The Mornington Peninsula is in Victoria, Australia, south-east of Melbourne. It is a hook of land with Port Phillip on its west side, Western Port on its east side and Bass Strait along its south. It joins the mainland in the north, near Frankston, and points south-west towards the mouth of Port Phillip.
- Peninsula towns and landmarks
- Frankston, the gateway (not on the peninsula)
- Airfield and airport
- Not on the peninsula
Places on the map as a list
- Frankston: Separate council, directly north of the Shire
- Mornington: Bay town on the Port Phillip side
- Mount Martha
- Rosebud: Council seat of the Shire
- Sorrento
- Portsea
- Point Nepean National Park: The western tip
- Arthurs Seat
- Red Hill
- Cape Schanck: Bass Strait ocean coast
- Hastings: Western Port side
- Tyabb Airport: Private airfield run by the Peninsula Aero Club
- Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine): Airline flights, north of this map
- Dandenong: City of Greater Dandenong, inland
The three waters around it
Water on three sides gives each coast its own character.
- Port Phillip, to the west: the bay side, with towns such as Mornington, Mount Martha, Rosebud, Sorrento and Portsea. Apart from Point Nepean, this shore is urban.
- Western Port, to the east: the quieter side, with communities such as Hastings and Tyabb.
- Bass Strait, to the south: the open ocean coast, with Cape Schanck and the surf beaches.
How big the peninsula is
The Shire of Mornington Peninsula, the council that covers most of it, spans about 723 square kilometres and has about 192 kilometres of coastline. The 2021 Census counted 168,948 residents. Roughly 70 per cent of the Shire is rural or Green Wedge land, so the built-up bay towns sit beside farms, vineyards and bushland.
What you find on the peninsula
Travel south along the Port Phillip side and you pass Mornington, Mount Martha, Rosebud, Sorrento and Portsea, then reach Point Nepean National Park at the tip. Inland, Red Hill and Arthurs Seat rise above the bay, and Cape Schanck marks the ocean coast. The Shire lists about 40 townships and villages, and Rosebud is its council seat.
Where the peninsula begins
The peninsula meets the mainland between Frankston and Pearcedale. Frankston has its own council, the City of Frankston, which borders the Shire to the north. People often call Frankston the gateway to the peninsula, because most road and rail journeys from Melbourne pass through it.
Places people ask about
| Place | On the Mornington Peninsula? | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Frankston | No, but it is the gateway | City of Frankston, directly north of the Shire |
| Dandenong | No | City of Greater Dandenong, inland to the north |
| Seacliff | No | A suburb of Adelaide in South Australia |
Is there an airport?
There is no airport with airline services on the peninsula. Tyabb Airport, near the town of Tyabb, is a small private airfield run by the Peninsula Aero Club, with a 1,000 metre sealed runway. Most visitors fly into Melbourne Airport at Tullamarine and drive south. Read the distance and drive time in our guide to how far the peninsula is from Melbourne.
Questions travellers ask next
Is Frankston part of the Mornington Peninsula?
No. Frankston is a separate council area directly north of the Shire. It is the usual gateway for travellers heading to the peninsula.
Is Dandenong on the Mornington Peninsula?
No. Dandenong is in the City of Greater Dandenong, inland from the peninsula, and many travellers pass through its area on the way south.
Is Seacliff in the Mornington Peninsula?
No. The Seacliff most people find online is a coastal suburb of Adelaide in South Australia. If you mean a place in Victoria, check the spelling.
Is there an airport on the Mornington Peninsula?
Only a small private airfield at Tyabb. For airline flights, use Melbourne Airport.
Where is Mornington?
Mornington is a bay town on the Port Phillip side of the peninsula, in the Shire of Mornington Peninsula.
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