Mornington Peninsula
Encyclopedia
Peninsula
A peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides but connected to mainland. In many Germanic and Celtic languages and also in Baltic, Slavic and Hungarian, peninsulas are called "half-islands"....
located south-east of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is surrounded by Port Phillip
Port Phillip
Port Phillip Port Phillip Port Phillip (also commonly referred to as Port Phillip Bay or (locally) just The Bay, is a large bay in southern Victoria, Australia; it is the location of Melbourne. Geographically, the bay covers and the shore stretches roughly . Although it is extremely shallow for...
to the west, Western Port
Western Port
Western Port, is sometimes called "Western Port Bay", is a large tidal bay in southern Victoria, Australia opening into Bass Strait. It is the second largest bay in Victoria. Geographically, it is dominated by the two large islands; French Island and Phillip Island. Contrary to its name, it lies to...
to the east and Bass Strait
Bass Strait
Bass Strait is a sea strait separating Tasmania from the south of the Australian mainland, specifically the state of Victoria.-Extent:The International Hydrographic Organization defines the limits of the Bass Strait as follows:...
to the south, and is connected to the mainland in the north. Geographically, the peninsula begins its protrusion from the mainland in the area between Pearcedale
Pearcedale, Victoria
Pearcedale is a town in Victoria, Australia, 50 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Casey. At the 2006 Census, Pearcedale had a population of 3721.-History:...
and Frankston
Frankston, Victoria
Frankston is a suburb within the Greater Melbourne metropolitan area in Victoria, Australia. It is located 40 km southeast of the state capital Melbourne at the southernmost edge of Greater Melbourne, near the beginnings of the Mornington Peninsula...
. The area was originally home to the Mayone-bulluk clan and formed part of the Boonwurrung
Bunurong
The Bunurong are Indigenous Australians of the Kulin nation, who occupy South-Central Victoria, Australia. Prior to European settlement, they lived as all people of the Kulin nation lived, sustainably on the land, predominantly as hunters and gatherers, for tens of thousands of years...
nation's territory prior to European settlement.
Much of the peninsula has been cleared for agriculture and settlements, however small areas of the native ecology remain in the peninsula's south and west, some of which is protected by the Mornington Peninsula National Park
Mornington Peninsula National Park
Mornington Peninsula is a national park in Victoria , 77 km south of Melbourne on the Mornington Peninsula. It is one of Victoria's most popular and most loved parks, protecting lots of the area's natural attractions and providing an important habitat for many forms of wildlife.-See also:*...
. Around 135,000 people live on the peninsula, most in the small towns on its western shorelines which are sometimes regarded as outlying suburbs of greater Melbourne. During the summer months, the population can swell to around 250,000 people.
The peninsula is primarily a local tourist region, with popular natural attractions such as the variety of beaches both sheltered and open-sea and many scenic sights and views. Other popular attractions include the various wineries, mazes and the diverse array of water sports made available by the diversity of beaches and calm waters of Port Phillip and Western Port. Most visitors to the peninsula are residents of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
who camp, rent villas and share houses or stay in private beach house
Beach house
A beach house is a house on or near a beach, generally used as a vacation or second home for people who commute to the house on weekends or during vacation periods....
s. It is known simply as "The Peninsula" to locals and Melburnians alike, giving rise to the expression "going down the peninsula".
Geography
Pearcedale, Victoria
Pearcedale is a town in Victoria, Australia, 50 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Casey. At the 2006 Census, Pearcedale had a population of 3721.-History:...
and Frankston
Frankston, Victoria
Frankston is a suburb within the Greater Melbourne metropolitan area in Victoria, Australia. It is located 40 km southeast of the state capital Melbourne at the southernmost edge of Greater Melbourne, near the beginnings of the Mornington Peninsula...
in a south-westerly direction for about 40 km (24.9 mi) at a width of about 15–20 km (9.3–12.4 ). It then begins to extend roughly 15 km (9.3 mi) in an west/north-westerly direction and tapers down to a width of about 2 kilometre before terminating at Point Nepean
Point Nepean, Victoria
Point Nepean marks the southern point of The Rip and the most westerly point of the Mornington Peninsula, in Victoria, Australia. It was named after the British politician and colonial administrator, Sir Evan Nepean. It is within the suburb of Portsea...
