A Day in Sorrento: Boutiques, the Millionaire’s Walk and Bay Views
A large ferry cruises towards the pier, children sit on the grass enjoying gelato, and adults lean back on blue wicker chairs in the sun, sipping on white wine.
Welcome to Sorrento – in Victoria, not Italy.
Sitting on the traditional lands of the Bunurong people, it is believed that Sorrento, about 100km from Melbourne’s CBD, was named after the Italian seaside town.
It’s a startlingly beautiful place for a day out on a sunny spring or summer day.
My Sorrento day trip itinerary
Shopping on Ocean Beach Road
The upmarket shopping strip on Ocean Beach Road is full of boutique charm. Fashion stores include Country Road, Gorman, Husk, Seed and Rodd & Gunn, and you can browse homewares at Elephant, Coastal Living and Big Chair, and art at several galleries. Watch your wallet – you might need to return in a van to collect your purchases.
There’s on-street parking along Ocean Beach Road, but it fills up fast on weekends and over summer. Additional parking is available in George Street, just behind the main shopping strip, if the strip itself is full.
Lunch at the Continental Hotel
While there are plenty of cafes in the main strip, we decided to eat alfresco at the front of the popular Continental Hotel, which has proudly stood on its corner since the 1870s. The menu – and wine list – is varied.
Walking the Millionaire’s Walk
Then it was time for an experience I had been wanting for years – the Millionaire’s Walk, where we amble past multi-million-dollar properties sitting on the clifftop overlooking the pristine beach and white private jetties.
We started our walk at Sorrento Park, walked along Point Nepean Road, admired the historic limestone St John’s Anglican Church, and turned into Lentell Avenue. At the end of the avenue is a high gate, which is easy to miss, so keep an eye out.
The one-kilometre walk travels between the cliffs and gorgeous, largely historic, properties. As we opened each gate along the path and looked down to the private white jetties, I envied those fortunate enough to live in such a beautiful part of Victoria.
Dogs on leash are allowed on the path, which is part of the longer Sorrento Portsea Artists’ Trail. We turned off the track and back to the village at Port King Road. You can see details of the walk here.
Sorrento Beach and Historic Park
We didn’t swim on the day, but the clear, sheltered waters of Sorrento Beach are popular with families, while Sorrento Historic Park on Point Nepean Road is an oasis established in 1870. It features an Aleppo Pine grown from a seed from Gallipoli, as well as extensive lawns, BBQ facilities, a rotunda and a children’s playground.
Getting there
Driving is the best way to get to Sorrento, as public transport from Melbourne means a train to Frankston followed by a 90-minute bus trip. If you’re on the other side of Port Phillip Bay, you can take the ferry from Queenscliff to Sorrento – a delightful way to travel.
Searoad Ferries runs the Queenscliff–Sorrento crossing roughly every hour between 7am and 6pm, and the trip itself takes about 40 minutes. It’s worth booking ahead in peak season, as sailings can fill up, and allow extra time for check-in if you’re bringing a car. Dogs are welcome on board too.
If you’d rather avoid the crowds, a weekday visit or a trip outside the summer school holidays makes for a far more relaxed stroll along Ocean Beach Road, with easier parking to match.
Accessibility
The Millionaire’s Walk has uneven ground and multiple gates that must be opened and closed along the way. There are no toilets on the walk itself, so make you go before starting, either at the Sorrento Information Centre near the pier or back in the village.
Heading off on your own Melbourne adventures? Join our Facebook Group and share your stories, ask questions and connect with others for further inspiration.
