- Duration
- 1 day by car around the peninsula (≈ 7 h 52 min: moving and stop time only)
- Who it suits
- Everyone
- Transport
- drive
- Start
- Arthurs Seat Eagle
- Finish
- Peninsula Hot Springs
- Pace
- moderate pace
- Best time
- a weekday: both the gondola and the springs are calmer
- Budget per adult
- gondola return A$36.50, child 4 to 16 A$23.50; Bath House weekdays A$60 to A$80Prices as of: 13 October 2026
Getting there
The Frankston line ends at Frankston. Bus 788 continues to Sorrento and Portsea and finishes at the Point Nepean gate. A car is the practical way to combine the gondola, the lighthouse and the hot springs. From central Melbourne, allow about 1 hour 15 minutes to Mornington and about 1 hour 45 minutes to Sorrento. The Searoad ferry runs between Sorrento and Queenscliff. Times are on searoad.com.au.
Stops in order
The text version of the route: stops, time at each and the legs between them. Times are estimates, without queues, traffic or swims.
1. Arthurs Seat Eagle~1 h 15 min at the stop
The gondola from the base station at 1085 Arthurs Seat Road, Dromana, up to the summit. About 15 minutes each way. The bay and Melbourne are in the view.
Worth knowing: A wild mob lives along the gondola line. In the morning they are often grazing underneath. Later they move into the shade at Seawinds Gardens. Do not feed them.
Tip: Return: adult A$36.50, child 4 to 16 A$23.50, family A$97; one way A$29. Under-4s free. The return pass is valid same day only. In October it runs 10 am to 4 pm on weekdays and to 5 pm on weekends; hours change by season, so check aseagle.com.au.
Open on the map ↗↓ drive · 25 min · 24 km
2. Ocean Beach Road, Sorrento~50 min at the stop
Lunch and the shops in the limestone village. The street drops in a few minutes to the bay beach and The Baths.
Tip: Book The Baths if you want a table by the water. The street and the pier are enough for a short walk.
Open on the map ↗↓ drive · 12 min · 8 km
3. Point Nepean Quarantine Station~1 h 10 min at the stop
The quarantine station at the end of the peninsula. Park entry is free. Fort Nepean is further along the road, on foot or on the internal shuttle.
Worth knowing: On 5 August 1914 a Fort Nepean gun fired across the bow of the German steamer Pfalz as it tried to leave the bay, often called the first Allied shot of WWI. At Cheviot Beach, Prime Minister Harold Holt vanished while swimming in 1967.
Tip: Vehicles enter 6 am to 6 pm, to 8 pm during daylight saving, and can leave later. The shuttle from the entrance car park that meets the 788 bus picks up at 10:25 and 1:30 and returns at 1:00 and 4:15 (4:45 in daylight saving). Walk to the fort via Coles Track: The Bend beach steps are closed after storm damage and the Engine House after a landslip. No drinking water beyond the Quarantine Station. Info centre from 10 am, closed Christmas Day.
Open on the map ↗↓ drive · 35 min · 30 km
4. Cape Schanck Lighthouse~40 min at the stop
The 1859 lighthouse on the ocean edge of the peninsula. The grounds are open to people on foot from 6:00 to 18:00, and entry is free. A boardwalk runs to the point.
Worth knowing: The 21 m limestone tower was lit in 1859 as Victoria's second coastal lighthouse and is still active. Inside is a stone staircase, the first lighthouse tower in Australia built with stone stairs.
Tip: The tower climb is a separate tour. The 2026 tour page lists A$17 for an adult aged 15 and over, A$9 for a child aged 3 to 14, and A$47 for a family of 2 adults and 2 children, with slots through 28 November 2026. The point is windy. Dogs are not allowed in the national park, apart from assistance dogs. Check park alerts before you go.
Open on the map ↗↓ drive · 15 min · 14 km
5. Peninsula Hot Springs~2 h 30 min at the stop
Geothermal pools at 140 Springs Lane, Fingal. The Bath House is open to all ages, with more than 50 pools. The Spa Dreaming area is from 16 years.
Tip: Bath House on a weekday is A$60 to A$80 for an adult and A$45 to A$55 for a child aged 3 to 15. On a weekend it is A$70 to A$90 and A$55 to A$65. Early and twilight entry is cheaper: A$60 for an adult on a weekday and A$70 on a weekend. Same-day bookings add 10 percent, and so do Victorian public holidays. Weekdays 7:00 to 23:00, Saturday and Sunday 5:00 to 23:00. Leave the pools 15 minutes before closing. Book on peninsulahotsprings.com, phone 03 5950 8777. Alba Thermal Springs is the other spa nearby. Check their site for hours and the price.
Open on the map ↗
Before you go
- Route times are estimates: walking, driving and a sensible pause at each stop. Add queues, traffic and swims yourself.
- Prices, timetables and trail status change. Check the venue's official site and the state transport app before you go.
- On beaches, swim only between the red and yellow flags. Use sun protection even when it is cloudy.