Point Nepean National Park (Portsea)
The Point Nepean National Park is a mix of beautiful landscape and rich history situated at the southern tip of the Mornington Peninsula. There is a range of informative and scenic walks visitors can explore, and an array of historic buildings that served various purposes during the early history of the Mornington Peninsula. Point Nepean also offers some of the best views on the Mornington Peninsula across to Queenscliff and out the Port Phillip Bay Heads.
Point Nepean is part of Boonwurrung country. The Boonwurrung people lived on and around Point Nepean for thousands of years gathering shellfish and other foods along the coastline. The interaction with early settlers and ceremony make it an important place. Extensive shell middens are reminders of their enduring association. Point Nepean also has evidence of some of the earliest European settlement in Victoria, including pastoral activities and lime burning. Shepherd Hut, located in the Quarantine Station is one of the earliest intact limestone building in Victoria with a cellar that dates back to 1845.
The Quarantine Station was established in 1852 and was used for that purpose until 1979. The site later became the home of the Army Officer Cadet School (1952-1985) and the School of Army Health 1985-1998). The entrance to Port Phillip was the most heavily fortified fort in the Southern Hemisphere. There are many Colonial and Commonwealth structures from the 1880's-1940s located about the park. Fort Nepean is considered to be one of the best examples in Australia of a major fort complex exhibiting the changes in military engineering over the 19th and 20th centuries. Surrounding Point Nepean is the Port Philip Heads Marine National Park.
Car parking is available at the Quarantine Station or Gunners Cottage (cars are not permitted past this point). A hop on / hop off bus service is available for a fee.
The walks are:
Quarantine Station Walk (2km)
Start and end location: Coleman Road, Portsea
Discover the Point Nepean historical precinct which has almost 50 historical heritage listed buildings, and the oldest intact buildings erected from quarantine purposes in Australia. This is a great site to investigate with sprawling lawns, historic buildings, great views of the bay across to Queenscliff. The Quarantine Station was established in 1852 and is the second oldest permanent quarantine station (18522-1980). From 1952 the buildings also housed the Army Officer Cadet School. A self guided walk is available. This area can be explored further by continuing on to Gunners Cottage (roughly 1.6km of easy walking) and Fort Nepean.
Gunners Cottage to Observatory Point Walk (1km)
Start and end location: Coles Track, Portsea
Gunners Cottage was built in the early 1900's and housed many military personnel and their families. From here you can take the 100m path to visit the historic Point Nepean Cemetery or walk the 500m Walter Pisterman Heritage Walk to the remnants of the former quarantine cattle jetty. At Observatory Point there is a picnic area and views of the Bay. Return via Coles track to complete the circuit.
Range Area Walk (1.8km)
Start and end location: Butlers Track, Portsea
The 1.8 kilometre walk links the Quarantine Station and Cheviot Hill and meanders through coastal scrub and a former Rifle Range. Climb the Monash Light tower with sweeping views of the park and Melbourne city. The Range Area was used to train cadets from the Army Officer Cadet School. They were trained to firing rifles, grenades and machine guns.
Coles Track (4km)
Start location: Bogle Road, Portsea
End location: Defence Road, Portsea
This path connects the Quarantine Station to Eagles Nest and runs parallel to Defence Road through the coastal bushland. In the 1940's this sandy track serviced a telephone line installed as part of the upgrading of Melbourne's defences during the Second World War. The cable ran form Queenscliff 6 kilometers across the bay to Observatory Pointy and then to both Fort Nepean and Portsea. The track also allowed access between Fort Nepean and Observatory Point jetty by the military when weather conditions were unsuitable for berthing at the Fort Nepean jetty.
Cheviot Hill Walking Trail (1km)
Start and end location: Butlers Track, Portsea
Cheviot Hill is the park's highest point and contains World War II fortifications. It overlooks Cheviot Beach, the site where former Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt disappeared without a trace on 17th December 1967. A memorial to Harold Holt is located about 500m further along Defence Road from Cheviot Hill.
Fort Pearce and Eagles Nest Walk (1km)
Start location: Eagles Nest, Defence Road, Portsea
End location: Fort Pearce, Defence Road, Portsea
Fort Pearce was established in 1911 and designed to take advantage of the six inch Mark V11 guns being introduced to coastal defence at that time. The Pearce Barracks site is where many of the army personnel stationed at Point Nepean lived. Explore the lookouts from the fortifications with stunning views of Bass Strait. Eagles Nest was the site of Australia's largest 'Disappearing Gun'.
Fort Nepean Walking Trail (1km)
Start and end location: Fort Nepean, Defence Road, Portsea
Located at the very end of the peninsula where you can discover a series of military fortifications dating back to the 1880s with stunning views of Port Phillip Bay and Bass Strait. Explore the tunnels, forts and gun emplacements from which the first allied shots of World War I and first Australian shots of World War II were fired. Fort Nepean is considered one of the best examples in Australia of a major fort complex exhibiting changes in military engineering through the 19th and 20th centuries. There are numerous interpretive signs to explain the history of the area. If the tides are right you may see the pilot boat from Queenscliff boarding a ship and guiding it through the heads on its way into Melbourne.
Opening Hours:
Point Nepean National Park is open daily. Vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists can enter and exit the park any time. The Point Nepean Information Centre is open daily from 10am, except Christmas day. Gunners Cottage and selected buildings in the Quarantine Station are open for the public to explore from 9am - 4:30pm daily.
Cost:
Free admission
Access for Dogs:
Dogs are prohibited from all areas of Point Nepean National Park.
Location
Defence Road, Portsea 3944 Map
Web Links
→ Point Nepean National Park (Parks Victoria)
→ Point Nepean National Park - Heritage Story (PDF)
→ Point Nepean National Park - Map (PDF)
→ Point Nepean National Park - Visitor Guide (PDF)
