Things to do on the Mornington Peninsula

Image: Mornington Peninsula Shire

Natural Attractions

Rye Front Beach

Rye

Rye Front Beach is a popular destination particularly during holiday season with the adjacent camping reserve and proximity to many delightful shops with ice creameries, take away food, restaurants and cafes. The beach is wonderful to walk year round and as the wind escalates in cooler months it becomes very popular with kite surfers. The Rye Front Beach embraces Port Phillip Bay for the entire length of the town's borders beginning at White Cliffs, continuing past the 300 metres long Rye pier, almost due east for four kilometres. A foreshore reserve extends along the length of the beach and offers camping, boat ramp, yacht club, playground or just a pleasant place to stroll. The beach has lovely white sand and clear water. Usually a safe beach close inshore, it is a fantastic swimming beach for the whole family as waves are usually low except during strong northerly winds. You are also able to snorkel, scuba and fish here. The walk along the pier is full of life as there are always people fishing. Due to shallow water please do not jump or dive off the pier. Accessible beach matting is available daily between November and May located next to the pier. This beach is not patrolled. Dogs are permitted on leash between 7:00 PM to 9:00 AM except during daylight savings.

Image: Mornington Peninsula Regional Tourism

Landmarks and Buildings

Rye Pier

Rye

Rye Pier offers beautiful underwater vistas and some of the warmest water in Port Phillip Bay. The water is approximately 6m maximum in depth. Diving at high tide with calm waters offers the best scenery. Underwater it is predominantly sandy around the pier, with small patches of sea grass and once out from the pier it is pure sand bed. Under the pier keep your eyes on the pylons for bottom feeding stingrays, seahorses, spider crabs and octopus, through to a range of fish species. There is also a trail of photographs (known as the Octopuses Garden) attached to the pylons, explaining the various marine life present. Night diving is popular where you are likely to see a plethora of squid, octopus, seahorses and nudibranch. Fishing from the pier is also popular. Public berthing is available for a maximum of 48 hours (vessels to be attended at all times) Other restrictions are detailed on Parks Victoria signage. There is a boat ramp nearby, a terrific playground for the children and calm waters with wide beaches for families to enjoy. Opposite is a shopping area with many eateries, Hotel and boutique shops.

Sports and Recreation Facilities

The Dunes Golf Links

Rye

Set on 300 acres of gently rolling sand dunes in the heart of the Mornington Peninsula “Cups” region, The Dunes captures the essence of true links golf. The Championship 18 hole course reflects the highest standards of course maintenance and customer service, matched only by the very best private clubs. The success and popularity of The Dunes is a direct reflection of the course layout. Designed by Tony Cashmore, the tournament course is 6,459 metres and achieves the very difficult objective of being a challenge to the low marker without being a monster for the higher handicapped golfer. The Cups Course is a links layout set in rolling dunes and clearly rates amongst the best standalone 9 hole courses in Australia with several magnificent par 3’s and par 4’s. As the little sister to the main course they absolutely love it! Its got the same links feel but is a lot more forgiving. The Cups features top quality course design and presentation but the rough is cut down, the bunkers more shallow and the holes shorter. A super fun golf course that is perfect for families and friends! To see hole by hole videos of ‘The Cups’ course, scroll down the page.