Okay, you’re wondering why we would mention another Mornington Peninsula accommodation that competes with Cape Schanck Lighthouse, but really there is no comparison. The Peppers Resort at Moonah Links Golf Course is a large accommodation capable of serving 100′s of guests. Their main focus is golf holidays, but Peppers Resort at Moonah Links is also the premier accommodation for Meetings and Conventions in Mornington Peninsula. Our Cape Schanck accommodation is close and intimate with a strong history and connection to the nature.

Moonah Links Golf Course

Moonah Links has two 18 hole golf courses of national renown: The Open and The Legends. The Open is one of the few golf courses in the Australian Open Tour where you non-members can easily book a round of golf, but The Legends is also one of the more pleasurable golf courses on Mornington Peninsula. (See our Map of Mornington Peninsula Golf Courses)

Accommodation at Peppers Moonah Links Resort

All accommodation at Peppers Moonah Links is designed with luxury in mind. You’ll have private patios and balconies overlooking the courses, tennis courts, pools, gym, restaurant and spa facilities…. If you’re planning to golf at Moonah Links, we recommend Peppers Moonah Links Resort.

Availability and Rates at Mornington Peninsula’s Peppers Resort

Click this link to get special pricing and to make bookings for Peppers Moonah Links Resort

You can see all sorts of fish and animals the frequent the water in Port Phillip bay just off our beaches.

The Rye Pier creates a natural gathering place where you’ll often see seals, rays and other fish.

From Sorrento you can join the Moonraker and take guided snorkeling tours to swim with dolphins and seals.

Snorkel off Rye Pier

Join the crew of the Moonraker on their award winning Dolphin Swims daily departing from Sorrento Pier.  The Moonraker is a 70 foot motor yacht set up for day cruises on Port Phillip Bay. You’ll be taken to the best snorkelling spots where you can swim dolphins and Australian Fur Seals. We’ll explore underwater marine parks with easily accessible reefs full of fish.

Dolphin Swim Tours include light refreshments, all snorkeling equipment as well as an introductory on-board snorkel demonstration. The Moonraker is a 70 foot Luxury motor launch with showers and change rooms, lounge and sun deck and walk in water access. If you’re not wanting to get in the water, you can enjoy the show from the Sun Deck.

Moonraker Dolphin Swim is an award winning licensed Dolphin Swimming tour operator in Victoria. We are always looking out for the welfare of the marine environment while we work to assure your time is both enjoyable and fully supervised for your protection.

Dolphin Swim Tours leave from the Sorrento Pier which is  around 20 minutes from Cape Schanck by car.

View Pricing and Availability for Moonraker Dolphin Tours.

Discount Accommodation for Golden Chain Members

The value you get staying in a Golden Chain Motel is discount accommodation for guests with a free Gold Link Travel Club card. Some conditions will apply, but in most cases you’ll get a 10% discount when you book direct.

You’ll also have the knowledge that you’re staying in an accommodation that meets the standards of Australia’s largest accommodation group.

Win Free Accommodation and $1400 Cash

Guests of Cape Schanck will also go into a draw where they can win 14 nights accommodation for 2 at any Golden Chain Motel in any location as well as $1400 cash. Everyone loves FREE Accommodation and you’re entered when you stay at Cape Schanck Lighthouse.

I came across this promotional video today by Tourism Victoria showing off some of the highlights of Mornington Peninsula. You’ll see the vibrant colours of the beach huts along Port Philip Bay, the Ashcombe Maze, Montalto Winery, the Sorrento Ferry and of course – Cape Schanck Light House.

From Cape Schanck, you can easily access all the best features of the Mornington Peninsula and we have some great accommodation packages to make your stay in Mornington extraordinary!

At Montalto Winery, guests can enjoy wine with food and friends in 3 beautifully dining experiences: a la carte dining in our Restaurant, casual dining in our Piazza and Garden Café and catered picnics at selected locations on the estate.

Montalto Winery Lunch & Accommodation for 2 Nights feature:

• Lunch midweek at Montalto winery (two courses and a glass of wine)
• Midweek Accommodation at the Cape (two nights for two persons)
• Continental Breakfast each morning
• Lighthouse Tour and Museum Entry

Check Availability and Rates

Map to Montalto Winery from Cape Schanck

Peninsula Hot Springs Accommodation Package:

• Accommodation for 2 nights at Cape Schanck Light House
• Peninsula Hot Springs bathing entry
• Lighthouse Tour
• Lighthouse Museum Entry
• Continental Breakfast

Guests will receive priority entry any time at Peninsula Hot Springs.  This Accommodation Package is based on 2 Adults occupancy at $195.00 per person. This mid-week package is available for Monday to Thursday nights only and not during school holidays or public Holidays. Please Check Availability and Rates for all Cape Schanck Accommodation Packages as prices and availability will vary.

Peninsula Hot Springs are about 10k from the Cape Schanck Lighthouse Reserve and much closer as the crow flies. A visit to the Hotsprings is a must for any Mornington Peninsula holiday and can be arranged whether you book an accommodation package or simple book accommodation.

For a long time I use to write Cape Schank Lighthouse, but I had to catch myself and make the correction to Cape Schanck Lighthouse. I also updated my spell checker because it was confused as well. When you talk about a lighthouse or a geographical location; spelling is totally arbitrary. The correct answer is whatever they have on the map or at the post office. In fact, even maps differ depending on their origin and language.

How did Cape Schanck Victoria get its Name?

So, I did a little digging today on the history of Cape Schanck Lighthouse and looked at how it got it’s name. According to Wikipedia (so of course this is an indisputable fact) Cape Schanck was named in 1800 after a Captain John Schank. But wait a second, did this guy misspell his name when they marked the map??? Is it Schanck or Schank?

Admiral John Schank - the namesake of Cape Schanck Victoria

Wikipedia goes on to devote a whole page to this dubiously spelled Schank character because he’s eventually elevated to the status of Admiral John Schanck.

Apparently, Schank sailed past Cape Schanck on the Lady Nelson on one of the first expeditions east from Port Philip bay where they eventually sailed up the coast to NSW.

In passing, they decided to call it Cape Schanck, but really I wonder how they spelled it???

Another team led by the French explorer, cartographer, naturalist and hydrographer Nicolas-Thomas Baudin tried to rename the Cape Schanck to ‘Cap Richelieu’, but there’s no way that was going to happen.

Spelling Cape Schank gets even more Confusing

To make matters of spelling Schanck even more confusing, John Schank was famous for design of ships and fittings. Part of the purpose of the journey when they named Cape Schanck was to test the new keel design on the Lady Nelson.

Lady Nelson was built in 1798 as a cutter for mercantile service, and to the design of the cutter Trial. Like Trial, she was fitted with three Shank sliding or drop keels (actually removable centreboards). (The Shank keels were the invention of naval architect Captain John Schank.) The fore and aft centreboards were 3 feet long, and the centre one was 6 feet long. With them up the vessel drew only 6-7 feet instead of the 13 feet that would be more usual for vessels her size. The crew could drop the centreboards 7 feet through a relatively flat hull for stability in deeper waters.^[1]

Why would John Schank be famous for the “Shank Keels“? Is this again a misspelling or just a liberal example that just about any spelling is correct?

How do you spell Cape Shank?

1. Cape Schanck Lighthouse,
2. Cape Schank Lighthouse, or
3. Cape Shank Lighthouse

You decide. My spell checker seems to have trouble with them all.

Cape Schanck from Ben Colson on Vimeo.