Guidebook for McCrae

Rebecca
Guidebook for McCrae

Entertainment & Activities

An essential Mornington Peninsula experience, natural thermal hot springs in stunning surrounds. Definitely book, this pace gets busy! If you're child free the adult only zone doesn't have as many pools, but far less people to share them with. As equally lovely on a cold winters day, as a summer sunset.
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Peninsula Hot Springs
140 Springs Ln
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An essential Mornington Peninsula experience, natural thermal hot springs in stunning surrounds. Definitely book, this pace gets busy! If you're child free the adult only zone doesn't have as many pools, but far less people to share them with. As equally lovely on a cold winters day, as a summer sunset.
A 20 minute walk, or a four minute drive, and you're at the movies! All current releases, some nice art house options,and all the hot popcorn you can eat.
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Peninsula Cinemas
Rosebud Parade
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A 20 minute walk, or a four minute drive, and you're at the movies! All current releases, some nice art house options,and all the hot popcorn you can eat.
One of the few remaining drive in cinemas in Australia, Dromana drive in is only ten minutes down the road, and fifty years back in time. There's an early and late session every Thursday through to Sunday with a 50's inspired American Diner to keep you satisfied. Modern movies with a nostalgic twist.
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Dromana 3 Drive-In
133 Nepean Hwy
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One of the few remaining drive in cinemas in Australia, Dromana drive in is only ten minutes down the road, and fifty years back in time. There's an early and late session every Thursday through to Sunday with a 50's inspired American Diner to keep you satisfied. Modern movies with a nostalgic twist.
A traditional (and well established) proper English hedge maze, that you can follow up with a tea and scone! Lovely for the younger kids and big kids alike.
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Ashcombe Maze & Lavender Garden
15 Red Hill-Shoreham Rd
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A traditional (and well established) proper English hedge maze, that you can follow up with a tea and scone! Lovely for the younger kids and big kids alike.

Sightseeing

The iconic chair lift that whisks you straight up Arthur's Seat, to the best views on the Peninsula. The base station and hill station both have food options and plenty of parking, and as much fun as driving up the hill is, it's hard to best a chair lift!
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Arthurs Seat Eagle
1085 Arthurs Seat Rd
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The iconic chair lift that whisks you straight up Arthur's Seat, to the best views on the Peninsula. The base station and hill station both have food options and plenty of parking, and as much fun as driving up the hill is, it's hard to best a chair lift!
Also worth exploring is The Cape Schanck Lightstation, that includes Victoria’s second oldest lighthouse, built in 1859. Guided tours of the working lighthouse and historic museum operate daily and the far-reaching views over Bass Strait from the balcony, certainly warrant the climb - if you’re lucky you may even spot a whale!
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Cape Schanck Lighthouse Reserve
420 Cape Schanck Rd
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Also worth exploring is The Cape Schanck Lightstation, that includes Victoria’s second oldest lighthouse, built in 1859. Guided tours of the working lighthouse and historic museum operate daily and the far-reaching views over Bass Strait from the balcony, certainly warrant the climb - if you’re lucky you may even spot a whale!

