Point Nepean National Park

Point Nepean is a popular tourist destination renowned for its historic features, outstanding coastal scenery and panoramic views of Bass Strait, the Rip and Port Phillip Bay.

Wildlife
A remote and protected location, the park is 560 hectares and covered with coastal native trees that are an ideal habitat for wildlife, including bandicoots, wallabies and echidnas. There are also sightings of dolphins and whales in season.

Rich history
Point Nepean has a long history of use by Indigenous people and contains a wide number of Aboriginal archaeological sites. The density of sites is amongst the highest in Victoria.

Historic Fort Nepean, at the tip of Point Nepean, was established in 1882 and was a vital part of Victoria’s defences for more than 60 years. Visitors can explore the tunnels, shell room and gun emplacements interpreted by displays and soundscapes.

The park is also home to Cheviot Beach, where a memorial marks the site where former Prime Minister Harold Holt disappeared in 1967. On December 17 he disappeared while going for a swim and, despite one of Australia's largest search and rescue operations, his body was never found.

Getting around the park
A transporter service operates several times a day from the Point Nepean Visitor Centre to Fort Nepean with four stops along the way. Walkers and cyclists can park their car at Gunners Car Park and walk or cycle the 3.5 km to Fort Nepean. Bikes can be hired from the Visitor Centre.

Getting to the park
The park is at the end of Point Nepean Road, Portsea. Visitors can catch a train from Melbourne to Frankston and then a bus to Portsea. Alternatively, there is a vehicle and passenger ferry between Sorrento and Queenscliff.