Fort Nepean Walk

Hiking at The Point Nepean National Park

The Point Nepean National Park

Found at the tip of the Mornington Peninsula, the Point Nepean National Park is a perfect blend of natural beauty, rich history and outdoor adventure. Since moving to Melbourne, this has always been one of my favourite places to enjoy on a city break weekend away.

The park comprises of a diverse range of landscapes within its 560 hectares, including undulating hills, stunning beaches, dramatic cliffs and coastal views. Probably one of the coolest natural features of the park is the drastic, contrasting differences of the water on either side of the road; with the gentle waters of the bay versus the crashing waves on the ocean side.

Aside from its visual appeal, the Point Nepean National Park is also worth visiting for its maritime and military history. Point Nepean has played a crucial role in Australia’s war history, given its location at the entrance of Port Phillip Bay. Therefore the park is home to a number of remnants of military fortifications, gun emplacements and even tunnels, all dating back to the 19th Century. A definite must for any history buffs! There’s also lots of other things to see in the nearby area, making it a great weekend away.

port nepean

Where is Point Nepean?

Point Nepean is located in Victoria, Australia at the end of the Mornington Peninsula. The nearest town is Portsea, with the beautiful Sorrento just further along. The easiest way to get here is by car. However, I was able to do this journey via public transport. It took ridiculously long, but it is possible.

How to Get to Point Nepean National Park

The best way to get to the Point Nepean National Park is to drive. Nepean Highway will take you from Melbourne along the Mornington Peninsula Coast, directly to the park entrance. Once inside, you’ll find car parks near the entrance, and further inside the park, to choose from. Depending on traffic, it’ll take about 2-2.5 hours.

If, like me, you don’t have access to a car, you can get there via public transport. But expect it to take a while! If you’re coming from Melbourne CBD, or the inner suburbs, you’ll need to catch a train to Frankston. Outside Frankston Train Station, you’ll find a row of bus stops. The 788 Frankston-Portsea bus will take you the entire way down to Port Nepean National Park entrance. The three times I’ve done this trip by train and bus, it’s taken about 3.5-4 hours. Typically, I’ve stayed at an AirBnb or Motel nearby to make the most of going all the way down there.

Once you arrive at the park, there’s a Fort Nepean shuttle bus you can catch (with various stops) or you can walk straight into the national park.

Point Nepean National Park doesn’t have an entry fee, so you’re free to go in.

Point Nepean Walk

port nepean walk

Fort Nepean Walk

My favourite thing to do in Point Nepean was the Fort Nepean Walk. The walk technically starts at the Quarantine Station car park. From here, you walk along the main road to Fort Nepean, the very tip of Mornington Peninsula. The undulating route is around 4.7km each way and you’ll be treated to some impressive views the closer you get to the Fort.

Aside from the Fort Nepean shuttle bus, it’s a traffic free zone, closed off for cars. There are several shuttle bus stops throughout the walk, so you can use it as a hop on/off bus.

I have been during both summer and winter, and have always found it to be a great level of ‘busy-ness’. As a solo, female traveller, I don’t enjoy completely empty national parks or hikes. So i’ve always appreciated the level of people during my walks here. I found in all seasons that the walk is very windy. The winter brought on a lovely, misty atmosphere, whereas the summer had clearer views but MANY flies!!

Fort Nepean Walk

History and Landmarks

This area played a crucial role in Australia’s defences from 1880s-1945. Throughout the park there are remnants of tunnels, historical buildings and gun emplacements. Most of the landmarks have some form of information plaque or board alongside to teach you about the history of the area and timeline of events during that time. You’ll be able to find most of these marked on Google maps or on the wall map at the information centre. The only bit I skipped was walking in the tunnels…the snake warnings and massive cobwebs were enough to put me off the dark, underground tunnels!

fort nepean tunnels

Point Nepean Information Centre

The Point Nepean Information Centre is roughly 1.2km from the entrance and is open daily between 10am-5pm (excl. Christmas). It was an interesting spot to visit, with helpful staff, but I was expecting it to have a few more facilities like a cafe. There is an ice cream fridge but that’s it. You can rent bikes here to explore the rest of the park, which is a great alternative to the long walk or shuttle bus. As the roads are closed to the general public, it’s a pretty safe cycle…just a bit hilly!

Fort Nepean Shuttle Bus

The Fort Nepean Shuttle Bus is a regular hop-on hop-off service that you can take around the Point Nepean National Park. It costs $12 AUD and will take you through various stops in the park. There is no option to buy a single ticket, so the $12 is return only. Tickets can be bought on the bus with card and cash payments. The best way to check bus times is through the Ventura Tracker App, which shows live updates on the bus status.

Top Tips:

Bring food and water! There are no facilities to buy anything within the park and Portsea itself has fairly limited options too! The information centre did sell ice cream, but if you want anything more substantial, bring it. Unlike other parks I’ve been too within Australia, there are no water refill stations along the trails either. There are a number of designated picnic areas and benches with incredible views, so it’s definitely worth bring food.

Wear appropriate walking gear. Particularly shoes! I saw a few people walking around in flip flops and a number of the trails aren’t open-toe shoe friendly. There are also snake warnings everywhere, so I’d recommend proper trousers and shoes.

Stick to the main paths and trails. Again, there are a number of snake warnings and cornered-off sections due to unexploded bombs and dangerous terrain.

Download the Ventura Tracker App: This will allow you to see where the shuttle bus is in real time and help you plan your day a little better.

For more information on the National Park, and some of the history behind it, check out the official site here.

If you’re wanting to make the most of your time in this area, I’d recommend checking out the cute town of Sorrento, Diamond Bay (and the nearby hikes), Cape Schanck or the Two Bay Trails, Peninsula Hot Springs, BBQ houses in Red Hill or the many beaches along the Morning Peninsula Coast.

For other trips from Melbourne, consider driving the Great Ocean Road, visiting Williamstown, spending a weekend in Ballarat or hiking in the Dandenong National Park.

Related Posts

lancelin sand dunes

Visiting the Lancelin Sand Dunes in Perth WA

The Lancelin Sand Dunes are 90 minutes north of Perth and is a must-do if you’re looking for a unique …

A Complete Guide to Hiking Mount Ainslie in Canberra

Mount Ainslie is a popular hiking destination in Canberra, offering panoramic views of the city and the surrounding area. Located …
things to do in healesville

Things to Do in Healesville

Located in the scenic Yarra Valley, Healesville is a charming town known for its vibrant arts scene, renowned wineries and …

A Day Trip to the Rainforest Gallery in Warburton

The Rainforest Gallery in Warburton offers an immersive journey into one of Victoria’s lush temperate rainforests. Just a short drive …
redwood forest melbourne

A Day Trip to the Redwood Forest Melbourne

Warburton is a charming town about 90 minutes east of Melbourne and home to a number of incredible nature spots! …

Free Tram Zone Melbourne – Everything You Need to Know!

Melbourne’s Free Tram Zone is a designated area within the Central Business District (CBD) where tram travel is free of …