Why the Mornington Peninsula?

Just over an hour from Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula feels worlds away. Dramatic limestone cliffs drop into the Bass Strait. Life sized Australian heritage with the Point Nepean quarantine station and barracks. Coastal ti-tree tunnels open suddenly onto wild surf beaches and Cape Schanck Lighthouse stands sentinel over a rugged coastline.

The “Peninsula” isn’t just about the wild. It’s equally famous for its food and wine — boutique cellar doors, farm-to-table restaurants, and producers who por passion into their craft. Adding this the Peninsula Hot Springs, one of Australia’s finest natural thermal bathing experiences, where mineral-rich waters and the Southern Hemisphere’s starry skies do things to your nervous system that no spa treatment can replicate.

This is a trip that tantalises all your senses. While you earn your delicious dinning experiences and the divinve hot springs with your walking legs, the ultimate aim is to return you at holidays end refreshed and reenergised.

The Walking

The most prolific feedback about the walks on our Mornington Peninsula trip is that every day is different. We start with a historical lession of free settlers landing at the Quarantine station, ready for a new life and the only “shot in anger” fired from the Point Nepean garrison over the bough of a German ship on the declaration of the Second World War. We then spend a half day exploring the beautiful rugged coastline and finish with a walk through bushland and out to the famous Cape Schanck. There are no steep climbs and the trails are well formed paths. The terrain is varied without being technical — you’ll feel the good kind of tired at the end of each day.

Distance and fitness

Each walking day covers roughly 10 - 12 kilometres at a relaxed, social pace. This is a Gentle Adventurer trip — we describe it as suitable for women who enjoy regular walking and want a genuine but achievable workout. You don’t need hiking experience; you just need to enjoy moving through beautiful places.

Our guides set a pace that brings the whole group together rather than stretching it apart. Nobody gets left behind, and nobody feels held back.

“A wonderful walk on Mornington Peninsula. Amazing group of women,so much laughter and conversation.We were absolutely spoilt by great organisation,down to the last tee. Our guides...incredible,friendly,helpful and catered to all capabilities. I would absolutely recommend these walks...especially to single women,as the friendship with strangers is lovely. Thank you so much.” - Judy (Google Review)

Peninsula Hot Springs

This is the moment women talk about most when they come home. After a day on the trail, your group settles into a private dome or thermal pool as the sun goes down, warm mineral water doing exactly what it’s supposed to do — unknotting shoulders, quietening minds, turning the volume of ordinary life right down.

Peninsula Hot Springs draws on geothermal water from deep underground. The bathing complex is beautifully designed and set in natural bushland. We book a private experience for the group — no strangers, no queue, just your people, the water, and the night sky.

“Fabulous girls trip. Suzanne our guide made the time away so special. The itinerary is thought out and provides luxury accomm, beautiful jaw dropping nature walks, relaxing spa hot springs experience and delicious food.” - Vanessa (Trip Advisor)

Food, Wine & Local Produce

The Mornington Peninsula has earned its reputation as one of Victoria’s premier food and wine regions. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the signature varieties — the cool maritime climate produces wines of genuine elegance — and the restaurant scene punches well above the Peninsula’s size.

We build the local food story into every day. Expect picnic lunches using produce from local suppliers, dinners at restaurants that know where their food comes from, and an exquisite degustation lunch to wrap it all up at Polperro winery.

Wine-tasting is woven in naturally — not as a formal cellar door crawl, but as part of experiencing a place that takes its produce seriously.

What to Expect Day by Day

Day 1: Melbourne / Point Nepean

9-11 km trek on Port Nepean, private transfer ex Melbourne airport, full trip stay in a charming and luxurious hotel, lunch and dinner

Day 2: Two Bays Track

12-14 km trek on Two Bays track, with time for shopping or relaxing, breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3: The Coastal Track

11-12 km trek on the Coastal track, Culinary experience, relaxing dine and bathe at Peninsula Hot Springs, breakfast and dinner

Day 4: Sorrento / Melbourne

3-4 km trek Millionaires Walk, Degustation lunch at Red Hill Winery, private transfer to Melbourne Airport.

Is This Trip Right for You?

The Mornington Peninsula retreat is our most popular trip for women who are:

•        Trying a GirlsTrek trip for the first time

•        Looking for a short break that genuinely recharges rather than exhausts

•        Interested in food and wine as much as walking

•        Travelling solo and wanting a warm, welcoming group to join

•        Celebrating something — a birthday, a milestone, a hard year survived

It’s equally loved by experienced hikers who want a beautiful, relaxed time, and by women who have never done a guided trip before. The level of walking is accessible; the level of experience is not.

Practical Information

Getting there

GirlsTrek meet you at Tullamarine airport. Ensure your flight arrives before 10:30am on Day 1 and departs after 6:30pm on Day 4. From the airport you are in private transfers for the duration of the trip.

What to bring

Comfortable walking shoes or trail runners/walkers, layers for morning and evening, swimwear for the hot springs, and a small daypack. A full packing list is sent with your booking confirmation.

Weather

The Peninsula can be walked year-round. Spring (September–November) and autumn (March–May) offer the most settled conditions. Winter departures have their own magic — fewer people, moody coastal light, and the hot springs feel even better in the cold, however expect wet days.