Looking for a fun day out? Hit the road and escape the city to one of these must-see day trip destinations in Victoria, all close to Melbourne.
Victoria
Best things to eat, see and do on the Mornington Peninsula
The Mornington Peninsula has long been a favourite foodie and coastal destination for Melburnians, Victorians, and tourists alike.
Whether it’s for a romantic getaway, family holiday or mini break, holidaymakers have for decades ambled down to Victoria's idyllic Mornington Peninsula for some much-needed rest and relaxation.
The coastal destination, located on the eastern side of Port Phillip Bay, is known for its pristine sandy beaches, turquoise waters, cool-climate vineyards, fine dining restaurants, family activities, wellness retreats and luxury accommodation. Plus, it's just a 90-minute drive from the Melbourne CBD to the popular towns of Sorrento and Portsea, making the peninsula perfect for last-minute road trips.
What makes the Mornington such a favoured holiday destination is its range and diversity. It's easy to have the ultimate luxurious escape filled with spa dates, art, fine food and even finer wine, but it's just as easy to have an affordable family getaway with plenty of action and adventure.
RACV Members save on ticket prices to some of Mornington Peninsula’s top attractions.
Mornington Peninsula travel guide
From wellness to walks, wineries to family activities, there truly is something for everyone on the Mornington Peninsula. Image: Visit Victoria
How to get to the Mornington Peninsula
The Shire of Mornington Peninsula starts south of Frankston and takes in the coastal towns of Mornington, Mt Martha, Dromana, Sorrento, and Portsea on the Port Phillip Bay side, and Hastings, Somers and Flinders on the Western Port Bay side.
The peninsula is best explored by car, with public transport options limited. The easiest route from central Melbourne is to take the M1 and M3 freeways, which takes approximately an hour to the northernmost parts of the peninsula. Factor in an extra 30 minutes if driving all the way to Portsea or Sorrento.
If you're travelling from west Victoria or the Bellarine, you can also skip the long drive around Melbourne by taking the Searoad Ferry from Queenscliff to Sorrento. There are services daily, and you can even take your car, motorhome or bike on board.
Alternatively, you can catch Frankston line trains to the Frankston terminus where buses connect to the towns of Portsea (Route 788), Rosebud (Route 887), Dromana (Route 781) and Flinders (Route 782).
The Millionaire's Walk in Sorrento is an easy stroll that takes you past beautiful seaside vistas and some of the most lavish properties in the state. Image: Visit Victoria
The best time to visit the Mornington Peninsula
There are benefits to visiting the Mornington Peninsula at any time of the year. When the best time is very much depends on what you're looking to get out of your holiday.
Summer
As a coastal destination, summer is the peak season for Mornington Peninsula towns. Book accommodation and activities in advance to avoid missing out. The weather is often warm and sunny, perfect for long days at the beach.
Autumn
You'll likely still enjoy a few warm days on the peninsula in early autumn, with less visitors than during the school holidays to boot. Be aware accommodation, especially camping, can fill up fast during the Easter period.
Winter
The "off season" is usually quieter and great for those who like to avoid the summer crowds. Activities during this time include hot springs, winery visits and walks along wild coastlines. Rug up, as it can get cold and blustery.
Spring
Weather-wise, expect a mixed bag during spring on the Mornington Peninsula. Unseasonably sunny and warm days occur side by side with cold rainy ones. Spring is a good time to take the kids to a petting zoo or try your luck at a pick-your-own strawberry farm.
How much time should I spend on the Mornington Peninsula?
The beauty, diversity and location of the Mornington Peninsula mean that you can spend as long or as little time there as you wish.
The destination can easily accommodate daytrippers but likewise is great for weekends away or longer. The scale of restaurants, wineries, beaches and activities means that it's genuinely possible to spend two weeks (or more) on the Mornington Peninsula exploring to your heart's content.
Read more: Victoria's best day trips from Melbourne.
