9 Unusual Things to do Mornington Peninsula 2024 (local’s guide)
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There are plenty of experiences the Mornington Peninsula is known for, but what about the quirky, unusual things to do on the Mornington Peninsula that often get overlooked, that the crowds tend to miss? Well this blog post has got your answers.
When my fiancé and I moved here in 2018, we pretty quickly ticked off of our list all of the most popular tourist attractions and were left wondering, what else?
As we got to know the locals, after spying signs on sign posts as we drove around, and after reading the weekly local newspaper each week for months on end, we learnt of both some hidden gem attractions and some quirky, unusual Mornington Peninsula things to do.
In this post I’m going to list some of my favourite unusual things to do including interesting beaches, unexpected gardens, places where you can pat/hold Australian animals and of course, places to wet your whistle and have a bite to eat.
So whether you’re an out-of-towner looking to see a unique side to The Ninch, or whether you’re a local looking for something new to do, then this article is for you!
1. Enjoy a drink at one of Melbourne’s oldest hotels
The Grand Hotel Mornington is truly iconic.
Built in 1889, it’s over 130 years old, which is old in terms of buildings for Australia (Europeans may have a giggle at this).
Interestingly, it was originally a Grand Coffee Palace when Melbourne was attempting to promote alcohol-free establishments back in the day.
Located on the shopping strip of Mornington’s Main Street, the Grand Hotel is actually most popular with the locals, rather than tourists.
You can’t miss the hotel, it has a large tower sprouting from the top (hidden behind the trees in this photo). Because of this tower, my daughter, when younger, thought the Grand Hotel Mornington was a castle where all her favourite Disney princesses resided!
But besides its tower, never fear, there’s nothing else Disney-like about this place.
They have a bistro serving your traditional Aussie style pub-grub. Think chicken parmas, steak sangas, fish and chips and roasts of the day. Seniors menu always available too.
They have a sports bar with a TAB and pool tables.
The second floor is also a music hall where touring Aussie artists like Kate Cebrano, Pete Murray and Casey Chambers for example, have front lined along with tribute groups like INXSive and BABBA.
So if you’re after a true-blue, dinky di, Aussie pub experience on the Peninsula, then the Grand Hotel Mornington is the place to go!
ACCESSIBILITY – wheel chair accessible
2. Hold a snake and pat an emu
I wasn’t sure whether to add this activity to my Hidden Gem’s post or include it here? But handling snakes is generally something you avoid while visiting the Morn Pen, not picking them up, hence why I’ve included the Funky Farm in my post on unusual things to do while visiting the Mornington Peninsula.
It’s time for you to get rrreeeaaalllyyy up close and personal with the Peninsula’s wild life. Welcome to the Funky Farm!
Located in Hastings, the Funky Farm is a privately run property that offers small guided tours to the public. Bookings are essential.
Pretty much all the animals at the Funky Farm are trained to be held/handled by people. You can hold all the reptiles, including snakes, lizards and baby crocodiles.
All the Australian animals are happy to be patted and some even hand fed, with the exception of the koalas. There’s dingos, wallabies, emus, sugar gliders, koala’s, wombats and more.
This unusual wildlife park on the Mornington Peninsula is a must visit. I have travelled the world and visited many wildlife parks in my time, but I have never ever been as up close and personal with the animals as I have here.
Not only that, the owners and staff are a right laugh and you can see and feel the love they give to their animals.
This is certainly a unique and unusual thing to do on the Mornington Peninsula! Grab your tickets now. Young or old, you don’t want to miss this amazing experience.
ACCESSIBILITY – wheel chair accessible
3. Gourmet chocolate tastings and workshops
How does being presented with 50 exotic ingredients and pools of thick, rich chocolate to create your very own signature rocky road sound?
Or how about being locked (voluntarily I might add) in a room for 60 minutes for a chocolate discovery class, where you get to indulge in a range of lush chocolate tastings before crafting your very own chocolate bar sound?
Sounds down right delicious right?! And such an unexpected and unique thing to do right here on the Mornington Peninsula.
This all goes down at the Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery in Flinders.
The Chocolaterie is first and foremost a store for buying chocolate and ice cream, which is a must for any Mornington Peninsula Bucket List.
But I’ve included it in my list of Unusual Things to Do on the Mornington Peninsula post, as not many people know, or would expect, to participate in a decadent chocolate making experience here on The Ninch.
They have classes for adults, and classes for kids too!
Book into your chocolate class today and create memories that are just as sweet as the chocolate you’ll devour!
ACCESSIBILITY – wheel chair accessible
4. Sunbake naked on Melbourne’s only nudist beach
Not everyone’s cup of tea, but why not be daring and let it all hang free on Melbourne’s only nudist beach.
