The Mornington Peninsula is about an hour from Melbourne, so it is the perfect spot for a day trip. Whether you drive yourself or go on a tour, there are plenty of options depending on your budget and how much you plan to drink. But it is a great way to explore this fantastic and less-known wine region when you’re in Melbourne for a couple of days. It gives you just a little taste, and I promise it will leave you wanting more! So here is a guide to the Mornington Peninsula in one day to plan your own trip!
Our guide to the Mornington Peninsula
We decided to splurge on a private tour which is a bit more costly than public tours, but a great way to fit more in when you are short on time. It also allows you to customise your itinerary which does make it easier to see what you want to see. But here are the stops we had on our tour.
Stop 1: Laneway Coffee
My partner texted me at 11.45am and I said we hadn’t started drinking yet, and he couldn’t believe it. But it didn’t matter because we were having such a fun start to the morning. After the hour drive to the Peninsula, we started with coffee and a snack at Laneway Coffee. I have to say this coffee was a great way to start the day, and their vegan tarts are the best I’ve ever had (coming from a meat eater this is a big call).
If you love Drake you’ll be right at home here too. There’s Drake everywhere – even on the bathroom door. I also love the Drake quote on the wall!
We took our coffees and pastries to the Arthurs Seat lookout rather than eating it at the cafe which was perfect as it was the most incredible view of the bay. Such a great way to start the day. Seriously, if I am saying this was better than drinking wine, you know it has to have been worthwhile.
Stop 2: Foxeys Hangout
We started the wineries with a trip to Foxeys Hangout. The name comes from dark beginnings of when fox hunters would hang what they caught on a tree in a nearby property to compare the sizes. Hence the name! But regardless of the inspiration for this winery, the wines are absolutely incredible!
Whether you are on a tour or not, this has to be one of my favourite wineries on the Peninsula. It has a stunning dining room full of natural light (and great share food at an affordable price as a side note), and the staff offer such good tastings. They are really funny, personable and knowledgeable. Everything I love in a good wine tasting!
For lovers of sparkling wine, this will be your jam. You can do a sparkling wine masterclass where you make your own bottle to take home if you have the time. Otherwise, you can enjoy their delicious sparkling Shiraz, which has to be my favourite of any I’ve tried. I had to buy two bottles before trying any other wines. They also had a really nice Chardonnay and their Pinot Noir’s were both delicious! So you can truly experience a bit of everything in a beautiful setting.
Stop 3: Crittenden Estate
For lover’s of Italian and Spanish wine, Crittenden Estate is a must in this guide to the Mornington Peninsula. As one of the founding families of wine on the Peninsula, Crittenden Estate has a large range of fantastic wines that won’t be found everywhere. The Peninsula is known for Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay, but the wines coming out of Crittenden Estate show you don’t need a hot climate to make fantastic Spanish and Italian wines.
The tasting experience at Crittenden is something different from other wineries, as you sit at a table and select from a list which wines you’d like to try. They pair two up at a time so you can compare them as well. I thought this was a great idea, particularly with my sister trying wines for the first time. It helped her understand the differences between the wines.
Crittenden Estate has some amazing wines, and there really is something for everyone. From unusual Spanish varieties to hand-picked, whole bunch Pinot Noir, you’ll truly try something you’ve never experienced before. The quality of the wine was fantastic, and the staff were really knowledgeable too. They even threw in a few different wines for us to try on top of the tasting. I had a hard time not buying every wine I tried here!
Lunch at Stillwater
Crittenden Estate is absolutely beautiful with a huge lake and manicured gardens, my best friend said she was expecting Mr Darcy to walk around the corner. So it was the perfect spot to enjoy a two-course meal in the sun on the deck of their restaurant Stillwater. The food is the best I’ve had as a tour winery lunch. Given our dietary requirements, I was impressed by how attentive they were to our needs.
I had the pork belly for entree which was perfectly cooked, however, the lamb for main was some of the best lamb dishes I’ve ever had. All washed down with a glass or two of estate wine, it was a great lunch spent in the sunshine. I would highly recommend it even if you aren’t on a tour, especially as the prices are quite reasonable.
Stop 4: Port Phillip Estate
After lunch at Stillwater, which ended up being a bit of a long lunch (the beauty of being on your own tour) we headed to Port Phillip Estate. I have to say honestly this was probably my least favourite of the day. However, the view sells it for me. The beautiful building is like something out of a James Bond movie and when you make it through the hidden door you find yourself in a cellar door and restaurant with the most incredible view out over the winery and the Peninsula. It is definitely worth it for this alone! Hello, photo opportunities!
The wines at Port Phillip Estate are good, but they weren’t my favourite if I’m honest. However, I think what let us down was the service. Although the lady helping us was nice, she didn’t explain any of the wines or tasting notes. We had to keep asking her what we were drinking. This was a bit hard when my sister doesn’t drink wine so didn’t know what to look for. However, for those that are a bit more familiar, you might be ok. I wondered if it was a once off as I’ve been before and had a different experience.
So go for the views and the architecture. Stay for the wine, but I definitely think there were other places that I rated far higher.
Stop 5: Rare Hare
The last stop on our winery tour and in this guide to the Mornington Peninsula was Rare Hare. It’s a winery attached to the incredible and expensive Jackalope hotel. Definitely worth a visit just to check out the location, the hotel and the giant Jackalope sculpture! However, we were there for the wines.
The cellar door also has a casual dining spot with a beautiful view of the wineries. We enjoyed some meats and cheeses from here which were fantastic – so if you are after something that isn’t super fancy but absolutely delicious, this would be my pick. It’s just good food without worrying about a degustation, and the setting is fantastic!
Now onto the wines. Rare Hare has a number of wines on tasting which aren’t all the Rare Hare brand, so you can try a few different wines. I thoroughly enjoyed the Rare Hare Rose, but the Pinot Noir was also incredible! No matter your tastes, you’ll find something here. I also thought the tasting was really fun and casual, but you learnt enough about the wines throughout. Their branding is also super cute with rabbits all over everything. Definitely worth checking out!
In summary: Guide to the Mornington Peninsula in one day
Because the Mornington Peninsula is so close to Melbourne it is so achievable to do it in one day. Whether you drive yourself or do a tour, you are sure to have a great time. With the incredible scenery, fantastic food and awesome wines, it is the perfect day trip!
These are just some suggestions for your own one day tour in this guide to the Mornington Peninsula, but really anywhere you go you’ll be sure to have a great time. You’ll probably also come home with a few too many bottles, but that’s half the fun of it!
Check out the video to see more of our tour!