'''Mornington Peninsula'''[http://www.visitmorningtonpeninsula.org/] lies south of Melbourne, Australia forming the eastern side of Port Phillip Bay.
Regions
Cities
'''Mornington''' - The largest of the towns on the Mornington Peninsula, with one long main street leading down to the beach and pier. Mornington is a beachside town that is rapdily growing in response to the growing population around it and on the Peninula, but don't shy away from it, it still has a wonderful atmosphere and good transport links (busses) out to the rest of the Peninusla.
'''Dromana'''- The small coastal village of Dromana sits in a valley between Arthurs Seat and Mount Martha and with a beautful beach with brightly painted boat sheds lining the shore, its a pretty spot to spend a few days.
'''Red Hill'''- With green rolling hills, amazing wineries, fresh produce and a popular community market this is rural Australia at its best.
'''Sorrento'''- Sorrento is lucky to boast two very different yet equally interesting beaches. The Sorrento Ocean Beach is spectacular and dangerous while the bay beach is both calm and relaxing. Take your pick! Sorrento was also the site of Victoria's first official settlement in 1803.
'''Portsea'''- Glitzy, ritzy Portea at the tip of the Peninsula is resident to some very expensive holiday homes and the iconic Portsea Pub that sits literally right on the forshore. From watching the sunset over a beer on the Pub terrace to catching some waves at Portsea backbeach you wont soon be bored!
Other destinations
Understand
The Peninsula is at its very best and busiest during the summer months but don't disregard the winter months altogether either.
Walking the beaches that line Bass Straight in the cold grey months of winter and being witness to the drama of the oceans fury is an experience you wont soon forget. Just bring a jacket!
That said spending a warm summers evening with some fish and chips on the forshore watching the sun set with some friends is a great way to enjoy life.
Talk
Get in
Surburban Trains leave from Melbourne to Frankston daily on the hour, on average taking an hour to Frankston (where they terminate). [http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/]. Tickets can be purchased at stations and validated at stations.
A train line operates from Frankston to Stony Point,
From Frankston Buses run to Portsea, the most western settlement on the Peninsula ? 90 minutes and Mount Martha, Flinders and Hastings. Pay driver when boarding. Or use a pre-purchased Metcard ticket.
Timetables [http://www.grenda.com.au/timetables.htm] - see Peninsula Bus Lines and Portsea Passenger Services routes at bottom of page
Bus 781 Frankston to Mount Martha
Bus 782 Frankston to Flinders
Bus 783 Frankston to Hastings
Bus 788 Frankston to Sorrento
Bus 000 Frankston to Sorrento via Safety Beach
Car/passenger ferries cross the mouth of Port Phillip Bay between Sorrento and Queenscliff on the Bellarine Peninsula. They depart each terminal on the hour every hour 7am-6pm every day. From 26 Dec. until end of daylight saving there are also 7pm sailings.
'''Foot Passengers'''
Adult $8
5-15 years $6
Under 5 years $1
Foot Passenger_fs Bicycle $2, Tandem $3
'''Passengers with Vehicle'''
Adult $4
5-15 years $2
Under 5 years $1
'''vehicle rates'''
Vary with season ? car up to 5.5m between $38 and $45.
There is also a passenger ferry that crosses Western Port Bay to Stony Point from French Island and Phillip Island.
Your own transport is handy for getting around the Mornington Peninsula as public transport and taxi services are limited beyond the centre of major towns.
See
'''Peninsula Visitor Information Centre''', Nepean Highway, Dromana.
Frankston Visitor Information Centre. ier Promenade, Frankston Waterfront. 300 322 842. ttp://www.visitfrankston.com. days, 9:00am-5:00pm. Make your first stop the Frankston Visitor Information Centre, for all of your travel needs...
'''Arthur_fs Seat Summit''', inland from Dromana. Road goes to the 305m summit from where there are great views. The Lookout Tower is closed as at February 2004.
*'''Arthur_fs Seat Scenic Chairlift''', Arthur_fs Seat Rd, Dromana. Also goes to and from the summit. Currently closed (Feb 08).
'''Mornington Peninsula National Park'''[http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1park_display.cfm?park=145] runs from Pt Nepean to Cape Schanck.
