After a decade of planning, Searoad Ferries has officially lifted the curtain on what’s set to become one of Australia’s most striking pieces of coastal architecture—a $30 million ferry terminal suspended entirely above Port Phillip Bay.
Opening today in Sorrento, the glass-walled structure reimagines what a regional ferry terminal can be: part transport hub, part design statement and part dining destination. Built on pylons that stretch directly into the bay, the building floats above the water like a sculptural extension of the shoreline.
“This has been ten years in the making,” said Searoad Ferries CEO Matt McDonald. “As a privately owned Australian company, we’ve backed this project because we believe in the long-term strength of regional Victoria.”
Overall, the design seeks to elevate the Mornington-Bellarine connection, blending transport and tourism into one seamless experience.
Designed by F2 Architecture—the same firm behind Searoad’s award-winning Queenscliff Terminal—the new Sorrento build features a dramatic spiral staircase, an observatory-style glass floor and panoramic decks drawing visitors over the sea rather than alongside it.
The project was delivered by Maben Group, one of Victoria’s leading construction firms, with local subcontractors and marine engineers leading the technical challenge of building entirely over open water.
A New Chapter For The Peninsula
Beyond its pretty new façade, the terminal marks a significant shift in how Victorians experience travel across the bay. The Sorrento–Queenscliff ferry route already carries close to a million passengers each year—a figure likely to rise as Melburnians trade highway congestion for 40 breezy minutes on the water.
In addition, McDonald said the investment was as much about infrastructure as experience. “We’ve spent a decade and $30 million delivering infrastructure that offers a genuine alternative to congestion, toll roads and hours behind the wheel,” he said. “If the experience is better, the choice becomes simple.”
Dining Over the Deep
Perhaps the biggest talking point is ONDA, the terminal’s new 150-seat Mediterranean restaurant led by Executive Chef Mike Jaques and Head Chef Toby Marks. Built directly above the bay, the restaurant brings coastal dining to an entirely new level—literally.
“Dining directly on the water changes everything,” said Jaques. “You can hear the bay and you can see the movement beneath you. ONDA is about quality local and seasonal produce, in a truly unmatched space.”’
The menu leans into seafood, wood-fired pizza and spritzes—a seaside Mediterranean take designed for locals, Melbourne day-trippers and interstate visitors. Meanwhile, with 100 indoor seats and room for 50 more outside, ONDA will open to diners in mid-March.
Building Over Blue
Accordingly, the construction demanded specialist marine expertise and precision over tidal waters. Maben Group Director Damien Marasco said the process required “close collaboration with industry experts to deliver a project that prioritises quality, craftsmanship, and attention to detail.”
Fully accessible gangways were fabricated by Crib Point Engineering, a local firm with more than six decades of marine experience, reinforcing Searoad’s commitment to keep the build entirely Victorian-made.
Moreover, F2 Architecture’s Franco Fiorentini described the result as a “sculptural response inspired by the natural and man-made character of the unique coastal setting,” adding that the design “engages with the historic Sorrento Pier to celebrate place, passage, and the historically important link between the heads.”
Beyond Transit
Searoad Ferries, which employs more than 300 Victorians, hopes the Sorrento Terminal will extend to evolve into a cultural landmark along with a transit point.
With views that rival any Mornington Peninsula lookout and a restaurant quite literally floating above the bay, it’s not hard to imagine the terminal becoming part of Victoria’s tourism drawcard—the place you stay for a meal rather than rush to leave.
Book your ride on the ferry here.
