Stay at the original lighthouse keeper's cottage.
Cape Schanck Lighthouse.
Views of the Bass Strait swells and coastline.
And here's another reason to jump on a cheap flight and head towards Melbourne... Stay in this 140-year-old lighthouse keeper's cottage, taking in the Bass Strait swell and sunsets over the Mornington Peninsula.
Since 1859 the Cape Schanck Lighthouse has been pretty successful (except for on seven occasions) at alerting ships to the closeness of the rugged coastline. The lighthouse now attracts tourists to the beautiful area, and to get a real back-to-the-old-days experience, they can stay in one of two cottages on the two-hectare Light Station Reserve, which is part of the Mornington Peninsula National Park.
The 140-year-old lighthouse keeper's cottage is virtually unchanged, and is basic but comfortable. There are four large bedrooms and a shared bathroom, fully equipped kitchen and dining room and lounge.
The second residence was built in 1939 and has similar facilities, but is a little more comfortable.
You can rent the entire cottage, or just an individual room, and all you need to take along is your food. All rooms can be locked.
Visitors can tour the lighthouse any day of the week, and the 59 steps to the top lead to spectacular views of the Bass Strait swell pounding the coastline and, if you are lucky, a beautiful sunset.
The light from the 1000-watt globe produces a 1.7 million candlepower beam that can be seen for about 40 kilometres.
The museum details the history of the lighthouse and surrounding area, and there are 27 kilometres of walking tracks to explore. There is an abundance of wildlife in the area — including echidnas, wallabies, possums and owls — and guided night walks can be arranged.
