More Mornington magic

Five ways to soak up the beauty of the peninsula.

Swim with dolphins

Who doesn’t love dolphins? Seasoned operator Polperro Dolphin Swims (polperro.com.au) specialises in sensitive encounters with Port Phillip Bay’s populations of wild bottlenose dolphins and Australian fur seals. The familyowned company started in the 1980s so the dolphins have had ample time to get used to the interaction – Polperro claims a 95 per cent success rate in cetacean encounters.

Swing from trees

The peninsula has an unsettling fascination with mazes but at the Enchanted Adventure Garden (enchanted maze.com.au), which features no fewer than three hedge mazes, there are the added attractions of canopy walks, Tarzan swings and flying foxes.

Make a splash

Plunge into the peninsula’s waters with local operator Bayplay (bayplay.com. au), which offers every conceivable marine activity, from sailing and sea kayaking to snorkelling and scuba diving off Portsea Pier. Expect to see corals, hermit crabs and weedy sea dragons.

Scale the heights

The new Swiss-made Eagle (aseagle.com.au) at Arthurs Seat, the peninsula’s 305-metre high point, is the latest incarnation of a chairlift obsession that started in the 1960s. The Eagle’s aerial panoramas are best enjoyed just after it opens at 10am when, on sunny days, the bay shimmers in a turquoise arc and the CBD skyline hovers on the horizon.

Seek wellness

The volcanic Selwyn Fault that bisects the peninsula produces thermal waters that bubble to the surface and are piped into a wonderland of soaking pools and aquatic experiences in the sprawling bushland at Peninsula Hot Springs (peninsulahotsprings.com). More baths and accommodation are coming soon to the region’s top tourist attraction.