Magnificent Mornington

Mornington Peninsula is a water wonderland, with its vast number of beaches, bays and harbours. If you love water sports you will be right at home here with plenty of surfing, fishing, scuba diving, boating and, of course, fishing. This has to be one of the top tourist spots in Victoria to rest and enjoy the ocean at its best, and the perfect destination for your campervan hire Melbourne holiday.

Located just over 100 kilometres south from Melbourne, on the east side of Port Philip Bay, many travellers find a spot close to the water and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the ocean and its treasures. Mornington Peninsula National Park is like heaven on earth, with coastline and beaches that cannot be compared to many. Swimming with the bottlenose dolphins is another unforgettable experience that is common in this stretch of water.

There are a number of incredible walks which take you past amazing scenery, cliffs and lighthouses, and it doesn't matter which direction you take, there is always a majestic view of the ocean, gentle waters of the bay, or the coast hinterland. The climate is wonderful year round making this region a magnet for sun lovers around Australia.

With so many beaches to choose from you can always be guaranteed an enjoyable spot as the ocean side is a direct contrast to the still waters along Port Philip Bay. The best place to see the bay is from Arthurs Seat, which offers incredible views of the Peninsula right through to the city skyline.

Sorrento is known as one of the most popular and stylish seaside villages, and is well worth a visit. It is relaxed and beautiful, with the beach so close and always plenty of picnic spots close to town. You can enjoy sailing, boating, bushwalking, scuba diving and fishing here, and there are camping spots nearby, one of the most well known being Sorrento Village Campgrounds. One of the best attractions are the dolphin cruises, the Sorrento Museum and the coastal walks which are magical at dusk.

There are plenty of beaches in this region, one of the most popular being Frankston, which has long, sandy beaches perfect for all types of water sports. Mornington itself has safe beaches around the bay harbour with fantastic lookouts at Schnapper Point.

One of the best is located at Rye, with a long jetty, playground and walking tracks nearby. It is a tradition by many locals to set up camp on the beach in this area and take the children to the wildlife park, enjoy horse riding along the waters edge or simply relax and make the most of the glorious water views.

Flinders has superb views of Phillip Island and Seal Rocks, and is well known for its excellent fishing, Pelican Park Aquatic Centre, blow holes and incredible views of Bass Strait. It's great for a stopover or a closer look at the abundance of wildlife especially at night.

Home to the rich and famous, Portsea can be found at the top of Mornington Peninsula. It is an attractive stretch of coast with magnificent trees and coastline that is worth the visit. However, it may cost a bit more to wine and dine here.

Set in the hinterland, there are wineries, orchards and fantastic art and craft shops at Red Hill. Famous for its monthly markets, you will find many treasures here, even if it means picking strawberries at the berry farm. It will be an enriching experience to spend a few days here in the heart of this welcoming town.

Mornington Peninsula is a tourist haven, especially for those who need to get away and enjoy the natural wonder of the ocean, beaches and seaside towns. If you can escape here for a number of days or more in a campervan hire you will return tanned, relaxed and counting down the days until you return to enjoy more hours in the Mornington sunshine.

Jenny Brewer 2007