Discover 11 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Mornington Peninsula and Western Port Biosphere Reserve (Australia). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Cape Schanck Lighthouse, Coolart Wetlands and Homestead Reserve, and McCrae Homestead. Also, be sure to include Frankston Arts Centre in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Mornington Peninsula and Western Port Biosphere Reserve (Victoria).
Table of Contents
Cape Schanck Lighthouse
Lighthouse in Cape Schanck, Australia. The Cape Schanck Lighthouse was built in 1859 as the second coastal lighthouse in the Australian state of Victoria. It is located on Cape Schanck, at the southernmost tip of the Mornington Peninsula. The 21 metres tall tower was built from limestone. The light's focal plane is situated 100 metres above sea level, the light characteristic is the Morse code letter "N", a long signal of 10.8 seconds followed by a flash. Depending on the bearing of the light, the colours are either white or red. Due to its powerful lantern of one million candela and a first order Fresnel lens, which was installed in 1915, the light has a range of 26 nmi.
The lighthouse was not only one of the first such buildings in Victoria, it was moreover Australia's first lighthouse tower with stone stairs. During the 1970s and 1980s the facility was restored and has since become an attraction for tourists. Today there is a museum in the old assistants' quarters. Accommodation is available in the old residences of the lighthouse keeper.[1]
Address: 420 Cape Schanck Rd, 3939 Cape Schanck (Mornington Peninsula Shire)
Coolart Wetlands and Homestead Reserve
The Coolart Wetlands and Homestead Reserve, or just Coolart, is an 87.5 ha estate on the Western Port coast of the Mornington Peninsula of Victoria, south-eastern Australia, about 70 km south-east of Melbourne. It comprises a late 19th-century mansion-like homestead and surrounding grounds west of the village of Somers. Coolart is the remnant of one of the oldest grazing properties on the Mornington Peninsula. The homestead is set in a garden with adjacent wetlands and coastal woodlands with walking tracks. It is managed by Parks Victoria and the homestead is open to the public. The homestead features an exhibition of historic photographs, and hosts changing art exhibitions. Coolart is a popular venue for picnics, nature walks and birdwatching.[2]
McCrae Homestead
Tourist attraction in Australia. McCrae Homestead is an historic property located in McCrae, Victoria, Australia. It was built at the foot of Arthurs Seat, a small mountain, near the shores of Port Phillip in 1844 by Andrew McCrae, a lawyer, and his wife Georgiana Huntly McCrae, a portrait artist of note. The homestead is under the care of the National Trust of Australia, and is open to the public. Volunteers who are knowledgeable about the history of the house conduct tours and answer questions.
One of Victoria's oldest homesteads, it illustrates how early pioneers used whatever they found locally to build houses and farms using primitive construction techniques. The walls of the house are made of horizontal drop slab cut from local timbers including stringybark from the top of the mountain. Tuck, who was employed by the McCraes and assisted by the older boys of the family, used wattle and daub, bark, messmate shingles and sods as well as slabs and squared logs.
Georgiana designed the house and each detail such as the Count Rumford fireplace. The three thousand bricks necessary to build it were sent down the Bay from Williamstown to Arthurs Seat on the Jemima, a small sailing boat. The house is small but well thought out with a separate kitchen as was common at that time to prevent fires. A floorplan drawn up by Georgiana in 1850 exactly reflects the present layout of the homestead with a small addition being done on the side of the house in the 20th century.[3]
Address: 11 Beverley Rd, 3938 McCrae (Mornington Peninsula Shire)
Frankston Arts Centre
Theatre in Frankston, Australia. The Frankston Arts Centre is a landmark theatre and art gallery in the outer Melbourne suburb of Frankston in Victoria, Australia. The centre plays host to a number of major performances, including regular shows by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Victorian Opera, and is a tour venue for the Australian Opera, Bell Shakespeare Company, Melbourne International Film Festival, Sydney Dance Company as well as a number of other national production companies. It was opened by then Prime Minister of Australia, The Hon. Paul Keating, on 20 May 1995.[4]
Address: 27-37 Davey Street, 3199 Frankston (Frankston)
Peninsula Hot Springs
Watersports, Swimming pool, Spa, Hot springs
Address: 140 Springs Ln, 3939 Fingal (Mornington Peninsula Shire)
Moorooduc Quarry Flora and Fauna Reserve
The Moorooduc Quarry Flora and Fauna Reserve is located in Mount Eliza, Victoria, Australia and occupies approximately 27 hectares of land. There are entrances to the reserve located on Allison Road, Canadian Bay Road, Two Bays Road and Station Street near the Moorooduc Railway Station.[5]
Address: 106 Two Bays Rd, Mount Eliza, Mornington Peninsula and Western Port Biosphere Reserve (Mornington Peninsula Shire)
Studio 27 Silverleaves
Beach
Address: 27 Shearwater Drive, Mornington Peninsula and Western Port Biosphere Reserve
The Gurdies
Village in Australia. The Gurdies is a village located in Bass Coast Shire in Victoria, Australia.[6]
Heronswood
Heritage building in Australia. Heronswood is a heritage-listed house located in Dromana, on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Australia. Classified by the National Trust of Australia and open to the public, the house, completed in the Gothic Revival style, is listed on the Australian Heritage Places Register, and the Victorian Heritage Register.
The house is located at 105 Latrobe Parade, Dromana, directly above the beach where Captain Matthew Flinders landed on 27 April 1802.[7]
Address: 105 Latrobe Parade, 3936 Dromana (Mornington Peninsula Shire)
Boneo Community Market
Farmer's market, Park, Relax in park, Food and drink, Shopping
Address: Limestone Road, 3939 Boneo (Mornington Peninsula Shire)
Mornington Yacht Club
Sailing, Marina
Address: Schnapper Point Dr, Mornington Peninsula and Western Port Biosphere Reserve (Mornington Peninsula Shire)