The best safari tent rentals near Mornington, Victoria

A hour’s drive from downtown Melbourne, Mornington has a coastal holiday vibe with plenty of foreshore camping sites overlooking Port Phillip Bay. The sheltered waters of Western Port and Hastings are a short drive away, as are the seaside villages of Rosebud, Portsea, and Sorrento, where a car and passenger ferry connects the Mornington Peninsula with the Bellarine Peninsula, Queenstown, and Geelong. Camping accommodations are plentiful with tent sites and holiday parks all over. Don’t miss the geothermal mineral pools and spa at Peninsula Hot Springs, where campers can bathe in gorgeous natural surroundings.

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Top-rated campgrounds

A hour’s drive from downtown Melbourne, Mornington has a coastal holiday vibe with plenty of foreshore camping sites overlooking Port Phillip Bay. The sheltered waters of Western Port and Hastings are a short drive away, as are the seaside villages of Rosebud, Portsea, and Sorrento, where a car and passenger ferry connects the Mornington Peninsula with the Bellarine Peninsula, Queenstown, and Geelong. Camping accommodations are plentiful with tent sites and holiday parks all over. Don’t miss the geothermal mineral pools and spa at Peninsula Hot Springs, where campers can bathe in gorgeous natural surroundings.

95% (39)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. Park Lane Phillip Island

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36km from Mornington · 56 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Cowes, VIC

Escape to Phillip island, the natural playground of picturesque beaches, beautiful coastlines, and native Australian wildlife. From cabins to caravanning and camping. There’s something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for adventure at a maze of things or on the high ropes course, or the serenity of nature walks, penguin parades, and wildlife parks, or to hit the beach for a surf or swim. The island has you covered. We look forward to welcoming you at Park Lane Phillip Island Holiday Park. Whether you’re a big or small family, a couple on a romantic getaway, or a just group of friends and looking for adventure, Phillip Island is stacked full of activities, eateries, and breath-taking scenery to keep you busy for the duration of your stay. With our incredible onsite theme park, A Maze’N Things, you might not even need to leave the holiday park at all! We offer mini golf, a high ropes course, a maze, and rooms full of curiosities. There’s also an onsite brewery and restaurant! Park Lane Phillip Island Holiday Park really does have it all.

2. NRMA Phillip Island Beachfront Park

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31km from Mornington · 73 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Cowes, VIC

Looking for a relaxing island escape? At NRMA Phillip Island Beachfront Holiday Park, the charm of coastal villages meets the magic of little penguins waddling ashore at dusk. Located in Cowes on Phillip Island, this beachfront caravan park and camping spot is just a short drive from Melbourne – but feels a world away. Stay in a comfy cabin or set up on a spacious site just metres from the sand. Pets are welcome, and Cowes’ cafes, shops and restaurants are an easy stroll from your door (or tent). Wake to the sound of waves, unwind beneath the stars, and let island time take over. NRMA Phillip Island Beachfront Holiday Park is located in the town of Cowes on Phillip Island, two hours’ drive south of Melbourne. The park’s beachfront location on the bayside of Phillip Island provides uninterrupted access to sandy beaches and protected waters – but there’s waves to be had nearby for the surfers. The colorful cafes and shops of Cowes are within walking distance.

3. Yarra Valley Park Lane Holiday Park

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74km from Mornington · 232 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Badger Creek, VIC

Escape to the Yarra Valley and be surrounded by some of Victoria’s most stunning landscapes, native Australian wildlife, wineries, eateries, and more! Choose your style of stay from glamping pods and tents to caravanning and camping. There really is something for everyone. Relax with the local wildlife under a Gumtree or by the lake, or hit the swimming pools, bike pump track, giant jumping cushions, playgrounds, and more! We’ve got the whole family covered. We look forward to welcoming you to Park Lane Yarra Valley Holiday Park. We now welcome pets in some of our selected pet friendly cabins. Limited number of accommodation available and subject to availability.

4. Ukiyo Nature Retreat

27km from Mornington · 1 site · Lodging · Fingal, VIC

Secluded, private, and surrounded by nature, our glamping tents for couples on the Mornington Peninsula are fully powered, cosy, and, most of all, private. Explore the Peninsula or simply take time out amongst the trees and open space. Ukiyo Nature Retreat is for over 18s only. Designed with couples in mind, Ukiyo offers tranquil surroundings immersed in nature, with majestic Moonah trees and plenty of space to escape from the stresses of life and reconnect. We have a maximum of four tents, each with its own private surroundings and hidden areas for couples to enjoy. Ukiyo is your private escape into nature. Located in the heart of the Mornington Peninsula, our retreat sits between the back beaches and the bay, near the famous Hawkes Farm and St Andrews Brewery (both approximately a 20-minute walk away), and a short drive to renowned walking trails like Bushrangers Bay. Local wineries are also close by, with the nearest just a 5-minute drive away. The world-famous Peninsula Hot Springs is also just a short drive from the retreat. We have one safari tent with a deck situated in a valley, surrounded by Moonahs, Coastal Banksias, and She-oaks, and a large Bell tent located slightly higher up, offering treetop views. Both tents feature a queen-size bed and are furnished with all the comforts you could need. Both options are fully powered. Designed with comfort in mind, you’ll find a cosy coonara and plenty of blankets in our common room at the back of the retreat, along with games, a fridge, and basic amenities. While there is no full cooking on-site, tea and coffee-making facilities and a small kitchen are available.

