I SUPed, Snorkled, and Hiked Through the Most Beautiful Parts of the Mornington Peninsula

Neisha squished more into one day on the Mornington Peninsula than most people manage in a long weekend and left absolutely buzzing!

 

We Are Explorers acknowledges that this adventure is located on the traditional Country of the Boon Wurrung people who have occupied and cared for the lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

 

Wild Adventures Melbourne – also known as WAM – isn’t your average tour company. They’re an eco-conscious, regenerative tourism business with a serious sense of adventure and care for the environment – think things like Pinot and Paddle, snorkel safaris, even snow trips. If you’re looking for something extra, I would highly recommend them!

Our adventure was made possible through a We Are Explorers collab with Mastercard. It’s exclusive, one-of-a-kind, and only available to Mastercard cardholders – I can confidently say that it was a Priceless Experience!

We started with an early morning pickup from Melbourne in the WAM van, driven by Nic, the founder. And trust me, WAM is a very appropriate name, because that’s basically what this day does to you! It was jam-packed (in the best kind of way) with adventure, food, education, and fun!

Book Your Spot: Uncover Mornington Peninsula’s Hidden Waterways

 

 

Nic’s built something pretty special down on the Peninsula, and lucky for me, my day included SUPs, snorkels, a coastal hike, and a delicious spread with locally-grown produce.

The morning started off on the sand with a quick briefing and a little intro to our small group, followed by braving the cold to squeeze into wetsuits under an overcast sky.

 

‘Everything was taken care of, suits, fins, boards, even little details like glasses holders.’

 

Was I a bit chilly? Yes. A bit nervous? Also yes. But the second I hit the water all of my worries were out the window and I warmed up pretty fast once my muscles got to work.

Pretty quickly, I was gliding around a cliff face on a paddle board, in near-total silence, with the ocean all to myself and only the sound of the paddle skimming the water. It’s this calming, powerful, and exciting feeling all bundled into one, and I was much more graceful than I thought!

 

 

Something I love about SUPs is that, whether you’re experienced or not, anyone can do it. You’re also working out without even realising, it’s a win win!

Nic guided our little group around the coastline – chatting, gliding, genuinely enjoying ourselves. The boards were rock solid, much better than my one at home, and I don’t think a single person went in. A miracle, or a testament to Nic. Probably both.

 

 

After about half an hour on the water, we arrived at the base of the cliffs – a small beach only reachable by board. SUPs down, snorkel gear on, there wasn’t a second of hesitation before everyone jumped in.

 

 

‘The water was clear, a deep blue that could have passed for somewhere tropical. It was shallow in parts, deeper in others, a very beginner friendly, choose-your-own-adventure kind of thing.’

 

Sting rays, schools of fish, and kelp dancing in the sunlight were all super pretty, especially with fins on, gliding through the water with muffled ocean noises in my ears. It felt magical and peaceful. Forty five minutes passed quickly, so with a few duck dives Nic guided us back to Mount Martha Beach on our boards for morning tea.

 

‘You’d be forgiven for thinking that was the day sorted, it wasn’t. Not even close.’

 

Next up was Devilbend Natural Features Reserve, the Peninsula’s largest inland waterway. A 250-hectare reservoir wrapped in native vegetation, and not a single engine-powered watercraft in sight. No jetskis or waves, and no white-knuckling your board every time something loud flies past.

Nic had a special key to get us through the gate as part of this Priceless Experience, which made us feel very important as we drove in through lush green forest tracks that opened up to a glistening freshwater reservoir teeming with birdlife, the vibe shift was immediate.

From rugged coastline to something almost fairytale quiet. I’d barely arrived before I was back on the board, sitting down with a hot tea in hand, floating down the river surrounded by native bushland.

 

 

It was less of a ride, more of a drift. The perfect antidote to a morning in the ocean, it was calm, unhurried, and restorative. To me, it balanced the tour perfectly. Back on the shore, lunch awaited!

There was a picnic lunch of local cheeses, breads, dips, fruits and these particularly good sparkling soft drinks with native ingredients that everyone was a fan of.

 

 

Feeling refuelled from our drift on the lake (and lunch!), we piled into the WAM van once more and headed to our last destination on the Mornington Peninsula.

 

Just when I thought you couldn’t squish any more adventure into one day, I did! Saving the best till last, we enjoyed a pretty spectacular coastal hike through native bushland trails, with rolling hills and clifftops, and a little rock scramble to a naturally-formed rock pool for a swim to cap off the day.

And what a day it was. I climbed back into the WAM van to Melbourne feeling both spent and  refreshed. One day, one small group, four activities that spanned the ocean, lakes, good food, coastal trails, rock pool cold plunges, and a bit of downtime.

I felt like I’d unlocked something special thanks to Mastercard’s Priceless, and I don’t think you’ll find a more balanced experience in a more stunning location. Book your spot on priceless.com.

Check out our Mastercard Priceless page to explore all of the Priceless Experiences!