Melbourne/Frankston

Frankston is a town 40km from Melbourne on the edge of Port Phillip Bay often referred to as the "Gateway to the Mornington Peninsula". Frankston is where the electric train line terminates. If you are a backpacker heading to the Mornington Peninsula, French Island or Phillip Island chances are you're going to go through Frankston. It has a beautiful beach, vibrant street art, many restaurants, bars and shops.

Events

Frankston is home to several festivals;

• Waterfront Festival in January.
• Ventana Fiesta, a Latin American, Portuguese and Spanish festival in March.
• Big Picture Fest, a street art festival in March.
• Pets Day Out in October.
• Festival of Lights in late November.

A Sand Sculpting display runs from December to April.

Tourist Information

• Frankston City Council

  phone: 1300 322 322 (local rate)

• Frankston Visitor Information Centre

  phone: +61 3 9768-1444
  address: 7N Pier Promenade, Frankston Waterfront

Car

Bus

• 781 bus from Mt Martha via Mt Eliza, Mornington.
• 782 bus from Flinders via Coolart Road, Hastings.
• 783 bus from Hastings via Coolart Road.
• 782/783 combined from Hastings/Flinders via Coolart Road.
• 788 bus from Portsea via Dromana, Rosebud, Sorrento.
• 901 bus from Melbourne airport via Dandenong.
• Frankston and Peninsula Airport Shuttle - a much faster more expensive option than the 901 bus.

Train

• Frankston line from Melbourne.
• Stony Point line.

• Frankston Taxis

  phone: +61 3 9786-3322

• Boathouse Gallery

  phone: +61 488-123-088
  address: 368 Nepean Hwy, Frankston

• Cruden Farm

  phone: +61 3 9789-1676
  address: 60 Cranbourne Rd, Langwarrin

• Dame Elizabeth Murdoch Arboretum

  address: Edward Street, Langwarrin

• Frankston Arts Centre

  phone: +61 3 9784-1060
  address: Davey Street, Frankston

• Frankston Library

  phone: +61 3 9784-1020
  address: 60 Playne St
  Books, CD's, DVD's, Kids Storytime, Internet.

• George Pentland Botanic Gardens

  address: Williams Street

• McClelland Gallery & Sculpture Park

  phone: +61 3 9789-1671
  address: 360 - 390 McClelland Drive, Langwarrin

• Street ArtThroughout Frankston's laneways are significant works of art. Visit the Big Picture Fest website for a map and details.

BMX

• Frankston BMX Club

  address: 101R Old Wells Road, Seaford
  BMX Track

• Langwarrin Pump Track

  address: Lloyd Park, Cranbourne/Frankston Road, Langwarrin
  BMX Track

Bowls

• Barefoot Bowls

  phone: +61 3 9783-2877
  address: Cnr Yuille & William Streets
  It’s a fun night for families and a sausage sizzle is included.

Golf

• Centenary Park Public Golf Course

  phone: +61 3 9776-6505
  address: 300 Centenary Park Drive, Frankston

• Frankston Golf Club

  phone: +61 3 9783-9266
  address: Golf Links Rd, Frankston

• Long Island Country Club

  phone: +61 3 9786-4122
  address: 165-235 Frankston-Dandenong Rd, Frankston

• Peninsula Kingswood Country Golf Club

  phone: +61 3 9789-2222
  address: Skye Road, Frankston

Skate

• Frankston Skate Park

  phone: +61 3 9769-6579
  address: 16 N Cranbourne Rd

• Langwarrin Skate Park

  address: 185N Cranbourne-Frankston Rd, Langwarrin

• Seaford Skate Park

  address: 50R Railway Parade, Seaford

Tennis

• Bruce Park Tennis Club

  address: Bruce Park, Margate Ave

• Frankston Tennis Club

• Overport Park Tennis Club

  phone: +61 3 9787-4113
  address: Corner Overport & Somerset Roads

• Yamala Park Tennis Club

  phone: +61 3 9787-8043
  address: Corner Ithaca Road and Bowes Street, Frankston South

Nature Reserves

• Frankston Nature Conservation Reserve

  address: Jeremy Way, Frankston South
  Bush walking and cycling. Pedestrian access is available at any time via Jeremy Way, Harry Court, Frankston-Flinders Road, Rinella Bushland Reserve and Lawson Avenue. Vehicle access to the visitor carpark via Jeremy Way, Frankston South, between the hours of 6.00am-9.00pm during daylight hours, and 7.00am-7.00pm in non-daylight savings hours.

