Fingal Beach Walk, Mornington Peninsula

The Fingal Beach Walk has a bit of everything. Bush, beach, forest and tranquility.

If it’s peace, tranquility and the beauty of nature that you’re looking for then the Fingal Beach Walk just about ticks every box. A truly majestic walk where you barely bump into a soul.

Located in Cape Schanck on the Mornington Peninsula, the Fingal Beach Walk starts off from the Fingal Picnic Area - which is well signposted off of Cape Schanck Road. We recommend the Fingal Beach Loop - which saves you from having the scale the steep steps back up from the beach. Instead this loops you back on a pleasant winding path through the bush and takes about 2 hours in total.

The start of the Fingal Track, which is located in the Fingal Picnic Area.

As you initially make your way up a gentle incline through a well-trodden bush path, the canopy of trees creates quite a magical and serene feeling. When the path levels out you can begin to hear the ocean in the distance. In no more than 10-20 mins (depending on pace), you get the opportunity to access a wooden viewing platform for an Instagram-worthy panorama.

The breathtaking view from the first viewing platform on the Fingal Track.

Once you manage to pull yourself away from the viewing platform it’s back to the track which runs parallel to the beach below. Peering through the bush, you can feast your eyes on the crystal-blue ocean. Upon reaching a fork in the path, it’s time to take a left and down towards Fingal Beach itself.

Head left at this point and down towards Fingal Beach…if the sign isn’t clear enough.

Now onto the steps that we previously mentioned. Heading down these is easy enough - even though there’s plenty of them. However, tired legs wouldn’t want to head back up these steps - hence why we’re heading towards the loop path once down on the beach.

Steps down towards Fingal Beach.

A place to rest for the weary as you head down.

The journey down to the beach is truly worth it. Secluded, picture-perfect and often deserted, as you stroll along this wilderness paradise you may feel like giving yourself a metaphorical pat on the back for making the move to Australia. I certainly never managed to experience this feeling as I explored the beaches of Blackpool, Fleetwood and Morecambe as a young ‘un.

Don’t be a risk-taker like me and head down here in the late afternoon - especially if you’re not a strong swimmer. The tide comes in and can potentially leave you stranded. However, you’re fine from any time before 2:30pm/3pm.

You cannot help but want to take snap after snap as you admire the deep blueness of the sea, the sun lighting up this amazing vista and the untamed swirl of the tide.

In parts you may need to clamber over some rocks to make your way around coastline and towards where you’ll need to take up the Fingal Beach Loop path.

Heading in the direction of Gunnamatta Beach, before you reach it you’ll head up from the rocks and onto the lowered clifftop in order to pick-up the loop path. At this point you may need to get your phone out and zoom-in to see the start of the path (and how it loops back towards Fingal Picnic Area).

As you locate the start of the loop path, within 5 minutes or so you’ll find yourself on a narrow walking track that’s closeted by trees and bush. Keep an eye out here for echindas - as I’ve seen one or two cross my path.

This gentle, winding and largely canopied path back to the Fingal Picnic Area is such a tonic for clearing your mind and becoming one with nature. Make sure to keep an eye out on your maps app if unsure on which turns to take at the couple of forks in the path that arise.

 

Fingal Beach Walk, Cape Schanck, VIC 3939.