Located in the Mornington Peninsula town of Mount Eliza is Sunnyside North Beach, where clothes are optional.
You’ll find this beach at the end of Sunnyside Road, just off the Nepean Highway, surrounded by private properties.
It’s a little hard to access, which provides the beach with privacy from curious onlookers.
Once your car is parked, you’ll need to walk over the rocks displayed in the photo above. You’ll then arrive at a small stretch of sand which is where you can now parade around in your birthday suit.
People actually travel from far and wide to visit Melbourne’s only nudist beach. So on a hot summer’s day, you’ll find this beach packed with people of all ages, enjoying the sun soaking into all their bits and bobs!
So get it all off my friend! Relax away the day at Sunnyside Beach, and enjoy the feel of the sun on the parts of your body, where the sun doesn’t normally shine!
ACCESSIBILITY – not suitable for wheelchairs
5. Take a Ride on a Heritage Train
Welcome to the Mornington Tourist Railway…all aboard!
It’s time to step back in time and take a ride on Mornington’s, wooden bodied, heritage steam train. Some of this train’s carriages are over 100 years old! Pretty cool.
This train runs along the former Baxter to Mornington railway line which operated for 92 years, before being closed in 1981.
But you can’t keep a good train down right?!
So in 1984 the Mornington Preservation Society was established with the pure objective of reopening the line as a heritage railway. And violia, here we are today!
This is such a unique and unusual way to see a small slice of the Peninsula, and brilliant fun for the kids.
The ride starts at the train yard in Moorooduc. You definitely feel as though you’ve stepped back to the past while you await your ride on the platform. The conductors are in old fashioned uniforms, and the whole setting is very antiquated, in a good way!
You’ll then make a 10km round trip through the fields and gum trees, to Mornington and back again.
The train operates on Sunday’s only and has three departure times. Extra running times are available in school holidays.
You can book tickets on the website, or even opt to host a party in one of the carriages. When we visited, we were lucky enough to be guests of a 4 year old’s birthday party. The kids loved every second of it, and of course, the adults did too.
ACCESSIBILITY – it’s a tight squeeze for wheelchairs but the staff will do their best to help. The narrower the wheelchair the better.
6. Go searching for fossils
Located along the Esplanade, opposite Benton’s Road, in Mornington, is Fossil Beach.
What makes this beach unusual, is that unlike the Peninsula’s other beaches, there’s no sand! It’s a rocky beach located at the bottom of 20-30m high sandstone bluffs.
10-15 million year old fossils, showing evidence of ancient Australian sea life, were discovered here by geologist A.R.C. Selwyn back in 1854, hence the name Fossil Beach.
And you can still find fossils here today, along with the remains of the Patent Septaria Cement Company which stopped operations in the 1860’s.
Accessing Fossil Beach is quite an adventure, so make sure you wear sensible walking shoes.
You’ll need to park your car at the top of the cliffs and hike down a dirt road to access the beach. The path is wide and stable, and you can take a pram, but it’s a little bit challenging. My four year old can walk this path, so if your kids are older, leave the pram in the car.
And bring your dog too! Once you reach the bottom of the cliffs, it’s a leash free area.
Once on the beach, clamber about 100m along the rocks, northwards towards Monrington, until you reach the grey looking cliff walls, made of what’s known as Gelibrand Marl. It’s here you’ll find the fossils.
Look for the fossils just below the high-tide mark on the shore here. Please leave fossils where you find them, it is prohibited to take them.
This is a super fun adventure, and not only an unusual thing to do on the Mornington Peninsula, but also a hidden gem. This beach isn’t in the tourist guides, and you’ll mostly only find the locals here.
It’s most definitely worth a visit if you’re up for a little adventure!
ACCESSIBILITY – not suitable for wheelchairs
7. Float in 350kg of salt
A well known Peninsula place to visit, is the very popular Peninsula Hot Springs.
But not so well known, and a more unusual thing to do on the Mornington Peninsula, is to visit The Private Sea Wellness Centre in the town of Mornington.
Members of my family are regulars here, and specifically we visit for their flotation tanks.
Escape from the world, and gravity, as you float effortlessly in an enclosed bath filled with 350kg of Epsom salts. The float tanks are heated to body temperature, are lightproof and sound proof, and will have you feeling as though you’re floating in space. Truly rejuvenating.
If this doesn’t sound like your thing, then The Private Sea also offer a range of other services including infrared sauna, salt therapy, red light therapy and massage.
They even have a range of allied health professionals working there so you can book in for naturopathy, energy healing, spiritual counselling and more.
