Plan your trip to Portsea
Just over an hour from Melbourne find yourself immersed in the lush scenery of the Mornington Peninsula. The journey itself is part of the experience. Choose to follow the coastline, or cruise down the freeway or take a more scenic backroad. Which ever way you choose to journey, all roads lead to Portsea.
Travel time: Allow around 1 hour 40 minutes for the 110km journey, or up to 2 hours in peak periods.
Coming from the Great Ocean Road or Geelong and the Bellarine
Crossing Port Phillip Bay by ferry from Queenscliff on the Bellarine Peninsula to Sorrento is a relaxed, scenic alternative to the drive, and a chance to slow down and set the tone for your Peninsula escape before you’ve even arrived.
Searoad Ferries operate vehicle and passenger services between Queenscliff and Sorrento hourly between 7 am and 6 pm, every day of the year. Crossing Port Phillip Bay by ferry is a relaxed, scenic alternative to the drive, and a chance to ease into your Peninsula escape.
Ferry tip: Take in one of the region’s most iconic coastlines as you approach Sorrento Pier - from clifftop homes to the rugged beauty of Point Nepean and the Port Phillip Heads. Keep an eye out for dolphins and seals, and in winter, even whales passing through the Heads.
Travel time: Allow 40 minutes for the ferry crossing, plus 6 minutes to drive from Sorrento to Portsea.
Plan a Pause Stop
Turn the drive into part of the holiday. Break it up with a coffee, short walk or a fresh-air stop before the final stretch. TAC Pause Stops are an easy inclusion for this route, particularly if you are travelling from Melbourne on a Friday afternoon or heading home after a busy weekend.
Great places to stop include:
- Mornington Peninsula Visitor Information Centre, Dromana
- A coastal stop along Point Nepean Road before reaching Portsea village
Top Tip: Build one pause stop into each leg of your trip. It makes the journey feel less like a transfer and more like the start and finish of a weekend away.