Arthurs Seat has been an Aboriginal gathering site, was climbed by early explorers to get their bearings and today is a popular leisure parkland on top of the Mornington Peninsula’s tallest hill. Take a gondola ride, have drinks with a view, explore the walking tracks and enjoy the panoramic views.
Getting to Arthurs Seat is part of the attraction. As you drive along the twisting road, stop at the various lookout points for different views. Taking about 15 minutes each way, the Arthurs Seat Eagle is a fast and scenic option to get up the hill. This state-of-the art gondola provides bird’s-eye views of the Mornington Peninsula.
Once you have reached the top, take a seat in the large green chair known as Arthurs Seat for a great photo opportunity. During drinks or lunch at the café of the Arthurs Hotel, enjoy sprawling views across the bay with the Melbourne skyline in the distance.
Read the signs that explain the history of the hill. Standing 1,030 feet (314 meters) above sea level, Arthurs Seat has been used as a vantage point for millennia. The local Boonwurrung people called the hill Wongo and it is believed that ritual Aboriginal dance ceremonies, called “corroborees,” were held on its lower slopes. The current name originates in 1802. European explorers named it after the similar looking Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh, Scotland.
If you are feeling energetic, tackle some of the walking or mountain biking trails in the Arthurs Seat State Park. The easy Arthurs Seat Circuit Walk takes in some of the main points around the summit and the Kings Falls Circuit Walk takes in waterfalls of the same name.
Explore the enchanting hilltop Seawinds Gardens, filled with exotic trees, native plants, birdsong and grazing kangaroos. As you wander, look for the sculptures of Aborigines by the Australian artist William Ricketts. Pause a while by the tranquil pond to spend a moment in quiet contemplation.
Arthurs Seat is about 2 hour’s drive from Melbourne. If you are driving, park for free in several lots around the park. The public park is open day and night and is free to enter. The gondola departs from Arthurs Seat Road and you can buy a return or one-way ticket.
