One thing this year’s COVID-19 lockdowns have allowed us to do is spend more time during our allocated exercise breaks exploring some of the incredible local scenic walks. The Mornington Peninsula has over 100 great walking trails across beaches, piers, coastal trails, historic sites and villages. Ranging from an easy stroll for coffee, to a 100km challenge to tick off your bucket list, anyone exploring the region on foot is totally spoilt for choice!
Here are our Top 4 walk recommendations on the Southern Mornington Peninsula:
Millionaire’s Walk
You don’t have to be a millionaire to walk along the cliffs from Sorrento to the beach at Point King, but you will get a glimpse of the lifestyles of the rich and famous along the Millionaire’s Walk. Take in the beautiful clifftop views over pretty, private jetties (pictured above) and spot the ferry on its way to or from Queenscliff. Make sure your phone or camera is fully charged for some seriously Insta-worthy pics!
The Tuckey Track
Crossing from one side of the narrowest point of the Peninsula to the other, this walk starts at the Western Sister headland of Sullivan Bay. From Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club, cross Point Nepean Road and follow the signposts. The Tuckey Track takes you through a mix of paved residential streets, undulating tracks, and the Tuckey Reserve. Once you reach Melbourne Road, turn left and cross the road to head down Ivanhoe Street. You will end up following a sandy path which at times is hilly, and there are some steep stairs. It is all worth it when you reach the Mount St. Paul lookout and witness panoramic views over the rugged coastline. From the lookout you can join the Coastal Walk, or turn right to follow the boardwalk down to Bay of Islands. Believed to have been used by Lieutenant James Tuckey and the local indigenous people to walk from Port Phillip to the ocean beaches, there are various markers to be discovered along the track which tell of its historical significance.
Point Nepean Trails
Most visitors to Point Nepean will take the shuttle bus from the Quarantine Station to Fort Nepean, but if you choose to walk and experience the park in your own time, you will not be disappointed. Connect with history as you wander through the old cemetery, take a look at Cheviot Hill and the Harold Holt memorial, and explore the tunnels and WW11 fortifications. The tracks will take you through woodlands and grasslands, along a remote stretch of beach, and via the road to Fort Nepean where you can take in the panoramic views.
The 100km Mornington Peninsula Walk
This iconic trail can be completed over several days, or enjoyed over several visits. The total trail combines four walks:
- the ‘Two Bays Walk’ through the hinterland from Dromana to Cape Schanck,
- the ‘Coastal Walk’ through the Mornington Peninsula National Park along the Bass Strait coast from Cape Schanck to Portsea,
- the ‘Point Nepean Walk’ in and around the Point Nepean National Park, and
- the ‘Bay Trail’ from Portsea to Dromana along the shores of Port Phillip.
Along the way, the trail takes in the historic fort at Point Nepean and the foreshores of Portsea, Sorrento, Blairgowrie, Rye, Rosebud and Dromana. It climbs over Arthurs Seat before descending through lovely stretches of forest and ferny glens to the dark and brooding cliffs of Cape Schanck and the Lighthouse. From the Lighthouse, the track weaves its way west through thick coastal ti-tree, and drops onto yellow-sand beaches before a final stretch of tight single track and cliff-top trail brings you from Rye to London Bridge. An absolutely unforgettable experience for those who have the stamina!
For a full list of the Mornington Peninsula’s scenic walking trails, check out this helpful guide courtesy of Visit Mornington Peninsula.
