Point Nepean National Park Visitor Guide Point Nepean is one of Victoria’s most beautiful natural landscapes. Its rich history has s played an important role in shaping the early settlement, quarantine and defence of Victoria. The park is 560 hectares and located at the very tip of the Mornington Peninsula, with outstanding coastal scenery and panoramic views of Bass Strait, the Rip and Port Phillip. e Visitors can explore the military forts and tunnels, discover the historic Quarantine Station, view the memorial where Prime Minister Harold Holt went missing and enjoy the coastal t environment which is home to native Australian wildlife. Exploring the park Cheviot Hill and Harold Holt o Memorial Quarantine Station Cheviot Hill is the park’s highest point and Discover the historical precinct which has contains World War II fortifications. It almost 50 heritage listed buildings. The n overlooks Cheviot Beach, the site where Quarantine Station was established in former Australian Prime Minister Harold 1852 and from 1952 the buildings also Holt disappeared without a trace in housed the Army Officer Cadet School. December 1967. A memorial is located k Walkers and cyclists can take Coles Track about 500m further along Defence Road which links the Quarantine Station to the from Cheviot Hill. Gunners Cottage and Fort Nepean. A self- r guided walk is available. Pearce Barracks, Fort Pearce and Eagles Nest Wilsons Folly Track Explore the lookouts from the fortifications This 1.7 kilometre walking track links with stunning views of Bass Strait. The a London Bridge in the Mornington Peninsula Pearce Barracks site is where many of the National Park with Point Nepean. The track army personnel stationed at Point Nepean is an extension of the long coastal walk lived. Eagles Nest was the site of from Cape Schanck and passes through Australia’s largest Disappearing Gun. p pockets of Coastal Banksia Stands, Moonah woodland and native grasslands. Fort Nepean Range Area Walk Discover a series of military fortifications dating back to the 1880s with stunning The 1.8 kilometre walk meanders through views of Port Phillip Bay and Bass Strait. coastal scrub, a former Rifle Range and Explore the tunnels, forts and gun passes Monash Break and Light with emplacements from which the first allied sweeping views of the park and Melbourne shots of both World War I and World War II City. The Range Area was used to train were fired. cadets in the Army Officer Cadet School; training included firing rifles, grenades and machine guns. The walk links the Quarantine Station and Cheviot Hill. Gunners Cottage From here you can visit the historic Point Nepean Cemetery or walk the Walter Pisterman Heritage Walk to the remnants of the former quarantine cattle jetty. At Point Nepean National Park Observatory Point there is a picnic area Open everyday with views of the bay. Cyclists and walkers End of Point Nepean Road, Portsea can take Coles Track to the Quarantine Melways Ref: 156 C2 Station or Fort Nepean. For more information call the Parks Victoria Information Centre on 13 1963 or visit our website at www.parkweb.vic.gov.au FFortort NNepeanepean OObservatobservatory PPointoint E NNEPEANEPEAN BBAYAY PPearceearce BBarracksarracks E EEaglesagles NNestest E TThehe NNarrowsarrows E TRACK WALTER E PISTERMAN COLES WALK TThehe BBendend COLES Point DEFENCE E Nepean TRACK Cemetery E ROAD E FFortort Harold PPearceearce Holt HAPPY E Memorial E VALLEY Gunners Cottage M WALK (No Vehicles beyond Car park) CCheviotheviot l BeachBeach E Cheviot Hill Stop RANGE Cheviot PPORTORT PPHILLIPHILLIP HHEADSEADS Hill Rifle MARINEMARINE NATIONALNATIONAL PARKPARK Range Monash Break Monash Light l Green ‘Emergency Marker’ signs are located in this park to help pinpoint your exact location in the case of an emergency. Codes are unique to every marker. In an emergency, call 000 and quote the emergency marker code. Markers are indentified on the map with an E symbol. For further information see www.esta.vic.gov.au Emergency Marker BBASSASS SSTRAITTRAIT Call 000 and quote ABC001 Point Nepean National Park Recreational Facilities 0 200 400 Major sealed road Point Nepean Barbecue-Electric Park information METRES National Park Cartography by Spatial Vision 2010 Minor sealed road- Carpark Picnic table N M/8048 Management Port Phillip Heads Vehicles Only Marine National Park Facilities for people Toilets with disabilities Walking & Cycling Other Parks & Water track Reserves Lookout Transporter Stop Walkers Only track Ticonderoga Bay Memorial Sanctuary Zone - Transporter Route Refer: Guide to Boating & Swimming around MELBOURNE Whales, Dolphins & Seals Emergency Assembly ESTA Emergency Area E marker Water body © MMELBOURNEELBOURNE FWY PPORTORT PPHILLIPHILLIP DandenongDandenong OObservatorybservatory PRINCES Y W PPointoint HHWY GGeelongeelong FFrankstonrankston N A E QueenscliffQueenscliff P E HHastingsastings SSorrentoorrento NNEPEAN PPortseaortsea CCowesowes POINT NEPEAN B NATIONAL PARK Wonthagg E TRACK LTER ERMAN ALK Break COLES E TTICONDEROGA BAY ICO TRACK ND ERO E GA Monash park) BAY ((PortseaPortsea HHole)ole) Burgess