Mount Martha, Victoria: Beach bathing boxes or the Briars?

Mount Martha is one of the most attractive towns on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula. The colourful bathing boxes make Mount Martha Beach very photogenic, but the walks and stargazing sessions at the Briars are underrated.

Mount Martha is one of several small towns along Port Phillip Bay south east of Melbourne. It’s at the top end of Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, and is a popular destination for a weekend escape from the city.

Most Melburnians see Mount Martha as a beach destination, although it does have another string to its bow. The Briars is a fabulous, sprawling park with a few twists.

The Briars Historic Homestead and Gardens at Mount Martha

The park centres around the Briars Historic Homestead and Gardens, a National Trust property. The Homestead was one of the first houses built by Europeans on the Mornington Peninsula, and has been standing nobly since 1840. Entry to the Briars Historic Homestead and Gardens costs $12, and formal tours of the gardens are available on request.

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.

Stargazing on the Mornington Peninsula

The Briars is also home to the Mornington Peninsula Astronomical Society, which gathers to survey the heavens in the Briars Astronomy Centre. The Mornington Peninsula Astronomical Society runs public stargazing nights, costing $15. Places on these public stargazing nights must be booked in advance.

Mount Martha walks

There are also several walking trails around the Briars. These include the 2km wetlands walk to the Ken McArthur Wetlands, where two birdwatching hides have been installed. There’s also a 4km woodland walk, plus walking trails along Balcombe Creek and Harrap Creek.

Mount Martha Beach and bathing boxes

This is all very wholesome, but you might just prefer a little beach time. Mount Martha Beach is about 2km long, split in half by the mouth of Balcombe Creek. As with all beaches on Port Phillip Bay, such as Sandringham Beach and Mordialloc Beach, this is no surfing hotspot. The swell is generally pretty calm at Mount Martha Beach.

Mount Martha Beach is decent for a swim and good for a sunbathe, but its main trump card is that it’s delightfully photogenic. The colourfully-painted bathing boxes are the main reason for this.