The Mornington Peninsula
This is an amazingly creative region of Victoria for artists, young and older. The feeling and fresh air of country only an hour from Melbourne City draws many to the Peninsula. It is also a holiday place with many happy memories for those who come from the City and country areas to relax.
The two sides of the Peninsula are very different – the classic beaches of Port Phillip Bay offer much enjoyment to water lovers, campers and boating enthusiasts. Colourful bathing boxes adorn the sands along the coastline.
Over the beautiful hills and valleys there are countless wineries, large and small, inviting visitors to taste their wares along with farm outlets providing marvelously fresh produce. There are markets, health spas, mazes and gardens, national parks, walking tracks, villages, many outstanding golf courses and the quieter Westernport Bay leading to French Island. There is the incredible bird life, horses, alpacas and landscapes and seascapes galore. So a fabulous region for inspiration of talented artists to produce outstanding original art for you. Visitors can go to French Island via the passenger only Interisland Ferry Service from Stony Point and continue on to Phillip Island.
Some of the towns and villages to visit are Mornington, Dromana, Rosebud, Rye, Blairgowrie, Sorrento, Portsea, St. Andrews, Cape Schanck, Flinders, Shoreham, Red Hill, Main Ridge, Balnarring, Somers, Hastings, and Tyabb. The famous Tyabb Packing House Antiques complex is a popular stop for visitors to the Peninsula as is Sunnyridge Strawberry Farm, Ashcombe Maze, the Peninsula Hot Springs, Point Nepean National Park, the view from Arthur's Seat & Seawinds National Park, Red Hill Estate & Montalto wineries along with Port Phillip Estate. Pick up a "Visitor" magazine for complete coverage of all events and things outstanding on the Mornington Peninsula.
There are great bike tracks and walking tracks, wetlands and beaches to explore. Coolart Homestead & wetlands at Somers is run by Parks Victoria and is now free to the public to discover and enjoy. At nearby Balnarring Beach, racehorses are trained on the beach most mornings around the times of 6-9am.