*The '''Pt Nepean''' section has a walk to the point ? 14km return. Entry fees apply.
*'''Coppins Track''' walk, Sorrento Ocean Beach.
*'''Cape Schanck''' walks including Bushrangers Bay Track, 2 hours,6km.
*'''Cape Schanck Lighthouse and Museum'''.[http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1park_display.cfm?park=48]
'''Two Bays Walking Track''' is a 26km track running between Dromana and Cape Schank. From Dromana it runs through Arthurs Seat State Park, then the Greens Bush and Bushrangers Bay sections of Mornington Peninsula National Park.
Itineraries
Do
'''Wineries'''right|Local winery
'''Golf'''
'''Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park'''[http://www.pearcedale.com] Open daily between 11am and 5pm for encounters with Australian animals. Feature is the guided evening walks, as most Australian mammals are nocturnal. Evening tours must be booked. Located at Pearcedale at the top of the Mornington Peninsula. Ph. 5978-7935.
'''Play Tennis''' [www.rosebudtennisclub.com.au]
'''Boat hire / fishing'''
Peninsula Hot Springs. prings Lane, Fingal 3941. 1 3 5950 8777. ttp://www.peninsulahotsprings.com. pen 7 days a week 9am - 9pm. 30 per adult (peak). For the first time in Victoria you can now bathe in the naturally healing waters of mineral rich thermal pools, up to 50oC in temperature. These beautifully landscaped natural hot springs continue the tradition of the historic and famous spa centres of Europe, Asia, the Americas and New Zealand. (Please note: Children under 5 not currently admitted, pending construction of a family pool).
'''Shop''', Almost French, Boundary Road Shops, Dromana. Serving the fashionable homes of the Peninsula!
Eat
Fork to Fork. 05 Latrobe Parade, Dromana . 3 5984 7318. ttp://www.diggers.com.au/cafeHerons.shtm. Heronswood's Fork to Fork cafe strives wherever possible to use fruit and vegetables which are in season, regional and organic. Many of our vegetables are heirloom varieties from the Heronswood garden that you may well have never seen or tasted before, purple carrots or green and yellow tomatoes all dripping with freshness and flavor. By using local growers and producers we support the local economy, using fewer food miles and promoting environmentally sustainable agriculture.
Drink
Sleep
'''Lindenderry at Red Hill''', 142 Arthurs Road - Red Hill (Mornington Peninsula), VIC. Lindenderry is siutated right in the heart of the Mornington Peninsula and is the region's best high-end accommodation provider. It's an absolutely unforgettable 5-star country house hotel based on 30 acres of gardens and vineyards. Phone: (03) 5989 2933. ([http://www.lindenderry.com.au]).
'''Admiral Motor Inn''', 799 Nepean Highway - Rosebud (Mornington Peninsula), VIC 3564
Phone: (03) 5986 8933 / Fax: (03) 5982 25583 ([http://www.admiralmotorinn.com.au]).
'''Sorrento Beach House YHA''', 3 Miranda St, Sorrento (''788 bus from Frankston Station to Sorrento, Stop 18''), 5984 4323 (''sorrento@yhavic.org.au, fax 5984 2430''). Reception hours 8-10AM, 5-10PM. Not actually on the beach.
Stay safe
The Mornington Peninsula provides easy access to both the calm waters of Port Phillip Bay and the surf beaches of Bass Strait. The bay side is dotted with family friendly sandy beaches from Frankston in the north down to Sorrento on the southern tip of the Peninsula with foreshore camp grounds open in summer at the more popular Sorrento, Blairgowrie, Rosebud and Rye beaches.
The ocean beaches (or "back" beaches) such as Gunnamatta, Portsea Surf Beach, Sorrento Back Beach, and St Andrews Beach provide big waves to attract surfers and the more intrepid. The ocean beaches can be dangerous and only for strong, competent swimmers. All swimmers are advised to swim between the flags at patrolled surf beaches in the summer months. Bridgewater Bay in Blairgowrie features rock pools exposed at low tide which are safe for swimming.
The ocean beaches have single large waves on rare occasions. Standing on the rocks above the shoreline is not safe; people do get swept off on occasion.
Get out
Queenscliff is a short ferry ride from Sorento and provides a good destination for a day trip.
Frankston - The largest city close the the Peninsula.