2 Geckos Travelling Australia: Mon, 10th Nov, 2014 Mt Eliza (sightseeing Mornington Peninsula)

Overcast morning but we packed out Bathurst coats and headed off down the Peninsula. Great contrast of old and new with the houses.

Stopped off before Schnapper Point to check out the cute beach houses back on the beach. I thought they were only at Brighton.

Wandered to the jetty which was being rebuilt and found a shellfish boat.

Up to Schnapper Point, more stairs – could just make out Melbourne in the distance. Steve said it was smog but I think it is salt spray.

Matthew Flinders’ monument.

Looking back to the monument

Looking to Royal Beach

Good boardwalks

Found a lizard – will facebook Roz as she had a photo of a snake from down this way yesterday.

Even the seagulls think it is cold and are hanging out in the carpark to get some warmth from the bitumen.

Another Matthew Flinders’ monument in Mornington Park.

The Melway Book is great – has lots of little history notes and lookouts marked etc.

Stopped at Mt Martha Beach to check out the little beach houses. Wandered along the beach checking them out.

The sea was so blue and lovely – just like on a tropical beach.

Beachcomber Steve found some thongs.

Through a tunnel under a water way at Safety Beach – will have to stop and check that out on the way back.

Drove up to Arthurs Seat – very windy road with great lookouts. Altitude of 310m. Superb views and information.

Steve said in “Arthurs Seat – the Third”. The first two had disappeared. There used to be a chairlift up to Arthurs Seat which would have been good.

Found the original Trig Station which was erected in 1853.

Next Lookout down was named after Flinders.

Looking to the end of the Peninsula.

Next lookout down was named after Lieut John Murray who named Arthurs Seat in 1802.

The one more from Franklins Lookout as we head back down. Looking up and down the coastline.

Looking back up to the top of Arthurs Seat.

More cute beach houses but these ones have power to them. Wonder how much they sell for.

Followed a sign to McCrae’s Homestead but it is only open on weekends. Got a photo of the front.

Not so exciting Light house.

Lots of camping areas along the foreshore here. Into Sorrento – loved the big trees lining the drive.

A carved dolphin into the trunk of an old tree.

Great sculptured hedges on a few properties.

Down to the end where the Point Nepean National Park starts but decided to save that for another time as there is heaps to explore in there – gun emplacements etc. Back to Sorrento for some lunch.

Cute table in the fish shop.

Fish and Chips and some famous Vanilla Slice down under the pine trees overlooking the beautiful blue water.

Watched the ferry arrive and unload passengers and cars.

Bit of history about the ferries.

Headed to the other side of the peninsula – liked these twirling art works.

Into the Mornington Peninsula National Park – the wind was howling 40 knots Steve reckons.

Darby Rock.

Oh look – a lookout to climb to. Just a few stairs, again!!

Turned off to Sphinx Rock first - was worth the walk - great views.

Down the stairs to the beach.

Steve looking for penguins.

None here.

I checked the water temperature – not too bad except for the howling wind of the Bass Strait. Hope it settles down before we head over to Tasmania – note to self – get more Kwells.

Beachcomber Steve found part of a lure.

Back up the stairs then up some more to Coppins Lookout.

The wind just flattens the shrubs here.

Direction dials showed “Harold Holt Memorial – Cheviot Bay”, another thing to check out.

No too far to Tasmania – Launceston 402km.

Big container ship out to sea.

Overlooking Bass Strait

Then looking back over the Peninsula to Port Phillip Bay and the other land on the other side of the bay.

Whitehall Guest house looks old worldy.

Back onto the Bay side and we found Point King where Acting Lieut John Murray who was commanding HMS Lady Nelson took possession of Point King on 9^th March, 1802, later named Port Phillip.

Wandered down onto the beach where “exclusive” beach shacks and jetties are.

Mud Island in the distance.

The sand has piled up so there isn’t much room under the shack to lift their boats up into them.

The sun has come out and it has got warm enough to take off the jumpers (well on this side at least).

This is a little beach hut compared to the rest.

Lovely grand one with a new modern style building high above.

Back to the other side again to Portsea Surf Beach. Certainly good waves here but no one was surfing.

Great shot up the coastline.

Round to London Bridge.

Great aerial photo of the Peninsula.

Old man’s beard or something – a vine.

Historical area about the first settlement in Victoria at Sorrento – The Collins Settlement in 1803 but they left in 1804 for Tasmania as there wasn’t any water and the soil was not good for growing things.

Some graves that were thought to be from the settlement but some think they may have been from later in 1830s or so.

Just lovely.

Interesting displays and information about the convicts and settlers. Note on Melway says Melbourne City is 61.3 km away across Port Phillip Bay.

Thought this was great – a chairlift to get up to their house.

Anthony's Nose was named where the hillside was cut away to join Dromana and Rosebud by a direct road in 1840. Superintendent (later Governer) La Trobe named this prominent hill feature Anthony's Nose after the same on the Hudson River, USA.