Food Scene

Much loved local Thai restaurant, don't let its unassuming looks fool you, this place is packed full of flavour (and locals) every night! Open Wednesday to Sunday, bookings strongly recommended. The wait for take away can get up to an hour - they are often that busy - so always call a little earlier than you think you'd need.
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The Lighthouse Cafe Thai Restaurant
681 Point Nepean Rd
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Much loved local Thai restaurant, don't let its unassuming looks fool you, this place is packed full of flavour (and locals) every night! Open Wednesday to Sunday, bookings strongly recommended. The wait for take away can get up to an hour - they are often that busy - so always call a little earlier than you think you'd need.
Port Phillip Estate is a must do for architecture buffs, the Wood/Marsh building is breathtaking; expansive yet intimate, soaring but grounded. The restaurant is fancy - put your good shoes on please - and bookings are recommended. The cheese platter ahmazzzzzzzing! The cellar door is a sit down affair, with silver service staff and exceptional glassware. Once you find a wine you like, you can order it by the glass and enjoy it on the deck overlooking the stunning grounds. A highly recommended Peninsula experience.
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Port Phillip Estate
263 Red Hill Rd
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Port Phillip Estate is a must do for architecture buffs, the Wood/Marsh building is breathtaking; expansive yet intimate, soaring but grounded. The restaurant is fancy - put your good shoes on please - and bookings are recommended. The cheese platter ahmazzzzzzzing! The cellar door is a sit down affair, with silver service staff and exceptional glassware. Once you find a wine you like, you can order it by the glass and enjoy it on the deck overlooking the stunning grounds. A highly recommended Peninsula experience.
One of the first vineyards to open a restaurant, Ten Minutes by Tractor is a much loved. Recently given a revamp, and still producing some of the best chardonnay and pinot noir on the Peninsula, Ten Minutes by Tractor is an essential visit, even if it's just to visit the cellar door.
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Ten Minutes by Tractor Cellar Door & Terrace
1333 Mornington-Flinders Rd
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One of the first vineyards to open a restaurant, Ten Minutes by Tractor is a much loved. Recently given a revamp, and still producing some of the best chardonnay and pinot noir on the Peninsula, Ten Minutes by Tractor is an essential visit, even if it's just to visit the cellar door.
Order the four course menu with matching wines, and don't drive.
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Doot Doot Doot
166 Balnarring Rd
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Order the four course menu with matching wines, and don't drive.
Totally ignoring the adage that you can't be everything to everyone, Merricks Wine Store is a cafe, a restaurant, a cellar door, a providore, dog friendly, kid friendly, adult friendly. There's an attached gallery space and gardens, you can even stop by on the weekend for a take away coffee and the paper. It is such a Peninsula Institution that you're basically not allowed to leave without stopping by at least one.
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Merricks General Store
3460 Frankston - Flinders Rd
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Totally ignoring the adage that you can't be everything to everyone, Merricks Wine Store is a cafe, a restaurant, a cellar door, a providore, dog friendly, kid friendly, adult friendly. There's an attached gallery space and gardens, you can even stop by on the weekend for a take away coffee and the paper. It is such a Peninsula Institution that you're basically not allowed to leave without stopping by at least one.
Alatonero translates as saltwater in Greek, and that sums this brilliant restaurant up perfectly. Typical Greek fare like warm chilli olives, octopus, whole fish, deconstructed souvlaki served with local wines and beers, opposite the beach under a blue umbrella. Nai! Afternoons there's a tasting ,menu you can order on the front deck, for dinner and larger groups bookings are recommended. The enclosed deck is lovely on a winters night, and it's a 3.5km round walk from our door.
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Alatonero
671 Point Nepean Rd
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Alatonero translates as saltwater in Greek, and that sums this brilliant restaurant up perfectly. Typical Greek fare like warm chilli olives, octopus, whole fish, deconstructed souvlaki served with local wines and beers, opposite the beach under a blue umbrella. Nai! Afternoons there's a tasting ,menu you can order on the front deck, for dinner and larger groups bookings are recommended. The enclosed deck is lovely on a winters night, and it's a 3.5km round walk from our door.
The local go to breakfast joint, ensuring it's as busy in winter as it is in summer. The menu is quite stripped back and allows you to build-your-own breakfast or brunch, a good mix of healthy and not so healthy options (the house made doughnuts are ridiculous), and of course, they make a mean coffee.
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Merchant & Maker
675 Point Nepean Rd
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The local go to breakfast joint, ensuring it's as busy in winter as it is in summer. The menu is quite stripped back and allows you to build-your-own breakfast or brunch, a good mix of healthy and not so healthy options (the house made doughnuts are ridiculous), and of course, they make a mean coffee.
Kobi is a young passionate chef/restauranteur, and he is the brain child behind this little slice of Italy opposite the light house. Focusing on home made pastas, and wood fired pizzas, there's also specials on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights.
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Kobi Jack's
677 Point Nepean Rd
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Kobi is a young passionate chef/restauranteur, and he is the brain child behind this little slice of Italy opposite the light house. Focusing on home made pastas, and wood fired pizzas, there's also specials on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights.

Shopping

Perfect little locals shops with a supermarket, bottle shop, post office and pharmacy. As an added bonus is 21st Century Bakery, a fabulous little Vietnamese bakery that will whip up a banh mi as quickly as a crispy bacon and egg pie. The providore cafe where you can sit and drink a coffee as your pours over the local paper. And there's a nail bar incase your holiday pedicure needs a little loving!
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McCrae Plaza SC station
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Perfect little locals shops with a supermarket, bottle shop, post office and pharmacy. As an added bonus is 21st Century Bakery, a fabulous little Vietnamese bakery that will whip up a banh mi as quickly as a crispy bacon and egg pie. The providore cafe where you can sit and drink a coffee as your pours over the local paper. And there's a nail bar incase your holiday pedicure needs a little loving!
Okay this place is awesome for two reasons: One, they shape surfboards on sight and you can watch them. Two, the have a skate ramp you can use on Saturdays and Sundays, with coffee! Take the kid's down, grab a coffee, and hope you don't need to find the first aid kit.
Bass SurfBoards
87 Collins Rd
Okay this place is awesome for two reasons: One, they shape surfboards on sight and you can watch them. Two, the have a skate ramp you can use on Saturdays and Sundays, with coffee! Take the kid's down, grab a coffee, and hope you don't need to find the first aid kit.

