Sorrento Australia Travel Guide
Australia, being the sixth largest country in the world, is the only nation to govern an entire continent and its outlying islands. The mainland is the largest island and the world’s smallest, flattest continent. It's about the same size as the 48 mainland states of the United States of America and 50 per cent larger than Europe, but has the lowest population density in the world - only two people per square kilometre.
It has the world’s longest piece of straight railway track stretches 478 kilometres across South Australia’s vast, treeless Nullarbor Plain. Australia’s longest stretch of straight road - 148 kilometres – is on the Eyre Highway in Western Australia. It’s just a tiny portion of the 2,700 kilometre sealed road that takes travelers from Perth to Adelaide. The world's longest continuous fence – the dingo fence – was built to keep sheep safe from Australia's native dog and runs for 5,531 kilometres through central Queensland and South Australia. These are only few of so many lovely, enchanting and wonderful things we should take into consideration in visiting this place. In all cities, the skyscrapers and shopping strips are just a short drive from mountains, ocean, river and bushes. Immerse yourself on its aboriginal history in the Northern Territory or dive into Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef.
Australia’s eight states and territories, from Tasmania’s World Heritage-listed rainforests to Western Australia’s beaches, forests and national parks, its cities, from Sydney’s famous harbour to Melbourne’s cutting-edge cultural precincts and Darwin’s laid back ambience, visiting Canberra’s national attractions, lie on Perth’s white beaches or wander Adelaide’s expansive parklands are extremely breathtaking. Sydney is built around Port Jackson, or Sydney Harbour, and this is the largest natural harbour anywhere in the world. Sydney is a home to some of greatest landmarks in Australia, most notably the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. Although, it is not the official capital of Australia, because that honor goes to Canberra, Sydney has always worked hard for the unofficial title in competition with Melbourne. Sydney Airport (Kingsford Smith) is only nine kilometres from the centre of Sydney. International and domestic terminals are on the opposite sides of the airport. Domestic services are efficiently operated by Qantas, Virgin Blue and JetStar. Sydney Airport arrival and departure transfers may take about 25 to 30 minutes.
On the other hand, Victoria may be the Australia's smallest mainland state, but this does not stop it from still hosting some of the best National Parks and wonderful landscapes in the country. Its population is relatively large in Australian terms with 4.6 million people living in an area of 228,000 sq km, and Melbourne is a truly wonderful city of Victoria. It is said to be the country's fashion, food and cultural capital and is Australia's second largest city after Sydney. Melbourne offers plenty of action and a great nightlife scene. The general climate of Victoria is cooler than other parts of Australia. Its Coast is generally humid, although inland it can be extremely cold. In contradiction, however, it is often hotter in Melbourne than other places during the summer, but can often suffer from very unpredictable and changable weather.The huge European interest in Australia encouraged a rather hurried settlement. On hearing that France had sent ships to explore the South coast, Britain quickly set up an expedition to build a colony, in 1803. The first settlement, lasting a year, was at Sorrento on Port Phillip Bay.
Meanwhile, the southern part of the Mornington Peninsula is recognized as a quality cool climate wine region with wine production dating back to 1886. There are around 60 wineries mainly concentrated around Red Hill, Main Ridge, Balnarring and Dromana, many with cellar doors open to the public. In addition to wine, the peninsula has a number of orchards, berry farms and gourmet food producers whose products include cheese, jam and olive oil. French Island, which the largest island in Western Port Bay, consists of a coastline of salt marshes and mangrove mudflats, with the island's interior offering colourful wildflower displays in the spring. The majority of the island is a national park which is home to Australia's largest koala community. Access is primarily via a passenger ferry from either Cowes on Phillip Island or Stony Point on the Mornington Peninsula. A passenger and car ferry service, operating from Sorrento to Queenscliff, links the Mornington Peninsula with the Bellarine Peninsula, providing an alternative to the road route via Melbourne and Geelong.
In Victoria, you can find Sorrento which is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the Mornington Peninsula, located between the neighbouring communities of Portsea and Blairgowrie. Like its neighbours, Sorrento is situated on a thin strip of the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, facing Port Phillip Bay in the north and the open waters of Bass Strait in the south. The crescent-shaped Sorrento Front Beach is flanked by an attractive foreshore area featuring lawns, shelters and English trees, with a couple of small jetties. At Policemans Point is the Sorrento Pier which is used by a passenger and car ferry which links Sorrento to Queenscliff on the Bellarine Peninsula.The main point of access to Sorrento's ocean beach is at the end of Ocean Beach Road.There is a kiosk, lookouts and several scenic walking tracks along the foreshore and into the surrounding hills.
Sorrento's commercial centre can be found at the bay end of Ocean Beach Road. This attractive boulevard features a variety of shops, restaurants and cafes with its major landmark, the multi-storey Continental Hotel which was built out of limestone in the year 1875. Other nearby historic hotels also include Hotel Sorrento (1871) and Koonya (1878). Sorrento was the site of Victoria's first official settlement which occurred in year 1803 at Eastern Sister. This point is at the southern end of Sorrento's bay coastline where there is a monument honouring this very historical event. An elevated coastal walkway leads to a couple of lookouts which provide scenic views across beach and bay.
And speaking of bays, Diamond Bay and St Pauls are two small pockets of sand lying at the base of 30 m high calcarenite bluffs. They are fronted by a reef and rock dominated surf zone. Diamond Bay Road and St Pauls Road both lead to car parks behind each beach. However access to the beaches requires a steep climb down steps.At the northern end of Sorrento's bay coastline is Point King where Lieutenant Murray, on his exploration of Port Phillip Bay, raised the Union Jack and claimed the land for the British.There is a monument to commemorate this event and a scenic coastal track from which splendid views along the coast in all directions can be well enjoyed.
Australia’s natural beauty knows no bounds, no limits, but you’ll find something different within each of our boundaries.
Our Beach House, located in the heart of Sorrento, will give you a wonderful experience you will never forget...and you should not miss!
Indulge with the sooth breathtaking views around us, enjoy the quiet place while having fun, relax and pamper yourself to the fullest...an experience beyond compare!
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