. Much of the topography is flat in the north where it connects to the mainland, however moving south-west, it soon becomes hilly, culminating in the central hilly landscapes of Boneo
Boneo, Victoria
Boneo is a rural locality south of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located south of and inland from Rosebud on the Mornington Peninsula. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Mornington Peninsula.-History:...
, Main Ridge
Main Ridge, Victoria
Main Ridge is a rural locality south of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located south of and inland from Rosebud on the Mornington Peninsula, and was originally known as Main Creek. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Mornington Peninsula. At the 2006 census, Main Ridge had a population of...
, Red Hill
Red Hill, Victoria
Red Hill is a small rural community, located in the hinterland of the Mornington Peninsula, about an hour's drive south of Melbourne, in Victoria, Australia. The Local Government Area is the Shire of Mornington Peninsula...
Tuerong and Moorooduc
Moorooduc, Victoria
Moorooduc is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Mornington Peninsula.The Moorooduc Highway runs through the locality, being the main route between Melbourne and the Peninsula....
. The highest point, Arthurs Seat
Arthurs Seat, Victoria
Arthurs Seat is a hill and locality on the Mornington Peninsula, within the Shire of Mornington Peninsula, about 75 km south east of Melbourne, Australia....
, located unusually close to the shoreline, stands at 305 metres (1,000.7 ft) above sea level. The peninsula hosts around 190 km (118.1 mi) of coastline.
Its eastern shorelines meet many mangroves and mudflats in the waters of Western Port
Western Port
Western Port, is sometimes called "Western Port Bay", is a large tidal bay in southern Victoria, Australia opening into Bass Strait. It is the second largest bay in Victoria. Geographically, it is dominated by the two large islands; French Island and Phillip Island. Contrary to its name, it lies to...
before it tapers down to form Crib Point, Stony Point and Sandy Point at the peninsula's most south-easterly point. In the south-east between Sandy Point and West Head, the mudflats give way to sandy beaches which in turn become more and more rocky further south. In the south the peninsula meets Bass Strait
Bass Strait
Bass Strait is a sea strait separating Tasmania from the south of the Australian mainland, specifically the state of Victoria.-Extent:The International Hydrographic Organization defines the limits of the Bass Strait as follows:...
and the coastline becomes very rocky between West Head and Cape Schanck. The coast between Cape Schanck and Point Nepean consists of a long slow curvature of open-sea surf beaches, many too dangerous to swim in. Its western shorelines form various headlands and bays in the sheltered waters of Port Phillip
Port Phillip
Port Phillip Port Phillip Port Phillip (also commonly referred to as Port Phillip Bay or (locally) just The Bay, is a large bay in southern Victoria, Australia; it is the location of Melbourne. Geographically, the bay covers and the shore stretches roughly . Although it is extremely shallow for...
, hosting many shallow safe beaches.
From an oceanic perspective, the Mornington Peninsula, together with the Bellarine Peninsula
Bellarine Peninsula
The Bellarine Peninsula is a peninsula located south-west of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia, surrounded by Port Phillip, Corio Bay and Bass Strait. The peninsula, together with the Mornington Peninsula separates Port Phillip from Bass Strait...
, separate the waters of Port Phillip
Port Phillip
Port Phillip Port Phillip Port Phillip (also commonly referred to as Port Phillip Bay or (locally) just The Bay, is a large bay in southern Victoria, Australia; it is the location of Melbourne. Geographically, the bay covers and the shore stretches roughly . Although it is extremely shallow for...
from Bass Strait
Bass Strait
Bass Strait is a sea strait separating Tasmania from the south of the Australian mainland, specifically the state of Victoria.-Extent:The International Hydrographic Organization defines the limits of the Bass Strait as follows:...
