Mornington Peninsula Road Trip: The Ultimate 3-Day Itinerary
If you’re looking for a getaway that has a bit of everything, all easily accessible from Melbourne, then the Mornington Peninsula is the destination for you. You’ll find bayside beaches, wild coastlines, delicious wines and hiking trails.
Just an hour and a half from Melbourne, it’s an easy drive that feels a world away. We’ve done this trip many times, both as a couple and with kids. This is what my perfect itinerary would be if I had only 3 days on the Mornington Peninsula and wanted a mix of everything:
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Itinerary Overview
If you’re driving from Melbourne, you may want to depart relatively early to get the most out of the location. Keep in mind the peak traffic times from Melbourne, you’d ideally want to avoid those, especially if you’re coming from the other side of the city. Wondering when’s the best time to go? Check our seasonal guide for the best season to visit.
| Day | Focus | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | The Bay Side & Adventure | Dromana Beach, Enchanted Adventure, Arthur’s Seat Eagle |
| Day 2 | The Wild Side, Wine & Unwinding | Flinders, Wineries (Point Leo/Red Hill), Peninsula Hot Springs |
| Day 3 | History & Hiking | Point Nepean National Park, Sorrento, Cape Schanck Lighthouse |
Day 1: The Bay Side & Adventure
Highlights: Calm beaches, giant tube slides, and epic views.
Tip: Start early to fit in the Enchanted Adventure Garden. You could easily spend half a day there!
Stop 1: Dromana Beach
📍 Location: Dromana
Kick off the trip by heading straight to the Bayside. I would suggest starting with Dromana Beach because the water is nice and calm which is perfect for families with little ones, as it’s rather shallow.
We spend lots of time here, and one of our family favorite pastimes is “skipper boarding”, I don’t know what it’s called these days, but you run across a lovely flat surface with just a centimetre or two of water and jump on a board and go sliding across. We’ve had a few broken bones over the years, but it’s been a lot of fun! Otherwise relaxing on the sand is another option. 🙂
Grab yourself a coffee or some fish and chips from the shops across the road and just sit on the sand and enjoy. The shopping center across the road from the beach has wonderful local products. Grab yourself a selection of picnic foods for the day.
Stop 2: Enchanted Adventure
📍 Location: Arthur’s Seat
Next, head inland to Enchanted Adventure. This is an absolute must-do and the most amazing place for a family outing. There are beautiful mazes made of hedges and the gardens are spectacular, as in, perfectly manicured!
The highlight has to be the tube slide. You sit on a tube and slide down this lovely big hill and you just can’t help but smile because even the adults feel like they are back being kids again. It’s awesome. There is also a tree top climb available for all ages, from the little people right up to the bigger people if you enjoy walking through the treetops.
➡️ Book your Enchanted Adventure tickets here
Stop 3: Arthur’s Seat Eagle
📍 Location: Arthur’s Seat
Finish the afternoon with a ride on the Arthur’s Seat Eagle chairlift. Or, if you prefer, skip the adventure park and head straight to the chairlifts. You can hop on at the base and ride the winding lift all the way up the hill to Arthur’s Seat State Park.
The views over the bay are incredible. At the top, take a stroll through Seawinds Garden or just enjoy a picnic by the ponds. It is a fairly long walk if you decide to hike it, and in summer it gets surprisingly hot for Victoria standards, so remember to take plenty of water!
➡️ Check out the details here and book your gondola
Day 2: The Wild Side, Wine & Unwinding
Highlights: Rugged coastlines, world-class wine, and thermal pools. Tip: Book the Hot Springs in advance, as they get really busy!
Stop 1: Flinders
📍 Location: Flinders
Head over to the “wild side” of the peninsula to the quaint village of Flinders. It offers a completely different vibe to the bayside; it’s chilled out with boutique shops and cafes.