Mornington's markets have been running every week for more than 40 years. Image: Visit Victoria
The best towns and regions to visit on the Mornington Peninsula
Mornington
Mornington is a hive of activity, with lots of shopping and dining opportunities. The town is one of the most metropolitan in the region, with around a kilometre-long shopping precinct, galleries, a racecourse and a weekly market along its main street that has been running for more than four decades.
Mount Martha
For a destination that is both bush and beach, head to Mount Martha. The region has wide golden beaches that are relatively calm and dotted with a rainbow of bathing boxes, while inland it features vibrant nature reserves like the Balcombe Creek Wetlands and Mount Martha Park. The Briars is a favourite destination in the area for its animal conservation efforts, walking tracks and 1840s-era homestead.
Cape Schanck
Cape Schanck marks the southernmost point on the Mornington Peninsula and is known for its windswept beauty and the postcard-perfect Cape Schanck Lighthouse. The region is home to several amazing golf courses, as well as the breathtaking Two Bays walking track that takes you along the cape's rugged cliffs. It's also close to both Peninsula Hot Springs and Alba Thermal Springs and Spa, as well as the home to RACV Cape Schanck Resort and the fine-dining Cape restaurant.
Dromana
A great destination for families, Dromana is filled with fun and adventure. The township features a wide, relatively safe swimming beach (patrolled weekends in summer) as well as a drive-in theatre and the home of gardening association, The Digger's Club.
Red Hill
Red Hill is a must visit for those keen to soak in the peninsula's wine culture. The region is home to standout wineries including Red Hill Estate, Paringa Estate, Montalto, Green Olive at Red Hill, Polperro Winery, Myrtaceae Winery and Foxey's Hangout.
Sorrento
The town's white sands, clear waters, boutiques and classic sandstone architecture have made Sorrento a favoured haunt of the rich and famous. Don't miss experiencing Millionaire's Walk - an easy clifftop trek with sparkling blue waters on one side and some of the most expensive houses in Victoria on the other.
Arthurs Seat
Arthurs Seat - or to be exact, Arthurs Seat State Park - is a 314m mountain situated near Dromana. The summit offers great views out over the bay as well as picnic and barbecue spots, hiking and mountain biking. For the best view, hop aboard the Arthurs Seat Eagle, a gondola ride that soars above the trees.
Portsea
As the last town before reaching the end of the peninsula, Portsea is well worth visiting just for its proximity to Point Nepean. The area is a haven for scuba diving as well as for surfers.
Flinders
Located on the Western Port side of the peninsula, Flinders is a historic seaside town with plenty of charm. The town was first settled in 1854, and these days is home to many boutiques, cafés, providores and galleries. It's also just a stone's throw from Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary where you can explore one of the state's best examples of intertidal and subtidal rock platform reefs.
Rye
Rye is a well-known family-friendly destination with calm beaches and foreshore camping opportunities. It's a great place to try snorkelling too, with Rye Pier home to a 200m signed, underwater snorkelling trail known as the Octopus's Garden. Lucky snorkellers may even see a leafy seadragon, with hermit crabs, sea slugs, sponges and seahorses also common.
The multi-coloured bathing boxes at Mount Martha are as much a drawcard as the wide, picturesque beach. Image: Visit Victoria
Best beaches on the Mornington Peninsula
Mount Martha
Being one of the closest Mornington Peninsula beaches to Melbourne, Mount Martha is popular with day-trippers. It’s picturesque with white sand, multi-coloured bathing boxes and clifftop rocks that jut out over the bay. Unfortunately, erosion has made the cliffs, known as The Pillars, unsafe and the best way to view them is from a boat.
Safety Beach
Safety Beach is a little gem with calm and shallow waters that makes it perfect for families with young children. To the right is the picturesque hills of Mount Martha and to the south the highest point on the peninsula - Arthur’s Seat. As well as a stretch of beach where dogs can roam off lead, there’s the Bay Trail that’s popular with dog walkers, sightseers, and joggers.
