Beaches and Fine Dining: Best Things to Do on the Mornington Peninsula

Sandy beaches, picnic hampers on winery lawns, top-notch restaurants and walks at the water’s edge - an hour from Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula packs a punch as the state's best day escape or weekend getaway.

Got kids in tow? Fill the days with summer carnivals, movie nights at the drive-in and adventures with cable cars, or simply paddle in rockpools and splash away in the shallows on the peninsula's perfect, family-friendly beaches.

This is your guide to the best activities, from wellness to wine and walks, hot springs and drive-ins, as well as the best places to eat on the Mornington Peninsula.

The Mornington Peninsula's signature wellness activity is sinking into a small pool of hot, mineral-rich waters drawn from an aquifer beneath the peninsula.

The original, Peninsula Hot Springs, is an adventure in itself, wandering the trails through coastal bushland to discover more than 70 hot pools and cold plunges, saunas and ice caves. The Spa Dreaming Centre section, for those 16 and over, includes massage therapy and a quiet restaurant; check out the early morning and moonlit bathing times.

Across the road, the beautiful architecture of Alba Thermal Springs & Spa is almost as much a drawcard as the 22 geothermal pools set amongst forests or in subterranean settings. For a private experience, book the rooftop salt-float pool. Alba's Thyme restaurant is worth a visit in its own right (you can visit even if you're not swimming), serving from brunch to dinner.

On the Mornington Peninsula, we're all drinking pinot noir and cool-climate chardonnay. Get on board. But while these are the region's signature varietals, there are plenty more to explore; the peninsula's also got a raging love affair with such Italian grapes as barbera and sangiovese, thanks to the pioneers at Crittenden Estate.

For some class action on the food front to match their stellar wines, put a lunch date in the diary for Red Hill heroes Montalto, with a wander around their sculpture trail between courses, or pop in for an organic spread and wine at biodynamic champions Polperro. And for a secret, superior glass of wine away from the masses, follow Tucks Road in Shoreham down to little Ocean Eight, open Fridays to Sundays.

Beer lovers aren't forgotten, family-friendly St Andrews Beach Brewery has a cult following for its Sunday sessions, while Dromana's industrial estate has two must-visit brewers; Jetty Road Brewery for its crowd-pleasing IPA and bouncy vibe, and Two Bays Brewing Co, which is completely gluten free, the heartland for beer and pizza-loving coeliacs.

The industrial estate is also home to JimmyRum, a craft rum distillery with wildly fabulous cocktails that will make rum devotees of all who drink here. It's a short trot around the corner to Bass & Flinders gin distillery - join a masterclass to make your own blend - while Chief's Son creates its single-malt whisky in small batches, by hand, in Somerville.

If you don’t mind a decent walk, the Two Bays Trail is a 26-kilometre wander from Dromana to Cape Schanck, following beaches, along cliffs and through eucalypt forests. Dip in and out of short sections, or put a weekend aside for a lovely, long walk.

The walk skirts Arthur's Seat, which itself has several circular walks with spectacular bay views. A popular option is to catch the gondola one way, and walk the return leg – extra gold stars and vanilla slices if you choose to do the thigh-burning walk uphill.

For a post-prandial parade, nothing beats a promenade on a pier; Rye Pier is a popular spot for sunset sauntering, ice cream eating and stingray spotting, while Flinders, Portsea, Rosebud and Blairgowrie piers all have their fans. And if you’re a fan of great architecture, Millionaires’ Walk in Sorrento is a well-loved, one-kilometre stroll that passes some of the Mornington Peninsula’s most beautiful mansions.

Farm shops and hatted restaurants, whatever your budget or inclination, the eateries of the Mornington Peninsula will match it.

For the best hot chips in town, head to Hawkes Farm in Boneo. Here, you can shop vibrant produce, grab a locally roasted Little Rebel coffee and, on the weekends, order the hot chips and croque monsieur. In summer, grab a punnet of strawberries grown on this sixth-generation family farm.

In Mt Eliza, vegan bakery Butterken goes back to its German roots for the best pretzels bar none, and for vintage vibes and big brekkies, join the locals at Laneway Espresso in Dromana.

If you’ve a craving for pulled pork and Texan-style brisket, Red Gum BBQ in Red Hill goes off on the weekends, as does Flinders Mussels at Flinders Pier - say g'day to owner Harry while you're there. Bayside, Peninsula Bay Seafood’s food truck draws the crowds for its local mussels and fish cooked fresh on the foreshore at Safety Beach.