, except for a small gap known as The Rip
The Rip
"The Rip", also known as "The Heads", is a dangerous stretch of water in Victoria, Australia, connecting Port Phillip and Bass Strait. It is the only entrance for shipping into Port Phillip and hence into Melbourne. Because of large tidal flows through the relatively narrow channel from the bay to...
, which also separates both peninsulas. The peninsula also separates the waters of Port Phillip and Western Port
Western Port
Western Port, is sometimes called "Western Port Bay", is a large tidal bay in southern Victoria, Australia opening into Bass Strait. It is the second largest bay in Victoria. Geographically, it is dominated by the two large islands; French Island and Phillip Island. Contrary to its name, it lies to...
.
Political geography
The Mornington Peninsula is located over 40 km south-east of MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. As of 2006 it has a population of 136,482 which can swell up to 250,000 during the summer months. The governing body, the Shire of Mornington Peninsula
Shire of Mornington Peninsula
The Shire of Mornington Peninsula is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It is located to the south of the city of Melbourne on the Mornington Peninsula. It has an area of 723 square kilometres...
occupies the entire peninsula and is generally considered to be a good approximation of where the peninsula joins the mainland.
Mountains and hills
- Arthurs SeatArthurs Seat, VictoriaArthurs Seat is a hill and locality on the Mornington Peninsula, within the Shire of Mornington Peninsula, about 75 km south east of Melbourne, Australia....
305 m (1,000.7 ft)
- Chapmans Point 274 m (899 ft)
- Franklin Point 195 m (639.8 ft)
- Bowens Point 145 m (475.7 ft)
- Anthony's Nose 40 m (131.2 ft) - tapers into Port PhillipPort PhillipPort Phillip Port Phillip Port Phillip (also commonly referred to as Port Phillip Bay or (locally) just The Bay, is a large bay in southern Victoria, Australia; it is the location of Melbourne. Geographically, the bay covers and the shore stretches roughly . Although it is extremely shallow for...
- McLears HillDromana, VictoriaDromana is a suburb south of Melbourne, the capital city of Victoria, Australia, and is located on the Mornington Peninsula. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Mornington Peninsula.-Geography:...
- northeast end- Mount MarthaMount Martha, VictoriaMount Martha is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located 60 km south-east of Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Mornington Peninsula. It is located on the south-eastern shores of Port Phillip and offers a bathing beach...
160 m (524.9 ft)
- Mount Martha
- Jacksons Hill
- Mount ElizaMount Eliza, VictoriaMount Eliza is an outer suburb south-east of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is in the Local Government Area of the Shire of Mornington Peninsula...
- Red HillRed Hill, VictoriaRed Hill is a small rural community, located in the hinterland of the Mornington Peninsula, about an hour's drive south of Melbourne, in Victoria, Australia. The Local Government Area is the Shire of Mornington Peninsula...
- Olivers Hill
- Cheviot HillPoint Nepean, VictoriaPoint Nepean marks the southern point of The Rip and the most westerly point of the Mornington Peninsula, in Victoria, Australia. It was named after the British politician and colonial administrator, Sir Evan Nepean. It is within the suburb of Portsea...
- near Cheviot Beach - Mt. St. PaulsSorrento, VictoriaSorrento is a township in Victoria, Australia, located on the shores of Port Phillip on the Mornington Peninsula, about one and a half hours south of Melbourne...
- near Sorrento Ocean Beach
- Mount Eliza
- The Mornington Peninsula is crossed by three major, seismically active fault lines, Selwyn Fault, Tyabb Fault and the Flinders Fault. There is another smaller fault line off the coast of Frankston, parallel to the Selwyn Fault. The Peninsula experiences lots of minor earthquakes every year but most are too small to be felt. The last strong earthquake to rock the Peninsula had a magnitude of 5.0 and occurred on July 7, 1971 at 7:55am AEST with its epicentre off FlindersFlindersThere are many places with the word Flinders in their name. Most of these are in south-east Australia and are named for explorer Matthew Flinders.Flinders may refer to:Places* Cape Flinders, in the northern Canadian territory of Nunavut...