Number 16, Rye
This is a secluded beach between Diamond Bay and Rye Back Beach that’s treasured by locals. Its spectacular rock formations, such as “Dragon Head Rock”, make it popular with photographers, and there are rock pools for swimming and caves for exploring at low tide.
Related reading: The best beaches to visit in Melbourne.
Point King, Portsea
The cliff-top Millionaires Walk gives you a peek into how the other half lives, but the beauty of Australian beaches is that they belong to everyone. Tucked below the mansions is Point King, a secluded sandy beach that you can reach via a set of wood stairs at the end of Point King Road. It’s a bit tricky to access but worth the effort with its jetties and view of ships sailing by.
Sorrento and Portsea Back Beaches
These wilder ocean beaches along the rugged, southern coastline of the peninsula are great for bodyboarding and surfing. Conditions vary depending on the winds of the day, but you need to be a confident swimmer as there are rips and dangerous currents. Both beaches are patrolled on summer weekends and holidays, so make sure you swim between the flags.
Flinders Beach and Flinders Ocean Beach
Flinders offers a range of different beach experiences. There are two sheltered beaches on either side of Flinders Point: Dodds Creek and Kennon Cove, a leash-free dog beach north of Dodds Creek.
On the sheltered side, the Flinders Pier is a popular for fishing, snorkelling and scuba diving, while on the ocean side the Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary is a family-friendly spot for discovering diverse marine life at low tide.
There is perhaps no better view of the Mornington Peninsula than that provided on the Arthurs Seat Eagle gondola. Image: Visit Victoria
Attractions and activities
Walks, lookouts and nature on the Mornington Peninsula
Arthurs Seat Eagle
The Eagle offers a bird’s-eye view from Arthurs Seat to Dromana. Riding in the glass gondolas is roughly 15 minutes each way. Plus, RACV Members save on Arthurs Seat Eagle tickets.
Arthurs Seat Summit Circuit Walk
The majesty of Arthurs Seat can also be enjoyed with two feet firmly planted on the ground. The Circuit Walk is probably one of the best in the region and has the added benefit of being a breezy, 1.8km in length.
Cape Schanck Lighthouse Reserve Walk
This relatively short circuit walk packs a lot in: Cape Schanck Lighthouse, Pulpit Rock and Devils Desk to name a few highlights. This walk includes a boardwalk section, stairs and can be accessed from the Cape Schanck Lighthouse Reserve carpark.
Point Nepean National Park trails
Exploring Point Nepean - either by foot or by bicycle - is one of the best outdoor activities on the peninsula. The trails within the national park take you past historic landmarks like the quarantine station and Shepherd Hut, as well as through the traditional lands of the Boonwurrung people, with many shell middens still present.
Water activities on the Mornington Peninsula
Waterbiking
Experience the sparkling waters and rugged cliffs of the peninsula from a whole new vantage point. Waterbike tours with Waterbikes Australia are available for all ages with no prior experience necessary. Tours run between Sorrento and Portsea.
Snorkelling
If you've never tried snorkelling then a tour is a great place to start. Bayplay offers snorkelling tours based out of Portsea with all equipment provided and no experience needed.
Boat hire and cruises
Getting out on the water is a must in the Mornington region. Many local businesses offer boat and watercraft (e.g. kayaks, stand-up paddleboards etc) hire, but for something truly special hop aboard a Moonraker Charters cruise. Its three-hour cruise guarantees you'll see dolphins and even includes the chance to swim with dolphins and seals.
Scuba diving
Try your hand at scuba diving with Bayplay. The group runs half-day scuba tours that give you the chance to spot weedy seadragons and other sealife. No dive certifications necessary.
Moonlit Sanctuary lets you get up close and personal to Australian animals like kangaroos and wallabies. Image: Visit Victoria
Family activities on the Mornington Peninsula
Boneo Discovery Park
695 Limestone Rd, Fingal
Take the kids to Boneo Discovery Park for a round of mini golf. The park features an 18-hole course through gardens and wetlands, as well a hedge maze, jumping castle and DINO In Sand activity.
