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[title]The Mornington Peninsula is hands down one of the most popular weekenders for Melburnians, and for good reason. This slice of paradise – with its rolling green vineyards, high calibre dining scene and postcard-perfect beaches – should be experienced by everyone at least once, and we've got all the hot tips to help you make the most of your stay.
There are so many gorgeous corners of Victoria, filled with nature, beaches, sunsets, delicious restaurants and funky bars, and right now is the best time to explore them all. We've teamed up with Visit Victoria to help you Stay close, go further as you travel throughout our fantastic state. That includes, of course, the glorious Mornington Peninsula, which has long been seen as one of the state's most lovely destinations to day trip to... or stay for a few days.
Pick your trip:
Day trip
It's easy as pie to take a day trip to the Mornington Peninsula from Melbourne, with even the farthest tip of the peninsula still within a two-hour drive from the city's CBD. That means you can pack a whole lot into a day trip, whether you're interested in lacing up your boots and going for a nature walk or soaking your troubles away in the peninsula's famous hot springs. And you'll still have time to wine and dine to your heart's content.
See and do
Peninsula Hot Springs has been easing troubled minds and muscles for over a decade, quickly becoming one of the must-do attractions on the Mornington Peninsula (if not Melbourne). These geothermal hot springs were created by two brothers who were inspired by the bathing culture of Japan, and developed the springs into the spa and bathing centre that you see today. Peninsula Hot Springs currently has more than 70 bathing experiences available throughout the week, with the waters all drawn from a geothermal pool more than 600 metres underground.
In addition to the numerous pools, Peninsula Hot Springs also features saunas and a sub-zero ice cave (both integral to its 'fire and ice' experience), meditation and yoga classes, spa treatments, massages, several dining options and a bathhouse amphitheatre. Dying for a great photo of your visit? Make sure you beeline for the hilltop pool.
If you'd prefer to get up and move, the Mornington Peninsula's Millionaires Walk is one of the most scenic walks around. It's an easy 1km walk that winds around the coastline of Sorrento, starting at Lentell Avenue and finishing up at Point King Road. Along the way, you'll gaze out over pristine seas that look more like the Amalfi Coast than Port Phillip. This walk also forms part of the Sorrento-Portsea Artists Trail, which pays tribute to some of the best known Australian artists known to frequent the area to paint (the Millionaires Walk section features works by Arthur Streeton, Arthur Boyd and Ray Hodgkinson for example).
Eat and drink
For a taste of France in the sunny surrounds of Portsea, head to Le Capucin. Cook and proprietor Loïc Duchet grew up in the south of France in a family that valued food and cookery as part of their culture (the café's name even comes from a traditional utensil used to baste birds while cooking). At this light-filled venue, guests are treated to quiches, salads, baguettes, pies and croissants (naturally), and served alongside premium coffee. The commitment to quality ingredients means the menu can change seasonally, but often includes well-known French favourites like coq au vin, savoury crêpes, cassoulet and duck à l'orange. Make sure you leave room for a pastry!
After a tipple? Hotel Sorrento should be your go-to if you're looking to imbibe in beautiful surroundings. The hotel has three main bars: the main bar (great for a beer with mates), Salt Bar (an alfresco bar featuring photogenic bay views and just as photogenic cocktails) and Cellar Bar (a moody space housed in a historic limestone building perfect for drinking whisky or wine in). Hotel Sorrento also features a rooftop bar where you can get panoramic vistas of the bay and a lawn dotted with picnic tables and (more often than not) locals enjoying a cold beer and some fresh seafood.
Stay a while
Got a little more time on your hands? Check out our itinerary for longer stays along the Mornington Peninsula below.
See and do
There used to be a railway line between Merricks and Red Hill on the Mornington Peninsula – in fact, it was primarily used to ferry apples onwards to Hastings before they were transported to their final destination in markets across Melbourne. We've other ways of transporting apples now so the railway line is defunct... but lives on as the Red Hill Rail Trail, a scenic walk popular with walkers, cyclists and even horse riders.
The trail is rated a two for difficulty, partly because when you start the walk at Merricks you'll spend part of it climbing an incline. Or start your walk at the Red Hill end for a downhill hike where you'll also stroll past pine trees and (during autumn) colourful mushrooms and toadstools. No matter which end you start at, there's coffee and refreshments available.
Eat and drink
There are quite a few winery restaurants on the Mornington Peninsula these days, but Max's Restaurant was the first. The venue has been providing locals and visitors with fine food and wine for around 20 years after owner Max Pagoni decided he wanted to share the produce of the Peninsula with the rest of the world.
These days Max's Restaurant focuses on a seasonal menu that champions local produce; it's where you can dine on mussels from Flinders, cheese from Red Hill, berries from Main Ridge, fresh produce from Baxter and honey from Moorooduc. The restaurant is open for lunch Wednesday to Saturday, with dinner also offered on Saturday nights. Max's is open for Sunday lunch too, offering guests a three-course Sunday roast. For a more casual experience, opt to dine on the lawn (weather permitting).
Before it was a winery, T'Gallant was an apple orchard – although it's now best known for its fields of pinot gris and pinot grigio grapes. It's got a strong reputation for its pizzeria, which serves Roman-style pizza (that is, rectangular slices made from a slightly different pizza dough) alongside provincial Italian dishes. It's at T'Gallant that you can see people soaking up the sun while enjoying a long lunch, snacking on antipasti, and sipping on fruit-driven pinot gris, grigio and noir. Wine tastings are available at the vineyard's cellar door and T'Gallant has even branched into a range of canned and bottled wine spritzers (perfect if you want something to take on a Mornington Peninsula picnic).
Stay
If you're planning to stay on the Mornington Peninsula, there are few places prettier than Polperro Farmhouse. Escaping here is like escaping back in time (while also taking all the mod cons you can carry with you). This luxury 1950s farmhouse has been recently renovated and features three bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, open fireplace, luxury bathtub, fire pit and expansive outdoor spaces for hosting friends and family. It's also located on the site of Polperro's working winery, so you can easily just nip across the paddock to the cellar door (or stroll just a bit further to reach range of other local businesses).