Mornington Peninsula destination information

IT’S ALL ABOUT QUALITY

The Mornington Peninsula is Melbourne’s closest year-round playground. Its proximity to one of Australia’s most affluent centres has triggered an explosion of top-quality experiences for anyone planning a short break.

The Mornington Peninsula is a beautiful area, with sea and bay views, quaint villages and, as you will discover in subsequent pages, some of the best accommodation in Victoria from which to explore its many charms and surprises.

It’s been a summer-holiday magnet for Melburnians for generations, and the development of world-class golf courses, wineries and craft markets has ensured its appeal has spread well beyond the traditional summer-holiday months.

The Mornington Peninsula caters as well for families looking for an action-packed weekend as for couples seeking a luxurious midweek break, with plenty of peace and quiet. Accommodation on the Mornington Peninsula is both varied and plentiful.

The region is host to some of Australia’s top golf courses, many of which welcome public access, with some great deals available during the cooler months.

And for those who believe golf is a good walk spoiled, there are 2,600 hectares of protected bushland in national and state parks to enjoy in a variety of ways, including a scenic chairlift above Port Phillip Bay. You can also cycle to Point Nepean, the very tip of the Mornington Peninsula. Take an eco-tour to the wilds of French Island, picnic amongst the vines, take a Moonlit Sanctuary Tour or dive to the depths of Port Phillip Bay and say hello to a seahorse.

On matters aquatic, one of life’s rare wildlife experiences is to be had with the dolphin swim operation in Port Phillip Bay. Twice daily there’s the chance to observe and swim with wild bottlenose dolphins. On board facilities include change areas, toilets, hot showers and refreshments. Wetsuits, masks and snorkels are all supplied. Reef and seal swims are often part of the trips, so be prepared to see and experience much more than just dolphins.

Polperro Dolphin Swims offers a wide range of other services, including bay cruises, educational and historical tours, fully catered charters or trips of your own design.

Another outdoor adventure is to canter on horseback alongside the waves at St Andrews Beach, or take to one of the many scenic bush trails in the area. Long weekends on the Mornington Peninsula provide an ideal excuse for festivities, with the Queen’s Birthday holiday in June being the region’s Winter Wine Fest. It’s an exhibition and tasting of more than 150 Mornington Peninsula premium wines. Great wine, great food, great music – a sample of what the Mornington Peninsula has to offer.

The Winter Wine Fest is an opportunity to sample a wide variety of Mornington Peninsula wines, compare wine styles from different vineyards, talk to the winemakers and discover new wines. There are seminars on Mornington Peninsula wine varieties – Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and others – running throughout the day. It happens at Red Hill Recreation Reserve, Arthurs Seat Rd, Red Hill.

By no means do the adults have all the fun in winter. During the school holidays, kids have the chance to experience farm life first-hand at 490 Stumpy Gully Rd, Bittern. These school holidays will feature activities in the dairy. Commencing at 10.30am, the goat will be milked, after which the milk and cream will be separated, and finally the cream churned into butter. Children can also help grind wheat into flour and bake a loaf of bread. At lunchtime, the bread will be taste-tested with the hand-churned butter.

The Mornington Peninsula is all about quality, and there is any number of producers of gourmet food products – from cherries, seafood and berries to chocolates and cheeses, as well as lavender and fresh, fragrant herbs.