MORNINGTON PENINSULA

of fresh air A breath

Stunning coastlines, seaside towns, local wineries and impressive restaurants are just some of the delights that can be found on the Mornington Peninsula

TEXT: CASSY POLIMENI AND AUSTRALIA.COM / IMAGES: VISIONSOFVICTORIA, CRAIG SILLITOE PHOTOGRAPHY, ROBERT BLACKBURN, PETER TARASIUK, ROBERT BLACKBURN, VISIT VICTORIA

Just an hour from Melbourne, the Peninsula is packed with beautiful scenery just waiting to be discovered, from coastal views to rugged wilderness. It’s also home to galleries, spas and cafes, seaside villages, boutique wineries and an inviting alfresco lifestyle.

EAT & DRINK In the foodie paradise of Red Hill, there are myriad wineries, cheeseries and breweries to discover, including hatted restaurant, cellar door and sculpture garden Montalto (montalto.com.au), and Ten Minutes by Tractor, with its contemporary menu and award-winning wine list (tenminutesbytractor. com.au). See what’s on tap at independent microbrewery Red Hill Brewery (redhillbrewery. com.au), or try a tasting board at Main Ridge Dairy (mainridgedairy.com.au). In Mornington you’ll find tempting cafes like Commonfolk (commonfolkcoffee.com.au), and unparalleled pizza at D.O.C. (docgroup.net), or head to Alatonero in McCrae for authentic Greek fare made from local produce and served in Santorini-inspired surrounds (alatonero.com.au). On the tip of the peninsula, Sorrento is home to Morgan’s Beach Shack, a fresh seaside restaurant with a touch of nautical kitsch (beachshacksorrento.com.au), while on the opposite coast Merricks General Wine Store has perfect picnic produce, a cellar door and a bistro serving seasonal food (mgwinestore.com.au).

SEE & DO Catch classic and contemporary films at Dromana Drive-In, complete with a 1950s diner (dromanadrivein.com.au), or immerse yourself in the soothing mineral waters of Peninsula Hot Springs (peninsulahotsprings.com). Adventurous travellers will love tree surfing at the Enchanted Adventure Garden, a high ropes adventure course made up of obstacles, bridges and zip-lines (enchantedmaze.com.au), and Arthurs Seat Eagle, state-of-the-art gondolas offering bird’s eye views of the peninsula (aseagle.com.au). Meet talented winemakers and artisan producers on a private MP Experience Wine, Food & Farmgate Tour (mpexperience.com.au), or saddle up for a memorable day out with Horseback Winery Tours – all levels welcome (horseback.com.au). DV

For more information and to plan your trip, go to visitmorningtonpeninsula.org

OPPOSITE: Aerial view of Port Phillip Bay and Mornington Peninsula at sunset FROM TOP: Arthurs Seat Eagle; Max’s at Red Hill, Mornington Peninsula; Red Hill Brewery

Room to

relax

The picturesque Mornington Peninsula is ideal for indulging in fine wine, delicious food, breathtaking coastal views and natural hot springs, writes Stephanie Wake

Experience the picturesque coastal towns of the Mornington Peninsula, where Melburnians spend their summer holidays and winter weekend escapes touring amazing beaches, discovering fine food and wine, relaxing at day spas, or enjoying a long soak in naturally occurring thermal springs.

DAY 1: WALK, WINE, DINE & RELAX Morning Start your day with a stretch and sweat session in boutique yoga studio Hot Hut in Red Hill, where the room is heated to a comforting 28-30°C (hothutyoga.com.au). Afterwards grab a coffee and some breakfast from nearby Food on the Hill (foodonthehill.com.au), before jumping in the car for the 38-kilometre trip to the tip of the Mornington Peninsula and Point Nepean National Park. Explore the rugged coastline by foot or bike as you take in the natural beauty of your surrounds, or board a shuttle bus that will take you to all the main points of interest. Wander around the military forts and tunnels dating back as far as 1880 and see the historic Quarantine Station, which consists of nearly 50 heritage-listed buildings. Or simply explore stunning beaches lined with beautiful rock formations like London Bridge, which was created by wind and strong surf.

Afternoon Treat yourself to a leisurely lunch at the renowned Portsea Hotel, overlooking Port Phillip Bay (portseahotel.com.au), then spend a laidback afternoon meandering along the main street of historic Sorrento. With limestone shop fronts, it is the perfect area to explore art galleries, boutiques, homewares stores and cafes where you can taste Sorrento’s famous awardwinning vanilla slice before driving 15 kilometres west to reach Peninsula Hot Springs, a must-visit destination on the Mornington Peninsula. Here you can bathe in geothermal water while marvelling at the sunset from the renowned Hilltop pool. Explore over 20 globally inspired bathing experiences in the social, familyfriendly Bath House or indulge with a spa treatment and delicious dining package in the tranquil adults-only Spa Dreaming Centre (peninsulahotsprings.com). Spend the night in front of the fire with a glass of Crittenden Estate wine in one of three boutique villas overlooking the lake and vines of the Estate (lakesidevillas.com.au).

DAY 2: GOOD FOOD & GREAT HEIGHTS Morning Start your morning hand-picking your own fresh, sweet strawberries from a beautiful, third generation owned property, the Sunnyridge Strawberry Farm. Then relax and enjoy an afternoon strawberry-inspired treat such as scones and jam, chocolate fondue or strawberry ice cream as reward for your hard work (sunnyridge.com.au). Afternoon The options are endless when it comes to choosing a venue for lunch, as you are surrounded by wineries and farm gates. Many wineries offer both high-quality wine and a variety of delicious, fresh farm-produced meals. All are nestled among beautiful landscapes that will take your breath away, making it the perfect way to spend your final afternoon in the area. Some of the peninsula’s most popular include Green Olive at Red Hill (greenolive.com.au), Max’s at Red Hill Estate (maxsrestaurant.com.au), Stillwater at Crittenden Estate (stillwateratcrittenden.com.au), and The Cups Estate (thecupsestate.com.au).

Mornington Peninsula wineries are nestled among beautiful landscapes that will take your breath away.

After lunch, head to the Enchanted Adventure Garden for a bit of adventure and to see the world from a different point of view with an unforgettable treetop climbing experience. You will have to overcome aerial obstacles, bridges and zip lines all 10 metres from the ground. This family-friendly experience includes a large range of activities that will delight at any age, including mazes, tube slides, and the big zip, all amongst manicured gardens (enchantedmaze.com.au). After swinging from the trees, why not get even higher and take in the breathtaking view on the The Arthurs Seat Eagle chair lift (aseagle.com.au). This round trip gives you a full view of the Mornington Peninsula as your eyes scan the landscape around Port Phillip Bay, across to Westernport Bay. On clear days you can see all the way to Melbourne. DV

MAIN IMAGE: Penisula Hot Springs .

Getting there

Mornington Peninsula is a 90-minute drive from Melbourne travelling along the coast, or take the M1 (citylink.com.au) and Eastlink (breeze.com.au) – be sure to pre-purchase your passes online as there are no toll booths on this route. A shuttle service is available from Melbourne Airport (fapas.com.au), or you can take a train to Frankston from Southern Cross Station before jumping on a connecting bus service (ptv.gov.au).