The Mornington Peninsula extends between Port Phillip Bay to the west and Western Port to the east. Portsea, at its western tip, is just over 100km from Melbourne. It takes its name from the little town of Mornington (founded 1864) half way down its west coast. Most of the settlements in the peninsula are on this coast (Frankston, Mornington, Mount Martha, Dromana, McRae, Rosebud, Rye, Blairgowrie, Sorrento, Portsea); the east side, on Western Port, is much less developed, as is the coast facing the Bass Strait (Flinders, Crib Point, Hastings).
Melbourne's suburban railroad line ends at Frankston, 40km south of the city center, from where there are buses to the tip of the peninsula.
From Frankston the beaches extend southwest for almost 60 km, with an endless series of weekend and holiday settlements and campsites. Inland from the beautiful beaches are wooded hills and rock formations such as Arthur's Seat at Dromana (State Park, with a chair lift), from which there are magnificent views of Port Phillip Bay and Melbourne. The narrow southern tip of the peninsula, running west from Blairgowrie, shows a striking diversity in its beaches: the 'front beaches' on its west and north sides, looking on to Port Phillip Bay have quiet, safe water, while only a few kilometers away the 'back beaches' on its south side, facing the Bass Strait, have high seas which offer ideal conditions for surfing. On this stretch of coast with its many fine views are such curious rock formations, eroded by the sea, as London Bridge, off Portsea. Further along the coast towards Flinders and West Head are two other remarkable rock formations, the Blowhole and Elephant Rock. From Crib Point, at the east end of the peninsula, there are passenger ferries to the almost completely undeveloped French Island, once a penal colony, and the main tourist attraction in the area, Phillip Island.
The whole of the Mornington Peninsula is a favorite holiday and recreation area for people living in the Melbourne conurbation and is very busy at holiday times, particularly Christmas and Easter. Advance booking is therefore essential.
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