Lovers of a pub lunch in a historic hotel are spoilt for choice; try the unmistakable Grand Hotel on Mornington's Main Street, the beautiful, crowd-pleasing Portsea Hotel, the front bar or beer garden at the long-standing The Continental or, across the road in Sorrento, the oldest of them all, the limestone Hotel Sorrento, built in 1872. All serve up good pub grub in historic surrounds, most with bay views.

Some of the state's best dining tables are hidden amongst the vines and rolling hills of the peninsula; explore Barragunda, set on a regenerative farm at Cape Schanck, or book ahead for Brigitte Hafner's farm-to-table fare at two-hatted Tedesca Osteria.

Fine-dining Laura at Point Leo Estate is also known for its meandering, outdoor sculpture park, and the estate also does wine tastings and an outdoor wine terrace that's a favourite on long summer evenings. Up at Red Hill, Many Little wine bar is a local fave for its craft beers, cocktails, and Sri Lankan cuisine.

Red Hill favourite Foxey's Hangout wins points for taking walk-ins only, though it's popular, so get in early to get a seat for its share plates in summer and on weekends or visit its little Italian sister, Morning Sun vineyard, just around the corner. Flying under the radar, Abelli Estate has a cult-like following for its epic platters of Greek food and warm hospitality.

For stylish eats with young kids, try family-friendly Montalto, with its open lawns ideal for swish and tasty picnics and high chairs in The Restaurant, or friendly Hickinbotham of Dromana, whose rustic picnic tables are set amongst the bushland.

Port Phillip Bay is a haven for creatures from the deep - Australian Fur Seals and wild dolphins are year-round residents, while Humpback and Southern Right whales drop in to say g'day between June and September.

The big boys have been seen frolicking even off the coast at Mornington, and frequently spotted on the ocean-facing coastline from Cape Schanck, but for a closer look, join the peninsula's long-running operators Polperro Dolphin Swims or Moonraker Dolphin Swims for whale watching and wildlife swim tours with dolphins and seals. Both depart from Sorrento Pier.

To see the peninsula's smallest superstars, the elegant little Weedy Seadragon (we're talking seahorses here), grab the snorkel and fins for a dip beneath Flinders Pier.

If you've got water babies in tow, Mills Beach in Mornington is a patrolled beach ideal for little ones to paddle in the warm shallows. Bonus points for the string of brightly painted beach boxes along the beach. Bring a picnic and umbrellas and settle in for a beach day. Safety Beach and McCrae Beach are also great choices for families.

Sorrento Back Beach is a wonderland for the sea-curious, with glittering rockpools that beg to be explored, the same as Number 16 Beach; not suitable for swimming, they're best visited at low tide only.

The best three things to do on the Mornington Peninsula are also some of its longest stayers, ideal for families, groups, solo travellers, and couples alike.

The chairlift that careens over the treetops of Arthur’s Seat has been a fixture since 1960. The modern Eagle Gondola is a serene experience; on the journey from Dromana to the top of the hill, listen for birdsong, look for wallabies – if you can take your eyes away from the glittering bay, before you. There are also cafés at the bottom and the top, to recaffeinate.

The Dromana Drive-In has been showing movies since the summer of '62, and is still run by the same family - stuff the car with pillows and blankets and tuck in or, if you're on foot, you can watch the big screen from the garden beside Shel's '50s diner. A photo with the life-sized Blues Brothers in the cafe is tradition. And Rye Carnival, set on the foreshore at Rye, is a rite of passage for teens on the peninsula. Leap on a stomach-churning carnival ride; hot tip, eat the Dagwood dogs afterwards, not before.

One of Australia's best wine districts, the petite Mornington Peninsula is also packed with day walks and beckoning beaches. Here are some of the peninsula's best experiences:

• Book a seat at one of Victoria's top tables, hidden amongst the vineyards.
• Explore award-winning cellar doors, boutique breweries and historic hotels for a tipple or a casual bite to eat.
• Sink into the mineral-rich waters of the peninsula's famed hot springs.
• Spend the night at the drive-in cinema or a beachfront carnival.
• Find your beach; there are dozens to choose from.

Whatever your day holds, there are plenty of hotel options across all budgets, whether you're a daytripper from Melbourne or staying on the Mornington Peninsula.