5. BIG4 Anglesea Holiday Park

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78km from Mornington · 81 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Anglesea, VIC

A short meander to Anglesea mainbeach, BIG4 Anglesea Holiday Park is a family-friendly park complete with a ridiculously fun adventure playground, an indoor heated water complex, a movie room, indoor toddler playroom and a games room for some solid family championships. Wait until you see the reception – so gorgeous! This park is in a cracking location for while you either explore the Great Ocean Road or even just unpack and never really go anywhere! Just a hop and a skip from Torquay, Lorne is just down the road and Aireys Inlet is close by too. Don’t forget to bring your sweet tooth so you can swing by the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery located only 5 minutes away! The 1, 2 and 3 bedroom units and suites at BIG4 Anglesea are fully equipped to be like a home away from home – you just need to fling the door open. Think timeless design, crisp white interiors with a splash of modern art. Bingo. The safari tents are the glamping adventure you have to have – camping but glam! The kids are addicted to the cubby bunks and never even notice that there’s no TV – genius! Aircon, a BBQ and an outdoor bath on the deck (seriously) as well as a bathroom help with the logistics of life. Camping down on The Great Ocean Road? Well, where else would you rather be?! We have a few options here because size matters. It’s cosy down here so if your setup is too big, it can be a bit awkward. You just need to choose the options that suit you best.

6. Ingenia Holidays BIG4 Inverloch

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77km from Mornington · 167 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Inverloch, VIC

Welcome to BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Inverloch. You’ll find us located on Anderson Inlet, close to nearby natural attractions of Phillip Island and Wilson’s Promontory, a short 90 minutes’ drive from Melbourne’s CBD. No matter which site you choose, you’ll have access to the park’s resort features which include everything from an indoor heated pool, BBQ to playground facilities to name a few. Spend your days exploring the seaside village of Inverloch, which is nestled at the mouth of Anderson Inlet, a protected bay where the Tarwin River enters the Bass Strait. If the Victorian weather plays nice for your visit, swim at the region’s turquoise beaches or enjoy a picnic along its foreshore. For those partial to a scenic drive, don’t miss the 12-kilometre scenic Bunurong Coastal Drive from Inverloch to Cape Paterson, hugging the Bunurong Marine Park. Said to be a ‘mini version of the Great Ocean Road’, you’re in for a road trip pretty enough to land itself in a car commercial – perfect to keep up your sleeve for a free family day out during your stay.

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

The best safari tents near Mornington guide

Where to go

Frankston

This area is prime for family camping, serving as a home base for exploring the region. Expect campsites and holiday parks offering leafy tent sites and shaded caravan sites with access to camp kitchens, free wifi, and even swimming pools.

Sorrento and Portsea

At the far western reaches of the Mornington Peninsula, Sorrento and Portsea are the favoured weekend getaway hotspots for Melbournians. The region is dotted with vineyards and wineries, with restaurants and cafes in abundance. Portsea Pier is a timber jetty jutting out into the bay providing a safe swimming enclosure with the jetty a popular spot for walking and fishing.

Hastings

Overlooking the protected waterway of Western Port and French Island, Hastings is great for holidaymakers with a keen interest in fishing or boating ,or for surfing the beaches of Mornington Peninsula’s south coast. Look out for pet-friendly holiday parks on the waterfront with powered sites for motorhomes, campervans, and campers.

When to go

Summer is peak season in Victoria with campsites, caravan parks, and holiday parks often booked well ahead during holidays, especially Christmas and Easter. Quieter times occur after the Australia Day long weekend in January when school holidays finish. Mornington and surrounds are a popular weekend getaway spot for Melbournians year-round, so holiday parks and campsites are usually quieter during the week. If you’re into cosy winter escapes, Mornington Peninsula has plenty to offer, especially for kite surfers, boaties, and fishermen who can launch small boats from boat ramps strung along Port Phillip Bay.

Know before you go

Caravan sites and holiday parks are typically set either inland or along Port Phillip Bay from Mornington to Rosebud, Rye, Sorrento and Hastings.
Foreshore camping sites are available from October to April and are in high demand—check Mornington Peninsula Shire website to find out when bookings open at Rosebud, Rye, and Sorrento. Council-run campsites have bathrooms as well as laundries, BBQs, and powered and non-powered sites.
A passenger-carrying car ferry links east and west coasts of Port Phillip Bay, making it possible to do a circumnavigation of the bay from Melbourne.
Mornington Peninsula has two coastlines with wildly different shores: calm and protected on the Port Phillip Bay northern side, and beaches exposed to Bass Strait with wild surf and breakers on the southern side.
Snorkel or scuba dive from the beach at Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park to see dolphins, seals, and weedy sea dragons.