Canonical: https://peninsulainsider.com.au/journal/cape-schanck-guide/ Publisher: Peninsula Insider Published: 2026-04-22T00:00:00.000Z Modified: 2026-04-22T00:00:00.000Z 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. Trail Guide 22 April 2026 6 min read # Cape Schanck - The Complete Guide The 1859 limestone lighthouse, the boardwalk to Pulpit Rock and Pebble Beach, and the 5.4km return walk to Bushrangers Bay. Cape Schanck lighthouse grounds are free from 6am - lighthouse tours are ticketed. Here is everything. Keep this for later - By **The Peninsula Insider** Cape Schanck Lighthouse Walk National Park Photo · Courtesy of Visit Victoria Boardwalk upgrades in progress: verify access before visiting Parks Victoria is completing upgrades to the Cape Schanck visitor precinct: track resurfacing, improved lookouts, and boardwalk works. Some sections may be temporarily closed. Follow on-site signage. Expected complete late April 2026. Check parks.vic.gov.au before visiting. Cape Schanck sits at the southern tip of the Mornington Peninsula, where the basalt headland drops to ocean on three sides and the 1859 limestone lighthouse is visible for kilometres in every direction. The lighthouse grounds are free to access. The boardwalk to Pulpit Rock is one of the better short coastal walks in Victoria. And Bushrangers Bay, a 5.4km return walk east of the lighthouse, is as remote and beautiful as the Peninsula gets. ## The lighthouse Built in 1859 from local limestone, Cape Schanck Lighthouse is 21 metres tall and has been heritage listed since operation began. It remains a working lighthouse under Parks Victoria management. **Grounds:** Free to enter, 6am–6pm daily (verify current hours). Carpark free. **Tours:** Available on weekends, school holidays, and public holidays. Duration approximately 45 minutes. Tours are ticketed, with adult (15+), child (3–14) and family rates: check current prices at parks.vic.gov.au before visiting. A kiosk is open on weekends and holidays. Toilets on-site. 420 Cape Schanck Lighthouse Road, Cape Schanck VIC 3939. ## The boardwalk walk: Pulpit Rock and Pebble Beach The signature short walk at Cape Schanck is the boardwalk from the lighthouse carpark to Pulpit Rock and Pebble Beach. | | Distance | 2.1km out-and-back | Duration | 45 min–1 hour return | Elevation gain | ~75 metres | Difficulty | Easy to moderate | Dogs | Not permitted (MPNP) | The route follows the cliff edge south from the lighthouse, with views across Bass Strait and back to the lighthouse. Pulpit Rock is a distinct basalt formation at the walk’s end. Pebble Beach is a small cove below, accessible via steep steps (check current signage, access can be temporarily closed). **Safety:** The basalt cliffs are unstable in places. Stay on the marked path. The Parks Victoria upgrade works (see alert above) are improving safety infrastructure. ## Bushrangers Bay: the longer walk The Bushrangers Bay walk is a 5.4km return walk from the Cape Schanck eastern carpark. Allow approximately two hours return. The walk passes through coastal heathland and follows the clifftop before descending to Bushrangers Bay, a remote ocean beach with basalt reef, dense coastal vegetation, and consistent Southern Ocean swell. **Swimming:** Not recommended. Unpredictable rips, strong currents, rocky reefs, and large wave sets. Limited emergency services access. **Dogs:** Not permitted (Mornington Peninsula National Park). **Fox baiting:** PAPP fox baiting and trapping is active in the National Park until October 2026. Do not bring dogs. **Hooded Plovers:** Nest on the dunes at Bushrangers Bay. Follow all nesting area signage. Check Parks Victoria for current access status: possible secondary closures due to fox control activity. Phone 13 1963. ## Getting there 420 Cape Schanck Lighthouse Road, Cape Schanck VIC 3939. From Rye, take Browns Road south towards Fingal, then Cape Schanck Road to the end. From Peninsula Hot Springs and Alba Thermal Springs, the lighthouse is approximately 15 minutes south. The RACV Cape Schanck Resort is adjacent, with its championship golf course wrapping around the cape. Barragunda Dining (two-hat GFG 2025) is 5 minutes along Cape Schanck Road. Last fact-verified: 22 April 2026. Prices may change. Confirm current rates directly with the venue or operator before booking. Something wrong on this page, or is this your business? [Tell us what to fix]() and you get a case reference back. corrections@peninsulainsider.com.au reaches the same desk. Questions readers actually ask ## FAQ Is Cape Schanck free to visit? The lighthouse grounds are free to enter from 6am (verify current hours with Parks Victoria - typically 6am to 6pm). The boardwalk walk to Pulpit Rock and the clifftop views are free. Lighthouse tours are ticketed, with adult, child and family rates, on weekends and school/public holidays - check current prices with Parks Victoria. Car parking is free. How long is the Cape Schanck boardwalk walk? The Cape Schanck boardwalk is a 2.1km out-and-back walk (approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour return) from the lighthouse carpark to Pulpit Rock and Pebble Beach. Elevation gain is approximately 75 metres. The boardwalk is well-maintained but the basalt cliffs are exposed - follow all safety signage. Is the Cape Schanck boardwalk open? Parks Victoria has been completing upgrades to the visitor precinct (track resurfacing, lookout improvements, boardwalk works). Expected complete late April 2026. Follow on-site signage for any temporary closures. Verify current access at parks.vic.gov.au before visiting. What is Bushrangers Bay and how do I get there? Bushrangers Bay is a remote ocean beach accessed via a 5.4km return walk (approximately 2 hours) from the Cape Schanck eastern carpark. The walk passes coastal heathland and clifftop. Swimming is not recommended - unpredictable rips, strong currents, rocky reefs. Dogs are not permitted (Mornington Peninsula National Park). Check Parks Victoria for current access status - possible secondary closures due to fox control. Or let PI plan your day ## Where in the Peninsula is PI? A painted Peninsula, three witnesses a stop, and the sun for a clock. Find PI before sunset and her route becomes a day you can drive. Find her and go in the draw for $250 to dine at Doot Doot Doot, Jackalope.[Draw terms and prize details]() [Play Case 02]() Six to ten minutes. Free, no account. 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