Moonlit Sanctuary
550 Tyabb-Tooradin Rd, Pearcedale
See Australian animals up close at Moonlit Sanctuary. This animal sanctuary features free-roaming wallabies and kangaroos you can feed, as well as wombats, dingoes, koalas, emus and a variety of bird and reptile life.
Ashcombe Maze and Lavender Gardens
15 Red Hill-Shoreham Rd, Shoreham
Get lost at Australia's oldest hedge maze. Ashcombe Maze and Lavender Gardens is over 40 years old and has something different to offer during each season of the year. Remember to try the house-made lavender ice cream.
Enchanted Adventure
55 Purves Road, Arthurs Seat
Located at Arthurs Seat, Enchanted Adventure offers tree surfing, high ropes courses, mazes, canopy walks and tube sliding.
Wellness and relaxation on the Mornington Peninsula
Peninsula Hot Springs
140 Springs Ln, Fingal
Peninsula Hot Springs has become something of a wellness institution on the Mornington Peninsula, offering communal and private hot spring bathing, plus spa treatments, accommodation and dining.
Alba Thermal Springs and Spa
282 Browns Rd, Fingal
Despite only opening in 2022, Alba has quickly established itself as a viable alternative to Peninsula Hot Springs - especially if you're looking for a extra large dose of luxury or a more holistic wellness experience.
Alba Thermal Springs and Spa is the newest hot springs and wellness centre to open on the Mornington Peninsula. Image: Visit Victoria
Where to eat and drink
Best cafés on the Mornington Peninsula
Wombat Café & Store
230 Boundary Rd, Dromana
The Mornington Peninsula is a haven for vegans and even meat eaters will find much to love at Wombat Café. Plant-based burgers and variations on bruschetta, curries and pies broaden the palate and offer a great introduction to meat-free eating. Look out for fancy specials like the Turkish Delight muffins or enjoy the signature Wombat smoothie: a creamy blend of banana, cacao, dates and almond milk.
Commonfolk Coffee
16 Progress St, Mornington
Need a coffee fix? You’ll find a great house-roasted coffee at Commonfolk Coffee, which is secreted away in the backblocks of Mornington. The seasonal menu delivers breakfast staples with just a little more oomph - think French toast made with fig leaf custard or smashed avocado spiked with finger lime and leek.
Buckley
174 Ocean Beach Rd, Sorrento
You’ll be dazzled by Buckley’s breakfast options, but Buckley is renowned for its buttermilk pancakes, which pay homage to the days when this establishment was a pancake café called Buckley’s Chance. Served with whipped butter or ice cream, they are guaranteed to make a day of exploring Sorrento’s foreshore all the sweeter.
Pelikan Société
2 Marine Pde, Hastings
Explore the Western Port side of the peninsula and discover how much Hastings has developed in the past decade. This historic fishing village offers places to fish, swim and fossick for vintage goods at The Emporium. Pelikan Société boasts one of the best views, with a deck overlooking Hastings Bight and the marina. Soak up the atmosphere with a plate of fish and chips, fired and spiced calamari or seafood linguini.
The Somers General
2 The Blvd, Somers
Locals would prefer that you didn’t know about The Somers General but there’s no way they can keep this on-trend café to themselves. Turkish eggs, strawberry panna cotta, chilli scramble and free-range eggs on buttered organic sourdough are some of the offerings for breakfast, while you can’t go past a classic burger and chips for lunch. Top it off with Mubble ice cream, which is lovingly handcrafted in Sorrento. There are also local artisan wares for sale.
Best restaurants on the Mornington Peninsula
Cape
Cape Schanck Resort, Trent Jones Dr, Cape Schanck
The award-winning Cape restaurant at RACV Cape Schanck Resort is all about welcoming diners to the world of haute cuisine. The menu pays homage to European traditions, while focusing on the best local produce Victoria has to offer. Dishes change seasonally, meaning you could be dining on local pine mushrooms in autumn while winter brings locally foraged Warrigal greens to the table. The wine list showcases the peninsula's flair for cool-climate varieties including chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot gris.