, along the southern end of the Tyabb Fault.
History
Bunurong
The Bunurong are Indigenous Australians of the Kulin nation, who occupy South-Central Victoria, Australia. Prior to European settlement, they lived as all people of the Kulin nation lived, sustainably on the land, predominantly as hunters and gatherers, for tens of thousands of years...
nation's territory prior to European settlement. The nation hosted six clans who lived along the Victorian
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
coast from the Werribee River
Werribee River
The Werribee River is located on the plain west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The headwaters of a tributary, the Lerderderg River, are north of Ballan near Daylesford and it flows across the basalt plain, through the suburb of Werribee to enter Port Phillip. A linear park follows the Werribee...
across to Western Port
Western Port
Western Port, is sometimes called "Western Port Bay", is a large tidal bay in southern Victoria, Australia opening into Bass Strait. It is the second largest bay in Victoria. Geographically, it is dominated by the two large islands; French Island and Phillip Island. Contrary to its name, it lies to...
Bay and Wilsons Promontory
Wilsons Promontory National Park
Wilsons Promontory National Park, commonly known as Wilsons Prom or The Prom, is a national park in the Gippsland region of Victoria , 157 km southeast of Melbourne....
. The peninsula is speculated to have been home to between 100 - 500 people prior to European settlement.
At the time of European settlement, much of the Mornington Peninsula was covered with she-oak forests. These were quickly cleared to provide firewood for the growing city of Melbourne, and much of the peninsula was then covered with fruit orchards. Nevertheless much natural vegetation still exists, especially in an area of bushland in the south known as Greens Bush, and the coastal fringe bordering Bass Strait
Bass Strait
Bass Strait is a sea strait separating Tasmania from the south of the Australian mainland, specifically the state of Victoria.-Extent:The International Hydrographic Organization defines the limits of the Bass Strait as follows:...
and Western Port Bay. Most large areas of bushland are now included within the Mornington Peninsula National Park
Mornington Peninsula National Park
Mornington Peninsula is a national park in Victoria , 77 km south of Melbourne on the Mornington Peninsula. It is one of Victoria's most popular and most loved parks, protecting lots of the area's natural attractions and providing an important habitat for many forms of wildlife.-See also:*...
.
As serious farming has declined, hobby farmers with an interest in the aesthetic and the natural environment have taken over much of the peninsula. This has led to an expansion of natural bushland on private property, and many native species, such as koalas, are becoming increasingly common. The local council also has a slight lean towards sustainable
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
practices.
Harold Holt disappearance
On 17 December 1967, Prime Minister Harold HoltHarold Holt
Harold Edward Holt, CH was an Australian politician and the 17th Prime Minister of Australia.His term as Prime Minister was brought to an early and dramatic end in December 1967 when he disappeared while swimming at Cheviot Beach near Portsea, Victoria, and was presumed drowned.Holt spent 32 years...
went swimming at Cheviot Beach on what is now Point Nepean National Park. At the time this was still a restricted area. Mr. Holt, who was 59 and had had a recent shoulder injury, plunged into the surf. He disappeared from view and was never seen again. Despite an extensive search his body was never found. He was officially presumed dead on 19 December 1967.
Parklands
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, the other three being national parks, and the only one with a resident population that reaches some 250,000 people during the peak tourist season. Some of the major parklands on the peninsula include:
- Land:
- Mornington Peninsula National ParkMornington Peninsula National ParkMornington Peninsula is a national park in Victoria , 77 km south of Melbourne on the Mornington Peninsula. It is one of Victoria's most popular and most loved parks, protecting lots of the area's natural attractions and providing an important habitat for many forms of wildlife.-See also:*...
- Point Nepean National Park
- Arthurs Seat State ParkArthurs Seat, VictoriaArthurs Seat is a hill and locality on the Mornington Peninsula, within the Shire of Mornington Peninsula, about 75 km south east of Melbourne, Australia....
- Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation ParkMoonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation ParkMoonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park is a biopark within the Pearcedale Conservation Park located at Pearcedale on the Mornington Peninsula near Melbourne Australia. It aims to display the fauna that was found in the Mornington Peninsula and Western Port Biosphere Reserve prior to European...
- Quail Island Nature Conservation ReserveQuail Island, VictoriaQuail Island is the third largest island in Western Port . It is uninhabited, the entirety of it being gazetted as Quail Island Nature Conservation Reserve. It is offshore from Warneet and can be accessed by boat. There are two seasonal dams located in the centre and the Southern Brown Bandicoot...
- Mount Martha Park
- Main Ridge Flora Reserve
- Coolart Wetlands and Homestead ReserveCoolart Wetlands and Homestead ReserveThe Coolart Wetlands and Homestead Reserve, or just Coolart, is an 87.5 ha estate on the Western Port coast of the Mornington Peninsula of Victoria, south-eastern Australia, about 70 km south-east of Melbourne. It comprises a late 19th century mansion-like homestead and surrounding...
- Baxter Park
- Marine:
- Port Phillip Heads Marine National ParkPort Phillip Heads Marine National ParkThe Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park comprises six separate sites, with a combined area of 35.8 km², located in the vicinity of the entrance to Port Phillip, between the Bellarine and Mornington Peninsulas, in Victoria, Australia...
- Yaringa Marine National ParkQuail Island, VictoriaQuail Island is the third largest island in Western Port . It is uninhabited, the entirety of it being gazetted as Quail Island Nature Conservation Reserve. It is offshore from Warneet and can be accessed by boat. There are two seasonal dams located in the centre and the Southern Brown Bandicoot...
Golf courses
- Portsea Golf Club (18)
- Sorrento Golf Club (18)
- The Dunes Golf Links (9&18)
- Moonah Links Golf CourseMoonah ClassicThe Moonah Classic is a golf tournament co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia and the Nationwide Tour. It was played for the first time from 21-24 February 2008 at Moonah Links on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia. The 2010 purse was US$700,000.The tournament replaced the...
(2x18) - Eagle Ridge Public Golf Course (18)
- The Golf Club St. Andrews Beach (2x18)
- National Golf Club (3x18)
- Cape Schanck Resort & Golf Club (18)
- Flinders Golf Course (18)
- Rosebud Country Club (36)
- Rosebud Park Public Golf Course (18)
- Mount Martha Public Golf Course (18)
- Mornington Golf Club (18)
- Devilbend Golf Club (18)
Shipwrecks
- SS CheviotSS CheviotThe SS Cheviot was an iron screw steamer which was wrecked near Point Nepean in Victoria, Australia in 1887, with the loss of 35 lives.-The ship:...
- wrecked in the rocks of Cheviot BeachCheviot Beach, VictoriaCheviot Beach is a beach near Point Nepean in Victoria, Australia. It was named after the SS Cheviot which broke up and sank nearby with the loss of 35 lives on 20 October 1887....
(1887) - Wauchope - sunk off the coast of SorrentoSorrento, VictoriaSorrento is a township in Victoria, Australia, located on the shores of Port Phillip on the Mornington Peninsula, about one and a half hours south of Melbourne...
(1918)
Transport
The peninsula is serviced predominantly by a network of roads. Public transport is limited to a bus service which services urban areas on the western shorelines and a train service for the eastern areas of the peninsula. The following methods of transport are available to access various regions of the peninsula:- Road: - The Peninsula is easily reached from MelbourneMelbourneMelbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
by car via the Nepean HighwayNepean HighwayNepean Highway runs south from the centre of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia to Portsea, along the eastern shore of Port Phillip. It is the primary road route to central Melbourne from Melbourne's southern suburbs.- History :...
. Another route is via the Frankston FreewayFrankston FreewayFrankston Freeway is a very short stretch of Melbourne freeway that was designed to upgrade Wells Road to freeway standard in the 1970s and provides a link from suburban Melbourne to Frankston...
to Frankston, and then via the Moorooduc Highway. Another option is via the Monash Freeway (M1) and the Western Port Highway to the eastern side of the Peninsula. An alternative route from the Monash Freeway is via Eastlink to the Frankston Freeway. A new freeway, Peninsula Link, is currently under construction and will join Eastlink at Carrum Downs to the Mornington Peninsula Freeway at Mount Martha. It is expected to be completed early in 2013.
