Arthurs Seat · Views · Family friendly
Arthurs Seat Eagle: the gondola to the Peninsula's highest point
The Arthurs Seat Eagle is the Peninsula's only gondola — an enclosed, all-weather capsule that glides from the base station on Arthurs Seat Road to the 314-metre summit in about 15 minutes each way. On a clear day the view takes in the whole of Port Phillip Bay: the city skyline, the You Yangs, and south along the coast to Point Nepean. Watch the bush below on the way — kangaroos grazing in the state park are regularly spotted from the cabins.
Tickets and prices
An adult return is around $33–36.50 and children (4–16) around $21–23.50, with under-4s riding free — buying online is cheaper than at the gate, and family passes bring the per-person price down further. Tickets are flexible: most are valid for any day within 12 months of purchase, which takes the pressure off if the weather turns.
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Opening hours and when to go
The Eagle generally runs daily from 10am, closing around 4–5pm (last boarding about 30 minutes before close), with extended hours in school holidays and shorter winter hours. It's closed on Christmas Day, and operations pause in high winds — check same-day alerts before a long drive. For the best experience: go mid-morning on a clear weekday, or late afternoon for golden light over the bay. Summer weekends queue — booking ahead and arriving early avoids the wait.
At the summit
The summit station has a cafe, gift shop, toilets and picnic areas, and it's the trailhead for the Arthurs Seat summit circuit walks. The historic lookout tower and the lookouts along the summit — including Murrays Lookout on the drive up — are all free once you're there. Pair the ride with a wander through Seawinds Gardens, five minutes away.
A short history
There's been a lift up Arthurs Seat since 1960, when Dr Vladimir Hajek built the original chairlift from the state park entrance to the summit. After years of starts and stops, the current Swiss-designed gondola — fully enclosed, accessible and all-weather — opened in December 2016 and has carried the Eagle's revival since.
Good to know
- Where: Base station, 1085 Arthurs Seat Road, Arthurs Seat VIC 3936 (free parking at both stations)
- Ride time: ~15 minutes each way
- Cost: Adult return from ~$33 (online), children 4–16 from ~$21, under 4 free
- Hours: Daily from 10am; closed Christmas Day; wind-dependent
- Access: Enclosed accessible gondolas; wheelchair friendly
- Nearby: Seawinds Gardens, Murrays Lookout, Enchanted Adventure
More nearby: Arthurs Seat visitor guide · Dromana · All things to do