Grade 1

Mornington Peninsula Walk (97.5km)

Mornington Peninsula

Victoria

97.5km

8-10 days

Grade 3

Circuit

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Quick overview: Experience the captivating beauty of Victoria with the Mornington Peninsula Walk, a 97.5km circuit trail that starts and ends in Dromana. This Grade 3 moderate hike, typically completed in 8-10 days, combines four other iconic trails, showcasing a diverse range of landscapes from stunning clifftop strolls to scenic beach walks. Along the journey, you'll discover the historic fort at Point Nepean, explore the charming foreshores of Portsea, Sorrento, Blairgowrie, Rye, and Rosebud, and admire the towering Arthurs Seat and Cape Schanck Lighthouse. Remember to pack your camera and good walking shoes for this unforgettable adventure!
Length:
97.5km
Duration:
8-10 days
Grade:
3
Style:
Circuit

Max elevation: 278m

Min elevation: 0m

Total Ascent: 2189m

Start: Dromana
End: Dromana
Mornington Peninsula
Victoria
Nearby town: Dromana
From state capital: 88km
Latitude: -38.34131847
Longitude: 144.9457452
8 Reviews
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Hike overview

Long known as a destination with beautiful beach walks and spectacular clifftop strolls, the Mornington Peninsula boasts one of Victoria's top walks.

The Mornington Peninsula Walk takes a roughly triangular route, linking four established trails and traversing the most beautiful and spectacular parts of the peninsula. Along the way, the trail takes in the historic fort at Point Nepean and the foreshores of Portsea, Sorrento, Blairgowrie, Rye, Rosebud and Dromana before climbing over Arthurs Seat and 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 tea-tree and drops onto yellow-sand beaches before a final stretch of alternating tight single track and cliff-top trail brings you from Rye to London Bridge.

The 100km Mornington Peninsula Walk combines four other 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. You can complete the whole walk over several days, or enjoy it over several visits.

1. Two Bays Walking Track - 26km from Dromana on Port Phillip via Bushrangers Bay to Cape Schanck

There are lots of relatively easy walks, including the 5km Bushrangers Bay walk from clifftop Cape Schanck to Boneo Road. Greens Bush is a tranquil gem and a wildlife haven, with kangaroos and wallabies feeding in the early morning or at dusk, and birdlife including wrens, colourful parrots, kites and soaring eagles. There are a couple of rewarding circuit walks of 1.6km and 3.6km through beautiful forest from Baldry Crossing, and a 4km circuit walk from Long Point Road that takes in forest, grasslands and gullies. There's also an 8.9km walk which is part of the Two Bays Walking Track, with silent forests, huge stands of grasstrees that may be more than 200 years old, lush fern gullies and grasslands.

2. The Coastal Walk - 30km from Cape Schanck to Portsea Surf Beach

The Mornington Peninsula National Park adjoins Point Nepean National Park, with the Coastal Walk encompassing 26km of beach and cliff walks along Bass Strait from London Bridge right to Cape Schanck. Some of the sections are very suitable to do as short walks in their own right; including the 2km Farnsworth Track from London Bridge carpark to Portsea ocean beach, the 3km Fingal Beach walk to lookouts over Bass Strait, and the 4km Coppins Track walk from Sorrento ocean beach along the dramatic clifftop to Diamond Bay.

3. Point Nepean Walk - 13.5km from Wilsons Folly Track at London Bridge to the tip of Point Nepean

Walk right to the tip of the Mornington Peninsula in Point Nepean National Park, past the old Quarantine Station, World War Two military defences, along coastal and bush tracks. Wilson's Folly Track at London Bridge takes you into Point Nepean National Park and to the tip of famous Point Nepean. Visit the historic Quarantine Station, explore historic fortifications and gun emplacements, Moonah woodlands, enjoy views of Bass Strait and Port Phillip Bay at the Heads.

WILSONS FOLLY TRACK
1.7km track links London Bridge in the Mornington Peninsula National Park with Point Nepean National Park. The track is an extension of the Coastal Walk from Cape Schanck.

QUARANTINE STATION
1.5km from the Information Centre. Wander around the historic site which was established in 1852 to protect the colony of Melbourne from ship borne diseases. From the 1950s the buildings also housed the Army Officer Cadet School.

