Weekend getaway at Mornington Peninsula, Victoria Australia
Looking for a weekend getaway not too far away from Melbourne CBD? Look no further! Mornington Peninsula is only about an hour drive away and there's a vast selection of things to do. Choose to chill by the beach and enjoy the seaside breeze; go for a short walk around the bay, soaking in all the goodness nature has to offer; go complete zen mode at the Peninsula hot springs; or find yourself enjoying some really scrumptious meals at the nearby wineries, sipping on a glass of good ol' wine. For the daredevils, there's even cliff jumping at the Pillars at Mount Martha. However, just a note, it has been quite a popular spot after the local authorities' attempt to ban the activity backfired because it was causing local disturbance and cliff erosion.
More so, holiday houses are of abundance. Spoilt with options, you can choose to stay at an old fashioned cottage or opt to stay a night at a luxurious yet cozy home. We found our ideal hideout from Airbnb. A complete standalone unit behind the owner's living space overseeing the coastline. It's so quiet and peaceful at night, it feels as if we're the only one around the neighbourhood. Stargazing with no obstructions in sight and the only sound you hear is the crashing waves.
We had lunch at Montalto Vineyard. Description by Google was spot on describing the place as a "refined modern Australian dining with kitchen garden, plus a deck overlooking sculptures and vines". Weather was perfect with clear blue skies, you could see kids running around having the time of their lives.
Food was absolutely amazing. We had the smoked trout served with wild rice (which had some interesting crunch) and barberry, dressed in herb creme fraiche. Followed by the juiciest asparagus I've ever tasted! No idea how it was cooked but it had a slight char, like it was grilled but they've managed to retain its moisture. It was served in a bed of stracciatella (if not mistaken, buffalo cheese) and had bits and pieces of anchovies giving it an extra savoury salty flavour. Next up, BBQ lamb ribs coated in zaatar, cooked so tender, every bite I took, the meat fell off the bone effortlessly. Last but not least, pizza. Layered with sliced potatoes, rosemary and smothered with soused onion. The pickled onions were so refreshing, we shamelessly asked for an extra serving. All in all, the asparagus was the winner.
After having a very satisfying meal, we went to the beach and did absolutely nothing but dip our feet in the extremely cold seawater and of course took a multitude of photos which was in no way near candid (ok I lied, in fact we spent 80% of the time taking photos only to realise that the sun was setting and we had to pack up and leave). Locals even brought their dogs to the beach for an evening stroll, playing fetch. Not too far is where McCrae lighthouse is located and in sight is the colourful bathing boxes (oh yes, you can find them here, not just at the infamous Brighton Beach).
A short drive out to Franklin Point Lookout, you'll catch sight of the line of clouds blurring out the boundary between the sea and sky.
There's just so many things to do at Mornington Peninsula it's impossible for me to cover it all. I wouldn't even know where to begin if I were to write a summary or list down all the attractions. For more information, visit the official regional tourism website for the Mornington Peninsula, link here.
Till next time.
More so, holiday houses are of abundance. Spoilt with options, you can choose to stay at an old fashioned cottage or opt to stay a night at a luxurious yet cozy home. We found our ideal hideout from Airbnb. A complete standalone unit behind the owner's living space overseeing the coastline. It's so quiet and peaceful at night, it feels as if we're the only one around the neighbourhood. Stargazing with no obstructions in sight and the only sound you hear is the crashing waves.
We had lunch at Montalto Vineyard. Description by Google was spot on describing the place as a "refined modern Australian dining with kitchen garden, plus a deck overlooking sculptures and vines". Weather was perfect with clear blue skies, you could see kids running around having the time of their lives.
Food was absolutely amazing. We had the smoked trout served with wild rice (which had some interesting crunch) and barberry, dressed in herb creme fraiche. Followed by the juiciest asparagus I've ever tasted! No idea how it was cooked but it had a slight char, like it was grilled but they've managed to retain its moisture. It was served in a bed of stracciatella (if not mistaken, buffalo cheese) and had bits and pieces of anchovies giving it an extra savoury salty flavour. Next up, BBQ lamb ribs coated in zaatar, cooked so tender, every bite I took, the meat fell off the bone effortlessly. Last but not least, pizza. Layered with sliced potatoes, rosemary and smothered with soused onion. The pickled onions were so refreshing, we shamelessly asked for an extra serving. All in all, the asparagus was the winner.
After having a very satisfying meal, we went to the beach and did absolutely nothing but dip our feet in the extremely cold seawater and of course took a multitude of photos which was in no way near candid (ok I lied, in fact we spent 80% of the time taking photos only to realise that the sun was setting and we had to pack up and leave). Locals even brought their dogs to the beach for an evening stroll, playing fetch. Not too far is where McCrae lighthouse is located and in sight is the colourful bathing boxes (oh yes, you can find them here, not just at the infamous Brighton Beach).
A short drive out to Franklin Point Lookout, you'll catch sight of the line of clouds blurring out the boundary between the sea and sky.
There's just so many things to do at Mornington Peninsula it's impossible for me to cover it all. I wouldn't even know where to begin if I were to write a summary or list down all the attractions. For more information, visit the official regional tourism website for the Mornington Peninsula, link here.
Till next time.
