Family Beach Escapes
The mornington peninsula The Mornington Peninsula is only an hour’s drive from Melbourne, but it seems a world away. In fact, the Peninsula now has an air that’s reminiscent of the Mediterranean, with its vineyards and olive groves, its historic country house retreats. You can travel the length of our coastlines, stopping at our seaside villages, or just meander back and forth from one coast to the other on country roads with glorious views. But there’s plenty to explore on the Mornington Peninsula. Book your classic cottage or luxury holiday rental accommodation, then you’re ready to begin discovering the Peninsula.
FAMILY FRIENDLY Replicate your own childhood summers and create lifelong memories for the next generation of endless sun-kissed holidays along Mornington Peninsula’s bayside beaches. Swim, fish, snorkel and paddle in the calm waters with their expansive sandbars. Keeping kids entertained Take a nostalgic tour of the summer carnivals at Rye and Rosebud. Marvel at the spectacular sand sculptures, get lost in the multiple mazes, and observe water and land creatures in their natural habitats with dolphin swims,wetlands visits and conservation area explorations. Get PSUPs to teach the kids how to stand up paddle or take them on an adventure in the bay with South Bay Eco Adventures to see the seals and the dolphins and learn about the dangerous rip at the heads of Port Phillip Bay. Junior gourmands A family holiday can still include Mornington Peninsula’s famed gastronomic experiences. Hit the berry farms to pick your own fruit to guarantee full tummies, and meet the goats and sample their cheese at Main Ridge Dairy. Enter the evening with a twilight swim or at a foreshore barbecue, cooking up the day’s catch.
PET FRIENDLY Walk from any of our pet friendly accommodation and within minutes you will be at a beach or walking track, where your pets can run and play. Each of our properties has a brochure of dog friendly parks and beaches. Remember our dog friendly accommodation has bowls and a towel for a rub down but you will need to bring your own leash for these wonderful walks, although some areas are leash free.
FOOD AND WINE 50 cellar doors Many people start at our wineries, where more than 50 cellar doors quickly reveal why the Mornington Peninsula has such an enviable reputation for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay (now closely followed by other varietals including Shiraz, Pinot Gris, Pinot Grigio, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot).
Fine wine is always a magnet for fine food, and here you can buy just-picked and locally made produce, or let our restaurants and cafes tempt you with dishes that are the perfect complement to our regional wines.
Golf The Mornington Peninsula is rapidly becoming known for some of the world’s best natural golf terrain, with gently rolling sand-hills creating perfect contours and fast-draining sandy soils providing excellent year-round golf.
This region, now known as ‘The Cups’, has 18 golf courses that range from nine holes in a very relaxed country atmosphere to public courses and clubhouses that are equal to the best private clubs.
So the play is as good as it gets – and so are the vistas that surround you. The famous cliff-top course at Flinders Golf Club looks out over Western Port Bay, while Cape Schanck Golf Course (designed by Robert Trent Jones Jnr) sits atop one of Australia’s most spectacular coastal headlands.
Our national parks Or perhaps a walk? Choose a windswept cliff-top, a quiet beach or a bush-clad path or head for historic Point Nepean where you’ll find all three. The most famous feature of our 25,000 hectares ofnational parks, Point Nepean was closed to the public for more than 100 years. It’s now open for everyone’s enjoyment, and you can follow the cycle- and-pedestrian road to the extensive wartime military installations right at the tip of Point Nepean.
Mud wraps and massages But when it’s time take the tensions out of life, just let yourself relax in expert hands at one of our day spas. Mud wraps, massages, facials, hand and feet treats are all on the indulgence menu, along with outdoor Japanese-style hot baths, an Aboriginal relaxation massage and Arabic steam room.
Now, what’s still on your holiday list? Our graciousgardens, art galleries, heritage mansions, fine local art and craft galleries, antique stores and lively local markets. You’d better stay another night or two. Our accommodation booking service has plenty of suggestions, ranging from rustic bed and breakfasts to contemporary beachside apartments.
Itinerary: Explore the attractions…
Morning – Moonlit Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Park – Visit the bush food garden and try some native fare. Enjoy a close encounter with kangaroos, wombats, and other Australian animals. Have your photo taken with a koala! Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm – Stroll through the fields and pick your own fresh berries (Nov – Apr) – the largest you’ve ever seen. Visit the gift shop and café for strawberry treats, wine tastings, gourmet produce or giftware. Lunch: Ashcombe Maze & Lavender Gardens – The fully licensed Maze Café serves light lunches in the unique mud brick building with vaulted ceilings which overlooks the spectacular gardens. Be tempted by luscious rose petal or lavender scones. Afternoon Cape Schanck Lighthouse – Tour the lighthouse that still flashes its beacon across the wild waters of Bass Strait guiding mariners as it has done for more than 100 years. Explore historic buildings and the lighthouse museum.
Peninsula Hot Springs – Feel the hot springs revitalise your exercise weary limbs. Enjoy one of the many spa treatments available from massages to wraps, take a Turkish steam bath, or simply lie back in the natural thermal waters in the bath house. Dinner The Rye Hotel – Choose to have dinner in either the Street Café, Terrace Bistro or in the Beer Garden. An extensive menu selection including vegetarian and gluten free options. Have traditional fish and chips opposite the beach.