• Kananook Creek Reserve

  address: Between Eel Race Road, Seaford and Overton Road, Frankston
  Kananook Creek walking track runs for 7.5km parallel to the coastline linking Seaford Wetlands to Frankston Foreshore. The creek reserve is home to many indigenous plants and animals and is one of Frankston's most beautiful natural environments, providing a unique and picturesque place for people to commune with nature in the midst of our urban landscape. Canoe launching sites to access the Creek are located at Riviera Street, Broughton Street Reserve and near McCulloch Avenue.

• Langwarrin Flora and Fauna Reserve

• Paratea Flora and Fauna Reserve

• The Pines Flora and Fauna ReserveThe lookouts in the reserve provide awesome views on the Dandenong Ranges.

• Seaford Wetlands261 hectares of predominantly freshwater swamps. It is prohibited to bring cats to the reserve.

• Sweet Water Creek Reserve

Parks

• Ballam Park

  address: 260R Cranbourne Road, Frankston
  Barbecues, basketball ring, playgrounds, flying fox. The Park is home to Ballam Park Homestead, a historic home and museum from the 1850s run by the Frankston Historical Society.

• Beauty Park

  address: Spring St, Frankston
  Outdoor fitness facilities. Lake.

• Jubilee ParkBarbecues, basketball ring, cricket nets, playgrounds, wetland area.

Other stuff

• CyclingThere are several bicycle paths around Frankston. The longest is the Peninsula Link Trail which is 25km. It begins at Patterson Lakes and ends near Moorooduc Station (Mornington Railway), Mt Eliza Regional Park and Moorooduc Quarry Flora and Fauna Reserve. It is a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians. It interconnects with the Dandenong Creek Trail and the Frankston-Baxter Trail which follows the Stony Point train line from Frankston to Baxter.

• PARC - Peninsula Aquatic Recreation Centre

  phone: +61 3 9781-8444
  address: Cnr Cranbourne Rd & Olive Grove
  Pools, water slides, gym.

• Frankston Sunday Market

  phone: +61 3 9462 1520
  address: Young Street
  Art and craft, plants, second hand goods, jam donuts.

• Seaford Farmers Market

  address: Station Street, Seaford
  Fresh produce.

• Wells Street Market

  address: Wells Street

• Little Beauty Market

  address: Beauty Park, Frankston

There are several food courts located within the shopping centers offering a wide range of food such as Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Indian, Italian, not to mention all the regular fast food chains. Pizza, Fish and Chips there is no shortage of choices.

• Beach 162

  phone: +61 3 9783-7109
  address: 160-162 Beach St, Frankston

• Boathouse Restaurant

  phone: +61 3 9770-5330
  address: 366-368 Nepean Hwy, Frankston

• Kasturi Indian Restaurant

  phone: +61 3 9770 5505
  address: Shop 5, 20A Beach Street

• Sofia

  phone: +61 3 9781-3334
  address: Frankston Pier

• Waves On The Beach

  phone: +61 3 9770-0000
  address: 2/1N Long Island Drive

• The Cheeky Squire

  phone: +61 3 9783-7255
  address: 510 Nepean Hwy
  Craft beers and quality pub food.

• The Deck

  phone: +61 3 9783-1003
  address: 2-4 Davey St, Frankston

• Flanagans

  phone: +61 3 9783-9800
  address: 508 Nepean Highway

• Epiphany nightclub

  phone: +61 3 9770-6000
  address: 480 Nepean Highway

• Grand Hotel

  phone: +61 3 9783-7388
  address: 499 Nepean Highway

• Humdinger

  phone: +61 3 9783 1382
  address: 101 Young Street

• JDs Poolroom and Bar

  phone: +61 3 9783 8488
  address: 82 Wells St
  Pool tables, juke box, and drinks.

• Pint & Pickle Tavern

  phone: +61 3 9770 2880
  address: 448A Nepean Highway

• Robin Hood Tavern

  phone: +61 3 9770 2055
  address: 506 Nepean Highway

• Strike Bowling Bar

  address: Wells St
  Ten Pin Bowling. Thursday's Drink 2 Bowl deal offers a free game with any drink purchased.

• TwentyFirst Century

  phone: +61 3 9783 7311

• BIG4 Frankston Holiday Park

  phone: +61 3 5971 2333
  address: 2 Robinsons Road

• Free internet at shopping centers and Frankston library

Frankston station serves as a transit hub for bus and train services.

• Dandenong - by Bus
• Flinders - Bus 782 Frankston - Flinders via Coolart Road, Hastings.
• Melbourne - by train
• Melbourne Airport - 901 Bus or Airport Shuttle - a much faster more expensive option than the 901 bus.
• Mount Martha - Take the 781 bus via Mt Eliza and Mornington.
• Portsea - Take the 788 bus via Dromana, Rosebud and Sorrento.
• Stony Point - Take the train to Stony Point, where ferries leave for French Island and Phillip Island.