Holiday houses in Mount Martha

You need only travel an hour south of Melbourne to discover some of Victoria’s most charming coastal towns hugging the Mornington Peninsula as it curves around Port Phillip Bay. There’s an embarrassment of beaches on offer, but perhaps one of the prettiest of them all is Mount Martha Beach, which serves the western boundary of its eponymous village. Along this two-kilometre stretch of sand sits a necklace of bathing boxes, painted a rainbow of colours by their local owners. Aside from the photo opportunities here, the water is calm and perfect for swimming, patrolled by the Surf Life Saving Club during summer months.

The sand is divided into north and south by Balcombe Creek, which snakes inland and is surrounded by a bushland reserve — when wandering here, keep watch for wallabies and native birds. Woodland and wetland walks also abound through the neighbouring Briars Park, planted with indigenous flora and home to hides protecting a number of rare Australian birds.

Many Melbournians own holiday homes around the Mornington Peninsula, taking advantage of the bountiful offerings and proximity to the big city. This means the destination is busy year-round, but particularly so over the summer and Easter school holidays, when the sun is shining and the water is warm.

The peninsula’s calendar of events covers the year and ranges from sports to the arts, with plenty of food and wine festivals in between. Visit for the biennial Pinot Celebration Australia in February, the Mornington Peninsula Winery Walk in May, and the Winter Wine Weekend in June — and if you’re here over these cooler months, you’ll have the chance of spotting migrating whales, glimpsed off the coast from May through November.

The Pillars

For a taste of the Mediterranean on the Mornington Peninsula, head to the sandstone rocks known as the Pillars. Along Mount Martha’s Esplanade between Deakin Drive and Marguerita Avenue, this clifftop perch draws thrill seekers and view seekers. Bring your picnic rug and watch the last of the day disappear over the bay.

Golf with a View

More than a dozen golfing opportunities adorn the peninsula, from virtual simulators to expansive links courses. You don’t have to travel far from your base to tee off at Mount Martha’s public golf course. The swoon-worthy views from the fairways and greens are particularly attractive as the sun begins to fade — twilight golf is a thing here.

Mount Martha Coastal Walk

Lace up your walking shoes to traverse the coast all the way from Mount Martha north to the village of Mornington. The views over Port Phillip Bay are hard to beat, and plenty of tracks lead down to sandy coves where you can cool off with a swim en route — bring your bathing costume and your stamina, as the trail is 10 kilometres each way.