Canonical: https://peninsulainsider.com.au/journal/point-nepean-national-park-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 # Point Nepean National Park - Visitor Guide Free vehicle and pedestrian entry. Fort Nepean on foot (~3km) or by the ticketed hop-on hop-off shuttle. 50+ heritage-listed buildings. Swimming at the Quarantine Station. Two all-terrain beach wheelchairs free to borrow. Dogs not permitted. Keep this for later - By **The Peninsula Insider** Point Nepean National Park Fort Nepean Free Photo · Jesse Hisco, courtesy of Visit Victoria Point Nepean is the western tip of the Mornington Peninsula, a narrow headland jutting into Port Phillip Bay with Fort Nepean at the end and The Rip churning past the point where the bay meets Bass Strait. Entry is free. The interior roads and walking tracks are closed to private vehicles, which preserves the quiet that makes it worth the drive. ## Entry and vehicle hours **Entry is free. No gate fee for vehicles or pedestrians.** Access type | Hours | Vehicles | 8am–6pm (8am–8pm during daylight saving) | Pedestrians and cyclists | Any time | The carpark at Gunner’s Cottage is the primary starting point. Parking is free. ## Getting to Fort Nepean Fort Nepean has no private vehicle access. Three options: **Walk:** Approximately 3km from Gunner’s Cottage carpark along Defence Road. Allow 45 minutes each way at a relaxed pace. The track is sealed and wheelchair accessible in most sections. **Cycle:** Cycling is permitted on Defence Road. You can hire bikes externally and bring them in. **Hop-on hop-off shuttle:** The internal shuttle runs along the park’s main route with multiple stops. The shuttle is ticketed, with adult return and child/concession return fares. Check current prices and operating hours at parks.vic.gov.au before visiting. The shuttle does not operate year-round at the same frequency. ## What’s at Fort Nepean Fort Nepean was Australia’s first line of coastal defence from the 1880s through to World War II. Over 50 heritage-listed buildings remain on the headland, including the gun emplacements, tunnels, and military infrastructure dating from multiple eras. The views from the point across The Rip to Queenscliff are among the most dramatic on the Peninsula. On a clear day with strong tidal flow, the water movement through the narrow entrance is visible in real time. Allow at least two hours at Fort Nepean itself, plus travel time. ## Swimming Swimming is permitted at the **Quarantine Station beach** (bay side): a calm bay beach, reasonably protected. Take care of tides. Ocean beach access from the shore at the western tip is **prohibited** due to The Rip’s extreme current and undertow. This is enforced signage, not a suggestion. ## Accessibility - Coles Track and Defence Road are wheelchair accessible for most of their length - The internal shuttle accommodates standard (non-motorised) wheelchairs - **Two all-terrain beach wheelchairs and one standard wheelchair are available free from the Information Centre.** No booking required, first come first served - Check current availability by calling the Information Centre before visiting ## The Quarantine Station precinct The Quarantine Station at the eastern end of the park is a separate precinct with its own walking tracks, beach access, and heritage buildings. Historically used to quarantine arriving ships and passengers from 1852, the precinct includes some of the oldest surviving timber buildings in Victoria. ## Dogs Dogs are not permitted anywhere in Point Nepean National Park. ## Getting there The park entrance is at the end of Point Nepean Road, Portsea. From Melbourne, take the Mornington Peninsula Freeway, then follow the freeway to Rosebud and Point Nepean Road all the way to the end. Approximately 95km from the CBD. The Portsea Hotel (bay-view pub, dog-friendly beer garden) is at the park entrance on Point Nepean Road and makes a natural lunch stop before or after the visit. 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 Point Nepean National Park free? Yes. Vehicle and pedestrian entry is free - there is no entry gate fee. The internal hop-on hop-off shuttle to Fort Nepean is optional and ticketed - check current fares with Parks Victoria. Fort Nepean is approximately 3km on foot from Gunner's Cottage carpark, or you can cycle. Can you swim at Point Nepean National Park? Yes - swimming is permitted at the Quarantine Station beach (bay side) with appropriate care for tides. Ocean beach access from the shore is prohibited due to The Rip's strong currents. Do not swim at the ocean beach end of the park. Are dogs allowed in Point Nepean National Park? No. Dogs are not permitted anywhere in Point Nepean National Park. How do you get to Fort Nepean? Fort Nepean has no car access. Options: walk approximately 3km from Gunner's Cottage carpark (taking the main Defence Road track), cycle, or take the ticketed hop-on hop-off internal shuttle (adult, child and concession fares - check current prices with Parks Victoria). The shuttle has multiple stops along the way. Allow half a day if walking the full route - there is a lot to see. 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. Keep reading ## More from the Journal [All stories →]() Trail Guide 6 min ### [Cape Schanck - The Complete Guide]() 22 April 2026 The 1859 limestone lighthouse, the boardwalk to Pulpit Rock and Pebble Beach, and the 5.4km return walk to Bushrangers Bay. 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