Park BOGLE RD Jarman CAPE Parade Oval BATES RA RD Ground NGE WALK Quarantine Station RD RD AREA DANSON DRIVE PPoliceolice PPointoint Monash Break DEFENCE OCHILTREE h Gun l Junction PPOLICEOLICE PPOINTOINT WWEEROONAEEROONA SHIRESHIRE PARKPARK BAY ROAD PORT PHILLIP BAY } PPOINTOINT COASTAL RESERVE E NEPEAN ROAD TToo PPortseaortsea Point Nepean 1 kkmm National Park CCONSERVATIONONSERVATION AAREAREA Information Centre (Restricted(Restricted Access)Access) WALK ROAD Portsea Golf Course FOLLY BEACH BBRIDGERIDGE ROAD WILSONS DON LLONDONON LLondonondon BBridgeridge HOTHAM MMORNINGTONORNINGTON PPENINSULAENINSULA ROAD NATIONALNATIONAL PARKPARK BACK PPortseao Surf Beach rts ea S ur f B ea ch For further information History The marine life Parks Victoria Information Centre Indigenous history Surrounding Point Nepean is Port Phillip Call 13 1963 Point Nepean is part of Boonwurrung Heads Marine National Park. The diversity or visit the country. The Boonwurrung people lived on and abundance of marine flora and fauna in Parks Victoria website and around Point Nepean for thousands for these waters are greater than many www.parkweb.vic.gov.au years gathering shellfish and other foods comparable habitats elsewhere in the world. along the coastline. The interaction with Its intertidal zone is a habitat for a wide Transporter times and group early settlers and ceremony make it an variety of shellfish, marine invertebrates, bookings important place. Extensive shell middens dramatic underwater gorges, colourful sponge gardens, tall kelp forests, emerald Point Nepean are reminders of their enduring association. sea-grass beds, surging currents and Information Centre Early settlement tranquil backwaters. (03) 5984 1586 Point Nepean has evidence of some of the earliest European settlement in Victoria, Location & access including pastoral activities and lime Getting around the park burning. Shepherd’s Hut located in the A transporter service operates several Quarantine Station is one of the earliest Caring for the times a day from the Point Nepean intact limestone buildings in Victoria. environment Information Centre to Fort Nepean with five Quarantine Station stops along the way. Alternatively you can Help us look after this park by park your car at Gunners Cottage car park remembering these It is the second oldest permanent and walk or cycle the 2.6 kilometres to Fort guidelines: quarantine station in Victoria (1952 – 1980). Comprising of over 50 heritage listed Nepean or 2 kilometres to the Quarantine Please take all rubbish Station. Bikes can be hired from the home with you buildings and the oldest intact buildings erected for quarantine purposes in Information Centre. Wheelchair access Fires and camping are not Australia. available see map. permitted Defence How to get there Keep to walking tracks Point Nepean is located 90km from The entrance to Port Phillip Bay was the Melbourne. Visitors can catch a train from Dogs, cats and other most heavily forted port of the British domestic pets are not allowed Melbourne to Frankston and then a bus to Empire. There are many Colonial and Portsea. The Sorrento to Queenscliff All native plants and wildlife Commonwealth structures from 1880s – passenger ferry operates on the hour from are protected 1940s located around the park. Fort 7am to 6pm (with extended summer hours). Swimming, fishing, surfing Nepean is considered to be one of the best and entering the water are examples in Australia of a major fort Weddings & photography not permitted complex exhibiting the changes in military engineering through the 19th and 20th There are many stunning locations suitable Please don’t throw this park centuries. for weddings and photography at Point note away. Keep it, recycle it Nepean. Celebrate your special day at an or return it for others to use Flora and fauna unforgettable place. For more information call 13 1963. The remnant flora and fauna of Point Nepean is of very high significance. A Want to volunteer? Be FireReady and stay safe remote and protected location, it is home to If you are interested in lending a hand there Many parks and forests are the White-footed Dunnart, Long-nosed located in high fire risk areas. Bandicoot, Black Wallaby, Singing are volunteer groups involved in historical On days of forecast Honeyeater, Blue-winged Parrot and fort and walking track maintenance, weed Code Red Fire Danger Hooded Plover. The park also comprises control and interpreting the heritage of the this park will be closed for the largest and most intact area of remnant Quarantine Station please call 13 1963. public safety. coastal vegetation remaining on the You may not receive a southern Mornington Peninsula. Native Keep in touch personal warning that the park is closed so check the plants and vegetation communities include To keep up-to-date with what’s happening latest conditions by calling Coastal Moonah Woodland, Coastal Dune at Point Nepean please visit 13 1963 or visit Scrub, remnant grasslands and threatened www.parkweb.vic.gov.au www.parkweb.vic.gov.au orchids. November 2010 Printed on Australian–made 100% recycled paper .