Travellers visit the Pillars, Mount Martha for a slice of Europe in Australia

A slice of Greece without leaving Australia: Travellers are flocking to this spectacular seaside spot for the perfect weekend adventure

  • Holiday-starved Australians are flocking to a hidden cliff south of Melbourne 
  • The Pillars, Mount Martha looks just like a spot along the Mediterranean coast
  • The ‘Instagrammable’ destination has been thronged with visitors since summer 
  • It’s popular among swimmers, cliff jumpers and sunset photographers 

Holiday-starved Australians are flocking to a hidden cliff overlooking the ocean that looks just like a spot along the Mediterranean coast.

You’d be forgiven for thinking the Pillars was an upscale European resort, but it’s really a set of sandstone cliffs on the Mornington Peninsula, 83 kilometres south of Melbourne.

Travellers have been visiting the cliffs to sate their hunger for adventure while Australia’s international borders remain closed, with any reopening beyond New Zealand’s trans-Tasman bubble unlikely until October at the earliest.

Popular among swimmers, cliff jumpers and photographers in search of scenic landscape shots, the ‘Instagrammable’ destination has been thronged with millennials since the start of summer.

Holiday-starved Australians are flocking to a hidden cliff overlooking the ocean that looks just like a spot along the Mediterranean coast

Travellers have been visiting the cliffs to sate their hunger for adventure while Australia's international borders remain closed

Travellers have been visiting the cliffs to sate their hunger for adventure while Australia’s international borders remain closed

The cliffs can be reached by driving to Marguerita Avenue in Mount Martha, parking along a few streets back from the beach and walking towards Deakin Drive.

There are no signs for the Pillars, but a well-worn walking trail just off Deakin Drive leads down to the water. 

Social media is littered with rave reviews from visitors, with many branding it one of Victoria’s ‘must see’ attractions. 

‘Proof we don’t need to travel very far for a taste of Europe,’ one woman wrote under an Instagram photo of the crystal clear water.

‘Glorious spot,’ said a second, while a third added: ‘Major Mediterranean vibes.’ 

Social media is littered with rave reviews from visitors, with many branding it one of Victoria's 'must see' attractions

Social media is littered with rave reviews from visitors, with many branding it one of Victoria’s ‘must see’ attractions

The area is popular among swimmers, cliff jumpers and photographers

The 'Instagrammable' destination has been thronged with millennials since the start of summer

Popular among swimmers, cliff jumpers and photographers, the ‘Instagrammable’ destination has been thronged with millennials since the start of summer

Travellers say the Pillars (pictured) are 'proof we don't need to travel very far for a taste of Europe'

Travellers say the Pillars (pictured) are ‘proof we don’t need to travel very far for a taste of Europe’

A video uploaded to TikTok by travel blogger The Wanderlust Times shows visitors plunging into the turquoise water as the sun beams down on the golden cliff face.

The clip, which has racked up over 700,000 ‘likes’ since it was posted online on February 28, has drawn hundreds of delighted responses.

However local viewers were less impressed, with some slamming the videographer for encouraging tourists to ‘invade’ the area.

The Pillars are not the only breathtaking Australian attraction drawing record numbers of tourists this year.

An 'enchanting' laneway (pictured) tinged with a yellow haze is drawing tourists to the Blue Mountains of New South Wales

An ‘enchanting’ laneway (pictured) tinged with a yellow haze is drawing tourists to the Blue Mountains of New South Wales

Tucked down a side street in Meadow Flat, the lane comes alive in autumn when the leaves of the trees turn gold

Tucked down a side street in Meadow Flat, the lane comes alive in autumn when the leaves of the trees turn gold

Further north, Sydneysiders are spending their weekends at an ‘enchanting’ laneway tinged with a yellow haze that’s hidden in the Blue Mountains.

Tucked down a side street in Meadow Flat, a tiny town of 311 about 166 kilometres west of Sydney CBD, the lane comes alive in autumn when the leaves of the trees turn gold.

Millennials have been flocking to the lane to take photos to fill their Instagram feeds while overseas travel remains a distant dream.

Meadow Flat, a tiny town of 311 residents 166km west of Sydney

Meadow Flat, a tiny town of 311 residents 166km west of Sydney

Travel-starved millennials have been flocking to the lane (pictured) to take photos to fill their Instagram feeds while Australia's international borders remain shut

These photos have drawn delighted responses online, with many marvelling over the vibrancy of Australia's landscape

Travel-starved millennials have been flocking to the lane (pictured) to take photos to fill their Instagram feeds while Australia’s international borders remain shut

These photos have drawn delighted responses online, with many marvelling over the vibrancy of Australia’s landscape. 

‘Those colours are incredible,’ one woman wrote.

‘In disbelief at how gorgeous this is,’ said a second.

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