Mornington

Mornington is a seaside town on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia, 57km south of Melbourne's central business district.

Mornington is a cosmopolitan seaside village, take a stroll around Main Street to discover the history of the former Schnapper Point fishing village, browse local boutiques or stop for refreshments at one of the sidewalk cafes. See Victoria's oldest courthouse, dating back to 1860 and adjoining lock-up, ride a steam train on the Mornington Railway or visit the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery.

Pick up a Heritage Walk brochure from the Visitor Centre, which identifies important buildings and landmarks.

Further afield, the coastal towns of Sorrento and Portsea feature quieter beaches, galleries and some of Australia's oldest limestone buildings. You can also take a snorkel tour to spot sea dragons in Portsea (minimum age 6 years).

For a day of relaxation, head to Peninsula Hot Springs, an award-winning spa at Fingal, toward the tip of the peninsula.

Combine nature and wine on a horseback winery tour, which includes a wine tasting and lunch at a vineyard.

Arthurs Seat State Park offers the highest viewpoint on Mornington Peninsula.

Mornington is home to Victoria's longest-running street market, held every Wednesday and sometimes on days ships are in port. Stalls offer arts, crafts and homemade treats. Regional wine, cheese and olive oil also make good souvenirs.

Mornington Beach is around a 10 minutes (uphill) walk from the wharf.

There are plenty of land and sea activities on offer here, including golf, cycling, fishing, diving, snorkelling and surfing.

Local cafes and restaurants offer a good variety of options, from fresh fish and seafood (prawns, calamari and mussels), to pizza, pasta, steak and Asian-inspired dishes.

Most ships anchor off the Mornington pier and tender passengers ashore to the main wharf and a pretty timber fishing jetty, which are set on the edge of a large, public park.

The town's shopping precinct, Main Street is a 15 minute walk up the hill from the pier.

For Tourist information, head to the Mornington Courthouse Visitor Centre, which is located on the corner of Main Street and the Esplanade.

Taxis (metered) can be ordered from either the pier or found along Main Street. Ask the driver for an estimate in advance.