One of the most remarkable things about Sorrento is that few Australians realise just how historically important this Mornington Peninsula town is. Maybe it’s because visitors enjoy today’s Sorrento so much, they don’t bother to learn about its place in Australian history.
If you ask a Melbournian where their oldest settlement is, they will probably name a Melbourne suburb like St. Kilda. They will be surprised when you tell them that its actually Sorrento. Sorrento dates back to 1803, when Eastern Sister, on the southern end of Sorrento’s bay, became Victorias’ first permanent settlement.
The oversight can be forgiven, because Melbourne grew far more quickly than Sorrento after it was first settled. Sorrento grew at a slow and gradual pace. Many of its original hotels are still standing and are as beautiful today as they were when they were first built. Among these, the Hotel Sorrento, built in 1871 and the larger, limestone Continental Hotel, which was completed in 1875 are outstanding examples of late Victorian architecture.
There is something gentile and perhaps a little old fashioned about Sorrento. A prosperous community, it takes pride in its appearance. The Sorrento foreshore is an example of this. Unlike so many beaches that are backed by highrise hotels or rows of houses and shops, the wide Sorrento foreshore is lined with grass and trees. Whether you go there to swim or to stroll, it is a pleasure to while away a day on the beach in Sorrento.
Sorrento is the perfect place to stay if you want to explore the Mornington Peninsula and beyond. Its central location makes reaching the other peninsula suburbs easy and you can take an enjoyable ferry ride across the bay to Queenscliff from the pier at Sorrento.
One of the biggest tourist drawcards in Sorrento is located offshore. Dolphins are plentiful in the waters off Sorrento and you can take a purpose-built dolphin watching tour that allows you to actually jump in the water and play with the dolphins if you like.
Even if you drive your own car to Sorrento, you may want to leave it at your accommodation and explore the Mornington Peninsula in a more unique and educational style. It’s easy to miss the best sights if you’re driving in your car, but you won’t miss a thing if you let an experienced local take you for a tour on his Harley.
Look on the map and you will see that one of the unique features of Sorrento and the other towns on the end of the Mornington Peninsula is that they are within a short distance of both the open sea of Bass Strait and the calm waters of Port Phillip Bay. Sorrento and its nearest neighbour, the tiny upmarket town of Portsea, have two beaches within walking distance of each other. On the Bass Strait side, the unbridled sea has created a stunningly picturesque landscape, while on the bay side, peace and tranquillity abide.
If you’re visiting Melbourne, you can take a day trip to Sorrento, but once you get there, you will want to stay. To avoid disappointment, book your Sorrento accommodation well in advance, especially if you are visiting over the Christmas holidays, when Melbournians flock there to get away from the city.