Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
MORNINGTON PENINSULA
The Mornington Peninsula - the boot-shaped area of land between Port Phillip Bay and
Western Port Bay - has been Melbourne's summer playground since the 1870s, when
paddle steamers ran down to Portsea. Today, much of the interior farming land has been re-
placed by vineyards and orchards - foodies love the peninsula, where a winery lunch is a
real highlight - but it still retains lovely stands of native bushland.
The calm 'front beaches' are on the Port Phillip Bay side, where families holiday at bay-
side towns from Mornington to Sorrento. The rugged ocean 'back beaches' face Bass Strait
and are easily reached from Portsea, Sorrento and Rye; there are stunning walks along this
coastal strip, part of the Mornington Peninsula National Park.
The bay heads are so close that it's just a short hop by ferry across from Sorrento to
Queenscliff on the Bellarine Peninsula.
THE MAZE TRAIL
When did hedge mazes become so popular? The Mornington Peninsula has a few of these English-garden curiosit-
ies to get lost in.
Ashcombe Maze & Lavender Gardens
(
03-5989 8387;
www.ashcombemaze.com.au
;
15 Shoreham Rd,
Shoreham; adult/child/family $18.50/10/52;
10am-5pm) Brilliant mazes, including a circular rose maze, fields
of lavender and blooming gardens.
Boneo Maze & Wetlands
(
03-5988 6385;
www.boneomaze.com.au
;
695 Limestone Rd, Fingal; adult/child/
family $15/10/45;
10am-4pm Mon-Thu, 10am-5pm Fri-Sun) Several mazes, boardwalks through wetlands and
a giant chess set.
Enchanted Maze Garden
( 03-5981 8449;
www.enchantedmaze.com.au
; 55 Purves Rd, Arthurs Seat; adult/
child $29/19; 10am-6pm) This remarkably well-clipped hedge maze, ornamental garden, sculpture park and
lolly shop will make the kids squeal with delight.
Information
Peninsula Visitor Information Centre
( 03-5987 3078, 1800 804 009;
www.visitmorningtonpeninsula.org
; 359b
Nepean Hwy, Dromana; 9am-5pm)
The main visitor information centre for the peninsula can
book accommodation and tours. There are also visitor centres in Mornington (
Click here
)
and
Sorrento
(
03-5984 1478; cnr George St & Ocean Beach Rd)
.