Essentials

Coles supermarket, Liquor Land, Post Office and a Pharmacy - all the essentials!
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McCrae Plaza SC station
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Coles supermarket, Liquor Land, Post Office and a Pharmacy - all the essentials!
Open later, and a bit bigger, than McCrae Coles. A little too far to walk the groceries back, we definitely recommend taking the car!
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Woolworths Rosebud Central
991 Nepean Hwy
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Open later, and a bit bigger, than McCrae Coles. A little too far to walk the groceries back, we definitely recommend taking the car!

Parks & Nature

Point Nepean is one of Victoria's most beautiful natural landscapes, and also one of our last military bases! Walk or take the tourist bus ($10 per person) and explore the old military forts and tunnels, the historic quarantine station and the memorial for Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt who went missing from Cheviot Beach in 1967. There is a multitude of walks that take you amongst the stunning bush and protected, isolated beaches. On a clear day, you can see all the way across the bay.
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Point Nepean National Park (Portsea) station
Ochiltree Road
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Point Nepean is one of Victoria's most beautiful natural landscapes, and also one of our last military bases! Walk or take the tourist bus ($10 per person) and explore the old military forts and tunnels, the historic quarantine station and the memorial for Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt who went missing from Cheviot Beach in 1967. There is a multitude of walks that take you amongst the stunning bush and protected, isolated beaches. On a clear day, you can see all the way across the bay.
Cape Schanck, the southern most point of the Mornington Peninsula, has some of the most beautiful and rugged coastal scenery of the region. There are many scenic walks to explore around the area, with magnificent views of the ocean and dramatic coastline, and the short circuit Cape Walk gives a good introduction. From the carpark, head along to the wooden staircase and boardwalk and descend to the pebble beach. Lookouts along the way offer views over geological formations Pulpit Rock and Devils Desk and when the waves are crashing, it’s spectacular and wild.
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Cape Schanck
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Cape Schanck, the southern most point of the Mornington Peninsula, has some of the most beautiful and rugged coastal scenery of the region. There are many scenic walks to explore around the area, with magnificent views of the ocean and dramatic coastline, and the short circuit Cape Walk gives a good introduction. From the carpark, head along to the wooden staircase and boardwalk and descend to the pebble beach. Lookouts along the way offer views over geological formations Pulpit Rock and Devils Desk and when the waves are crashing, it’s spectacular and wild.

