Point Nepean

My friend April invited me on an adventure to the Mornington Peninsula (90 minutes south along Port Phillip Bay). Point Nepean National Park shaped Victoria's early settlement, quarantine, and defence. The park is located at the very tip of the peninsula, past Sorrento and Port Sea.

Park at the Quarantine Station, where you can explore 50 heritage-listed buildings with artefacts dating back more than 150 years. The station protected Victoria from diseases during immigration influxes, served as an army base, and housed refugees from Kosovo in 1999.

Then follow the Coles Track along the bayside of the peninsula. 

The track eventually ends, forcing you onto Defence Road. Here the tip of the peninsula becomes very narrow, with a juxtaposed calm bay on one side and raging ocean on the other.

Fort Nepean sits at the end, with extensive military forts and tunnels. 

The volatile weather brought heavy rains, strong winds, and vibrant rainbows. It was not a busy Sunday.

The park is located along one of Victoria's most treacherous coastlines. Around 130 shipwrecks are in the Port Phillip area, with over 50 occurring in the Rip--a triangle bounded by Point Nepean, Point Lonsdale, and Shortlands Bluff.

The Harold Holt Memorial overlooks the beach where the Prime Minister disappeared while swimming in 1967.

On the way back, follow the Range Area Walk to the Monash Light Tower for panoramas across the Bass Strait, Port Phillip Bay, and the distant Melbourne skyline. Detour on the Wilsons Folly Track to visit the London Bridge Lookout. 

April and I walked about 13 km, hitting most of the highlights. Cycling and the hop-on-hop-off shuttle service are also great ways to explore the park. Plan for at least three hours, or spend the day--amenities include picnic areas, coffee carts and cafes, and a campground.

Werribee Gorge

At the end of June, Tom and I bid farewell to our friends, Amanda and Dave. They decided to return to Detroit after four years abroad. We will miss them dearly, and look forward to crossing paths again.

After the recent cold snap, the afternoons have warmed back up to the mid 50s with lots of sunshine. Although winter is far from over, we have already passed the shortest day of the year with 9.5 hours of daylight - sunrise at 7:30am, sunset at 5pm.

 

Werribee Gorge was my next adventure. One hour southwest of Melbourne, wild and rugged Werribee Gorge State Park is shaped by 500 million years of geological history. A range of challenging walks along the steep, river-washed gorge and surrounding rocky ridges offer spectacular views and access to rock-climbing. Local inhabitant include kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, and echidnas.

The Werribee Gorge Circuit Walk is a 10-km loop through the park. I started from the Meikles Point Picnic Area, but would recommend stopping at one of the earlier car parks on the way - they provide the same trail access without driving on a narrow dirt road. It was a busy Sunday.

Walking counter-clockwise knocks out the steep sections first, but I think clockwise would also be fine. The trail is very rocky; trekking poles recommended. 

 

The last section follows a gentle riverside track. There is one short section with cables along an exposed rock face above the river, but it's not too difficult to manage. Plan for at least two hours.

Cape Woolamai Walk

Southeast Australia has experienced an unseasonably cold start to winter this year - 40s and low 50s. Instead of staying home and sulking, Tom and I planned a date night last weekend. One of my favourite neighbourhood pubs recently closed, so we checked out nearby Carlton Brewhouse. After, we took a tram into town to see Wicked at the Regent Theatre. 

 

The next day, I went for an adventure to Phillip Island. The small island is a 90-minute drive from Melbourne, and a sanctuary for wildlife. It's most famous for the daily Penguin Parade at sunset.

Cape Woolamai Walk is an 8-km circuit on the southeast end of the island - very close to the George Bass Coastal Walk that we did last year. It was not a busy Sunday at the Woolamai Beach car park. Navigating the loop counterclockwise, the first section is a walk along the surf beach. The weather was mild, but I suspect that it can get quite windy here. Perfect lighting.

At the end of the beach, a set of stairs leads to a gentle track along dramatic cliffs and stunning coastline. Wildlife viewing ops include wallabies, snakes, birds, and whales (peak June and July).

The track continues to the beacon, Phillip Island’s highest point, for 360-degree views across Phillip Island, San Remo, Kilcunda, and beyond. 

The final section on Cleeland Bight Beach can only be crossed at low tide, so make sure to check the tide tables before you go! Plan for two hours.

Keppel Lookout and Steavenson Falls

The second weekend of June was a holiday weekend in Australia, in honour of King Charles's birthday. I planned a spontaneous adventure, which is easier to do now that Tom and I have a car! We bought a 2010 station wagon, previously owned by Tom's colleague Michael. Owning a car in Melbourne is unnecessary if you never plan to leave the city. Car hires are readily available, but they require more time and planning than having your own set of wheels. Even though winter has arrived, I am excited to explore more of Victoria - and beyond.

 

I set out on Monday morning, driving 1.5 hours northeast. Black Spur Drive is a 30-km stretch along the Maroondah Highway between Healesville and Narbethong. It cuts through the lush forest of the Yarra Ranges as it winds its way up the Great Dividing Range. The scenic drive is famous for its towering mountain ash trees, which scatter sunlight on the cool understorey of green ferns. 

 

Marysville is the first town past Black Spur Drive. I arrived at the Keppell Lookout Trail carpark just before 10 am. It was chilly, so I layered up for a 11-km circuit around Keppel Lookout and Steavenson Falls.

Navigating counterclockwise, the first section is fairly steep. The path is muddy this time of year, shaded by the stringybark and mountain ash forests. Keppel Lookout offers expansive views of the greater Yarra and Cathedral Ranges.

 

The trail flattens out to Oxley Lookout and Del La Rue Lookout.

Then it's a gradual downhill trek to Steavenson Falls, with multiple lookouts along the way. The trail becomes much busier at the falls (a short walk from the nearest carpark). 

  

Great day trip from Melbourne! Plan for three hours on foot.

Peninsula Hot Springs

While Amanda's friend Sam was in town from Detroit, I tagged along for a day trip to the Mornington Peninsula - just under 1.5 hours south of Melbourne.

 

Peninsula Hot Springs is a geothermal mineral springs and day spa. The facility features over 70 bathing and wellness experiences, all set within a serene natural landscape.

Options are limitless between the family-friendly 'Bath House' and the adults-only 'Spa Dreaming Centre.' Both areas include barrel baths, steam baths, saunas, and cold plunge pools. Additional experiences include spa treatments, moonlit bathing, retreats, and glamping.

The naturally-heated waters rise from 637 metres below ground and flow into the pools and private baths. Mineral springs detoxify the body and contribute to our overall health and wellbeing.

 

The property maintains several wellness and relaxation spaces, plus a three-acre 'Food Bowl' - a beautiful terraced kitchen garden that supplies the cafes with fresh seasonal produce.

It seemed fairly busy for a Friday; this is one of the few outdoor activities that is likely best enjoyed during the colder months.

 

I highly recommend a visit here, and am keen to return - especially for special occasions! Nature-based luxury at its finest.