If you’ve found yourself in the heart of Victoria’s Melbourne CBD and thinking of getting away for a sea-change for the weekend and not sure where to go or what to do, then a Mornington Peninsula day trip is just what you need.
From Melbourne CBD, just over an hour’s drive you can be greeted with some of the most incredible beaches on the Mornington Peninsula.
The Peninsula is made up of beach side towns like Sorrento, Safety Beach, Flinders and so much more.
A perfect day spent will include sampling delicious home-grown wines from the Mornington Peninsula, visiting white sandy beaches of the foreshores of Port Phillip Bay, grabbing a bite to eat at one of the local cafes and a deliciously brewed coffee!
Read Next>> 2022 Guide to the best things to do on the Peninsula
Our guide to your day trip to the Mornington Peninsula
Grab a bite to eat
Make sure you’re always starting your day off right with a big delicious breakfast down at Store 15 at the end of Main st Mornington, the first stop on your Mornington Peninsula day trip.
Their summer menu mostly consists of vegetarian and vegan options with everything from acai Bowls to vegan nachos, a vegan crumpet stack and smashed avo on toast.
Mornington is located not far from the start of the Peninsula that runs all the way from Frankston through to Portsea at the furthermost point, ending at Fort Nepean national park.
Go for a swim at Safety Beach
Renamed from Shark Bay to Safety beach many years ago, this perfectly safe and shark free beach along Point Nepean Road deserves a couple of hours out of your Mornington Peninsula day trip itinerary.
During the summer months the sun illuminates the water and turns it into a transparent blue colour with the softest, whitest sand anywhere along the coast.
Safety Beach shore remains relatively shallow far enough for young kiddies to frolic around and not wander into deep water.
The shore is lined with beach boxes that make this beach simply stunning and colourful.
If you have a pooch with you, then the eastern side of the pier is a dedicated dog beach for your furry loved one called Tassels Cove
Sip the local wine at Red Hill -Green Olive at Red Hill
No day trip to the Mornington Peninsula is complete without taking a detour to a Mornington Peninsula winery.
Read More: Check out the Top 5 Wineries along the Mornington Peninsula
The cool breezes of both sides of the Peninsula with warmer temperatures during summer months makes the centre of the Mornington peninsula ideal for growing fruits for the wine making process.
Our local favourite is Green Olive at Red Hill.
An amazing selection of Tapas menus with a wrap around patio with their own veggie and herb garden making Green Olive such a delight to visit every time.
Your Mornington Peninsula day trip should include the super fun Green Olive cooking classes where you learn how to make pizzas and pastas from the cooks and chefs at Green Olive.
GET IT ON GET YOUR GUIDE: Green Olive Cooking Class
Swim in the Rock Pools of Sorrento Back Beach
A favourite amongst locals and for those seeking more thrills on your Mornington Peninsula day trip are the rock pools at Sorrento Back beach.
Mornington peninsula locals refer to the ocean beaches as the back beaches, and on a hot summer day you will definitely be joining them here.
At low tide when the sun is shining the rock pools to the Western end of the beach open up and you will find a cue to jump off one rock in particular into the pool below.
Over recent times the climbing rock has broken off in parts but the main section is still there so be mindful where you jump.
Book your stay in Sorrento to get great deals on accommodation
Take the Sorrento ferry to Queenscliff
Connecting the Mornington Peninsula to the Bellarine Peninsula is the Sorrento to Queenscliff ferry operated by Searoad Ferries.
A 45 minute ferry crossing towards Queenscliff is an often overlooked part of what the Peninsula offers tourists.
Book your tickets here to enjoy a 45 minute cruise through Port Phillip Bay
There’s no need to disembark at Queenscliff, if you’ve paid for a return ticket just stay on and enjoy the trip back.
Watch out for a pod of Dolphins wave riding their way back to Sorrento. A pretty awesome way to break up your Mornington Peninsula road trip itinerary.
Grab a coffee in Portsea
Book your accommodation in the centre of Portsea before your next trip!
Coffee should always be high on your life-list and whether you’re a morning or afternoon coffee kind of person, this one cannot be left out of your Mornington peninsula day trip.
Closer towards the end of the Mornington Peninsula, separated by two suburbs are the same business with two different names, Baked in Portsea and Baked in Sorrento.
I’ve always gone to Baked by Portsea as it’s a little more hidden, which makes it all the more mysterious!
The coffee is fantastic and the food options are incredibly fresh and delicious. You could easily spend the better part of an hour or two indulging in the yummy food.
Take a walk down Cape Schanck
Round off your day nicely and complete your Mornington Peninsula Road trip Itinerary by driving to the Southern cape of the Mornington Peninsula and walk down the boardwalks and stairs of Cape Schanck.
Used primarily as a light-house to ward ships off the cliff face, Cape Schanck has an impressive 1.6km boardwalk that leads to Pulpit rock, an even more impressive rock formation that has been sculpted by the crashing waves.
An easy 45 minute walk from the top of the car park, Cape Schanck is the southernmost tip of the Mornington Peninsula coastline and a well rounded way to end your Mornington Peninsula day trip.
Need a place to stay close to Cape Schanck, we got you covered right here
Of course there are an abundance of things to see and do whilst down on the Mornington Peninsula, so use this article as a guide to plan your next weekend away from Melbourne.
