London Bridge Coastal Reserve, Portsea

Pix of April 6 2014.

This was a 2 km beach hike in the London Bridge Coastal Reserve, Portsea, in the Mornington Peninsula National Park, 90 km south of Melbourne.

Click here to see all of the Photos of my visit!

Portsea Ocean Beach

These pix were taken on January 15 2012, at the Portsea Ocean Beach, 90 km (by road) south of Melbourne.

From the lower level car park, I did a 2 km exploration, visiting the Main Lookout, then down to the beach, past the Lifesaving Club, and back uphill to the car park.

Lots of action, big waves. and glorious coastal views!

See all of the Photos of my visit, and check out my YouTube video!

Portsea Coastal Reserve Hike

Portsea, 95 km SE of Melbourne, is considered by many to be the hub of Melbourne's recreational scuba diving activities. No less than four scuba related shops operate from in its otherwise modest main street. Dive boats travel to sites both inside Port Phillip and outside Port Phillip Heads, also known as The Rip.

Portsea Post Office opened on 10 February 1877 and closed in 1987.

OCS Portsea, an army establishment, was located just outside the town. The historic reserve became famous when Prime Minister of Australia Harold Holt disappeared while swimming inside the facility at Cheviot Beach on December 17 1967 and was officially presumed dead two days later, although a formal inquest into his death did not take place until 2005.

Portsea is named after Portsea Island which is an island incorporated by Portsmouth, England, United Kingdom. Portsmouth is where the first settlers to Australia set sail from.

The Portsea Pier is the home to the spectacular leafy sea dragon, as well as many other fish species, including numerous pufferfish. Boating traffic is frequent, and divers should be careful to avoid main boating routes.

I visited Portsea on Monday afternoon October 18, 2010, for an exploration of Shelley Beach and the Coastal Reserve, a hike of about 3 km return.

See all of the Photos

Farnsworth Track and London Bridge - Portsea Coast

The Farnsworth Track runs between London Bridge Carpark and the Portsea Ocean Bridge carpark, in the Mornington Peninsula National Park, 80 km SE of Melbourne.

About 4 km return, it offers spectacular clifftop views of the rugged coast over Bass Strait, extending from Cape Schanck in the SE, to Fort Nepean in the NW.

I hiked this Track on Sunday afternoon May 17 2009, starting at the London Bridge Carpark, then along the ocean beach and dunes, up the long staircase to the eastern end of the Track at Portsea, and back to London Bridge via the clifftop and coastal bushland.

There are two Lookouts along the cliff-top track.

I also did the 2 km (return) beach hike to London Bridge, making a round trip of about 6 km.

The weather was rough, with huge waves, strong winds, and a lot of spray!

The Farnsworth Track was completed in 1987.

See all of the Photos of my trip.

Sphinx Rock Coastal Hike, Portsea

Sphinx Rock is an unusual rocky outcrop in the Mornington Peninsula National Park, at the southern end of the Portsea Surf Beach, about 70 km south of Melbourne.

I visited the Rock on Monday April 27 2009, a bleak, windy and overcast day!

I started at the upper car park at the end of Back Beach Rd, Portsea, then descended to the beach, passing the Portsea Surf Life Saving Club.

From there, I continued along the beach and the windswept sand dunes to the Rock itself, and up a wooden staircase to a viewing platform.

From there, I returned to home base, a distance of about 4 km.

This walk forms part of the long 24 km South Coast Trail, which extends from London Bridge (Portsea) to Cape Schanck.

The viewing platform can also be reached from a walking track from the end of Normanby Rd, Sorrento, or from the carpark at the end of Ocean Beach Rd Sorrento.

See the full set of Photos of this trip!

Exploring the Portsea Foreshore Reserve

On Sunday April 19 2009 I visited Portsea, about 120 km south of Melbourne, on the Mornington Peninsula.

My visit concentrated on about 3 km of walking tracks in the Portsea Foreshore Reserve and nearby, which extends generally for about 2 km east of the town of Portsea. It includes the historical Point King Lookout/cairn and beach, and Shelly's Beach.

European visitation of the area dates back to 1802 when Lieutenant Murray spent over three weeks exploring its features. He named Point Nepean and, at Point King, he thrust the Union Jack proprietorially into native soil. A cairn now marks the spot.

The region was once used for lime production, and the remains of old kilns may be seen.

Walking tracks and staircases lead down to the Foreshore Reserve and the sandy beach, reached from Point Nepean Rd west of Sorrento. The main access points are from small car parks at the end of Point King Rd and Hemston Avenue.

Point King Beach has many private bathing boxes and small boat sheds, nestled at the base of the cliffs. The main jetty extends about 100 m into the Bay.

The views from the clifftop walking tracks and the Lookout are spectacular, with marvellous panoramas across the Bay, to Arthur's Seat, and over the Sorrento small-boat harbour. The Queenscliff passenger ferry was making its way to Sorrento.

See my set of Photos of the visit!