Drive down to the pier or check out the Flinders Blowhole. The walk down offers wonderful vantage points of the crashing waves on the rugged coastline. If you do have kids, just be careful that there are lots of high cliff faces. As we say to the kids, “This is a hand-holding walk,” but the views are just amazing.
Stop 2: Lunch at a Winery
📍 Location: Point Leo & Red Hill
You can’t visit the peninsula without a winery stop. And, you cannot go past Point Leo Estate without stopping! It’s a winery with delicious wines, but they also have the most amazing view over the whole ocean and luscious green grass. They cater for kids too, often putting out big garden board games on the lawn.
Alternatively, Red Hill Estate offers fantastic wines and beautiful scenery. If you are a couple or want a high-end vibe, try Max’s Restaurant at Red Hill. The food is delicious and the scenery is awesome.
➡️ Book your wine tour to Pt Leo Estate and let someone else do the driving!
Stop 3: Peninsula Hot Springs
📍 Location: Fingal
Finish the day with a soak at the Peninsula Hot Springs. There’s a whole lot of hot springs and hot tubs of various temperatures. Some are kiddie friendly, others are not.
They are called thermal baths and have a lot of healing properties according to people who use them, but really, it’s just a super relaxing time. Definitely worthwhile visiting, but book ahead as it can get busy. You’ll need to book the time slot that interests you.
➡️ Book today for your preferred time slot at the Mornington Peninsula Hot Springs
Day 3: History & Hiking
Highlights: Historic forts, lighthouses, and the “London Bridge” of Victoria.
Stop 1: Point Nepean National Park
📍 Location: Portsea
Head to the very tip of the peninsula to Portsea and Point Nepean. For the history buffs, you can explore the old Fort Nepean and observation posts constructed back in 1910.
There are lots of hiking trails with historic markers. It’s a fascinating part of Australian history. I would suggest buying some local produce back at the shops in Dromana (the IGA has everything you need), packing yourself a picnic, and heading to Point Nepean National Park to explore and just take it all in.
➡️Join a guided tour to learn more about the history here
Stop 2: Sorrento
📍 Location: Sorrento
Once you’ve finished exploring the Nepean National Park, stop in Sorrento for lunch. It is another part of the peninsula which has its own vibe, a little bit more hustle and bustle and definitely more of a party scene.
You can watch the Sorrento to Queenscliff Ferry come and go if you’re a ferry watcher – my son could spend all day watching the big ships! However, if you want to get some spa treatments done and just have a full relax, the Aurora Spa and Bathhouse is located right here too.
Stop 3: Cape Schanck Lighthouse
📍 Location: Cape Schanck
Finish your trip with a visit to Cape Schanck. The lighthouse sits right on the cliff face, and the scenery is dramatic and spectacular.
You can enter the lighthouse and have a look in it, or visit the museum along with some walking tracks around. The lighthouse itself has guided tours. It is definitely recommended and a perfect way to end the trip.
Where to Stay in Mornington Peninsula
Depending on your style, you can camp, take your caravan, stay budget or high end luxury. This is what I mean about Mornington Peninsula being perfect for everyone! Here are a few options, but if you’d like to read my full blog on boutique accommodation, check this out:
Best Budget Option:
Capel Sound Foreshore camping provides affordable beachfront accommodation perfect for families who love camping. You’ll wake up steps from the beach with all the peninsula’s attractions within easy driving distance.
Check out the webpage here for more details
Best Mid-Range Option:
Quarters at Flinders Hotel is more of an apartment style hotel, perfect for families or groups of people. The location is in a quiet part of the Mornington Peninsula.
Best Luxury Option:
For a truly special experience, book a night a Jackalope Hotel. It is high-end luxury and simply gorgeous!
Our Thoughts
I love Mornington Peninsula for its variety. You can grab a cuppa at a lovely cafe overlooking the ocean, hike numerous trails or sit in a high end winery relaxing. You can get up in the morning and decide what you feel like doing. We’ve been back more times than I can count and still havn’t seen everything!
