One of Australia’s best kept secrets is the stunningly beautiful Mornington Peninsula; a short drive away from Melbourne. Ann Dias tells you why this place should be your number one pick for a romantic trip for two.
While it has always been a favourite vacation destination for city-jaded Melbournians, the Mornington Peninsula is still not as popular with tourists as other Victorian destinations such as the Yarra Valley and the Great Ocean Road. But this tiny little boot shaped jewel curves lazily southwards from Melbourne down Port Phillip Bay to a patchwork of bushland, pasture, hills, vineyards and National Parks. The Mornington Peninsula is a scenic resort region, rich in wineries, golf courses, restaurants and art galleries—all in all a perfect honeymoon getaway.
BRIGHTON BAY
Picture postcard perfect with its colourful beach huts, Brighton Bay is the place where the two of you can let your hair down and indulge yourselves by doing nothing at all. Go for a swim in the ocean or simply laze about the soft-sanded beach that is part of the peninsula’s ‘front beaches’ known for its calm waters and gentle currents. A little further on in Sorrento, you can even take a cruise to discover the Port Phillip Bay and if you’re lucky you may even find yourselves swimming with the charmers of the ocean, the rather playful dolphins that frolic in the waters here.
WINE WONDERLAND
Think Victoria and wine and the first thing that pops into most people’s minds is the Yarra Valley, but the Mornington Peninsula too is slowly emerging as a wine producing region to reckon with as you will discover at top class wineries such as T’Gallant, Port Philip Estate and Tucks Ridge Vineyard among others where you two can see the entire process of wine making up close and personal from grape to glass. From luscious reds like Shiraz and Merlots to crisp whites like Sauvignon Blancs and Rieslings—this region has it all!
STYLISH DINING
With some of the freshest produce on hand, restaurants around the Mornington Peninsula pull out all the stops to ensure that your dining experience will be a memorable one. For lunch I would recommend the very scenic and architecturally stunning Montalto with its earth walls and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the surrounding vineyards, olive groves and pastures. With palate pleasing dishes like the rabbit terrine with shallot compote matched with a 2010 Pennon Hill Rose and the cardamom and honey glazed duck breast paired with a 2009 Pennon Hill Pinot Noir, this place comes up trumps. For a romantic candlelit dinner with a view of the rolling Sorrento Bay, The Baths hits the right spots with its rustic, yet chic cuisine ranging from freshly shucked (and rather aphrodisiacal!) oysters to some prime cuts of melt-in the-mouth tender Aussie beef steaks.
STRAWBERRY FIELDS
Awaken the child in you by making a stop at the Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm where you can indulge yourself and enjoy a day picking the juiciest and most flavoursome strawberries you will ever find.
You can keep whatever strawberries you pick and can save them for something naughty later on… Afterwards the two of you can relax in the Strawberry Centre and enjoy everything strawberry from scrumptious desserts to wines and homemade ice cream.
HOT SPRINGS
No honeymoon is complete without some hard-core pampering and once again the Mornington Peninsula has something for that as well. Why not enjoy a relaxing 45-minute aromatherapy massage followed by a soak in a mineral pool? And the place for this is the Peninsula Hot Springs which is the area’s only natural hot mineral springs. The 50˚C waters of the spring are rich in healing minerals and flow to the surface and into the thermal pools. Entering the bathing area is like stepping into another world, a sanctuary where the mind and body are calmed by the steam and by the sound of running water.
FACT FILE Getting There
There are a number of daily connecting flights to Melbourne from Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kolkata on airlines like Emirates (via Dubai), Qantas (via Singapore), Thai Airways (via Bangkok) and Air Asia (via Kuala Lumpur).
When to Visit
The best time to visit the Mornington Peninsula is during the Southern Hemisphere’s summer that lasts from December to March. Autumn which is from April to June is also a lovely time to head to the hills, while July to September can
be quite cold with frequent rains.
Accommodation
The Mornington Peninsula has an excellent selection of hotels to choose from to suit all budgets and tastes. One such recommended accommodation option is Peppers Moonah Links Resort (www.peppers.com.au)
