We love heading down to the Mornington Peninsula for a sea break with the kids and will often head down on the school holidays and visit our favourite beaches (Sorrento!), cafes, parks and shops. 

There are so many places I could have added but these are pretty much our go to places when we are there and the kids have not gotten tired of going so I’ve figured that’s a good thing .. right?

So these are our favourite kid-friendly places to visit for nature-loving families!

    1. Sorrento back beach 

I honestly have to say, this has to be one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve been too and I’ve travelled the world and lived in Far North Queensland so I’ve seen some stunning beaches. Why?  Because not only is the water crystal clear and the sand fine but because there is a whole world for kids to discover with caves, rockpools, and amazing rock formations to climb. Now the rockpools weren’t like the ones in Melbourne (sorry folks!), my kids found these sea stars, an octopus and we swam amongst the most colourful fish! It is well worth the drive, trust me and try to go on weekdays.

    2. The enchanted adventure garden 

What an adventure! We could have stayed for days and never gotten bored. There’s so much to see and do, the maze was a hit for all my 3 kids, as were the slides. Of course, the highlight was my 9 year old daughter doing the tree surfing (all levels!) all on her own and her first time ever! She absolutely loved it and I believe all kids (and adults) should be challenged to step outside of their comfort zones. You can find more on their website here. 

3. Seawinds Garden – Arthurs Seat State Park

I honestly don’t know where to start as each time I visit I have a completely new and amazing experience! There are some great bush walks, including walking to the summit which overlooks the Peninsula with spectacular views! There are plenty of logs for balancing and climbing trees and you might even see an echidna (like I did the first time) or a kangaroo. If you walk near the gardens part which is at the first or second carpark then you’ll find humongous conifers … soft pine needles, tree stumps, frogs croaking, kangaroo’s hopping and even an Indigenous garden.

4. Rosebud play space 

I don’t post or recommend playgrounds unless I think they offer children something more than a swing or slide but we keep going back to the new Rosebud playground as my kids love it there so much and when they have had enough of the playground, we head to the beach and pier a few metres away.

5. Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary 

A white sandy beach contrasted by the nearby basalt cliffs and rugged coast beyond. At low tide, the ocean withdraws to expose a huge mushroom-shaped rock platform extending from the beach and the rockpools which provide a wonderful opportunity for children to explore, appreciate and learn about the amazing diversity of Victoria’s marine life. 

Don’y forget to download and print a copy of rockpool ID cards to take with you! 

Did you know that Eco Explorers Australia runs bush playgroup and forest school programs on the Mornington Peninsula each week? Our local facilitator Alison is a teacher, anthropologist and experienced nature pay educator who has a wealth of local knowledge to share with you.

Visit our Mornington Peninsula bush programs and forest school page here for an updated list of our current programs on offer.

See our full Mornington Peninsula bush and beach kids programs for 2024 HERE.