Sorrento has a population of 2,013 (2021 census), and an area of 7 km2.
Sorrento’s commercial centre is located at the bay end of Ocean Beach Road. This wide, attractive boulevard features a variety of shops, restaurants and cafes.
At the western end of Sorrento Front Beach is the Sorrento Pier which is used by a passenger and car ferry which links Sorrento to Queenscliff on the Bellarine Peninsula.
At the north-western end of Sorrento’s bay coastline is Point King where Lieutenant Murray, on his exploration of Port Phillip in 1802, raised the Union Jack and claimed the land for the British. There is a monument to commemorate this event and a scenic coastal track from which splendid views along the coast in all directions can be enjoyed.
Another scenic area to explore along the ocean coastline is Diamond Bay. Some spectacular views can be enjoyed of the coastline here with its many rocky outcrops and sandy beaches. It is protected by the Mornington Peninsula National Park where there are several walking tracks and stairways providing access to the beach below.
From the 1870s actor and entrepreneur George Coppin, who had a holiday home there, invested heavily in making Sorrento a popular destination through both transportation and accommodation. In 1874 he founded the Sorrento-Queenscliff Steam Navigation Company, which operated a paddle steamer between Port Melbourne, Sorrento and Queenscliff, making the town much more accessible, and built the Continental Hotel in 1875 on what was then called Ocean Amphitheatre Road (now Ocean Beach Road).
Darbys Rock off the back beach was named after John Darbyshire who was marooned there during a king tide.
Dame Nellie Melba sang to raise funds for cemetery gates which rusted over time and were taken down and dumped at the tip where they were souvenired and used as a garden ornament. Federal Senator John Button, State MP Vince Heffernan, and Dame Zara (Holt) Bate are buried in the cemetery.
Sorrento was the site of Victoria’s first official European settlement which was established by Lieutenant-Colonel David Collins in 1803. A monument honouring this historic event has been erected at Eastern Sister which is located near the south-eastern end of Sorrento’s bay coastline. There is an elevated coastal walkway which leads to an information centre and several lookouts which provide scenic views across beach and bay.
Coffee Safari
Freshly brewed coffee is a must-have for weekends away and the Mornington Peninsula’s coffee haunts are second to none. Here are just a few to check out when you head down to this beautiful part of the world.
FLAT BLK
138 Ocean Beach Rd, Sorrento
A small, quirky cafe in the heart of Sorrento, serving Little Rebel coffee and yummy, homemade sweet treats.
The Sorrento Social
119-125 Ocean Beach Rd, Sorrento
Something for everyone served by enthusiastic staff with a smile. The smashed avo toast, house-made granola, superfood salads and mango smoothies hit just right.
What to do
Whether it’s strolling the artists trail, or millionaires walk, swimming with the dolphins, checking out the historical sites or even doing a bit of ghost spotting, there is always something to do in Sorrento.
Explore the rock pools at back beach or set said aboard Searoad Ferries to Queenscliff. Meander along the foreshore and pier and up to Watts Cottage to hear stories of bygone times.
Try Sorrento’s famous vanilla slice or head to one of the many restaurants along the main road in the town that brings together a mix of rich history, beach and lifestyle, as well as a hive of galleries at your fingertips.
Photography: Yanni
