Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Mornington Peninsula National Park
Stretching from Portsea on the sliver of coastline to Cape Schanck and inland to the
Greens Bush area, this national park showcases the peninsula's most beautiful and rugged
ocean beaches. Along here are the cliffs, bluffs and crashing surf beaches of Portsea, Sor-
rento, Blairgowrie, Rye, St Andrews, Gunnamatta and Cape Schanck. This is spectacular
coastal scenery - well known to the surfers, hikers and fisherfolk who have their secret
spots - and it's possible to walk all the way from Portsea to Cape Schanck (26km, eight
hours). Swimming and surfing is dangerous at these beaches: the undertow and rips can be
severe, and drownings continue to occur. Swim only between the flags at Gunnamatta and
Portsea during summer.
If you want to learn to surf, contact
East Coast Surf School
( 0417 526 465, 03-5989 2198;
www.eastcoastsurfschool.net.au
;
226 Balnarring Rd, Merricks North; lessons per person $55)
or
Mornington Penin-
sula Surf School
(
0417 338 079;
www.greenroomsurf.com.au
;
6 Chetwyn Ct, Frankston South; group/private les-
sons $55/150)
.
You can ride a horse along Gunnamatta Beach with
Gunnamatta Trail Rides
( 03-5988 6755;
www.gunnamatta.com.au
;
150 Sandy Rd, Fingal; rides per person $70-120)
on excursions ranging from half
an hour to a full day.
Built in 1859,
Cape Schanck Lightstation
(
03-5988 6184;
www.capeschancklighthouse.com.au
;
420 Cape
Schanck Rd; museum only adult/child/family $13.50/9.50/37, museum & lighthouse $16.50/10.50/44;
10.30am-4pm)
is a photogenic working lighthouse with a kiosk, a museum, information
centre and regular guided tours. You can stay at
Cape Schanck B&B
( 1300 885 259;
www.capeschancklighthouse.com.au
;
420 Cape Schanck Rd; d from $130)
in the limestone Keeper's Cot-
tage.
From the light station, descend the steps of the
boardwalk
that leads to the craggy cape
for outstanding views. Longer walks include tracks to
Bushrangers Bay
, which can be ap-
proached from Cape Schanck or the Bushrangers Bay car park on Boneo Rd (C777) -
5km return. Wild
Fingal Beach
is a 6km return walk.
