London Bridge - Sth End London Bridge Rd, Portsea, Mornington Peninsula, VIC

‘London Bridge’, on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, is a stunning locale – one that has captured the imagination of Europeans since they first ventured here.  This entire area provides so much for visitors to see and do.  Hiking, exploring, sightseeing, relaxing, meditating, swimming (at the SLSC), surfing, gliding, jet skiing, body & paddle boarding – to name a few.  The variance in colours and patterns in the cliffs and rock pools are astounding.

” . . . The lines of breakers on the rock bound shore, with their milk white crests, may be seen a considerable distance at sea.  When the tide recedes, there are pools of translucent water in stone basins, where colored sea weeds and other subaqueous growths may be observed at leisure.  There are rocks and cliffs, honeycombed and carved, and moulded into a thousand fantastic shapes by the salt spray driven upon them for centuries by the southerly gales.  The great curiosity of the place is London-bridge.  This is a headland that has been detached from the mainland by the action of the water, the greater part of which has been worn into a vast cave of amphitheatrical form.  In the shelves and honeycombed crevices the swallows build, and its topmost sides are ornamented by hanging creepers and wild flowers.  The “bridge” is a great mass of rock covered with soil, which supports the vegetation of the neighboring shore, and the various apertures which have been worn in it, giving a clear view right through, suggest the arches of a bridge of large dimensions.  The interior of the cave is studded with boulders and broken fluted columns, which have only partially resisted the ocean surge.  When the sea comes tumbling in, and goes hissing through the outlets, it is like a boiling cauldron.  From the top of this rock there is a glorious view of the sea and the shore line, and of the great bed of the reef immediately below, where the water is heaving and breaking miniature cascades.  The local juvenile Shaughraun haunts the caves, waiting for a fair opportunity to catch Rock cod and crayfish, or an occasional wallaby or rabbit from the contiguous shore . . . “

Source:  Excerpts – ‘Illustrated Australian News’ – Article “A Holiday Tour Round Port Phillip” – published 18th December 1886

Illustrated Sydney News & NSW Agriculturalist & Grazier (NSW) – 11 May 1872

Today, the beauty remains much as described 130+ years ago.  The enormous views from the lookouts, the wildness and power of the crashing surf → to the tranquility of the rock pools that surround ‘London Bridge’.

Access to ‘London Bridge’ is via a walkway from the car park above, otherwise, via either a 1 km walk along the beach (which is best walked at low tide) or the inland route named ‘Farnsworth Track’ – that lead to the Portsea Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) precinct.  ‘Wilson’s Folly Track’ is another walkway that leads to all the wonders to be discovered at ‘Point Nepean National Park‘, only 1.7 km away . . .

Public toilets, bench seats, interesting information signage, and some drinking water can be found in various areas around the car park.  Most importantly, make sure you allow plenty of time to enjoy this region, as it is absolutely stunning  !!!    

Helpful Hints:

– Located approximately 3 km South of the Portsea Town Centre – obtain Directions here

– Attractions & Facilities available along the Mornington Peninsula Coastal Walk

– No Pets are allowed in the ‘Mornington Peninsula National Park’

– Five large Car Parks service the Surf Beach at Portsea

Discover Portsea:

 – Points of Interest

 – Things to Do

 – Dining Out

 – Shopping

 – Places to Stay

– Facilities available at Portsea include:

– Picnic Tables

– Sheltered Pavilions

– Barbecues

– Public Toilets