From spa staycations to weekends in a yurt, these seven glamping getaways on the Mornington Peninsula will have you clicking ‘book’ on your next Victorian break.

It’s a bucolic bubble, within easy striking distance of the big city. Well-known as the weekend retreat of choice for many Melburnians, the Mornington Peninsula offers nature aplenty, a beautiful coastline and a ripper food and wine scene. If you’re planning on getting closer to all the Mornington Peninsula action, and its bountiful flora and fauna, then booking a glamping stay is a great bet. 

1. Peninsula Hot Springs

Just when you thought Mornington Peninsula’s vast hot springs complex couldn’t get any better, the attraction’s head honchos added glamping accommodation to the equation. Aside from enjoying access to the natural hot spring’s features (think day spa, saunas, a reflexology walk, plunge pools, a cafe, bathing pools and more), glamping guests can enjoy peak serenity in the venue’s leafy grounds.

This is no twee, amateur set-up with walls that wobble in the wind and limited headspace either. Each tent sleeps a maximum of two and features an ensuite, a walk-in robe, custom-made furniture, a king-sized bed, a private deck area and thermally heated concrete floors. There’s even a mini bar and breakfast is served each morning in the dining room at the Spa Dreaming Centre. Plus, you get to experience a wellness treatment of your choice. There are just 10 glamping set-ups in three different styles: garden view, lake view and secluded pavilion.

Address: 140 Springs Lane, Fingal, Mornington Peninsula

2. Iluka Retreat

Staying true to the more rustic-chic roots of glamping, the canvas bell tents at Iluka Retreat are kitted out with bunting, plenty of cushions, blankets and rugs, and a small private deck to boot. Moreover, they’re great for families, with space for two single-bed mattresses to be added if you plan on bringing the brood. You can even hire a fire pit to sit around and toast marshmallows over. All you need to bring is a torch or light for your tent, an overnight bag and a sense of adventure.

Set on a 15-hectare property near Red Hill South with a creek running through it, the glamping village at Iluka overlooks the lush valley, as well as the property’s lake below. Naturally, the peninsula’s beaches, cellar doors and award-winning winery restaurants are all supremely accessible, as is the nearby surf town of Shoreham.

Glamping guests share a camp kitchen, barbecues and a camp bathroom.

Address: 20 Shoreham Rd, Shoreham, Mornington Peninsula  

3. Glamping at The Ranch

The Ranch is normally a place where kids come for school camps, but Peninsula Nomads, an operation that sets up glamping retreats for events, has also pitched some teepees at this property near Cape Schanck.

Glamping at The Ranch set-ups have a diameter of either 4.5 metres or six metres; the smaller suits a couple, while the larger can have single air mattresses added for kids. Each is beautifully styled with lots of strings of lights, lounge chairs and beautifully made-up air mattresses. It’s part of a larger campsite, so you might have just a couple of glampers near you or have lots of people in caravans and campers. There’s a camp bathroom, camp kitchen and a pool.

If you like, you can also book the giant Jenga or Connect 4 or organise grazing boxes, so you don’t have to worry about supplies when you arrive.

Some of the activities you can take on at The Ranch, include horse riding, mountain boarding, archery and zip lining, so it’s a great option for families.

Address: 810 Boneo Road, Boneo, Mornington Peninsula

4. Happy Glamper

If you’re sold on the idea of glamping but want to choose where to stay, try Happy Glamper on for size. The company creates bespoke glamping micro-adventures across the Mornington Peninsula: all you have to do is choose when, where and how.

There are six types of bell tents from which to choose. The four-metre tent is a cosy option for couples, while the Emperor Tent is the largest, suitable for a big family or group of six mates. Best of all, Happy Glamper’s operation is far from bare-bones – all the pitching, styling, packing down and removing is included within your rate, as are an array of furnishings, features and amenities such as LED lanterns, bath towels, outdoor and indoor mats, chairs, decorative bunting, board games, books and magazines, a combination lock for the tent door, and even string lights and power points if you book a powered site. Optional extras are available too (think bar fridges, picnic kits and heaters).

The only thing that isn’t included in the price is the campsite itself. Instead, glampers book their own spot at any of the sites available on the peninsula, ranging from foreshore camping managed by the local council to privately owned holiday parks. If you’re not sure where to start, the Happy Glampers website has a handful of good ideas.

Address: 16/1921Frankston, Flinders Rd, Hastings, Mornington Peninsula

5. Mornington Peninsula Retro Caravans

If you’ve been burned by the weather on a weekend getaway before, you may prefer to stay in accommodation that is a little sturdier than canvas. If that’s the case, another option – a relatively inexpensive one at that – is to stay in one of the 13 old-school caravans permanently parked at Rye’s Kanasta Caravan Park.

They range from the adorable Peggy Sue that sleeps two to a number of other campers with annexes that sleep up to six, which makes them great for families. Some of the caravans maintain their 60s allure – Daisy’s old-school vinyl banquette, laminated table and two-tone kitchen – while others have been updated with more modern features.

Each of these caravan cuties has a TV, split-system air conditioning, linen, cutlery, crockery, tea and coffee-making facilities. Some also have an electric stove top, but you can also borrow an electric fry pan if you want to cook breakfast. What makes this more like camping than staying in a hotel is you’re using the park’s amenities block.

But you’re only a five-minute walk from Rye Beach, plus lots of cafes and shops.

Address: 1–9 Sinclair Avenue, Rye, Mornington Peninsula

6. Shipwrecked Oasis

Here’s one for all the landlubbers out there. If you’ve always wanted to stay on a boat, but are worried about getting seasick, you should be this unique offering. The owners have taken a vintage timber cruiser and stranded it on their property near St Andrews Beach.

The interior of Shipwrecked Oasis is all original wood panelling and nautically inspired decor. There’s a comfy double bed and kitchenette on the inside. Outside, it’s completely private with a rustic outdoor bathroom and your own portaloo. There are also plenty of places to sit outside, including chairs around a fire pit (BYO wood).

This is a great place to really get away from it all. You’re surrounded by the bush and all that entails – you might, for example, get a possum on the roof during the night – and can walk to either ocean or bay beaches. Oh, and St Andrews Beach Brewery is an easy stroll down the street. You’re also only a five-minute drive from Peninsula Hot Springs, too, if you need to decrease your stress levels even more.

Accommodation doesn’t get much more unique than this.

Address: Placadena Road, St Andrews Beach, Mornington Peninsula

7. Yurt Hideaway

If you’ve ever wanted to stay in a traditional Mongolian yurt but were put off by the long plane ride, book a couple of nights at Yurt Hideaway. This is a spacious glamping accommodation, with plenty of headroom for even the tallest of holidaymakers.

A queen-size bed with a canopy sets the romantic scene. There’s a full private bathroom stocked with eco-friendly amenities, a kitchenette with lots of thoughtful additions from the owner, and a gorgeous patio surrounded by plants where you can just relax and enjoy yourself.

If it’s a special occasion and you want to make the stay extra special – flowers, a brekkie box, celebration cakes, private yoga classes or passes to Peninsula Hot Springs – just add them to your booking and your hosts make your requests a reality.

Address: Meadow Avenue, Tootgarook, Mornington Peninsula

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