So if you’re looking for an experience of relaxation and pure escape, then definitely book in for a unique treatment at The Private Sea Wellness Centre.
ACCESSIBILITY – unsure
8. Shop for fruit and veg inside an old train
Welcome to Benton Rise Farm! A community farmgate where local produce, including fruit, veg, artisan breads, cheeses, pies, honeys, preserves and more, are sold to you from a 1910 Red Rattler train carriage!
Located inland, on Coolart Road amongst the paddocks of Tuerong, Benton Rise Farm is definitely worth a visit. Whether you’re a gourmet foodie wanting to sample and purchase The Peninsula’s best homegrown produce, or a mum with kids looking for a fun thing to do, Benton Rise is the place to go.
The old train selling fresh produce is just one of the attractions here.
There’s also a rustic cafe located in a tin shed pumping out coffee made from locally roasted beans and serving up artisanal treats like Johnny Ripe pies.
There’s a small paddock housing the farm’s pet goats which you can hand feed from the troughs of leftover veggie scraps at the fence.
Plus, there’s playgrounds and an old iconic Melbourne tram for the kids to play on and also where weekly story time is held.
I can’t even count how many times I’ve been to Benton Rise Farm and every time I visit, my eyes, and taste buds, still light up with delight!
Young or old, local or out-of-towner, you definitely need to experience this unusual Farm Gate.
ACCESSIBILITY – Wheel Chair accessible
9. Get lost in a sea of roses
Most people visit the Monrington Peninsula for its oceans of water, not an ocean of roses!
But there is an oasis of roses to dive into here on The Ninch, and it’s called the Morninton Botancial Rose Garden.
Can you even begin to imagine what it’s like to wander through a rose garden filled with over 4000 rose bushes of every type and colour you could possibly imagine? The kaleidoscope of colours? The devine scents?
I couldn’t, well not until I visited Mornington Botanical Rose Garden in the middle of the blooming season (which lasts from Spring to mid Autumn). Let me tell you, it was truly spectacular! A unique experience that one shouldn’t miss.
It’s situated on the Mornington Civic Reserve in the town of Mornington. Entry is via Dunns Road.
And the best thing about this place, to visit and walk around, is absolutely FREE!
Since its start back in 1986, this garden has become a go-to spot for not only admiring gorgeous blooms, but also for picking up a hint or two about growing roses at the workshops and guided tours they offer (at a cost).
So whether you’re looking for a romantic date spot or just a peaceful place to unwind, the Mornington Botanical Rose Garden has got you covered.
Accessibility – suitable for wheelchairs.
MAP OF MORNINGTON PENINSULA UNUSUAL THINGS TO DO
Click on the partial square icon in the top right corner of the map to open a larger view.
The Wrap up on Unusual Things to do Mornington Peninsula
There are so many things to do on the Mornington Peninsula, and just because an attraction may be a little less well-known and a little more quirky, doesn’t mean it’s any less fun or spectacular!
In fact, one of my most memorable and enjoyable activites that I’ve ever done on the peninsula is included in this post, and that’s visiting the Funky Farm with my family.
So go on, do something unusual! Be an explorer while here on the Morn Pen and try something a little different, you won’t regret it!
I dare you to take off your clothes and feel the sun on our toushy at Sunnyside beach, I challenge you to climb down the cliffs and find yourself a fossil at Fossil Beach and I absoloutely insist that you eat your weight in chocolate while partaking in a chocolate class at the Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I get to the attractions mentioned?
The fastest and easiest way (and certainly the way I would definitely recommend) to visit the Mornington Peninsula attractions mentioned, is to drive your car or rent a car.
There is a bus service on the Mornington Peninsula which can take you to some of the attractions mentioned in this post, it is however extremely slow and doesn’t always drop you off at the exact location, so some walking may be involved.
Which of the unusual things to do are free?
– Sunnyside North Beach
– Fossil Beach
– Entry to Benton’s Rise Farm
– Mornington Botanical Rose Garden
Where can I book accommodation on the Mornington Peninsula?
There is a range of options, to suit various budgets, when it comes to accommodation on the Mornington Peninsula: camping, glamping, hotels, motels or rental of private houses.
To find the right accommodation for you, zoom in and out on the map below to see accommodation listings. Click on a price tag to explore the accommodation in more detail.
RELATED POSTS
You might also like to learn about:
- Hidden Beaches on the Mornington Peninsula that are favourite with the locals
- Hidden Gems to visit on the Mornington Peninsula that aren’t as ‘touristy’ as the hot-spots
- Wildlife Parks on the Mornington Peninsula – there’s quite a few to explore
