PORT PHILLIP AND WESTERNPORT BAYS
Two semicircular stretches of bayside land curve south from Melbourne to circum¬scribe Port Phillip and Westernport Bays: the Bellarine Peninsula to the east and the Momington Peninsula to the west. This was the site of the first white settlement in Vic¬toria (near Sorrento, see p. 521), a squalid effort that failed within a few years. By the later 19th century, however, its spectacular bay views and sunny, temperate climate made it the site of choice for summer homes of the goldfield-spawned nouveau riche. With the exception of Phillip Island and its way-popular fairy penguins, this area remains largely a haunt of the hoity-toity, a fact that deters most backpackers. Too bad—there are plenty of budget opportunities here that allow everyone to enjoy the awesome scenery, sandy beaches, excellent surfing, and outdoorsy fun.