Portsea Things to Do

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10-15 minutes walk from the Back Beach, past the serious holiday homes of the multi-millionaires (I kid you not - this is Portsea afterall) and you'll find the infinitely calmer Portsea Front Beach, overlooked by the grand dame herself, the long established Portsea Hotel. It's far from being the most impressive of beaches - a long, thin sandy strip, but with its long jetty and walking opportunities, (and the much calmer waters and swimming options). it's no bad alternative to the Back Beach.

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Based as it is on the very southern tip of the Mornington Peninsula, Portsea has the huge advantage of having two beaches - the Back Beach being by far the most stunning (but not always the safest place for a gentle swim). It's a glorious stretch of sand and coastline, and exposed to the elements, even on the calmest days, breaking waves in all their glory pound the shore.

The beach heads south-east for miles towards Cape Schank and its lighthouse. You cannot walk all the way along the sands (in fact you cannot even get to Sorrento Ocean Beach without heading back up the cliffs), but the coastal path, the Mornington Peninsula National Park and a few hours will get you someway towards it.

But just enjoy - the wind can certainly blow here but it's a wonderfully bracing experience. And whilst the beach area around the car park can get get busy during Summer peak times, simply head off towards Sorrento to get away form the crowds.

The subterranean tunnels (not all of which are open to the public) are among the most interesting parts of the fort.
We probably got to visit a few hundred metres worth, spread over several different locations within the fort.

And if the previous views weren't enough, just look at the views the soldiers had from the men's latrines/toilets!

Here my husband poses in front of one to see exactly what the view would have been...

Fort Nepean was established in 1882 – I believe there were some fears about a possible Russian invasion. The fort was primarily used during the 1st and second World Wars.
Parts of it were built in 1852 when it was a Quarantine Station for people who had contagious diseases arriving in the country on ships.

After the fort became abandoned, it was closed to the public for over 100 years and has only been reopened for about the last 15 years.
There has been controversy in the last few years about the area being developed, and after a long battle, the land has managed to be saved as it is for future generations.

One of the gun emplacements at the fort.

One of the best things about Port Nepean are the beautiful sea and coastal views from many of the ramparts.