STORM-BATTERED beaches, worn-out facilities and damaged walking tracks across the Mornington Peninsula have been given a major upgrade for the busy summer season.
The works, undertaken by Parks Victoria, include the Mornington Peninsula National Park, with safe access restored to Gunnamatta Beach after the October 2024 storm surge wiped out the stairs and lookout.
The main access ramp beside the Gunnamatta Surf Life Saving Club has been rebuilt with an all abilities-design and a new link from the car park, improving access for all visitors.
The upgrades will also support faster emergency responses by the surf lifesaving club, while helping protect the area from future storm damage and reducing ongoing maintenance. Further works are planned to begin in mid-2026, including a major viewing platform and a surfing competition staging area.
Visitors to London Bridge can once again use the toilet facilities after the site was forced to close due to a failed composite system. The reopening follows the installation of a new vaulted tank system and refurbishment works, ensuring the amenities can handle the consistently high volume of visitors to the popular lookout.
At St Andrews Beach, a fully resurfaced car park has also been completed after road audits identified potholes and surface failures that posed safety risks for beachgoers.
Significant restoration work has also been completed along the Two Bays Walking Trail, where a steep 1.1km section damaged during severe storms in October 2022 has been rebuilt.
Crews used helicopters to access the most challenging sections of the trail, carrying out more than 300 rock drops to reconstruct 150 stone steps. With the section now reopened, walkers can once again enjoy the full 26-kilometre trail stretching from Dromana to Cape Schanck.
In Arthurs Seat State Park, families visiting Seawinds Gardens will see upgrades to the playground, with several pieces of equipment replaced at one of the area’s most popular picnic and lookout spots.
At Point Nepean National Park, the toilet facilities at Gunners Cottage have reopened following the failure of the site’s septic system. Two fully refurbished toilet blocks replaced temporary facilities in November, providing visitors with reliable amenities designed to last for years to come.
Parks Victoria said the completed works highlight a continued focus on safety, accessibility and long-term resilience across the peninsula’s park network as visitor numbers increase over summer.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 14 January 2026
