RACV Cape Schanck Resort: Luxury at the Clifftop Edge of Victoria
We head to the RACV Cape Schanck Resort on the southern tip of the Mornington Peninsula. For much of the 90-minute journey via Peninsula Link, suburbia makes inroads into what I remember as being countryside.
Our arrival is a sudden contrast. Nature surrounds us.
At the end of a long entrance road, there’s a coastal heathland crowned with Port Phillip Bay and Bass Strait horizons. Above rises a building so unexpected, my first thought is “mothership”, not “five-star resort.”
Hovering above the dunes, the RACV Cape Schanck Resort has sweeping curves and a cantilevered form that seem almost alien above the rugged landscape.
Completed in 2018 as part of a $135 million redevelopment, the striking structure features an award-winning design by Wood Marsh Architecture.
The resort now offers 204 accommodation options, from contemporary hotel rooms in this main building to multi-bedroom suites and villas scattered throughout the grounds.
Despite the property’s size, it never feels overpopulated, and all spaces enjoy a welcome sense of privacy.
The Views That Define the Resort
At the RACV Cape Schanck Resort, all rooms have balconies. Depending on your room choice, views may encompass the championship golf course, coastal heathland, Bass Strait and Port Phillip Bay.
The resort’s floor-to-ceiling windows make the most of the landscape. We were on Level 4, near the top curved end, with a wraparound balcony.
Some guests have commented on the car park views, so it is worth setting expectations. This is not a resort where waves crash dramatically beneath your balcony. The magic lies further away: in the sweep of the landscape, the vast skies and the distant meeting of land and sea.
As an RACV resort, the car park itself provides an eclectic display of vehicles, with newer EV models charging while their owners unwind elsewhere on the property.
But it is the sky that keeps drawing my attention. Clouds roll across the Peninsula, constantly changing the view.
The Lounge: the best seat in the house
Some of the best views in the resort are those shared with others in the large lounge area near reception, where vast windows frame the landscape.
Each vantage point is fronted by a velvet-clad chair, seemingly positioned for one purpose: to let you soak in the view.
And people do. The lounge is like a decompression chamber after coming in from the outside world.
I noticed guests curled up with books. Others gazed toward the golf course. We watched golfers drift back from the fairways, their postures revealing either elation or defeat, while clouds danced across the Peninsula sky regardless.
The skies remind me of John Constable’s sky studies. An hour can disappear while you watch cloud formations roll across the horizon.
Sofas front a fireplace that serves as the room’s focal point. Linger there too long, and you might test the patience of other guests who want your spot.
With barista-made coffees and a well-stocked bar, it’s tempting to stay put from morning coffee to a nightcap.
However, the resort offers far too many temptations to remain seated for that long.
Exploring on foot
One of the things I appreciated most about Cape Schanck was that I could step outside and immediately be immersed in the rugged landscape.
Walking paths weave through the resort grounds and surrounding heathland, making it easy to stretch your legs without committing to a major hike.
There’s something appealing about wandering around the “mothership” while never feeling far from home.
The coastal heathland has its own rugged beauty, sculpted by ocean winds and shifting dunes. Almost like a moor scene worthy of a Heathcliff/Cathy moment.
I don’t meet Heathcliff, but I do meet a golfer. The resort has practice facilities including a 250-metre driving range, practice putting greens, and a short-game area with practice bunkers.
The golfer told me that if I stayed out a bit longer, I’d be meeting the mob of kangaroos that frequent the area at dusk.
For those wanting to venture beyond the resort grounds, the Cape Schanck Lighthouse precinct is only a few minutes away.
While I was swanning in the spa, my companion drove to the lighthouse and boardwalk area, located about two kilometres from the resort.
The historic lighthouse stands atop dramatic cliffs and offers sweeping coastal views. From the lighthouse car park, visitors can access the boardwalk leading down to Pulpit Rock, one of the area’s most photographed natural landmarks.
For more energetic walkers, the Bushrangers Bay Track or sections of the Two Bays Walking Track provide opportunities to explore even further.
Golf for those who play
Even for a non-golfer like me, it was impossible not to notice how many golfers there were.
The 18-hole, par-70 championship course was designed by renowned American golf architect Robert Trent Jones Jr.
But not everyone enjoys a good walk spoiled. And there are plenty of golf widows and widowers.
Retreat to One Spa
One Spa is the resort’s in-house day spa, offering an extensive treatment menu.
The next day was my birthday, so I decided to treat myself to a facial.
One Spa claims treatments will help you find your centre and bring “you” back into focus. I did wonder if this was possible.
But as I lay there in a mummy-like state, eyes covered and my face coated in lotions and potions, the rest of the world slipped away almost completely.
At one point, I raised myself from my reverie and said to Michelle, my beauty therapist, “You have magic hands. Your touch is like feather-strokes.”
Afterwards, I entered the relaxation room where guests can linger even longer over herbal teas and magazines.
Note: One Spa’s much-coveted Turkish Hammam Spa experience reopens in July 2026.
The pool, gym and spa
That evening, we got the indoor pool mostly to ourselves as most people were at dinner or tucked up in their rooms.
The 25-metre pool boasts four dedicated lap lanes, a spa pool, a sauna, and is next door to the tennis and gym facilities.
If travelling with grandkids, the resort also has a large outdoor playground complete with swings, slides and trampolines.