Drinks & Nightlife

One of the best spots to enjoy a weekend afternoon on the Peninsula. Casual and relaxed, there’s some food, there’s some wine, there’s plenty of people, and plenty of room for little ones to run around. A local favourite, Foxeys is just so chilled out, so relaxed, kinda perfect after a day of serious wine experiences. Their rosé sells out every year, so if you’re a rosé fan, get in there!
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Foxeys Hangout
795 White Hill Rd
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One of the best spots to enjoy a weekend afternoon on the Peninsula. Casual and relaxed, there’s some food, there’s some wine, there’s plenty of people, and plenty of room for little ones to run around. A local favourite, Foxeys is just so chilled out, so relaxed, kinda perfect after a day of serious wine experiences. Their rosé sells out every year, so if you’re a rosé fan, get in there!
Not so much a restaurant as a place to enjoy a perfectly matched cheeseboard to the current wine offerings, on a rustic deck overlooking the vineyard. Panton is making the Peninsula's only Sangiovese, reason enough to give it a go!
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Panton Vineyard
11 Shoreham Rd
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Not so much a restaurant as a place to enjoy a perfectly matched cheeseboard to the current wine offerings, on a rustic deck overlooking the vineyard. Panton is making the Peninsula's only Sangiovese, reason enough to give it a go!
The home of Willow Creek Wineries and Jackalope Hotel, Rare Hare has changed the landscape on the Peninsula. Incredible architecture, serious food, one very cool bar. The Rare Hare/Jackalope experience is like someone took a piece of New York and dropped it in Balnarring. This place gets pumping, so mid afternoon is often the best time to drop in for a tasting.
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Rare Hare Wine & Food Store
166 Balnarring Rd
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The home of Willow Creek Wineries and Jackalope Hotel, Rare Hare has changed the landscape on the Peninsula. Incredible architecture, serious food, one very cool bar. The Rare Hare/Jackalope experience is like someone took a piece of New York and dropped it in Balnarring. This place gets pumping, so mid afternoon is often the best time to drop in for a tasting.
Next to the always amazing Merricks Wine Store, Stonier’s cellar door is a relaxed, casual, but passionate affair. The building was designed by Daryl Jackson and build in 1991, and still sits so beautifully on the land. The building is reminiscent of being in a shed, they’ve taken a more agricultural approach to their tastings, stand around a wine barrel or on the bar and let the staff regal you with tales of the Peninsula. There’s also a kids play area and large tables where you can BYO your food to match with one of Stonier’s wines.
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Stonier Wines
2 Thompsons Lane
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Next to the always amazing Merricks Wine Store, Stonier’s cellar door is a relaxed, casual, but passionate affair. The building was designed by Daryl Jackson and build in 1991, and still sits so beautifully on the land. The building is reminiscent of being in a shed, they’ve taken a more agricultural approach to their tastings, stand around a wine barrel or on the bar and let the staff regal you with tales of the Peninsula. There’s also a kids play area and large tables where you can BYO your food to match with one of Stonier’s wines.
One of the older wineries in the region, Montalto has a casual cafe for pizza's, a highly regarded restaurant for a fancier affair, and hosts an annual sculpture festival through out the grounds that you can wander through with your glass of pinot noir. Much of the food is grown onsite in the amazing kitchen garden (please, no picking!), and the olives from their own grove. A stunning peninsula food, wine and art experience that shouldn't be missed.
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Montalto Restaurant
33 Shoreham Rd
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One of the older wineries in the region, Montalto has a casual cafe for pizza's, a highly regarded restaurant for a fancier affair, and hosts an annual sculpture festival through out the grounds that you can wander through with your glass of pinot noir. Much of the food is grown onsite in the amazing kitchen garden (please, no picking!), and the olives from their own grove. A stunning peninsula food, wine and art experience that shouldn't be missed.
Pretty and picturesque, this is a cellar door with a view. No restaurant or food offering, it’s all about the wine. Tastings are held inside, and you can also order a bottle and sit on the deck watching the sun set over the vines. They specialise in clone Pinot Noir, so there’s some interesting blends on offer. Chardonnay lovers will also be impressed. The cellar door staff knowledgeable, friendly and generous with the pours.
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Eldridge Estate of Red Hill
120 Arthurs Seat Rd
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Pretty and picturesque, this is a cellar door with a view. No restaurant or food offering, it’s all about the wine. Tastings are held inside, and you can also order a bottle and sit on the deck watching the sun set over the vines. They specialise in clone Pinot Noir, so there’s some interesting blends on offer. Chardonnay lovers will also be impressed. The cellar door staff knowledgeable, friendly and generous with the pours.
Fancy, sit down tastings on small tables of eight in a stunning room, on gorgeous grounds. If you want the full tasting experience, this should be on your list. The staff are lovely and well informed, and Gary the founder still sneaks behind the bar to grab a bottle of wine for his lunch! Their acclaimed restaurant Stillwater is located in the building next door, bookings are absolutely essential.
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Crittenden Estate
25 Harrisons Rd