- Bus: - A bus service runs along the entire length of the peninsula to PortseaPortsea, VictoriaPortsea is a resort town located across Port Phillip from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Mornington Peninsula....
, departing from Frankston railway station in metropolitan Melbourne. A number of bus services run partway down the peninsula from Frankston Railway Station along the Nepean Highway. These run to various destinations such as Mount Martha and MorningtonMornington, VictoriaMornington is a sea side town on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia, located 57 km south-east of Melbourne's central business district. It is in the Local Government Area of the Shire of Mornington Peninsula....
, via Mount ElizaMount Eliza, VictoriaMount Eliza is an outer suburb south-east of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is in the Local Government Area of the Shire of Mornington Peninsula...
.
- Train: - Metro Trains MelbourneMetro Trains MelbourneMetro Trains Melbourne is the current franchise operator of the suburban railway network of Melbourne, Australia. Metro Trains Melbourne is a joint venture led by Hong Kong based MTR Corporation together with John Holland Group and United Group Rail .Metro Trains Melbourne operates a fleet of 381...
run a diesel rail service from Frankston to Hastings and Stony Point, from where a ferry can be taken to French and Phillip Islands. A bus service also runs to Flinders on the south coast. Rail lines at one time also extended to Mornington and to Red Hill but these have now been closed.
- Ferry: - The Searoad Ferry Service operates two vehicle and passenger ferries on an hourly service between the Mornington and Bellarine Peninsulas, departing from QueenscliffQueenscliff, VictoriaQueenscliff is a small town on the Bellarine Peninsula in southern Victoria, Australia, south of Swan Bay at the entrance to Port Phillip. It is the administrative centre for the Borough of Queenscliffe...
on the Bellarine and arriving at SorrentoSorrento, VictoriaSorrento is a township in Victoria, Australia, located on the shores of Port Phillip on the Mornington Peninsula, about one and a half hours south of Melbourne...
on the Mornington.
Tourism
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. Popular tourism times are; long weekend
Long weekend
Long weekend is a term used in Western countries to denote a weekend that is at least three days long , due to a holiday falling on either the Friday or Monday....
s such as Cup Weekend and Queens Birthday, the week involving Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
, Boxing Day
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
and New Years, with the months of December and January being the peak tourist period. Most visitors to the peninsula are local to central Victoria.
Accommodation
Wealthier visitors to the peninsula usually own beach houseBeach house
A beach house is a house on or near a beach, generally used as a vacation or second home for people who commute to the house on weekends or during vacation periods....
s on large properties or with extensive views or beach access and as a result, there are very few established commercial hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
s. There are however, many smaller motel
Motel
A motor hotel, or motel for short, is a hotel designed for motorists, and usually has a parking area for motor vehicles...
s priced to suit families and middle income earners. Large shared beach houses are also popular, although perhaps the most popular form of accommodation lie in the many caravan parks and camping grounds where many visitors own or rent on-site caravans and annexes or camp in tents. Camping is particularly popular on foreshore reserves where camping is permitted. Some visitors continuously book particular sites and many camping grounds have been camped on by the same family for 2 or 3 generations. For the unestablished tourist, these camping grounds must be booked anywhere from 1 to 5 years in advance for foreshore sites, while further inland sites are more easily available with at most a 3 to 6 month wait. It is estimated that around 30-40% of the houses on the peninsula are not owned by permanent residents reflecting the popularity of owned beach houses. Most of these 'beach houses' are owned by residents of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
.
Attractions
Some of the popular tourist attractions include:- Sandy, safe swimming beaches on Port PhillipPort PhillipPort Phillip Port Phillip Port Phillip (also commonly referred to as Port Phillip Bay or (locally) just The Bay, is a large bay in southern Victoria, Australia; it is the location of Melbourne. Geographically, the bay covers and the shore stretches roughly . Although it is extremely shallow for...