Dining options
The RACV Cape Schanck Resort offers four on-site dining and bar options, ranging from a casual café to fine dining.
Mantellina serves stone-baked pizzas, light meals and coffee in a family-friendly setting. Located downstairs beside the golf shop, it is open daily from 10.30 am to 4 pm.
The resort’s flagship Cape Restaurant has earned a chef’s hat and showcases Mornington Peninsula produce through refined contemporary dishes.
Many guests stay at the resort to celebrate special occasions, so it’s fitting to have a dining experience to match the occasion.
I asked the bartender whether she had eaten there. She told me her husband had once taken her for a celebratory dinner and that she had loved every morsel and drop. Even locals choose Cape Restaurant for special occasions.
Guests can choose between a three-course menu ($110 per person) or a five-course tasting menu ($160 per person), with optional curated wine pairings.
Cape Restaurant is open Wednesday to Saturday evenings.
Samphire Restaurant is the resort’s general dining venue, serving a dinner menu built around seasonal local produce, complemented by a wine list featuring many local wines.
Samphire is open nightly until 9 pm.
After our swim, we claimed one of the sofas beside the fire, so when we discovered we could order from the Samphire menu without surrendering our cosy perch, we did exactly that.
We’d had a large lunch, so it was a hummus dip with dukkah-covered flatbreads, but the food seemed excellent. I paired it with a local cider.
Buffet breakfast
The next morning, we avail ourselves of the resort’s buffet breakfast at Samphire Restaurant.
Early risers can watch the rising sun reveal the landscape beyond while choosing from a spread of hot breakfast dishes, pastries, fresh fruit and yoghurt.
For us, breakfast is less about lingering and more about fuelling up for a day exploring the Mornington Peninsula. With coastal walks, wineries, villages and beaches all within easy reach of the resort, there is plenty of incentive to have a full tank before leaving.
A base for exploring the Peninsula
Reception had handed us a map of the local region. Ours was only a one-night stay, but looking over the nearby attractions, I realised how well-positioned the RACV Cape Schanck Resort is as a base for exploring the Mornington Peninsula.
Wellness seekers are only a 15-minute drive from the Peninsula Hot Springs and Alba Thermal Springs & Spa, which I have recently experienced and loved. Read my review here.
Looking at the map, art lovers could almost join the dots between sculptures. The nearby Jackalope Hotel has its giant mythical jackrabbit, Montalto has a sculpture trail weaving through the vines, while Pt. Leo Estate—my personal favourite—has more than 70 works scattered across a coastal landscape with sweeping sea views.
Extended families are close to many attractions, including Arthur’s Seat Eagle, a gondola ride above the forest canopy, and Moonlit Sanctuary. I once took my grandsons there for a wombat experience, and they loved meeting Mary.
Wineries, distilleries and farm experiences abound. Some of my nearby favourites include Green Olive at Red Hill, a working farm, olive grove, vineyard and restaurant; and Ten Minutes by Tractor, one of the Peninsula’s most acclaimed wineries.
Other favourites include JimmyRum Distillery, an award-winning producer offering tastings and behind-the-scenes experiences.
The map also highlighted attractions offering RACV member discounts, and it reminded me how I had ended up staying at Cape Schanck in the first place.
Why RACV Club Membership can make sense for retirees
Like many Victorians, I had always thought of RACV primarily as roadside assistance. It was only through my friend that I realised RACV Club membership is a separate membership with its own facilities and benefits.
A keen traveller, she joined as part of a retirement strategy centred on travel, fitness and social connection. She attends exercise classes at the RACV City Club in Bourke Street and has used member rates for stays at RACV resorts including Healesville, Torquay and, in this case, Cape Schanck.
She also uses RACV’s reciprocal club network, which provides access to more than 120 affiliated clubs across Australia and overseas.
What surprised me, however, was that the travel benefits, including the considerable discounts at places like Cape Schanck, are only part of the story.
At the time of writing, an Active RACV Club membership costs $99 a month. Included in that fee is access to the gym, pool, wellness facilities and leisure programs at both the RACV City Club and the Healesville Country Club.
For some retirees, the included fitness and aquatic facilities may make RACV Club membership a practical alternative to paying for separate gym memberships elsewhere.
Those living in, or downsizing to, Melbourne’s inner-city suburbs may find that the Bourke Street club becomes a convenient extension of their neighbourhood. At the same time, people in the Yarra Valley and Melbourne’s outer east have similar access through the Healesville Country Club.
The social side may be just as important. Members can join special-interest groups, attend talks and events, or simply use the clubs as places to meet friends.
Readers interested in learning more can find current membership details here
A comfortable base
As we drove away the next morning, the resort’s curved form once again seemed to hover above the coastal heathland like a futuristic outpost.
But after a day of wandering the grounds, watching clouds drift across Bass Strait, settling in by the fire and discovering just how much there is to explore nearby, it no longer felt alien.
It felt like exactly what many Mornington Peninsula visitors are looking for: a comfortable base from which to slow down, spread out and enjoy one of Victoria’s most beautiful corners.
RACV Cape Schanck Resort Bookings.
Heading off on your own Melbourne adventures? Join our Facebook Group and share your stories, ask questions and connect with others for further inspiration.
This post contains affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you click on a link and make a purchase.
Read more:
