1 hr - ### [Bushrangers Bay]() An ocean-coast outing reached on foot. Plan the return walk and check park notices before heading to the beach. Beach Cape Schanck 2 hr - ### [Bushrangers Bay Walk]() Walk through coastal scrub to the bay; allow for the climb on the return. Check the park’s current track notices. Walk Cape Schanck 2 hr · Moderate walk - ### [Cape Schanck Boardwalk]() A shorter coastal stop for basalt formations and lighthouse views. Check current access before choosing the boardwalk. Lookout Cape Schanck - ### [Cape Schanck Lighthouse Walk]() Follow the lighthouse headland for Bass Strait views. Check track access and choose a section that suits your party. Walk Cape Schanck 1.5 hr · Easy walk - ### [Cape Schanck to London Bridge Coastal Walk]() Choose a section of the long coastal traverse. Check closures and arrange return transport for a one-way walk. Walk Cape Schanck 10 hr · Moderate walk - ### [Coppins Track]() Coastal heath, clifftop views and interpretive signs on the way towards Diamond Bay. Plan the return before setting out. Walk Sorrento 2.5 hr · Moderate walk - ### [Dromana Beach]() Pair the bay foreshore with a stop in Dromana’s town strip. Check beach conditions before entering the water. Beach Dromana 2 hr - ### [Eagle Ridge Golf Course]() Choose a parkland round among gum trees and dams. Check tee times and visitor arrangements with the course. Golf course Boneo 4.5 hr - ### [Endota Spa Mornington]() The Mornington town-centre day spa, reliable treatments, sensible pricing, and the sixty-minute option that fits before lunch on Main Street. Springs & spa Mornington - ### [Farnsworth Track]() A clifftop walk between the Portsea ocean coast and London Bridge. Check park notices and plan your return route. Walk Point Nepean 45 min · Easy walk - ### [Flinders Golf Club]() A coastal golf outing above Flinders. Check visitor tee times with the club before planning the rest of the day. Golf course Flinders 3.5 hr - ### [Greens Bush - Two Bays Section]() Choose bushland and birdlife over the beach. This is a longer walking commitment; check route details and return transport. Walk Main Ridge 4 hr · Moderate walk - ### [Gunnamatta Ocean Beach]() Go for the open coastline and surf views. Check beach conditions and patrol information before deciding how to use the beach. Beach Cape Schanck 1 hr - ### [Montalto Sculpture Trail]() Walk through sculpture, vineyard and gardens before or after a meal. Confirm trail access and restaurant bookings separately. Gallery Red Hill 1 hr - ### [Moonah Links]() Make golf the centre of the stay, with two courses at the resort. Compare course choice and tee-time availability directly. Golf course Cape Schanck 4.5 hr - ### [Mornington Farmers' Market]() A monthly bayfront produce market that knows what it is and stays close to its growers. Market Mornington - ### [Mornington Golf Club]() A parkland round to pair with a Mornington stay. Confirm visitor access and available tee times before travelling. Golf course Mornington 4.5 hr - ### [Mornington Main Street Market]() The northern Peninsula's midweek town market, a broad mix that folds easily into a Mornington visit. Market Mornington - ### [Mornington Peninsula Foreshore Walk]() Build a Mornington outing around the foreshore walk. Read the route details before choosing your starting point. Walk Mornington 2 hr · Easy walk - ### [Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery]() Make the current exhibition the reason to visit. Check the gallery program and opening days before planning an indoor afternoon. Gallery Mornington 1.3 hr - ### [Mount Eliza Farmers Market]() A smaller community farmers market in Mount Eliza village, producers drawn from the Mornington corridor. Market Mount Eliza - ### [Mount Martha Beach]() A bay-coast stop with bathing boxes and the village nearby. Check beach conditions rather than assuming calm water. Beach Mount Martha 1 hr - ### [One Spa at RACV Cape Schanck Resort]() The Peninsula's best resort-style day spa, proper scale, serious treatment menu, and a cliff-edge location that nobody else on the Peninsula can match. Springs & spa Cape Schanck - ### [Peninsula Hot Springs]() The original Peninsula thermal springs, still the biggest, still the most complete wellness circuit for people who want the full ritual. Springs & spa Fingal - ### [Point Nepean Fort Walk]() Combine coastal views with the fort’s military history. Choose your route and check park access before leaving Sorrento. Attraction Point Nepean - ### [Point Nepean National Park]() Give the park a substantial part of the day. Check current walking, cycling and shuttle options with Parks Victoria. Park Point Nepean 8 hr - ### [Portsea Front Beach]() A small bay-side beach near the pier and village. Check current beach access and conditions before your visit. Beach Portsea 1.5 hr - ### [Portsea Golf Club]() A golf outing at the Peninsula’s tip. Confirm the club’s current visitor arrangements before building a day around a round. Golf course Portsea 4.5 hr - ### [Pt. Leo Estate Sculpture Park]() An outdoor sculpture outing across the estate’s lawns and gardens. Check admission and forecast, and book dining separately. Gallery Merricks 1.5 hr - ### [RACV Cape Schanck Golf Course]() Combine a resort round with a Cape Schanck stay. Check tee times and the conditions expected for your booking. Golf course Cape Schanck 4.5 hr - ### [Red Hill Hinterland Cycling]() Explore the ridge by bike with a route suited to your group. Check hire, terrain and return arrangements before committing. Tour Red Hill 4 hr - ### [Red Hill Truffles]() A seasonal truffle-hunt outing with working dogs. Check the operator’s current dates and book before travelling. Attraction Red Hill - ### [Rosebud Country Club]() A golf option for a central Peninsula base. Ask the club about course choice and visitor tee times. Golf course Rosebud 4.5 hr - ### [Rye Foreshore Market]() A first-Saturday market on Rye foreshore, listed by Mornington Peninsula Shire. Market Rye - ### [Rye Ocean Beach]() Choose the ocean side for a coastal outing. Check current conditions and patrol information before entering the water. Beach Rye 1 hr - ### [Safety Beach]() A bay foreshore outing to pair with a local meal. Check actual water conditions; the name is not a safety assessment. Beach Safety Beach 2 hr - ### [Sea Search Encounters]() A guided snorkelling or scuba outing from Sorrento. Confirm the trip, swimming requirements and weather arrangements with the operator. Tour Sorrento 3 hr - ### [Sorrento Back Beach]() Pick the ocean side for a walk and coastal views. Check conditions and patrol information before considering a swim. Beach Sorrento 1.3 hr - ### [Sorrento Ferry]() Cross the bay to Queenscliff as a foot passenger or with a vehicle. Check sailings and the return crossing before booking. Tour Sorrento 40 min - ### [Sorrento Golf Club]() A parkland round near a Sorrento base. Confirm visitor tee times and member-priority restrictions with the club. Golf course Sorrento 4.5 hr - ### [Sorrento Ocean Baths]() Read the access and conditions advice before planning this rock-pool stop. Tide alone does not establish suitable swimming conditions. Beach Sorrento 45 min - ### [Spa by Jackalope]() The Peninsula's most design-led boutique spa, small, precise, and the natural pairing with a Jackalope stay or a Doot Doot Doot dinner. Springs & spa Merricks - ### [St Andrews Beach Golf Course]() Make the dune-course round the day’s anchor. Book a tee time and allow for the coastal forecast. Golf course Fingal 4.5 hr - ### [Summit Circuit Walk - Arthurs Seat]() A summit loop through gardens and viewpoints. Check the route and access details before choosing it for your party. Walk Red Hill 1 hr · Easy walk - ### [Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm]() Plan around the current picking season. Confirm fruit availability and opening days with the farm before driving to the ridge. Attraction Main Ridge - ### [The Dunes Golf Links]() A links-style golf outing in the southern Peninsula. Check course choice, visitor tee times and the coastal forecast. Golf course Rye 4.5 hr - ### [The National Golf Club]() A private-club golf option. Establish your access arrangements and the correct course location before planning the trip. Golf course Cape Schanck 4.5 hr - ### [Two Bays Walking Track]() A long one-way route between the bay and Cape Schanck. Choose a section or plan a full walking day with return transport. Walk Cape Schanck 10 hr · Moderate walk Turn it into a weekend: our [escape plans]() sequence these with the right lunch and the right bed. ## Stories for the day ahead [All in the Journal →]() - ### [The Peninsula with Kids: A Day That Doesn't Punish Anyone]() A working plan for parents who want the region to feel like a holiday, not a logistics problem. Peninsula Insider April 2026 7 min read - ### [The Rainy-Day Peninsula Without a Booking]() For the grey Saturday when the forecast turns, the hot springs are full, and you still want the region to feel worth the drive. Peninsula Insider April 2026 7 min read - ### [The Market Saturday: Two Peninsula Weekends Built Around the Right Hour at the Right Stall]() Mornington, Hill & Ridge, Balnarring and Somers: check each organiser's current calendar, then build a Peninsula weekend around a confirmed market. Peninsula Insider April 2026 8 min read ## Five honest answers about Peninsula geography and access What is the Mornington Peninsula? The Mornington Peninsula is a peninsula and local government area in Victoria, Australia, beginning roughly 40 km south of Melbourne's CBD and extending to the tip at Point Nepean. Its bay side (Port Phillip) is calm water; its ocean side (Bass Strait, via the Mornington Peninsula National Park) is surf and cliff. The hinterland, Red Hill, Main Ridge, Merricks, is wine and food country. How far is the Mornington Peninsula from Melbourne? The peninsula begins around 40–50 km from central Melbourne. Mornington town is about 60 km by road (50–60 min). Sorrento is 110 km by road (1 hr 20 min without traffic) or reachable via the Searoad Ferry from Queenscliff. What is there to do on the Mornington Peninsula? Hot springs, beaches (bay and ocean), coastal walks, golf, winery lunches, day spas, surf, markets, lookouts, and whale-watching in season. When is the best time to visit the Mornington Peninsula? Summer (December–February) is peak beach season and most crowded. Autumn (March–May) is the best eating and drinking season and the most comfortable for hinterland visits. Winter is quiet, atmospheric, and ideal for hot springs. Spring is underrated, especially for wildflowers and walking. Is a car necessary to visit the Mornington Peninsula? For most itineraries, yes. Public transport connects Melbourne to Frankston and a limited bus network extends further, but the hinterland, beaches, and most attractions are car-dependent. ## Not sure which way to point the day? Every walk, beach, spring, and back road on these pages is searchable. Start with a place, a mood, or the time you have. [Search Peninsula Insider]()