Sydney is famous for beaches, while Melbourne is mostly famous for its culture. But just a 40 minute drive from the city, you can find gorgeous beaches, beautiful hikes and top notch wineries all in one spot: the Mornington Peninsula. Again I am biased: but Melbourne is clearly superior.

I am super lucky since my best friend lives on the peninsula and so I got to experience this gem from my first day in Australia. It is not necessarily a secret tip, especially in summer everyone tries to get away from the blazing hot city and head to the beach and in winter the wineries are flooded, but it is oh so worth the short trip down the coast and a weekend here should always be included in your Melbourne stay.



Cape Shanck offers a relatively relaxed boardwalk along the beack, a gorgeous view over two little bays, fascinating sea life and a pretty little lighthouse with more scenic views. The walk takes about 30 minute in a circuit, but obviously you can take a little longer to check out the plants, waves and views.



This mountain was named after the one in Edinburgh and if you have climbed that one, you know it is quite some work. Luckily you can drive up the one in Australia and not to hate on Edinburgh, but the view over the turquoise water you get in reward here may be even better. On top are a number of nice walk and lookouts as well as an aboriginal garden. There is also a cable car, but according to my friend it has broken down twice before so I personally would skip out on it.


This was my first beach to ever visit in Australia, when it was actually hot and it is still one of my favourites. The rock formations here are so cool, the water colour is beyond amazing and you usually almost have it to yourself since it is a little more remote. There are popular cliff diving spots here, but my fear of heights and love for my own self have kept me far away from them.






Sorrento is the very tip of the Peninsula, but it is very well worth the trip down. This litte sea town is a holiday favourite with absolutely gorgeous water my favourite beach as mentioned above, lovely little cafés, restaurants and shops. I was lucky enough to have a lovely friend, who had a beach house here and we spent two amazing weekends down here, making platters and drinking loads of wine. It was where I spent my last weekend in Melbourne with my friends and so it has quite a special place in my heart. Being the foodie I am (and with my luck for weather and it being freezing the two times we went down to Sorrento) I mainly ate, so here are my favourite restaurants: