Luxury Escapes

Luxury Escapes Guide to the Mornington Peninsula

Seaside villages, rolling vines, bespoke distilleries, golfing greens and labyrinthine hedge mazes — it could only be the Mornington Peninsula.

An hour’s drive from Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula officially begins after you leave Frankston, Melbourne’s most southerly suburb – and you’ll feel the difference immediately.

Gliding off the Peninsula Link freeway, you begin to see the stunning champagne shores bordering the region’s coastline, charming vineyards dotting the hills, and picture-perfect putting greens as you wind through quieter rural areas such as Fingal, Dromana, Flinders, Rye and Red Hill.

Whether you’re up for a daytrip, a weekend getaway or visiting for the whole summer, the Mornington Peninsula is a place where you can soak away your troubles in Fingal’s warm, mineral-rich waters, devour some of Victoria’s most acclaimed paddock-to-fork eats or find your way out of Australia’s oldest hedge maze.

This unique coastal region has sculpture gardens hidden among vineyards, scenic walks along Cape Schanck’s jagged coastline and, of course, plenty of pinot noir and chardonnay. Not only is the Peninsula home to dozens of outstanding cool-climate wineries, including Montalto and Pt. Leo Estate, but it’s also home to bespoke distilleries and craft breweries, including Victoria’s only dedicated rum distillery.

Impressive liquid offerings aside, the dining scene here is a veritable bounty of award-winning, chef-hatted restaurants with a huge focus on local, seasonal produce. Outside of Mornington main street, fast-food chains have no place here and once you pass the final BP on the expressway, you’ll find your fair share of bespoke cafés where wholesome food is handmade from scratch.

There’s also a host of outdoor activities (did someone say ‘do-it-yourself' cherry picking?), Sunday drives, and antique stores to keep you busy (or not so busy).

Please note that due to current restrictions some operators may be temporarily closed. Check their websites for the most up-to-date information

Featured escape

Things to see and do

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Soak away in the Peninsula Hot Springs

There are hot springs, and then there’s the iconic Fingal hot springs: a geothermal wonderland of over 40 mineral-infused hot pools, saunas, a Turkish hammam, an ice cave, and — if you dare — cold plunge pools where, for the next couple of hours, the outside world does not exist. With an outdoor amphitheatre and an iconic hilltop pool with 360-degree vistas over the sweeping bushland, it’s worth giving yourself a couple of hours here to immerse yourself in the thermal waters. Defrost in the sauna, deep soak in the therapeutic waters and take the cold pool plunge. Then, rinse, repeat and relax.

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Find history at Tyabb Packing House Antiques

If your aesthetic leans towards a certain nostalgic era, a visit to Tyabb Packing House Antiques is sure to satisfy— whether you’re searching for original movie memorabilia, ancient cookbooks, 1930s vintage clothing or matching tea and coffee cannisters from the 1970s. Located within a 100-plus-year-old coolstore, this antique haunt provides a wonderful trip down memory lane with individual rooms for various eras. You could find everything from old chemistry sets to original typewriters and even the perfect engagement ring. Even if you’ve visited before, know this bazaar doesn’t stop growing, so there’s always something new and intriguing to unearth.

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Get lost in Ashcombe Maze and Lavender Gardens

Set among 25 acres of world-acclaimed gardens in Shoreham, Australia’s oldest and most famous hedge maze is the perfect place to get lost. Actually, that’s entirely the idea: Ashcombe Maze’s centerpiece is the 3m-high hedge maze, where the kids could race to find the way out, while you steal a kiss at every dead end. Smell the blooms in the rose maze, stand in the centre of the perennial lavender labyrinth, picnic amid deciduous woodland and seek out the resident gnomes. All pathways lead back to the café, where you could feast on lavender scones with lavender ice cream and cordial.

Go cherry picking at Red Hill Cherry Farm

Grab a punnet or bucket, and head to Red Hill Cherry Farm – Victoria’s oldest pick-your-own cherry farm – to snag yourself a box of these sweet ruby gems straight from the vine. Dating back to the 1940s, this family-run orchard is home to 25 varieties and opens seasonally between November and January. With a basket full of berries and the children having tired themselves out from picking, return to the café for some homemade cherry ice cream and cordial. The farm also serves cherry cider, port and beer.

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Peek behind the scenes at Montalto

Nestled on a 50-acre property, Montalto has taken the concept of cellar door to the next level. The fine-dining restaurant has been hatted no less than 14 times and the sprawling vineyard, with a sculpture garden and 11 secret picnic spots, is the ideal place to enjoy a fully catered picnic with white tablecloths and all. For a truly unique experience, book a four-hour ‘Behind the Scenes Winery Tour’, where you can experience the wine-making process first-hand and taste fine wine straight from the barrel, before a long garden grazing lunch perfectly paired with wine in the Piazza.

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Discover the beauty of Cape Schanck

The Cape Schanck Lighthouse is Mornington Peninsula’s eternal beacon, a soaring limestone pillar that first shone its light over the Bass Strait in 1859. Still operational today, this stunning lighthouse isn’t even the most spectacular coastal attraction here — that honour goes to the rugged landscape of Cape Schanck itself. Follow the boardwalk down from the clifftop, 80m above the ocean, over slick black beach rocks and out onto the point for stunning views across the bay. Afterwards, you could tour the lighthouse itself to see the horizon from a new perspective or enjoy a brisk 10km Bushrangers Bay Walk.