- Arthurs SeatArthurs Seat, VictoriaArthurs Seat is a hill and locality on the Mornington Peninsula, within the Shire of Mornington Peninsula, about 75 km south east of Melbourne, Australia....
- a 305 m (1,000.7 ft) high mountain right beside the bay providing magnificent views of Port Phillip. - Point Nepean and Fort NepeanFort NepeanFort Nepean is a former defensive facility occupying part of Point Nepean, Victoria, Australia. It was part of a network of fortifications, commanded from Fort Queenscliff, protecting the narrow entrance to Port Phillip.- Background :...
- remnant bushland and historical military ruins - Mornington Peninsula National ParkMornington Peninsula National ParkMornington Peninsula is a national park in Victoria , 77 km south of Melbourne on the Mornington Peninsula. It is one of Victoria's most popular and most loved parks, protecting lots of the area's natural attractions and providing an important habitat for many forms of wildlife.-See also:*...
- Dromana Drive-in TheatreDrive-in theaterA drive-in theater is a form of cinema structure consisting of a large outdoor screen, a projection booth, a concession stand and a large parking area for automobiles. Within this enclosed area, customers can view movies from the privacy and comfort of their cars.The screen can be as simple as a...
- one of the last remaining drive-in theatres in Victoria. - HMAS CerberusHMAS Cerberus, VictoriaHMAS Cerberus is the Royal Australian Navy's primary training establishment, located adjacent to Crib Point on the Mornington Peninsula, south of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is also an official bounded locality of the Shire of Mornington Peninsula...
- military base, historical buildings, museum and decommissioned Oberon class submarineOberon class submarineThe Oberon class was a 27-boat class of British-built diesel-electric submarines based on the successful British Porpoise-class submarine....
. - Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation ParkMoonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation ParkMoonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park is a biopark within the Pearcedale Conservation Park located at Pearcedale on the Mornington Peninsula near Melbourne Australia. It aims to display the fauna that was found in the Mornington Peninsula and Western Port Biosphere Reserve prior to European...
- native nocturnal animal walks held nightly. - Red HillRed Hill, VictoriaRed Hill is a small rural community, located in the hinterland of the Mornington Peninsula, about an hour's drive south of Melbourne, in Victoria, Australia. The Local Government Area is the Shire of Mornington Peninsula...
Market - The various golf courses - see Parklands
- Various recreational activities - see Recreation
- McCrae HomesteadMcCrae HomesteadMcCrae Homestead is an historic property located in McCrae, Victoria, Australia. It was built at the foot of Arthurs Seat, a small mountain, near the shores of Port Phillip in 1844 by Andrew McCrae, a lawyer, and his wife Georgiana Huntly McCrae...
, National Trust of AustraliaNational Trust of AustraliaThe Australian Council of National Trusts is the peak body for community-based, non-government organisations committed to promoting and conserving Australia's indigenous, natural and historic heritage....
Mazes
- Boneo Maze & Wetlands - Boneo
- Ashcombe MazeShoreham, VictoriaShoreham is a town south of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located in the southern Mornington Peninsula region on the Western Port. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Mornington Peninsula. It is a coastal recreation resort notable for its pine-covered cliffs and foreshore reserve...
(traditional hedge & rose mazes, lavender gardens) - Shoreham - The Enchanted Maze Garden - Arthurs Seat
Recreation
- Hang glidingHang glidingHang gliding is an air sport in which a pilot flies a light and unmotorized foot-launchable aircraft called a hang glider ....
- On the steep cliffs of the south-west coastlines. Particularly near Portsea, Rye and Sorento. Hang gliding is restricted around Point Nepean. - SkiffleboardingSkimboardingSkimboarding . is used to glide across the water's surface. Unlike surfing, skimboarding begins on the beach by dropping the board onto the thin wash of previous waves. Skimboarders use their momentum to 'skim' out to breaking waves, which they then catch back into shore in a manner similar to...
