Our Weekend away at RACV Cape Schanck Resorts, Mornington Peninsula.

We had an exciting morning with a call from Oregon, USA with our friends Rich and Elizabeth wanting to discuss elements of our Holiday in October 2018 and our visit to Portland from Vancouver in October 2018.

Jeanette had lunch of toasted sandwiches, finger buns and fruit then we departed having packed earlier.  The drive of about 90 minutes was uneventful.  We arrived in Cape Schanck at about 1.45pm but our sea view villa wasn’t ready so we were offered a drink in the lounge overlooking the golf course.  The building is just superb, the facilities outstanding and we have booked dinner in the new signature restaurant for 6.30pm. 

We are in a Seaview room overlooking the golf course with king bed and balcony overlooking the golf course and out across the superb National golf club. 

Ken disappeared to go to the pro shop for a bucket of balls, but was informed currently no driving facilities, but he can use his own on the practice facilities and putting green.  He enjoyed himself.  

Came back to watch the last quarter of AFL with our team eventually winning easily over the Western Bulldogs. An important win, making 6 victories in a row, the longest winning streak for some 40 years. 

Time to then celebrate with a beautiful South Australian Shiraz and a Bundaberg Dry Ginger.  We are relaxing watching a beautiful sunset on the second day of winter.

We will shortly change for dinner and we have a drive from the Villas back to the Club reception and dining area.

It has been a fantastic afternoon. 

The new RACV resort at Cape Schank simply superb. 

Ken used the pitching and putting practice facilities.

Just perfect. How clever was this . Needed to step back to take photos.

How good is this driving around to the pro shop

A beautiful late afternoon early winter sunset.

well done Jeanette, beautiful photo of the amazing sunset looking over a Bass Strait, one of the most dangerous waterways in the world. But today with no wind it is just spectacular scenery.

Dinner at Cape restaurant .

We had enjoyed a pre dinner drink and drove from our Villa (616) to the underground car park, caught the lift to the Restaurant and we were seated by 6.35pm.  It is a stunning contemporary fitout with stunning lighting arrangements. We chose a two course special meal, both electing to have the John Dory fish.  Ken had chicken wings as a starter .  They were beautiful with stuffing of mussels and scallops in an onion and cheese consommé.

Jeanette on the other hand chose a dessert named chocolate fondant, which can only be described as “to die for”. 

We concluded our meal at 8.15pm, paid the account and caught the lift down to the car park.  It is a clear but cold frosty night, with a very heavy dew. Back in our warm villa by 8.25pm and changed.  It has been a fantastic afternoon and evening. 

Weather forecasts for tomorrow and Monday are for more of the same. 

Sunday 3rd June Sightseeing on the Mornington Peninsula. 

We slept in a little, but a Jeanette had a restless night, and we think it may have come from the beautiful but very rich topping on the John Dory. 

Breakfast in our room overlooking the Bass Strait with several cargo ships plying their way towards the port of Melbourne. We then read the newspapers before showering and planning our day. 

At 10.15am we depart and make our way toward the Cape Schanck Lighthouse, where we park in the car park then walk up the hill to overlook the rough surf and the lighthouse on the peak of the promentary. There are many day trippers and hikers, in the precinct.  Ken comments that it is the first time that we have visited this open area, where there is no wind. 

It is a perfect morning and we are delighted to be out and about.

Looking from the observation platform.

We walked along one of the tracks took in the spectacular views back toward the famous light houses, which has overlooked this area, where many ships sank on rocks through the 1850-1930’s. 

From here we travelled back to Gunnamatta Surf beach one of the most dangerous beaches in all Australia, with spectacular surf and dangerous reefs and currents.  Unfortunately, it has been the scene of many rescues and much drama as people are swept out to sea by the strong currents and rips. 

Today it is surprisingly benign, with smaller surf than the usual thundering rolling waves.  But there are many people about and the usual plethora of multi aged surfers all chasing waves.   But there is little action in the 25 minutes that we are here.   

Looking back over the surf toward the lighthouse that we visited earlier.

A rare day at Gunnamatta Beach for fishing. There were some 15-20 fisherman out in the surf over about 800 metres of this beautiful beach.

Not much activity for the many surfers.

This was the only large wave of 10-12 foot that we saw over the 30 minutes at Gunnamatta Suf Beach.

So time to move on for morning tea. 

Then we decided to drive to Portsea Golf Club, because Jeanette hasn’t seen the beautiful new clubhouse.  Before this we went to Portsea Surf Beach, but it was very flat and had been vacated by the surfers. 

We walked around the Clubhouse and the Verandas taking in the panoramic views as two ships entered Port Phillip Bay sailing through the Heads from Bass Straits.  You feel as if you are close enough to touch the ships. 

The balcony looking back towards Port Phillip Bay

Then we decided to have lunch at the Golf Club, rather than find a winery. Jeanette was still feeling uncomfortable following dinner last evening. So we had a drink in the lounge, before going into the dining area where we enjoyed hearty Steak Sandwiches and a drink.  We looked at the desserts but decided against thinking we may have something back at RACV Cape Schanck resort in the Light house lounge.

We departed after taking in the view over the back 9 holes.  Then drove into the townships of Portsea and then Sorrento considered having Vanilla Slices, but decided to be good.  The weather remained cool and there are showers threatening as we arrive back at our resort. 

Ken decides to use the putting green and the sand trap for some practice.  After some 50 minutes a shower, which turned out to be quite heavy and lasted 20 minutes, came through, then another 20 minutes of bunker practice, before a heavier shower arrived. 

Then inside for a Cappuccino where Ken met people from Kew GC down for lunch in the Cape Restaurant. I commented that we enjoyed the meal, last evening.

He then took some photos of the pool and spa area, simply superb as well as the lounge and restaurant and then the casual food restaurant.  

At 4.20pm time to go back to our Villa and Jeanette suggested drinks. 

Superb views from the Balcony at Portsea Golf Club looking back toward Port Phillip Bay.

Jeanette in the lounge at Portsea Golf Club

Terrific steak sandwich! Just great. We both enjoyed.

The entrance foyer to RACV Cape Schanck resort. A spectacular property on the beautiful Mornington Peninsula

Ken then walked through the resort taking some photos. 

We have enjoyed this short break away.  Fantastic facilities, comfortable room.  Great views out over the golf course and Bass Strait down to the superb National Golf Club with its 3 courses.

Dinner this evening is snacks and a light meal. 

The heated indoor pool, Just wonderful. 

The hot tub area.

The smaller pizza and light meals restaurant.

The Lighthouse Lounge with spectacular views.

The superb Cape Restaurant. We enjoyed a high quality meal on Saturday evening.

Modern contemporary furniture in the Lighthouse Lounge.

Back to our villa.  A delightful sunset with sun shining through the threatening clouds, but after the earlier rain it has cleared somewhat. 

We watched the GWS vs Adelaide at Adelaide Oval and it was a hard contest.

Then enjoyed a light meal. 

Think we are both a little flat after one of our young footballers playing his first year, Jake Lever , did his ACL in an innocuous incident and will require a full reconstruction and miss a year of AFL.

We will depart at about 10.00am tomorrow.  It has been a lovely break.  When we first contemplated going away it was with the expectation that Ken would be back on the golf course and able to play on the attractive RACV Cape Schanck course on the resort as well as Portsea.  Not to be but still recovering slowly and no pain, so a good result.