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Catch a flick under the stars at Dromana 3 Drive-In

Drive in, park your car, grab your freshly popped buttery popcorn and catch a film the old-fashioned way at one of Victoria’s last remaining drive-ins. One of three still operational today, Dromana 3 Drive-In first opened in 1962 and retains its classic retro vibe with its Happy Days-esque, American-style diner, Shel’s, offering choc-tops, burgers and hot jam donuts. While the 1950s vibe will make you crave a thick shake and fries, the films on offer are anything but retro, with an impressive line-up of new releases gracing three silver screens.

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Learn the art of glassblowing at Gordon Studio Glassblowers

Explore the art of glass blowing at Gordon Studio Glassblowers, where, for more than 25 generations, the Gordon family has been breathing life into this dying art form. This professional art space and gallery is a workshop dedicated entirely to forging molten glass into vibrant carafes, vases and sculptures. If you’re lucky, you might get the chance to watch artists blow, roll and stretch their creations into shape from the light-filled mezzanine balcony. For would-be glassblowers, Gordon Studio offers one-day beginners’ classes where you could learn to manipulate molten glass into a tumbler and two paperweights.

Tee off on Dunes Golf Links course

The Mornington Peninsula could easily be one long stretch of golf holes with rolling valleys, hollows and hillocks, but it’s Rye’s Dunes Golf Links course that steals the show. A piece of pure Scotland-worthy linksland, the Dunes has one solitary tree with a few gentle hills, so you'll have to battle the wind to score a perfect game. There’s not a weak hole in the course, but that’s part of the charm. In fact, the 17th hole is a longish par three, described as an ‘exquisite golf hole’ by none other than Tom Watson, British Open Champion — and he should know.

Top places to eat and drink

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JimmyRum

Distilleries on the Mornington Peninsula tend to specialise in gin, but within in a huge warehouse, on the same Dromana industrial estate as Bass &Flinders Distillery, exists JimmyRum, Victoria’s only dedicated rum distillery. Here, ex-marine engineer James ‘Jimmy’ McPherson crafts downright delicious rum that’s been aged in oak barrels, infused with imported Caribbean rums and proofed up to 57%. Take a seat in front of Matilda, the copper still, and let the man himself introduce you to the original Silver, the Oaked, Barbados and super-strength Navy. Not into spirit tastings? Try the rum-based cocktails in the dog-friendly rum gardens with a grazing platter.

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St Andrews Beach Brewery

Where else can you sip thoroughbred brews inside a world-class stable-turned-brewery? St Andrews Beach Brewery is the former training facility of some of Australia’s horse racing greats — Makybe Diva, Mummify and Miss Andretti, to name a few— where you can sip hoppy pints in the reclaimed stables these champions once called home. Behind the industrial-style main building, the former 1,200m rack track has been turned into an orchard where 8,000 apple and pear trees grow alongside hops. Be sure to reserve Makybe Diva’s stable and enjoy a woodfired pizza with a new breed of champions in the form of craft beer.

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Pt. Leo Estate

This is not your typical winery. Pt. Leo Estate has a former Rockpool chef in its two-hatted restaurant, Australia’s most comprehensive collection of sculptures in its gardens, and stunning views over the glittering waters of Western Port Bay. A gourmet hideaway headed by chef Phil Wood and a wine list curated by sommelier Andrew Murch (ex-Rockpool), Laura restaurant invites you on a gastronomic tour of the region over four, five or six courses. We recommend pairing this exquisite degustation with a glass of the 2014 pinot noir, before a frolic through the sculpture garden, which was handpicked by a former NGV curator.

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Del Posto 2409

When cravings for hand-rolled gnocchi or ribbons of fettucine hit, venture to the Rye Foreshore and Del Posto 2409, a local secret hidden opposite Rye Pier. An ode to regional Italian dining, with an ample menu of imported Italian wine to sate even the most discerning connoisseur, Del Posto 2409 will leave even your Nonna impressed. The antipasti ‘crocchette’ platter of prosciutto with polenta and parmesan promises delight, while the homemade lasagna di anatra, filled with slow-cooked duck, leek and ricotta, will leave you wanting more. If your stomach permits, do yourself a favour and order the cannoli lemon meringue.

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Mercetta

Forget placating the kids with smartphones and tablets at family and dog-friendly Mercetta, a mainstay for lazy weekend brunches on Mornington Peninsula’s main street. There are hanging chairs and giant Jenga to entertain the kids, while the grownups can enjoy an outstanding Bloody Mary, complete with candied bacon, or sip the famous hot chocolate, topped with Persian fairy floss and mini marshmallows. As for the food, there’s French toast injected with maple syrup, chicken katsu burgers and a pooch-friendly menu too!