- Particularly on the flat beaches near Rosebud, Rye, Somers and Balnarring Beach. - SurfingSurfingSurfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
- On the south-west coastline on Bass StraitBass StraitBass Strait is a sea strait separating Tasmania from the south of the Australian mainland, specifically the state of Victoria.-Extent:The International Hydrographic Organization defines the limits of the Bass Strait as follows:...
. Particularly at Gunnamatta, Sorrento, Portsea and Point Leo Surf Beaches. - FishingFishingFishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
- Mostly hobby fishing off piers and in beaches on Port PhillipPort PhillipPort Phillip Port Phillip Port Phillip (also commonly referred to as Port Phillip Bay or (locally) just The Bay, is a large bay in southern Victoria, Australia; it is the location of Melbourne. Geographically, the bay covers and the shore stretches roughly . Although it is extremely shallow for...
. - SailingSailingSailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
- Various locations on the shores of Port Phillip and Western PortWestern PortWestern Port, is sometimes called "Western Port Bay", is a large tidal bay in southern Victoria, Australia opening into Bass Strait. It is the second largest bay in Victoria. Geographically, it is dominated by the two large islands; French Island and Phillip Island. Contrary to its name, it lies to...
including Somers, Balnarring Beach, Safety Beach and many others. - Scuba divingScuba divingScuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
- Particularly at Mornington Pier, Rye Pier, Blairgowrie Pier, Portsea Pier & Portsea Hole and Flinders Pier. Diving tours for Port Phillip and Bass StraitBass StraitBass Strait is a sea strait separating Tasmania from the south of the Australian mainland, specifically the state of Victoria.-Extent:The International Hydrographic Organization defines the limits of the Bass Strait as follows:...
depart from Portsea. A remarkable variety of diving environments including wrecks, reefs, drift dives, scallop dives, seal dives and wall dives. - RunningRunningRunning is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground...
& CyclingCyclingCycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
- Popular along the Nepean Highway as it follows the coastline on Port PhillipPort PhillipPort Phillip Port Phillip Port Phillip (also commonly referred to as Port Phillip Bay or (locally) just The Bay, is a large bay in southern Victoria, Australia; it is the location of Melbourne. Geographically, the bay covers and the shore stretches roughly . Although it is extremely shallow for...
.
Environmental issues
A sewerage outlet near Boag Rock, a couple of kilometers up the coast from Gunnamatta Surf Beach, pumps treated sewerage into the ocean which finds its way to swimmers and surfers at Gunnamatta during particular tidal conditions.Agriculture
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
from around 60 wineries. While most varieties are grown, the cool, maritime climate of the Peninsula is particularly noted for pinot noir
Pinot Noir
Pinot noir is a black wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. The name may also refer to wines created predominantly from Pinot noir grapes...
. Many wineries are open for public tastings and several have quality restaurants.
Apples were the staple product of the Peninsula for several generations, with whole trainloads being dispatched to the city and ports. The number of orchards has been dramatically reduced, however there are many other producers on the Peninsula, specialising in berries, cherries, and other fruits, as well as market gardens. There is increased interest in organic production, and there are even organic beef
Organic beef
Organic beef is beef grown according to organic food principles.-Organic Beef:According to the USDA rules passed on October 22, 2002, certified organic beef must come from a fully verifiable production system that collects information on the history of every animal in the program, including its...
producers.
The Peninsula not only produces fresh products, with small-scale manufacturers of niche products as diverse as cheese, chocolate, chutney, jam, and olive oil. Local produce is also to be found at markets held around the Peninsula, such as the monthly market at Red Hill
Red Hill
-Places:In Australia:* Red Hill, Queensland* Red Hill, Victoria* Red Hill South, Victoria* Red Hill, Australian Capital Territory* Red Hill, Western AustraliaIn Canada:*Red Hill Valley is a valley in Hamilton, Ontario...
. A local organisation, Mornington Peninsula Gourmet, has been set up to support the many small producers on the Peninsula.