This coastal Melbourne suburb is smack in the heart of popular areas on the Mornington Peninsula.
A hour’s drive from downtown Melbourne, Mornington has a coastal holiday vibe with plenty of foreshore camping sites overlooking Port Phillip Bay. The sheltered waters of Western Port and Hastings are a short drive away, as are the seaside villages of Rosebud, Portsea, and Sorrento, where a car and passenger ferry connects the Mornington Peninsula with the Bellarine Peninsula, Queenstown, and Geelong. Camping accommodations are plentiful with tent sites and holiday parks all over. Don’t miss the geothermal mineral pools and spa at Peninsula Hot Springs, where campers can bathe in gorgeous natural surroundings.
This area is prime for family camping, serving as a home base for exploring the region. Expect campsites and holiday parks offering leafy tent sites and shaded caravan sites with access to camp kitchens, free wifi, and even swimming pools.
At the far western reaches of the Mornington Peninsula, Sorrento and Portsea are the favoured weekend getaway hotspots for Melbournians. The region is dotted with vineyards and wineries, with restaurants and cafes in abundance. Portsea Pier is a timber jetty jutting out into the bay providing a safe swimming enclosure with the jetty a popular spot for walking and fishing.
Overlooking the protected waterway of Western Port and French Island, Hastings is great for holidaymakers with a keen interest in fishing or boating ,or for surfing the beaches of Mornington Peninsula’s south coast. Look out for pet-friendly holiday parks on the waterfront with powered sites for motorhomes, campervans, and campers.
Summer is peak season in Victoria with campsites, caravan parks, and holiday parks often booked well ahead during holidays, especially Christmas and Easter. Quieter times occur after the Australia Day long weekend in January when school holidays finish. Mornington and surrounds are a popular weekend getaway spot for Melbournians year-round, so holiday parks and campsites are usually quieter during the week. If you’re into cosy winter escapes, Mornington Peninsula has plenty to offer, especially for kite surfers, boaties, and fishermen who can launch small boats from boat ramps strung along Port Phillip Bay.