Itinerary: Food and Wine Connoisseurs Trail
Seek out local winemakers at more than 170 vineyards and 50 cellars, and learn how they lovingly craft some of the region’s best wines. Then once armed with ‘the knowledge’ indulge your senses and experience some of the world’s finest gourmet food and wine against a breathtaking backdrop of rugged bushland coastlines. Or just sit back and treat yourself to some of the region’s finest ‘farm gate’ produce. 10:00 am – Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm – Largest strawberry producer in Australia. Pick a punnet of fresh strawberries from the field or sample medalwinning fruit wines and liqueurs. Indulge in the Strawberry Cafe. 11:00 am – Tuck’s Ridge – See, smell and taste some of the region’s most dramatic hillside Pinots – a true wine tasting experience. or 11:00 am – Montalto Vineyard & Olive Grove – stunning 50 acre amphitheatre property features a vineyard, olive groves, wetlands and streams with Western Port Bay as the backdrop. Try the many delicious olive oils. Lunch – T’Gallant Winemakers – the occasional singing waiter and the best local produce, with outstanding international ingredients, and great wine, make La Baracca restaurant the T’Gallant experience.
or Lunch - Mantons Creek Vineyard – At this secluded haven enjoy the relaxed informality of cellar door dining accompanied by your choice of elegant, award winning estate-grown and bottled premium wines. or Lunch – Ten Minutes by Tractor contemporary cuisine with one of the best wine list’s in Australia. An innovative menu with fresh regional produce with a classic French influence. 2:30pm – Main Ridge Dairy – A fabulous cheese experience indulge in a tasting plate. Get up close and personal with the kids (four legged and fury!). or 2:30 pm – Green Olive at Red Hill – an absolute delight for all things culinary. Olives, grapes, herbs, vegies, sheep, chooks, fish…and a shop selling everything you need. You could even organise a gift hamper or take a cooking class. 3:30 pm The Garden Vineyard – Where magnificently sculptured gardens combine with exquisite, locally produced wines. Indulge in a glass or two as you wanter through the captivating one hectare garden. Time for home but if you still want to taste a few wines you’ll find Dromana Estate and Hickinbotham Winery close by.
INCLUSIONS
Book a classic beach cottage or luxury beach house with us and you have fully self contained beach retreat for you and your family. You have exclusive access to all the facilities within that property and all accommodation has everything you would find in your home including a fully equipped kitchen and lots of extras. When you book with us all the following are included ... Bed Linen Towels Pool Towels (where appropriate) Basic Kitchen Provisions Basic Toiletries Logs & Kindling (where appropriate) BBQ Gas WiFi Foxtel (where available) Pet Friendly (unless stated otherwise) Ideal Location Stylish Beach Design Exceptional Customer Service
Loyalty program - two of our core values are Value and reward Loyalty – we reward repeat visitation with free breakfasts and a loyalty program with monetary rewards. Become a gold member in our family loyalty program by staying with us or subscribing to our newsletters. We have four levels with the loyalty program which sees you receiving gifts on arrival and percentage discounts on accommodation which increases the higher you go within the program. Join us today by subscribing to our newsletters. Embrace family – encourage a feeling of belonging – we don’t always get to meet our guests but we want them to be treated as part of our family.
BEACH CLUB
GoldMember
family
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Kids Itinerary: Adventure on the high seas… The waters around the Peninsula are spectacular and if you get into or onto it, it is even better. If you and the family are up for a bit of adventure, then we suggest you try some or all of the following options. We have given you two or three options for morning or afternoon, so you could drag this out to two or three days.
St Pauls Road General Store – off the beaten track but a hidden treasure…think Jerrys Milk Bar in Elwood but on a smaller more rustic scale. Great coffee great food and there is a little play area for the kids if the weather is kind. 2:00 pm Gunnamatta Beach Trail Rides – specialising in horse trail rides to the spectacular St Andrews Ocean Beach and suitable for beginners to advanced riders. Or
9:00 am – Bayplay Adventure Tours – Explore the wonder of our local marine life. Dive on living reefs and old shipwrecks or take a guided sea kayak tour along the southern coastline. Or Moonraker Dolphin Swims – Offering guess the chance to encounter wild Bottlenose Dolphins, Australian Fur Seals and beautiful colourful fish in pristine Marine Parks. 12 noon – Both of the above work from around Portsea and Sorrento so try the following for lunch: The Portsea Hotel – great pub food and a fabulous atmosphere. The Baths – fine dining you probably don’t want to do at lunch but the food is great and you can always get fish and chips at the back of the restaurant…eat them on the beach.
Polperro Dolphin Swims – The experience of a lifetime swimming with wild dolphins and seals. Groups are small to ensure high standards of customer and envirnonmental care.
Where we are....
AUSTRALIA
VICTORIA MELBOURNE
AWARDS PORT PHILLIP BAY
Contact Us Phone 03 9775 4015 info@oceanbluecoastalretreats.com.au www.oceanbluecoastalretreats.com.au
we are here
Phone 03 9775 4015 info@oceanbluecoastalretreats.com.au www.oceanbluecoastalretreats.com.au