Leg 2: Sorrento to Melbourne

Board the ferry across the bay to the Mornington Peninsula. The seaside village of Sorrento is one of the most popular and well-known holiday escapes on the Peninsula and has earned acclaim for its fine buildings, excellent eateries, galleries and specialist shops. A great place for breakfast is The Baths restaurant located right on the foreshore.

Visit nearby Portsea, where Melbourne’s rich and famous choose to spend their summers. Take a dip in the calm waters of the Portsea front beach or wander the wilder back beach before starting your drive up the coast.

From Portsea the route travels up the coast to Rosebud and then crosses to Cape Schanck on the other side of the Peninsula. Follow boardwalks to spectacular lookouts and superb views of Bass Strait before continuing your journey along the western port side of the Peninsula to the charming nineteenth century fishing hamlet of Flinders. Flinders offers both surf and safe beach recreation, delicious dining and antique and curio shopping. And if you are golfer make time for a round of golf at the scenic Flinders Golf course overlooking the Bass Strait.

From Flinders, head inland towards Arthurs Seat and Red Hill where there are more than a dozen premium winemakers offering tastings and cellar door sales as well as local produce. A number of the wineries have associated restaurants that are a great place to stop for lunch. Try Max’s at Red Hill or the restaurant among the olive groves at Montalto.

After exploring Red Hill return to the beach road and amble back to Melbourne taking in the breathtaking coastal scenery. A great place to stop for a coffee en route is the small seaside town of Mornington and if you have time the McClelland Gallery+Sculpture Park at Frankston is also worth a visit.

An alternative route back to Melbourne is to travel via Hastings, an historic fishing town, which is a good place to take a fishing charter or a cruise of Western Port bay before heading back to Melbourne.