Things to do in Mornington Peninsula
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Peninsula Hot Springs
Peninsula Hot Springs is a large, luxurious complex that utilises hot, mineral-rich waters pumped from deep underground. There’s a huge menu of spa, private bathing and massage treatments available.
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Briars
The Briars is the 1840 homestead of one of the peninsula’s first pastoral runs. Sitting on 96 hectares, it includes original farm buildings, parklands and a wildlife reserve. There are bird hides, koalas, echidnas and kangaroos. The homestead houses the Dame Mabel Brookes collection of Napoleon relics, which includes locks of the emperor’s hair and his death mask. Her great-grandfather owned the lands on the island of St Helena where Napoleon was exiled by the British for the final six years of his life.
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Point Nepean National Park
The peninsula’s tip is marked by the stunning Point Nepean National Park, originally a quarantine station and army base. A large section of the park is a former range area and still out of bounds due to unexploded ordnance, but there’s plenty to see here and long stretches of traffic-free road that make for excellent cycling. There are also plenty of walking trails throughout the park and at the tip is Fort Nepean, which was important in Australian defence from the 1880s to 1945.
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Continental Cafe
The Continental Hotel does gourmet fish and chips and stylish Mod Oz grub. Eat outside at weathered picnic tables overlooking the bay or in the funky and cosy café. Tuesday is pizza-and-pasta night, and Thursday is 300g steak night – both $15 flat rate.
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Baths
The waterfront deck of the former sea baths is the perfect spot for breakfast, lunch or a romantic sunset dinner overlooking the jetty and the Queenscliff ferry. The menu has some good seafood choices and there’s a takeaway fish and chipper at the front.
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Three Palms
Framed by the namesake palms, this relaxed main street bar and restaurant has a rocking side terrace with a ‘sarongs and thongs’ ambience. The menu is Asian fusion – ocean trout sashimi or King Island beef fillet with lemon grass panacotta to follow.
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Cape Schanck Lightstation
Cape Schanck Lightstation, built in 1859, is a photogenic working limestone lighthouse, with a kiosk, museum, information centre and regular guided tours. You can stay in the old lightkeeper’s cottages for $150 a night.
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Dromana Drive-in
At Dromana there’s a relic of the 1960s when there were more than 330 drive-in cinemas across Australia. The National Trust–listed Dromana Drive-In is one of just a handful that remain.
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Acquolina Ristorante
Acquolina upped the ante when it opened in Sorrento with its authentic northern Italian fare. This is hearty simple food – handmade pasta dishes matched with imported Italian wines. The owners winter in Italy.
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Just Fine Food
Famous for its sublime fluffy vanilla slices (recipe: top secret), this cafe and deli is a top place for all-day breakfasts, and lunches of open sandwiches, focaccia, antipasto and gourmet pies.
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Stringer’s
Stringer’s is a Sorrento institution with its little corner cafe serving house-made meals and Mornington wines for sale in the attached grocery shop.
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Enchanted Maze Garden
At Arthurs Seat, the Enchanted Maze Garden is a fantastic hedge maze and ornamental garden that makes the kids squeal with delight.
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Fed-Up Fish Café
The Fed-Up Fish Café is a good option along the Point Nepean Rd.
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Tuck’s Ridge
Among the stand-out wineries around Red Hill is Tuck’s Ridge, with top-shelf wines and an excellent restaurant.
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Red Hill Market
The popular Red Hill Market is held the first Saturday of each month.
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Red Hill Brewery
The Red Hill Brewery, one of the state’s best microbreweries, is a great spot for a German/Belgian-inspired lunch.
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Montalto
Among the stand-out wineries around Red Hill is Montalto with top-shelf wines and an excellent restaurant.
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Max’s Restaurant
Max’s Restaurant is one of the best restaurants in the Red Hill region.
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La Pétanque
La Pétanque is one of the best restaurants in the Red Hill region.
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Flinders Bakehouse Café
This is the original home of Flinders Bread (now owned by a conglomerate and made in Dandenong!), but the folks who operate this licensed bakery-café-food store still bake great bread in a wood oven, and serve up pasta, pies and fresh sandwiches.
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