The Cape Schanck Lighthouse Reserve is located on the southern edge of the Mornington Peninsula, lapped by the icy waters of the Bass Strait and fringed by natural bushland that works its way into the bounds of the Mornington Peninsula National Park. The crux of the reserve, the Cape Schanck Lighthouse, is one of few in Australia still operating with its original fixtures and fittings. Perched on the rocky peaks of the peninsula, the limestone lighthouse has been watching over the seas since 1859, even spotting the graceful whales during migration season from its coastal vantage point.
The Lighthouse & Museum guided tour is an enlightening experience for all, unravelling the depth of history behind the lighthouse with haunting tales of shipwrecks and captivating stories of the first lighthouse families. Purchase your single of family tickets, wind your way up the antique stone spiral staircase and see for yourself! The reserve is also dappled with plenty of lookouts to soak in the scenery from all angles, plus picnic grounds for you to enjoy your morning’s haul from the local Mornington Peninsula farmers’ markets.
There are a handful of scenic walks to be tramped throughout the reserve, from short loops to timber boardwalks stretching out across the cliff tops to the beach below. Traipse some 750-metres down the boardwalk to Pebble Beach and the scenic rock pools brimming with marine life, or take the popular Bushrangers Bay Walk – a three-kilometre trail tracing the untouched Victorian coastline to Main Creek. For a lengthier stroll, the 26-kilometre Two Bays Walking Track boasts classic Mornington Peninsula landscapes from Dromana through Arthurs Seat, winding up at Bushrangers Bay.
The pristine beaches, craggy coastline, tranquil walking trails, panoramic ocean views and intriguing maritime history make the Cape Schanck Lighthouse Reserve a relaxing excursion to the great outdoors, emphasising the natural charisma of this Victorian province. If you’d like to spend more time discovering the cape, enjoy an 18-hole round of golf at the awarded Cape Schanck Gold Resort nearby – renowned for its ocean-view fairways and architectural magnificence – or take a dip with the dolphins at Port Phillip Bay courtesy of Polperro Dolphin Swims.