Cameron Howe, News by Cameron
August 27, 2019
If exploring heritage-rich tunnels and fortresses has your interest, then Point Nepean’s 560 hectares is the perfect place to get lost in the beauty below and by this picturesque setting.
A quick deviation prior to entering the main entrance to Point Nepean will take you to London Bridge (left); a unique rock formation that can be viewed from the lookout, or alternatively up close from the ‘amphitheatre like’ interior that peers out to sea.
Upon entering the national park and parking at Gunnars Cottage, a long, sealed road will take you past Cheviot Hill to the Eagles Nest to investigate the remnant military battlements and gun emplacements.
Eagles Nest (main picture) is the perfect vantage point to take in the striking panoramic views of the placid, Port Phillip Bay and brooding Bass Strait. Meanwhile the neighbouring, Fort Pearce built in 1910 allows you to venture inside to the former living quarters of soldiers.
Further abound is Fort Nepean at the end of the Peninsula that takes in the expansive, turquoise blues of The Rip that separates the two Peninsulas at the heads. Here you can step down into a labyrinth of tunnels, putting yourself into the shoes of soldiers from both WWI and WWII.
On return and stopping by Cheviot Beach is where former Australian Prime Minister, Harold Hold took his last swim and disappeared into the blue in 1967.
Arriving back at the Gunnars Cottage car park and before leaving, don’t forget to venture to the 1852-built Quarantine Station, where some of Australia’s first arrivals stepped off the boat. The ‘1850s Gold Rush brought by the boatload, new-settlers to Melbourne, who once stayed in the heritage buildings that are now home to the Portsea Craft Market.
My tip: Allow half a day for this adventure, pack lunch and bring a bike to cruise around. Gunnars Cottage to Fort Nepean is approximately 3 kilometres, excluding all deviations to sights along the way.
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