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Fancy, sit down tastings on small tables of eight in a stunning room, on gorgeous grounds. If you want the full tasting experience, this should be on your list. The staff are lovely and well informed, and Gary the founder still sneaks behind the bar to grab a bottle of wine for his lunch! Their acclaimed restaurant Stillwater is located in the building next door, bookings are absolutely essential.
Without a doubt the best value wine tasting on the peninsula, designated drivers beware! For the grand fee of $4 per head (waived with a wine purchase) you taste about 20 wines generously poured. If it’s getting too much, just ask to only taste the wines worth $40 and over. The restaurant is high end but still casual, and as the cellar door is in the same building, the atmosphere is always buzzing. If you’re tight on time, I’d put Paringa on the to do list.
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Paringa Estate
44 Paringa Road
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Without a doubt the best value wine tasting on the peninsula, designated drivers beware! For the grand fee of $4 per head (waived with a wine purchase) you taste about 20 wines generously poured. If it’s getting too much, just ask to only taste the wines worth $40 and over. The restaurant is high end but still casual, and as the cellar door is in the same building, the atmosphere is always buzzing. If you’re tight on time, I’d put Paringa on the to do list.
The sun drenched deck is such a gorgeous place to enjoy a lazy afternoon. The bistro serves up great food in a very relaxed and friendly manner, or you can order a picnic basket and take yourself out and around the grounds. The cellar door is a stunning and intimate room, and features two wine labels, Polperro and Even Keel. It can get a little busy in there, but that’s okay, grab a wine and sit on the deck until it clears out a little.
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Polperro Winery
150 Red Hill Rd
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The sun drenched deck is such a gorgeous place to enjoy a lazy afternoon. The bistro serves up great food in a very relaxed and friendly manner, or you can order a picnic basket and take yourself out and around the grounds. The cellar door is a stunning and intimate room, and features two wine labels, Polperro and Even Keel. It can get a little busy in there, but that’s okay, grab a wine and sit on the deck until it clears out a little.
Pt. Leo is one of the new kids on the block. Owned by John Gandel of Chadstone Shopping Centre, this amazing property was slowly build and worked on for seven years before opening to the public late last year. Over those seven years, wines were made and cellared so they were able to open with previous vintages, and in the tasting you get to compare the same wine years apart – pretty impressive for a new cellar door! Another for architecture buffs, the Jolson designed building with its curves and soaring ceilings, literally takes your breath away. The sculpture walk does cost money ($20 p.p, deals for families) but that enhances the experience as the people on the path want to be there, and a
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Pt. Leo Estate
3649 Frankston - Flinders Rd
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Pt. Leo is one of the new kids on the block. Owned by John Gandel of Chadstone Shopping Centre, this amazing property was slowly build and worked on for seven years before opening to the public late last year. Over those seven years, wines were made and cellared so they were able to open with previous vintages, and in the tasting you get to compare the same wine years apart – pretty impressive for a new cellar door! Another for architecture buffs, the Jolson designed building with its curves and soaring ceilings, literally takes your breath away. The sculpture walk does cost money ($20 p.p, deals for families) but that enhances the experience as the people on the path want to be there, and a
We love it here, again very casual and relaxed, a bit like being in a Spanish villa. They do platters of meat and cheese, make some sexy pinot noir and merlot, and will gladly talk weather conditions and seasons without you, but without pomp or ceremony. Very much a family owned and run affair, including the winery dog whose often found lounging on the front deck.
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Main Ridge Estate
80 William Rd
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We love it here, again very casual and relaxed, a bit like being in a Spanish villa. They do platters of meat and cheese, make some sexy pinot noir and merlot, and will gladly talk weather conditions and seasons without you, but without pomp or ceremony. Very much a family owned and run affair, including the winery dog whose often found lounging on the front deck.
The drive into this winery is stunning, as it sits in a small valley with vines running down to the cellar door. It’s like a secret nestled into the hill. The restaurant has recently been taken over by local masters of hospitality Epicurean. The cellar door usually has some great deals, but a word of warning, do not track mud inside….
Mantons Creek Estate Cellar Door
240 Tucks Rd
The drive into this winery is stunning, as it sits in a small valley with vines running down to the cellar door. It’s like a secret nestled into the hill. The restaurant has recently been taken over by local masters of hospitality Epicurean. The cellar door usually has some great deals, but a word of warning, do not track mud inside….
A true mum and dad winery, with most of the wines named after their children. If you’re allergic to bees I recommend skipping this one, there were bees everywhere on our visit – mind you, they were far more interested in the fermenting grapes than us. The wines are not the run of the mill, they’re a bit more unique, a bit bolder…. Some work really well, some not so much but Anthony and Pauline are so much fun, and so informative, you’d happily pay $10 just to hang out with them.
Miceli
60 Main Creek Rd
