Mornington Peninsula (The), Melbourne

Named after Mornington in Ireland, this Peninsula is Melbourne's summer playground, being just over an hour's drive from the city suburbs. The greatest draw is the cluster of Peninsula's beaches-both safe family beaches and wilder rugged beaches. The limestone lighthouse, rugged cliffs, secluded beaches and tea tree forests of the Mornington Peninsula National Park also tempt many people. Inland are the rural towns of Red Hill, Balnarring and Langwarrin, which herald quiet dairy farms and bustling country markets. The naval establishment at HMAS Cerberus is located at another sleepy hollow, Hastings. There are plenty of accommodation options in the seaside resort towns of Frankston and Mornington.