RANGE AREA WALK
The 1.8 kilometre walk meanders through coastal scrub, a former Rifle Range and passes Monash Break and Light with sweeping views of the park and Melbourne City. The Range Area was used to train cadets in the Army Officer Cadet School; training included firing rifles, grenades and machine guns. The walk links the Quarantine Station and Cheviot Hill.

WALTER PISTERMAN HERITAGE WALK
1km return starts at Gunners Cottage passing Point Nepean Cemetery to the remnants of the former quarantine cattle jetty where there is a picnic area and views of the bay. Stroll through coastal vegetation to Port Phillip Bay at Observatory Point with views of Port Phillip Heads.

CHEVIOT HILL AND HAROLD HOLT MEMORIAL
Cheviot Hill is the highest point of Point Nepean, with World War II fortifications. Walk the track up to the hilltop which overlooks Cheviot Beach, the site where former Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt disappeared in 1967. A memorial is located 500 metres from Cheviot Hill.

FORT PEARCE AND EAGLES NEST
Explore the lookouts from the fortifications with stunning views of Bass Strait, the Pearce Barracks site where army personnel lived and the location of Australia's largest Disappearing Gun.

FORT NEPEAN
5.2km from the Information Centre. Contains a series of military fortifications dating back to the 1880s with stunning views of Port Phillip Bay and Bass Strait. Explore the tunnels, forts and gun emplacements from which the first allied shots of both World War I and World War II were fired.

4. The Bay Trail - 24km Portsea to Dromana

This takes you along the beaches and villages of Port Phillip Bay from Dromana right to Portsea, where you can join the Point Nepean National Park walk.

Track grade

Grade 3 (Moderate) - Walks for Most Fitness Levels: Grade 3 on the AWTGS represents moderate walking tracks. These are ideal for walkers with some fitness who are comfortable with some hills and uneven terrain. While suitable for most ages, some bushwalking experience is recommended to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. Tracks may have short, steep hill sections, a rough surface, and many steps. The total distance of a Grade 3 walk can be up to 20 kilometers.

Walk map and GPX file

Mornington Peninsula Walk (97.5km)

Total distance: 97629 m
Max elevation: 278 m
Min elevation: 0 m
Total climbing: 2189 m
Total descent: -2188 m
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GPX files, maps and content are copyright Trail Hiking Australia. Not to be copied, redistributed or uploaded to other platforms including AllTrails.

Download the Mornington Peninsula 100km Walk Fact Sheet Here

Reference: Mornington Peninsula Tourism

Copyright Tourism Victoria

Explore safely

Planning this hike? Most incidents develop before you even start. Safe outcomes depend on how navigation, hydration, environment, load and judgement work together. Small oversights can compound quickly in Australian conditions. See how it happens in the Hiking Safety Systems Foundations. Then use the Hiking Safety Systems, planning calculators, and make sure a trusted contact has your trip plan before heading out.

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Before you go, complete a trip intentions form and share it with a trusted contact. Agree on a Late-Back Time and ask them to call 000 (Police) if you have not checked in. A clear trip plan is one of the simplest and most effective safety steps you can take.

Planning checklists

Download the hiking preparation and safety checklists before leaving home to help you think through your plans. They help ensure important considerations are not overlooked and support safer decision-making on the trail.

Getting there

Getting to the trailhead: Mornington Peninsula.

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Access conditions

  • Camping Area

Accommodation nearby

Find Accommodation

Find accommodation close to the trailhead including hotels, cabins, and campgrounds. Use the interactive map to explore available options in nearby towns.

Nearby towns: Balnarring, Blairgowrie, Dromana, Fingal, Flinders, Frankston, Hastings, Merricks, Mornington, Mount Eliza, Mount Martha, Portsea, Red Hill, Rosebud, Rye, Shoreham, Somerville, Sorrento, Tyabb

About the region

Breathe in the fresh sea air, sample innovative local cuisine, and soak up the relaxed alfresco lifestyle of the Mornington Peninsula, just an hour from Melbourne. Explore the galleries, spas and cafes in breezy seaside villages, cool off with a day on the beach, or escape to the hinterland for gourmet delights at boutique wineries.

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Mornington Peninsula Walk (97.5km)

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Acknowledgement of Country

Mornington peninsula walk (97. 5km) trail hiking australia

Trail Hiking Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we hike and pay respects to their Elders, past and present, and we acknowledge the First Nations people of other communities who may be here today.

Curated by: Darren Edwards | Trail Hiking Australia
Last modified:

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