Cape Schanck walks: Boardwalk, Bushrangers Bay Track & Two Bays
The Cape Schanck walks at the southern end of Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula include the Cape Schanck boardwalk near the lighthouse and the 2.6km long Bushrangers Bay Track.
Cape Schanck at the bottom of Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula is home to some of Australia’s most dramatic coastal scenery. There are a couple of good Cape Schanck walks that show off the highlights: The Cape Schank boardwalks and the Bushrangers Bay Track.
Cape Schanck walks: Boardwalk and Pulpit Rock
The first, and easiest, of these Cape Schanck walks is from the car park in the Cape Schanck Lighthouse Precinct.
The Cape Schanck boardwalk is a short circuit walk that heads towards the cape itself via a wooden staircase and boardwalk.
The Cape Schank boardwalk heads down to the beach a rock platform, with several lookouts along the way. These lookouts take in volcanic geological formations such as the Devils Desk and Pulpit Rock. You’ll also get to see the Cape Schanck Lighthouse, of course.
The whole Cape Schanck boardwalk circuit should take about 45 minutes to complete.
13 fabulous Mornington Peninsula experiences to book
There are dozens of Mornington Peninsula tours available from Melbourne. The experiences listed below are aimed at those staying on the Peninsula, or with their own transport.
- Half day dolphin and seal swim from Sorrento.
- Peninsula Hot Springs fire, ice and bathe experience.
- Moonlit Sanctuary wildlife park entry ticket.
- Guided e-bike tour in Arthurs Seat State Park and beyond.
- Wildlife kayaking tour from Portsea.
- Waterbike tour from Mornington.
- Point Nepean National Park bike hire.
- French cooking class in Fingal.
- Dolphin and seal watching cruise from Sorrento.
- Mornington Peninsula wineries hop-on, hop-off bus.
- Montalto Vineyard discovery wine-tasting with lunch.
- Enchanted Garden entry ticket.
- Snorkelling with sea dragons in Portsea.
Cape Schanck walks: Bushrangers Bay Track
For something a little bit longer, try the walk to Bushrangers Bay. The 2.6km Bushrangers Bay Track from the Cape Schanck car park is largely a costal clifftop walk. It takes in the cape and the lighthouse, but there are also several rocky bays to peer over. The surf often crashes in where the Bass Strait meets Western Port, and that should be indication enough to not try swimming at Bushrangers Bay. It’s an unpatrolled beach with strong rips, and it’s about as ill-suited to swimming as any Australian beach gets.
It looks good, though. The dramatic basalt cliffs behind Bushrangers Bay make the two hour return walk from Cape Schanck well worth it.
Two Bays Walking track from Cape Schanck
The third of the Cape Schanck walks is the longest. The Two Bays Walking Track stretches from Cape Schanck to Dromana on Port Phillip Bay. It’s 26.5km long, and is the longest continuous walking track on the Mornington Peninsula. On the way, it passes through Arthurs Seat State Park, home of the Mornington Peninsula cable car and Enchanted Adventure Garden theme park.
Other nearby attractions include Gunnamatta Beach and the St Andrews Beach Golf Course, while the best accommodation option nearby is the RACV Cape Schanck Resort.
More Victoria travel
Play golf at the prestigious Yarra Yarra Golf Club in Bentleigh East.
Where is the best Lake Tyrrell accommodation for visiting the stunningly reflective Lake Tyrrell?
Tackle the Mount Stapylton Loop Walk in the Grampians near Horsham.
Travel through suburban Melbourne on the 903 bus route.
Drink craft beer in a former stables at the St Andrews Beach Brewery on the Mornington Peninsula.