Portsea is a resort town
located across Port Phillip
from Melbourne, Victoria,
Australia. Its local
government area is the Shire
of Mornington Peninsula.
Portsea is a popular holiday
spot, located near the end of
the Mornington Peninsula
between the calm waters of
Port Phillip and the wild surf
of Bass Strait.

In 2005, Australian Tax Office
data showed the 3944
postcode to be the nation's
most affluent; outperforming
other upper class Victorian
suburbs, including Toorak
and Hawthorn, both known
for upper middle class and
upper class dwellings ranging
from $5 million to $25
million, with an average
taxable income almost
$10,000 higher than Sydney's
Darling Point or Point Piper.

Portsea is considered by
many to be the hub of
Melbourne's recreational
scuba diving activities. No
less than four scuba related
shops operate from in its
otherwise modest main
street. Dive boats travel to
sites both inside Port Phillip
and outside Port Phillip
Heads, also known as The Rip.

The Portsea Pier is the home
to the spectacular weedy sea
dragon, as well as many
other fish species, including
numerous pufferfish. Boating
traffic is frequent, and divers
should be careful to avoid
main boating routes. Portsea
Back Beach is a big attraction
in Portsea, due to its great
surfing conditions and long
stretch of sand. Portsea Surf
Life Saving Club patrols the
popular surf beach, as patrols
are always needed during
the summer period given the
large waves and strong tides
that are often present.