The Mornington Peninsula is the ultimate short trip from Melbourne.
It’s got a laid-back beachside atmosphere, piers that stretch into the endless ocean, dreamy coastal bushland, dramatic rocky bays, and turquoise ocean pools. Then there’s the exhilarating hiking tracks, hedge mazes, a strawberry farm, a very insta-worthy light house, and of course, the hot springs. Phew.
With so much to see and do, we reckon it’s still the coastal landscapes and local wildlife of Mornington Peninsula that make this part of the world so special. With that in mind, we’ve put together our top five reasons to make the Mornington Peninsula your next adventure out of Melbourne.
5 Reasons to Make Mornington Peninsula Your Next Adventure out of Melbourne
1. The dreamy coastline
This is real. It’s a day trip from Melbourne. And you can go here… this week if you like!
2. The coastal boardwalks
Among Victoria’s greatest boardwalks. Walking the Mornington Peninsula is the best way to see the sights:
3. Bushrangers Bay
Its reputation now is a great place to hike to experience the rugged beauty of the Mornington Peninsula coastline. But the history of this place is almost as epic as its landscapes.
The bay is named after a couple of bushrangers (you might have guessed) who while on the run, commandeered a boat to escape Tasmania. They came ashore at the spot on the Victorian coastline now known as Bushrangers Bay. There was no happy ending for the two pirate bushrangers who in 1853 were captured and hanged for crimes committed during their grand escapade. Their story lives on as namesakes of what is one of our favourite Mornington Peninsula destinations:
3. Cape Schanck lighthouse
What is it about lighthouses? This one looks out over the Bass Strait and was built using local limestone back in 1859:
4. The friendly locals
There are more than 400 species of native animals that have been recorded on the Mornington Peninsula. The peninsula is home to almost 300 different species of birds including the Powerful Owl, plus frogs, lizards, echidnas, koalas, wallabies. And these guys really never stop being adorable, do they?
5. Rock Pools & Hot Springs.
You could be here:
The best news? You can experience all of our top five Mornington Peninsula things to do in just one day. We’ll take you there. Book your spot on our small group Mornington Peninsula Day Tour, departing Melbourne.