Mar. 24, 2020

#DRAGGINRIDES: MORNINGTON PENINSULA

You'd be hard pressed to find a more beautiful, diverse spot for a ride than the Mornington Peninsula. An ever-changing landscape of winding country roads, wide open runs, and cliff-hugging beach-side stints, all set amongst some of the world's best wineries, breweries, food producers and spectacular sight-seeing spots. If the Napa Valley and the Amalfi Coast had a baby, it would look like this.

Easy access from Melbourne, if you're short on time, it's a good quick trip to stretch the legs. For us, we try to make a day of it.

TRIP IN NUMBERS:
TIME: Approx 2 hours (allow 3-4 hours if stopping to along the journey)
DISTANCE: 105km
MAP LINK: https://goo.gl/maps/2tQ9hQmtuc8s2SJeA

Start in Frankston, the gateway to the Peninsula. You can get to Frankston via Peninsula Link, Eastlink, or the Nepean Highway, depending on where you're coming from.

Take Frankston-Flinders Rd, which turns into Moorooduc Hwy. Continue until you get to where Peninsula Link meets the Mornington Peninsula Fwy, taking the underpass and riding along Old Moorooduc Rd.

Turn left at White Hill Rd, then an immediate left onto Dunns Creek Rd, which turns into a nice windy section that connects to Bittern-Dromana Rd.

Turn right into Merricks Rd. Follow this along to the intersection of Frankston-Flinders Rd, turning right towards Pt Leo / Flinders.

When you get to Flinders, head towards the beach, where you can take in the views to Phillip Island from Flinders Pier, or the wild views across Bass Strait at West Head Lookout.

Head back out of Flinders along Cook St, following around to the right at the fork on Mornington-Flinders Rd, a beautiful stretch of road amongst rugged hills, sweeping bends and view across wineries.

Turn left at the intersection of Arthurs Seat Rd, and follow this up to the Arthurs Seat lookout for a spectacular view across the bay, down to Sorrento and up towards the city.

Continue down Arthurs Seat Rd towards the Mornington Peninsula Fwy, taking McCulloch St to Pt Nepean Rd, Dromana. Turn right into Pt Nepean Rd, following the bay along Marine Drive, which takes you to the Esplanade in Mt Martha and Mornington.

Follow the Esplanade in Mornington all the way to Beleura Hill Rd, then turn left into Shandon St, where you can turn left onto Nepean Hwy to make the journey back to Frankston, but not before stopping off at the lookout at Oliver's Hill to take in the view across the bay.

Don't forget to share your journeys on Instagram using #DragginRides.

Ride safe. Ride free. Ride Draggin.