ENJOYING THE Mornington Peninsula

The Mornington Peninsula, with its Mediterranean-style climate, is the place to find sunny vineyards and olive groves, fabulous food, galleries, historic country house retreats and many other lovely places to stay.

It’s hard to believe this special piece of Victoria is only an hour’s drive from Melbourne – once there, you feel as if you have arrived in a different world altogether. Shaped like a little Italy, this is a place to discover seaside villages as you drive around the island, or cross it from coast to coast, to experience the countryside.

Wherever you decide to stay, you will find it easy to access the many things to see and do, from gourmet dining experiences or the simple pleasures of fish and chips on the beach and picking your own fruit, to golf, sailing, swimming and diving. Naturally, a little shopping in-between wouldn’t go amiss.

Luxury accommodation & cottages in Mornington Peninsula VIC

Following the gourmet food and wine trail is an excellent way to see the island, which now has more than 50 vineyards with a reputation for chardonnay and pinot noir, as well as other varieties like pinot grigio, shiraz, merlot and cabernet sauvignon.

The peninsula has a mix of new and established vineyards and is home to award-winning labels such as Stonier, Tuck’s Ridge, Box Stallion and the Montalto Vineyard and Olive Grove. The Red Hill microbrewery is also a first here.

The maritime climate is not only excellent for vineyards and olives, but also for other great produce, such as organic vegetables, cherries, apples, blueberries and quinces. Chefs are attracted to the region because of the fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as local meats, cheeses, olive oil and superb seafood like mussels, whiting and flathead.

Apart from the dining available in the many cafes and restaurants, many of them on the waterfront, the idea of being able to indulge in ocean fresh fish and chips on the beach is very attractive, while a gourmet picnic with a bottle of local wine is the epitomy of a perfect Mornington Peninsula lunch.
Cellar doors and food stores are the places to see, buy and taste produce to take home, while picking your own seasonal produce, such as berries and cherries, means you have a first-hand experience of what fresh produce really means.

Golf, gardens and galleries
While the climate encourages the finest fruit and vegetables, it also nurtures flower gardens. There are many fine, formal gardens here with colourful flowers and shrubs, many in the grounds of the peninsula’s heritage mansions, as well as gardens with other special features, including intricate mazes where you can easily lose track of time and place.

If you love walking and the great outdoors, there are many pathways along the beaches or clifftops. One very special place is Point Nepean, an extensive area of national park that has remained untouched, since the area was closed to the public for over 100 years.

For golfers not already aware of it, the great news is that the Mornington Peninsula has 18 golf courses stretching out over what is considered to be some of the best golfing country in the world, not to mention that the green fees are affordable, too!

Activities include sailing, diving, fishing and horse riding on the sands at Gunnamatta Beach, while for shopping and browsing, art and craft galleries, antique stores and local markets are all on the Mornington map for your enjoyment.