Mornington Peninsula Accommodation

Just one hour's drive will bring you from Melbourne to your holiday rental on the Mornington Peninsula. It's an easy drive, following the M1 and the Eastlink toll road, which connects you to the Mornington Peninsula Freeway. On this final stretch of your drive, keep an eye out for the beautiful sculptures on display. For a hassle free journey, remember to purchase your toll passes before you set out on your journey.

If you prefer to travel by public transport, there are plenty of buses and trains running regularly between Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula. The journey takes about 1h 30min. Alternatively, the most scenic way to travel to your Mornigton Peninsula accommodation is to catch a ferry from Queenscliff to Sorrento, keeping an eye out for the playful dolphins jumping out of the ocean.

Experience world-class views and exceptional dining experiences by dining at some of the award winning cellar door restaurants in the area. The most celebrated restaurants in the region, such as the Paringa Estate in Montalto and Ten Minutes By Tractor, have top chefs who create balanced meals with fresh ingredients from organic kitchen gardens and nearby sustainable farms.

You'll also find roadside stalls selling all kinds of regional gourmet delights - organic vegetables, locally made cheeses, freshly roasted coffee and more.

Absorb artistic and creative experiences from well preserved local indigenous heritage to contemporary fine art. Drop by the peninsula's major art galleries and familiarize yourself with works by some of the well-known painters, sculptors, craftspeople and photographers who call the region home.

Walk along the Sorrento Portsea Artists Trail and uncover the breathtaking sceneries that inspired the artists' famed works. Wander in the galleries of Mornington Regional Art and browse through collections of seminal works and contemporary exhibits. Buy some locally made handworks at Baluk Arts, a collaboration with Aboriginal artists who are passionate about sharing their culture with the public.

Go back in time to the early colonial period by taking a heritage walk in the charming local village of Sorrento, where you will discover the history of the beautiful local landscape. For history lovers, plan a trip on the nearby Nepean Historical Museum and the Collins Settlement Historic Site. Discover Victorian mansions such as the Coolart Homestead and the famous Mulberry Hill, once the home of the prolific writer Joan Lindsay.

Snorkel, swim or fish at Mornington Peninsula's bayside beaches or take a stroll along the extensive sandbars of Port Phillip Bay beaches. The are plenty of great spots where you can enjoy a lunchtime barbecue with your family, and the kids will love snorkelling near the pier and the other play facilities in the area.

Visitors can enjoy a rare encounter with a variety of animals at the Moonlit Sanctuary. Home to more than 60 species of Australian wildlife, the animals here are free to roam in large natural enclosures. Your children can feed wallabies and kangaroos and even cuddle the cute koalas. At night the sanctuary comes alive with popular lantern-lit tours. Guests can catch sight of various nocturnal birds including owls.

The sandy beaches of Port Phillip Bay are particularly popular for snorkelling, as the calm, shallow waters allow you to float peacefully and get a clear view of the marine species swimming below the ocean's surface. The peninsula is filled with calm, secluded beaches that make for great swimming, such as Safety Beach and the Mount Martha Beaches.

If you want a little more excitement, head to one of the beaches where the choppy winds pull up huge waves, such as Portsea Surf Beach. Surfing and kite boarding schools provide all the gear you need, and skilled instructors will help you out if you are a beginner. Alternatively, if you're an experienced surfer, take on the challenge of the Bass Strait, reputedly one of the most difficult surfing challenges in the area.

Finally, if you want to take a sailboat or a yacht out on to the ocean and engage in some scuba diving adventures, Frankston Beach is a good choice. This large beach opens up onto deep waters and offers all the water sports facilities you could wish for.

The small seaside towns of Portsea, Hastings, and Frankston all offer delightful sandy beaches and sheltered bays, perfect for swimming and lounging in the sun. With plenty of beach front apartments, villas, and cottages to choose from, you can wake up every morning to look out on the ocean and enjoy a walk and a swim by the beach.

The rugged coastline and cliffs surrounding the beaches make for great hiking and you will be all the more eager to dive back into the cool waters after a bit of exertion. Many of the beaches in the area also have family-friendly picnic facilities and barbecue areas.