Point Nepean National Park: Shuttle Bus $12, Car Entry 6am to 8pm in Summer, and the 788 Bus from Frankston (Portsea, VIC)

Point Nepean National Park is open daily, and cars can enter between 6am and 8pm during daylight saving (6am to 6pm otherwise). From the front entrance, a hop-on hop-off shuttle bus runs to the Quarantine Station and Fort Nepean for $12.00 per adult. Parks Victoria’s pages, read on 9 November 2026, give no entry fee or parking charge. The park is at the western tip of the Mornington Peninsula, 110 km south of Melbourne near Portsea.

How do I drive to Point Nepean?

Parks Victoria says the park is 110 km south of Melbourne near Portsea. If you drive, take the M1, then EastLink (M3), then the Mornington Peninsula Freeway (M11), and follow the signs to Portsea along Point Nepean Road. The other way in by car is the Queenscliff to Sorrento vehicle and passenger ferry run by Searoad Ferries, which operates daily and connects with Point Nepean Road at Sorrento.

Entry rule	What Parks Victoria says
Vehicles entering	6am to 6pm; 6am to 8pm during daylight saving
Vehicles leaving	At any time
Pedestrians and cyclists	Can enter and exit at any time
Information Centre	Open daily from 10am, except Christmas Day
Quarantine Station buildings	Selected buildings open from 9am to 4:30pm daily

Can I get there by public transport?

Yes. Parks Victoria says visitors can catch a suburban train from Melbourne to Frankston, or the Searoad ferry from Queenscliff to Sorrento, and then take the Public Transport Victoria bus 788 to Portsea, which terminates at the national park entrance. The 788 timetable is on the Public Transport Victoria website, and ferry times are on the Searoad Ferries website.

An internal park shuttle bus operates from the nearby Entrance Station Picnic Area car park, a 100 m walk from the entrance gate, and links with the 788 bus. Parks Victoria gives these connection times from the front entrance:

Connection with the 788 bus	Time
Morning pick-up to the Quarantine Station	10:25am
Drop-off at the front entrance	1:00pm
Afternoon pick-up	1:30pm
Last drop-off at the front entrance	4:15pm, or 4:45pm during daylight saving

How does the Point Nepean shuttle work?

The Point Nepean Shuttle is a hop-on hop-off service between the front entrance, the Quarantine Station and Fort Nepean. You can hop off at the designated stops or stay on and return to the stop where you boarded. It is operated by Ventura Buslines under a permit with Parks Victoria, and it runs every day of the year, including public holidays, except Christmas Day. Parks Victoria asks you to be at the stop at least five minutes before the scheduled time and says times may change.

Ticket	Price
Adult	$12.00 per person
Child, ages 4 to 16	$8.00
Child under 4	Free
Concession (Seniors Card, Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card)	$8.00 per person
Group of 15 or more	$8.00 per person; booking at least a day ahead is recommended

Tickets are bought from the driver at the designated stops, by most credit cards or cash, and are valid for the day of purchase only. One-way tickets are not available. The shuttle is a single 55-seat bus that takes standard wheelchairs, but not motorised or scooter-style chairs or the Parks Victoria all-terrain wheelchairs, and bicycles cannot go on the bus. A second shuttle runs mainly in peak periods such as Christmas, Easter and the summer school holidays, depending on demand and weather. The shuttle’s phone number is 1300 836 887, and its live tracker is linked from the Parks Victoria page. For group bookings, the page gives 1300VENTURA or charterbookings@venturabus.com.au.

How far is Fort Nepean, and where do I leave the car?

Parks Victoria says Fort Nepean is only accessible on foot, by bicycle or by shuttle bus. It says to leave your car at the Quarantine Station, Gunners Cottage or front entrance car parks.

Start	Distance to Fort Nepean	Walking time one way
Quarantine Station car park	About 4.5 km	1 hour 15 minutes
Gunners Cottage car park	About 3 km	45 minutes
Front entrance gate	About 5.5 km	About 1 hour 45 minutes

The Quarantine Station is 2.3 km from the Entrance Station Picnic Area car park along the shared bicycle and walking track. Parks Victoria suggests allowing at least an hour at Fort Nepean itself.

Can I cycle?

Yes. Cycling is permitted in the Quarantine Station area, along Defence Road to Fort Nepean and along Coles Track, which is a shared path with walkers. Helmets must be worn, speed limits followed, and the park recommends a lock when you leave your bike. You can bring your own bike or hire one from local operators; Parks Victoria names BayPlay (5984 0888) and Emocean.

What is there to see and do?

• Quarantine Station: established in 1852, with nearly 50 heritage-listed buildings; four electric BBQs are provided and you may bring your own gas BBQ in the Quarantine Station precinct only. Open fires, including charcoal BBQs, are not permitted.
• Fort Nepean: a fortification that protected Melbourne in both world wars, with gun emplacements, tunnels, barracks and ammunition magazines.
• Audio tours: available from the Point Nepean Information Centre.
• Cheviot Beach: Parks Victoria says access is not permitted for safety and conservation reasons; a viewing platform is 30 m off Defence Road.
• Swimming: permitted at the bay beach and the Quarantine Station, with a warning about strong currents and rips. Access from the shore to ocean beaches and marine national parks is prohibited.
• Staying overnight: the Point Nepean Discovery Tents campground has pre-pitched canvas tents.

Is anything closed or restricted right now?

Parks Victoria’s Fort Nepean and shuttle pages list these conditions as of 9 November 2026:

Where	What the page says
Fort Nepean Engine House	A landslip has closed a section of the walking track. Access to the Engine House is only via stairs from the Parade Ground, and entry inside is closed after engineering inspections
Fort Nepean Defence Complex	Restoration works under the Heritage Icons Project may limit access to some features at various times; the works are expected to be completed by May 2027
The Bend	The beach access steps and track are closed because of storm damage; walkers on the Bay Beach Walk who want to continue to Fort Nepean are advised to take Coles Track from Observatory Point
Drinking water	None beyond the Quarantine Station, so the page advises carrying water to Fort Nepean

What has not been confirmed?

• Any entry or parking fee: the Parks Victoria pages read give none.
• The number of car park spaces at each car park: the pages give none.
• The 788 bus times: they are on the Public Transport Victoria website, not on the Parks Victoria pages.

Sources

• Parks Victoria — Point Nepean National Park (getting there, hours, cycling, BBQs; checked 9 November 2026)
• Parks Victoria — Point Nepean shuttle service (times, prices, access; checked 9 November 2026)
• Parks Victoria — Fort Nepean (access, walking distances; checked 9 November 2026)
• Parks Victoria — Quarantine Station and Point Nepean Historic Highlights (history, walks, Cheviot Beach; checked 9 November 2026)

Featured image: a Ventura shuttle bus at Point Nepean National Park (photo: Philip Mallis / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)

OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Parks Victoria, Ventura Buslines or Searoad Ferries. Hours and fares can change; check the Parks Victoria website before you go.