A true mum and dad winery, with most of the wines named after their children. If you’re allergic to bees I recommend skipping this one, there were bees everywhere on our visit – mind you, they were far more interested in the fermenting grapes than us. The wines are not the run of the mill, they’re a bit more unique, a bit bolder…. Some work really well, some not so much but Anthony and Pauline are so much fun, and so informative, you’d happily pay $10 just to hang out with them.
A beautiful building, on a beautiful piece of land, selling beautiful wines. Morning Sun is just gorgeous. There’s a huge wrap around deck which is the perfect spot for a weekend lunch, especially as the restaurant dishes up some excellent fare. The cellar door can hold a lot of people, so you can stand or sit, and the tasting menu is comprehensive and has some unexpected wines on it. Sitting in between the very casual and the super fancy, Morning Sun is nice but not pretentious, it has soul.
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Morning Sun Vineyard
337 Main Creek Rd
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A beautiful building, on a beautiful piece of land, selling beautiful wines. Morning Sun is just gorgeous. There’s a huge wrap around deck which is the perfect spot for a weekend lunch, especially as the restaurant dishes up some excellent fare. The cellar door can hold a lot of people, so you can stand or sit, and the tasting menu is comprehensive and has some unexpected wines on it. Sitting in between the very casual and the super fancy, Morning Sun is nice but not pretentious, it has soul.
The building at Ocean Eight looks as though it has been there since the late 1800’s, which is pretty amazing as it was only built in the 1990’s! The grounds are stunning - the gardener must be very busy – and the cellar door small and intimate. The wines are generally sold only via the cellar door, or direct to some of the best restaurants in Australia. As they produce quite small yields, there is a limit of how many bottles you can buy of each wine, which is a great excuse to buy across their incredible range. The pinot gris and chardonnay are the stand outs.
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Ocean Eight
271 Tucks Rd
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The building at Ocean Eight looks as though it has been there since the late 1800’s, which is pretty amazing as it was only built in the 1990’s! The grounds are stunning - the gardener must be very busy – and the cellar door small and intimate. The wines are generally sold only via the cellar door, or direct to some of the best restaurants in Australia. As they produce quite small yields, there is a limit of how many bottles you can buy of each wine, which is a great excuse to buy across their incredible range. The pinot gris and chardonnay are the stand outs.
Tuck’s Ridge has recently been purchased by their next door neighbour, Montalto, but will continue to be run as a separate business. Open Wednesday to Sunday for lunch only, there is a cellar door, excellent food, and the most stunning lawn overlooking acres and acres of vineyards. The wine tasting is presented in a little box with tasting notes, so you can take it out onto the sun drenched deck, or the hanging platform so you swing your legs while you savour your wines. We strongly recommend grabbing something from the rotisserie, pairing it with a wine tasting, and sitting in the sun (vegetarians well catered for too!)
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Tucks
37 Shoreham Rd
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Tuck’s Ridge has recently been purchased by their next door neighbour, Montalto, but will continue to be run as a separate business. Open Wednesday to Sunday for lunch only, there is a cellar door, excellent food, and the most stunning lawn overlooking acres and acres of vineyards. The wine tasting is presented in a little box with tasting notes, so you can take it out onto the sun drenched deck, or the hanging platform so you swing your legs while you savour your wines. We strongly recommend grabbing something from the rotisserie, pairing it with a wine tasting, and sitting in the sun (vegetarians well catered for too!)
Now these guys get bonus points for making us a delicious local cheese board, after the restaurant had closed for lunch. We got to enjoy it in the wine tasting room by the roaring fire – heaven. They were a big deal in the early 2000’s and haven’t really updated since, but there is a real charm in the slightly dated aesthetic, rustic tasting room, and cheesy add on sale items. The staff here know their product inside out, the tasting list is long, covers all of their vineyards (from Heathcote, Merricks, Balnarring and Red Hill) and only $5pp. If you’re into your wine, it’s worth looking at their wine club – after you’ve tasted the wines of course! By the way, the views are amazing.
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Red Hill Estate
53 Shoreham Rd
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Now these guys get bonus points for making us a delicious local cheese board, after the restaurant had closed for lunch. We got to enjoy it in the wine tasting room by the roaring fire – heaven. They were a big deal in the early 2000’s and haven’t really updated since, but there is a real charm in the slightly dated aesthetic, rustic tasting room, and cheesy add on sale items. The staff here know their product inside out, the tasting list is long, covers all of their vineyards (from Heathcote, Merricks, Balnarring and Red Hill) and only $5pp. If you’re into your wine, it’s worth looking at their wine club – after you’ve tasted the wines of course! By the way, the views are amazing.
This place is hard to find, but worth the effort. Tucked away in the Dromana industrial estate, JR has good food, excellent beer, and a good crowd. Casual and relaxed, plus you can bring your kids/dogs/smokers.
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Jetty Road Brewery
12-14 Brasser Ave
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This place is hard to find, but worth the effort. Tucked away in the Dromana industrial estate, JR has good food, excellent beer, and a good crowd. Casual and relaxed, plus you can bring your kids/dogs/smokers.