It was recently one of my best friends’ 30th birthday. Over the years, it became our thing to do a trip a year together; in 2018, we visited Uluru and travelled through the Northern Territory from Alice Springs to Darwin; 2019 took us to Karratha, a city in the Pilbara region of Western Australia; in 2020, we ticked off Brisbane together before there was a few years of no travel due to COVID-19; we then resumed our travels in 2023 when we explored the Gold Coast. Last year life got in the way and (other than a weekend in Portarlington for my hens party) we didn’t do our yearly trip together so, instead of buying Lauren a present, I surprised her with a weekend away where I booked and planned everything.

I chose Mount Eliza, a seaside suburb south of Frankston and north of Mornington, as I knew it was somewhere neither of us had explored much, or at all really.

Getting to Mount Eliza

Being based in Geelong, there are two ways to get to Mount Eliza, the most direct route is by driving through Melbourne, which, depending on the time of day, takes just under 2 hours. The other alternative is to head to Queenscliff, catch the ferry across to Sorrento, then travel up the Mornington Peninsula about 45 minutes to Mount Eliza. The latter is of course the more scenic option, however, it does add extra travel time and is dictated by the ferry timetable – there’s also the additional fee associated with travelling on the ferry.

Where to stay

As I opted for an Airbnb over a hotel, I can’t comment on what accommodation options are available in the area.

The Airbnb I booked, appropriately titled Urban Sanctuary by the host Mitra, was the perfect spot to situate ourselves for the weekend. Given we were travelling by car, it was easily accessible (I’m not sure I would say the same if we had taken public transport) and ideally located a 5 minute drive to Mount Eliza village where you’ll find cafes and restaurants amongst boutique shops.

The guesthouse is situated behind Mitra’s home in a lovely garden setting and features a private bathroom, outdoor area, parking and private entry. There’s a little kitchenette equipped with microwave, mini fridge, toaster, electric kettle, coffee machine, plates and cutlery, while the outdoor area has a BBQ for those wanting to cook their own meals.

Lauren and I are people who tend to not spend a lot of time at our accommodation other than for sleeping so, while cosy, it was amply sized for us and our needs for the weekend – it would certainly suit a couple, but isn’t kid/infant friendly.

Activities for the Adventurous

Throughout our weekend, we did two main activities that, if you’re someone who enjoys climbing to new heights (that’s a little hint FYI) should definitely add to your itinerary.

For my birthday last year, Lauren gifted me a rock climbing voucher but we hadn’t found the time to actually do it so when I knew that I was taking her away for the weekend and our availability would line up I sussed out whether there were any rock climbing places nearby. While not technically in Mount Eliza, a short 20-minute drive back towards Melbourne, you’ll find Bayside Rock, an indoor rock climbing gym, in Carrum Downs. As a kid, my dad, sister and I used to go indoor rock climbing regularly on the weekends, however, I hadn’t rock climbed since I was in primary school.

Bayside Rock have a few climbing options to choose from depending on your experience, age and interest. We opted for the traditional top rope climbing where one of us climbed and the other belayed, alternating throughout the session. There are over 100 different climbs to choose from ranging in difficulty from extremely easy to extremely hard – I think our best was achieving a level 5, but couldn’t quite conquer the level 6 – and reaching 10 to 12 metres high.

Price-wise, I thought it was great value for money at $28 per person (including harness hire) for 2 hours of climbing – $26 if you’re a child or student.

The second must-visit location for the adventure lovers is roughly 15 minutes south of Mount Eliza, here you’ll find The Pillars in Mount Martha. Standing on the rock formation while the bluest water laps at the cliffs below, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’re in Europe and not an hour out of Melbourne.

I first heard about the Pillars 5-6 years ago and, as someone who loves an ocean swim, had always wanted to tick them off. They were once considered a “secret swimming spot”, however, given the number of people there the day we visited, I would argue the ‘secret’ is very much out thanks to social media; I think the only secret thing about it is that it’s not signed or visible from the road. With no car park and being in a residential area, finding a park is the first challenge; many of the nearby side streets have permit only or no-standing zones, and once you do find a park, you then have to navigate walking along the Esplanade which is a busy main road with no designated footpath.

As I mentioned, no sign says “Pillars here” with an arrow pointing to the little dirt track you take that leads you through scrubs to a near vertical drop where you have to scale down to reach the cliffs and water’s edge. Being very slippery under foot, it’s certainly not for the faint hearted, but for those who muster the courage, you’re rewarded with gorgeous, crystal-clear water where – if you’re brave enough and the tide is high – you can cliff jump straight into the ocean, which many were doing on this particular day. If you’re not feeling quite so thrill-seeking, you can still get your salty water fix by navigating your way down the cliff; however, keep in mind the only way out of the water is to climb back up the rock, so make sure you choose a suitable route.

Given the slightly sketchy entry and exit, I wouldn’t recommend carrying more than the essentials, preferably in a backpack so you’ve got your hands free to assist with the climb down and back up. Having said that, we saw people with massive speakers, eskies and even a BBQ – the latter I absolutely do not condone given the area and fire risks.

I must highlight that if you decide to visit please do so at your own risk and proceed with caution; the Mornington Peninsula Shire highly discourages visiting the area due to the lack of formal infrastructure, limited reception and the fact that there's no parking facilities with the only way to get there being walking along a busy arterial road with many bends and turns.

Shopping Locally and Small

There’s no better way to support the local community than heading to their local markets and supporting the stallholders.

Less than 10 minutes drive from Mount Eliza you’ll find Little Beauty Market which is held once a month (September to April) within the picturesque grounds of Beauty Park in Frankston and features a collection of local makers from craft to conscious living, gourmet food and beverages to homewares and vintage finds.

Open 9AM until 2PM, whether you’re visiting first thing in the morning or later in the day, perusing the various stalls with a coffee in hand and browsing the goods on offer is a lovely way to pass the time.

If you happen to find yourself in Mount Eliza on the fourth Sunday of the month, then a visit to the local farmers market should be on the cards. Mount Eliza Farmers’ Market is held every month, except December, in the heart of the village from 9AM until 1PM, no matter the weather. Being held in the village, you can also pop into the local shops along the strip while venturing around the farmers’ market.

I don’t know whether it’s the community feel that comes with shopping at a local farmers’ market or because you know you’re supporting the smaller guys, but there’s something so satisfying about getting your produce there. While not overly huge in terms of stall holders, I walked away having bought way more than intended and found some absolute goodies that I have to share:

Golden Sabai – Thai style stir fry sauces. I got a jar of the satay and the lemongrass, the latter I haven’t used yet but the satay is hands down the best satay sauce I’ve ever had!

Mumma Made – preserves and fermented foods. I purchased some of their Kasundi Kick (a spicy tomato relish) and Raspberry, Pomegranate & Thyme Jam, both products are absolutely delicious.

Jambo Foods – BBQ marinades. I couldn’t go past this stall given it’s literally a jarred version of my two upbringings between Kenya and Australia; so of course I bought a jar of their mild and medium choma paste home with me.

More To The Area

While there’s a multitude of other activities, places to visit and things to see and I would have liked to have done more during our weekend away, there just wasn’t time for it – I didn’t even read a single page of my book because our days were filled with what we did get up to or just simply enjoying one another’s company and yapping away.

Nonetheless, I hope this helps inspire and start your itinerary for a weekend in or around Mount Eliza.