The Mornington Peninsula is located south-east of Melbourne in Central Victoria, Australia. It is surrounded by Port Phillip to the west, Western Port to the east and Bass Strait to the south, and is connected to the mainland in the north.
The area was initially home to the Mayone-bulluk clan and formed part of the Boonwurrung nation's territory prior to European settlement. The nation had six clans who lived along the Victorian coast from the Werribee River across to Western Port Bay and Wilsons Promontory. The peninsula is considered to have been home to between 100 - 500 people prior to European settlement.
Heading along the Nepean Highway from Melbourne to the beautiful Mornington Peninsula it is best to turn off at Mornington and follow the coastal road along . Once you reach Dromana you rejoin the highway, although east of Dromana is the wonderful Arthurs Seat Lookout which offers absolutely fabulous views.
Heading further along the coast towards the peninsula point you will reach Sorrento. There are some excellent beaches here and some wonderful historic buildings. You can also join one of the dolphin watching cruises. More great beaches can be found at the rather elegant Portsea. The bay beaches are great for swimming, and although the southern beaches are good for surfing can be quite dangerous. Diving is also popular around Portsea.
The southern coastline of the Mornington Peninsula makes up the Mornington Peninsula National Park. There is a good bus tour through the park, as well as some good walking and cycling tracks. When you are exploring be aware that the sea gets very rough, and isn't suitable for swimming.
Further east from the National Park are more great surfing beaches, although again the sea can be very dangerous. Travelling from Melbourne you can take a train to Frankston, although a bus departs from Frankston continuing to Portsea. You can also catch a ferry from Queenscliff.
Mornington Peninsula Accommodation
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