Sorrento Sunset 5:35 PM

Winter Insider · August 2026 Winter 2026

Coastal Stays on the Mornington Peninsula

The Peninsula has two distinct coasts, and they produce quite different trips. The bay coast (Port Phillip side) is calm water, limestone cliffs, and village dining - Sorrento is the centre of this version. The ocean coast (Bass Strait side) is surf beaches, strong prevailing winds, and working fishing villages - Flinders is the centre here, Cape Schanck at the southern tip is the most dramatic.

The Continental Sorrento and Hotel Sorrento sit at the village end of Sorrento's main street, with the ocean baths a short walk away. Both suit couples who want a proper hotel stay with easy restaurant access. For a quieter coastal experience, the Sorrento Coastal Retreat gives bay views without the main-street activity.

Flinders Hotel is the south coast benchmark: a proper country pub with good rooms, directly opposite the pier, in a village that has resisted the temptation to become a weekend destination. That resistance is the point.

Last fact-verified: 24 April 2026

Sorrento · tip · bay coast

21 coastal stays across the Peninsula

Village hotels, coastal retreats, and south-coast properties - Sorrento-tip properties first, then the south coast at Flinders and Cape Schanck.

Sorrento guide →
Hotel Sorrento

The Continental

1-19 Ocean Beach Rd, Sorrento VIC 3943 · $$$$

The Peninsula's headline restoration, a 150-year-old limestone hotel rebuilt as a rooms, bathhouse, restaurant and rooftop complex.

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Hotel Sorrento

Hotel Sorrento

5-15 Hotham Rd, Sorrento VIC 3943 · $$$

A grand old bay-facing pub-hotel whose best rooms still make Sorrento feel gloriously old-school.

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Hotel Flinders

Flinders Hotel

Corner of Cook & Wood St, Flinders VIC 3929 · $$$

A polished village-base stay with proper pub energy downstairs and Bass Strait within easy reach.

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Glamping Cape Schanck

Peninsula Hot Springs Glamping

140 Springs Lane, Fingal VIC 3939 · $$$

Eco lodges and glamping pods inside the Peninsula Hot Springs precinct, wake up, walk thirty seconds to the Spa Dreaming Centre, before any day guests arrive.

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Peninsula Hot Springs

140 Springs Ln, Fingal VIC 3939 · $$$

The original Peninsula thermal springs, still the biggest, still the most complete wellness circuit for people who want the full ritual.

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Cottage Dromana

Arthurs Views

Arthurs Seat VIC 3936 · $$

Five adults-only suites on Arthurs Seat ridge with panoramic Port Phillip Bay views, double spas, and electric log fires.

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Cottage Rye

Blue Moon Cottages

12 Blakiston Grove, Rye VIC 3941 · $$

Three 1940s cottages 250 metres from Rye bay beach, Sandpiper is the dog-friendly unit with a wood fire and fenced courtyard.

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Villa Cape Schanck

The Cape Retreat

Cape Schanck VIC 3939 · $$$$

Twelve luxury suites on a Cape Schanck hilltop with Bass Strait views, primarily exclusive-hire, individual suites may be available on enquiry.

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Villa Dromana

Crittenden Estate Villas

25 Harrisons Rd, Dromana VIC 3936 · $$$

Self-contained vineyard villas on the Crittenden lake, wake up, walk to the cellar door, and eat at the on-estate restaurant without getting in a car.

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Cottage Rye

Driftaway on Dundas

246 Dundas St, Rye VIC 3941 · $$

Three self-contained villas on 2.5 acres of tea-tree near Rye beach, breakfast hampers, oversized spa baths, one disability-accessible villa.

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Glamping Merricks

Happy Glamper

Peninsula-wide, based Point Leo VIC 3916 · $$

Mobile bell-tent glamping that pitches styled tents at nominated Peninsula foreshore campsites, setup and packdown handled, children welcome.

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Glamping Shoreham

Iluka Retreat & Camp

Red Hill South VIC 3937 · $$

Thirty structures on 36 acres near Shoreham, the Peninsula's only fixed-site multi-tent group glamping venue, with a private freshwater lake.

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Glamping Rye

Mornington Peninsula Retro Caravans

1-9 Sinclair Ave, Rye VIC 3941 · $$

Restored 1950s–60s themed caravans 500 metres from Rye bay beach, dog-friendly in designated units, the most characterful glamping-adjacent option on the bayside.

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Villa Shoreham

Mantons Creek Estate

240 Tucks Rd, Shoreham VIC 3916 · $$$

Four adults-only vineyard suites with on-estate Italian dining, two minutes from Ten Minutes by Tractor, the most under-indexed southern Red Hill base.

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Glamping Portsea

Point Nepean Discovery Tents

Point Nepean National Park, Portsea VIC 3944 · $

Forty-six pre-pitched canvas tents inside Point Nepean National Park, September to April, inside the historic quarantine station precinct.

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Glamping Rye

Yurt Hideaway

Tootgarook VIC 3941 · $$

A traditional 6-metre Mongolian yurt in Tootgarook, five minutes from Peninsula Hot Springs, hosted by yoga instructors, 4.97 stars.

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Frequently asked questions

Best coastal stay near the ocean?

Sorrento for dining, village atmosphere, and easy beach access - The Continental and Hotel Sorrento both work well. Flinders Hotel for the south coast version: quieter, directly above the pier, working fishing village that hasn't been completely polished for tourism.

Can you walk to the beach from the hotels?

Hotel Sorrento and The Continental are walking distance to the Sorrento ocean baths (bay side). The back ocean beach is a 10-minute drive. Flinders Hotel is a short walk to the Flinders pier and back beach at Flinders Point.

Sorrento or Portsea?

Sorrento for more dining options and village infrastructure - better for a first visit. Portsea for quieter and more private. The two are 8 minutes apart; use Sorrento as a base and Portsea as an excursion.

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