Found on the eastern side of Port Philip Bay, the Mornington
Peninsula is a prime spot for vacationers and those seeking a
wide variety of exciting activities.
Bordered on the south by the ocean and bordered with a beautiful system
of bays and capes to the east and west, there are many reasons that
people have chosen to make the Mornington Peninsula their vacationing
spot of choice.
How to get there
From Melbourne CBD the start of the Mornington Peninsula (Frankston)
is only about an hour's drive.
You can get there via the CityLink or you can take
the Nepean Highway if you feel like seeing a bit
more of the towns along the bay.
From Frankston you can follow the Mornington Peninsula Freeway
down to your destination of choice or again, follow the Nepean Highway
further along for a nice coastal drive.
When driving back up again, I definitely recommend taking the Nepean
Highway to Frankston as this will take you over Oliver's Hill
giving you a beautiful view over the bay. And, if the weather is not
too bad, you can see all the way to Melbourne CBD.
Portsea and Sorrento
Portsea and Sorrento are two of the
towns that people choose as their destinations when they are visiting
the Mornington Peninsula.
Many of Melbourne's riches have chosen these towns for their
million-dollar holiday houses. And with good reason,
because the bay views are amazing and life is good in these two towns.
Portsea
is a center for fine dining experiences. Situated at the very tip of
the Mornington Peninsula, Portsea is known for its amazing views of the
water and for the many watersports that it offers to visitors and
locals alike.
One of the most fascinating attractions of this beautiful town,
however, is the remnants of tunnels and fortifications that guard the
coast. These structures have been around since the 1880s and can be
found where Portsea borders the Point Nepean
section of the peninsula.
Sorrento,
on the other hand, is a well known tourist getaway and vacation spot.
At the end of the 19th century, Sorrento started
to become increasingly popular with the Australian
holiday makers, giving them a breezy respite from the scorching
summers. The town is known for its golf, sailing, and boating, as well
as for the dolphins and seals which are found in Port
Phillip Bay.
Flinders
On the other side of the peninsula, you can find Flinders,
a fishing town dating back to the 19th century.
Roughly comparable in size to Sorrento, Flinders is known for its
serene beaches, excellent dining and antiques.
The main shopping precinct of Flinders is famous for its variety and
the quality of its goods. While in Flinders, you can choose to take the
short blowhole walk to the ocean or you can head to
Greens Bush in the nearby national park,
where you can see kangaroos, eagles, swamp wallabies and bats.
Red
Hill
For a slightly different feel, head to Red Hill, a
town of about a thousand, about a 15 minutes drive from Flinders.
Red Hill is known for its elegant wineries, beautiful autumn orchards,
and varied art galleries.
This small town is perfect for someone seeking an escape from the fast
paced life in the city. You can head to one of the many farms found
nearby to pick your own berries, visit a few vineyards to sample the
local wines or you can venture to the Red Hill Cool Stores to try some
of the fresh local produce.
The Mornington Peninsula is well-known for its vineyards and boasts
about 200 of them. During the year some great events are held to
celebrate the wine and the local produce from the region. One such an
event is the
Mornington Peninsula Pinot Week which is well worth
a visit.
No matter what you are looking for in terms of a vacation, there is a
good chance that the Mornington Peninsula has it.
Whether you want to have a relaxing beach holiday, be a little bit more
active and go sailing or indulge
in other water sports or you want to try some of Australia's best wines
and local produce, you can find it at the
Mornington Peninsula.
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