Green Olive at Red Hill
1180 Mornington Flinders Rd, Main Ridge
As a farm, olive grove and winery, Green Olive at Red Hill is something of a triple threat. Grazing platters served here are simple, wholesome and incredibly fresh, with much of food served sourced from either onsite or a nearby farm. The team will even pack a picnic for you to enjoy on the farm grounds.
Le Bouchon
Unit 10/2-8 Russell St, Balnarring
The old-world charm of French restaurant Le Bouchon gives the Paris end of Collins Street in Melbourne a run for its money. French classics like onion soup and escargot de Bourgogne a l’ail (yes, that’s snails with garlic, parsley and butter) are the entry point to favourites like boeuf bourguignon and casserole of confit duck.
Del Posto
2409 Point Nepean Rd, Rye
Those in the know consider this one of the Peninsula’s gems. The house-made squid-ink lasagna filled with blue swimmer crab, ricotta, spring onion and tomato sugo has long been a standout at Del Posto, alongside more traditional Italian dishes like arancini, rigatoni and gnocchi. Make sure to leave room for some tiramisu!
Red Gum BBQ
87 Arthurs Seat Rd, Red Hill
Experience an American-style barbecue feast in the middle of the Mornington Peninsula. Red Gum BBQ specialises in meat cooked low and slow then served with all the traditional trimmings like cornbread, slaw, pickles and fries. And no, vegetarians aren't excluded either, with lots of filling options like smoked mushrooms, corn ribs and mac and cheese.
The Mornington Peninsula has many excellent wineries, including Montalto. Image: Visit Victoria
The best wineries to visit on the Mornington Peninsula
Paringa Estate
44 Paringa Rd, Red Hill South
Paringa Estate is all class and a heavenly location for a special occasion. Expansive windows give you a view over the sloping vineyard as you sample locally sourced, seasonal produce and Paringa Estate’s award-winning wines.
Montalto
33 Shoreham Rd, Red Hill South
Montalto has been producing wines on the peninsula since 1997. Across the winery's five vineyards Montalto crafts exemplary varieties such as pinot noir and shiraz, while also growing an array of heirloom produce that can be enjoyed at the estate restaurant.
Red Hill Estate
1208 Mornington-Flinders Rd, Main Ridge
The cool climate wines at Red Hill Estate are the result of a minimal intervention approach championed by the Fabrizio family. Enjoy a wine tasting before checking out the view over Western Port.
Point Leo Estate
3649 Frankston - Flinders Rd, Merricks
Down on the Western Port side of the Mornington Peninsula lies Point Leo Estate, a winery known not just for its wine but for its expansive and renowned sculpture garden as well. For something extra special, treat yourself to one of the winery's signature experiences, such as the Sip and Sketch, Sculpture Park Cultural Experience and Wine Tasting, or the Vintage Vertical (a guided wine tasting of five of Point Leo's museu =m wines).
Crittenden Estate
25 Harrisons Road, Dromana
Crittenden Estate is a true labour of love, with three generations of the Crittenden family now having worked and managed the winery since 1982. These days, brother and sister team Zoe and Rollo Crittenden focus creating sustainable wines that reflect the landscape they're grown on.
RACV Members save when staying at RACV Resorts across Australia, including at Cape Schanck.
Where to stay on the Mornington Peninsula
There are plenty of accommodation options available across the peninsula, from foreshore campgrounds and holiday parks to luxury resorts and farmstays.
Read more: The best free campgrounds you can book in Victoria.
Remember that accommodation can book out quickly for peak periods so plan your stay well in advance if travelling during the warmer months or school holidays.
For five-star luxury located in the heart of the Mornington Peninsula, book your next stay at RACV Cape Schanck Resort. With three restaurants, day spa, pool, gym, children's amenities and an 18-hole, par-70 golf course complete with ocean views. Plus, RACV Members save when staying at RACV Resorts across Australia.