Little Rebel Coffee Roastery

It’s not all wineries and distilleries on the Mornington Peninsula. Enter Little Rebel Coffee Roastery, a Dromana cellar door for coffee that serves some of the best espresso outside of Melbourne. Offering rotating seasonal house blends and single-origin coffee, this industrial-style café, decked out from head-to-toe with tattoo-worthy art and open Monday to Friday only, is the ideal place to get your buzz on. Order a paddle of espresso, on-tap filter brews (there are two types) and take home a bag or two of The Black Sheep or Simon The Likeable blend.

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Red Gum BBQ

For authentic American BBQ, where the result is charred, succulent and profoundly flavoursome, you needn’t go further than Red Hill’s Red Gum BBQ. Created by Florida-hailing Melissa Goffin and her English husband Martin, Red Gum is housed in a former mechanic's garage and is now filled with recycled picnic tables and three Texas-style smokers, where meat is cooked low and slow over red gum woodchips. Dig into fall-off-the-bone beef rib or beef brisket with a jug of local beer — Jetty Road Brewery is among one of the 10 on tap — and your typical American sides: coleslaw, mac ‘n’ cheese or cornbread.

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Casa de Playa

Tap into a little slice of Mexico at Casa de Playa, a tapas-inspired bar hidden with an iconic 1800s building on Mornington’s main street. During the day, it’s the perfect lazy brunch destination, where you can sit under the streetfront umbrellas with homemade churros and crushed avocado on quinoa sourdough, while in the evenings, it’s all about the upstairs atrium and balcony overlooking the bay. Pull up a seat overlooking the water as you feast on piquillo croquetas and braised lamb tacos with a margarita or amaretto sour in hand.

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Jetty Road Brewery

There are breweries aplenty in Mornington, but there’s something special about Jetty Road Brewery. Apart from the fact that it’s minutes from Dromana 3 Drive-in, this brewery has 14 beers on tap, including the intimidating Dark Vader black lager, and G&T Good Times — this is Mornington after all. Throw in a kitchen serving JFC (Jetty Road Fried Chicken) and twice-cooked crispy pork belly, and an alfresco beer garden delivering live music every weekend, and this is the perfect place to lose an afternoon. Local tip: be sure to book ahead, otherwise you can expect at least a 20-minutes wait to snag a table.

Foxeys Hangout

It doesn’t get much more Mornington Peninsula than Foxeys Hangout, a beautiful spot where you can sip cool-climate chardonnay or pinot noir overlooking the vines. On weekends, tastings are held upstairs among the barrels and bottling line, where you can learn every step of the process. Then there’s the incredible food. We recommend putting yourself in the chef’s hands by ordering seasonal share plates. One weekend you might be feasting on BBQ quail, and the next braised leek with goat curd. Though, if the mushroom sausage roll is on the menu, do yourself a favour and order it.

Lux Moments

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An evening at Jackalope’s Doot Doot Doot

Fall down the rabbit hole with a five-course degustation dinner at Doot Doot Doot. Instantly recognisable for its whimsical, towering black sculpture of the mythical jackalope in the driveway and 10,000-light chandelier over the dining room, Jackalope and its multi-award-winning restaurant are an extravagant, unmissable dining affair amid the vines. Get comfortable in the inky banquettes — you’ll be here a while — as Executive Chef Guy Stanaway treats the senses to an ingredient-focused menu of seasonal produce, complemented by a 1,200-bottle wine list that honours the onsite Willow Creek Vineyard. Indulge with matched wines and, if you enjoy too much, Jackalope’s plush hotel rooms are just next door.

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Blend your own bespoke gin at Bass & Flinders Distillery

From a sip perspective, you can’t go past Bass & Flinders Distillery, Mornington Peninsula’s only bespoke distillery, where a paddle of the Orient, Maritime, Ant Gin — yes, we said ‘ant’ — and Cerise is guaranteed to satisfy your juniper fix. Venture to the bar to try some of the more eclectic concoctions, before heading behind the scenes to craft your very own bespoke gin. Over two hours, you will learn about native botanicals, savour a cheese platter and blend your favourite botanical medley. Take home a 500ml bottle and enjoy time and again with your recipe available for reorder. Heads up: this particular class is often booked out six months in advance.

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Degustation dinner at Ten Minutes by Tractor

Newly reopened in 2019 following the bushfires, Ten Minutes by Tractor’s cellar door serves a paddock-to-plate degustation dinner at the eponymous two-chef-hatted restaurant. Headed up by ex-The Fat Duck and Noma Executive Chef Adam Sanderson, an eight-course meal here will take you on a gastronomic tour of Mornington as you’re treated to exquisite vistas over the cool-climate vines, with a seasonal menu of Bundarra pork belly, Hawkes Farm potato and dry-aged duck breast. You’ll be here for four hours, so we highly recommended adding the iconic matched wines to round out this gourmet discovery.

Tailor your escape to the Mornington Peninsula

Immerse yourself in the Mornington Peninsula with Luxury Escapes’ hand-picked Experiences. We’ve curated a selection of cultural activities, adrenaline thrills, food adventures and luxury add-ons to help you discover your destination. These Experiences are bookable when you purchase your next escape. Simply select your travel dates and number of travellers for any package, and opt to tailor your escape by selecting the available Experiences.