Weekend Wanderer – The Mornington Peninsula

Just an hour outside Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula feels a world away from the hustle and bustle of Victoria’s capital city. With stunning coastlines, idyllic seaside villages and meandering country roads, this is the ideal escape when you want to leave the world behind for a couple of days.

Ready to take life at a slower pace? Pick up your Melbourne car hire and hit the road as we guide you through the perfect Mornington Peninsula weekend itinerary.

Explore the famous Mornington Peninsula gardens

The gardens of the Mornington Peninsula are some of the biggest draws to the area – from the fragrant lavender fields to formal gardens and herb nurseries, there’s a garden here for level of nature lover. Visitors can explore exotic plantlife as well as local flora and fauna at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Cranbourne. For a dash of magic in your drive, the Enchanted Adventure Garden offers family fun in a beautiful surrounding.

Sample local varieties on a wine tour

When a handful of visionary winemakers set out in the 1970s to grow grapes in the Mornington Peninsula, little did they know just one generation later it would be one of the most exciting and renowned new wine regions in the world. The hills and valleys of the Mornington Peninsula are responsible for incredible Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines, with varietals like Pinot Grigio and Shiraz also earning their place as worthy wines to try from the area. If you want to sample wines in the place they’re made, there are dozens of vineyards you can pay a visit to, including Red Hill, Main Ridge, Merricks and Dromana.

Discover the Cape Schanck Lighthouse

Built in 1859, Cape Schanck is on the southernmost tip of the Peninsula and is an excellent spot to enjoy the best of the sea views in this stunning coastal area. The lighthouse itself is surrounded by a reserve where visitors can walk the trails, explore the shallow rock pools and even meet the local wildlife at the Moonlit Sanctuary.

Tee off

Mornington Peninsula doesn’t simply offer a beautiful backdrop for golf; with its soft sand dunes and sandy soil, it also provides the ideal conditions for a world-class game of golf. With some 15 clubs and 19 links courses, the region is the number one golf destination in Australia. Visitors can play anything from a relaxed game to a test of their limits on the Open course at Moonah Links. And with just a few kilometres between each course, golf lovers can play from sun up to sundown.

Get a dose of culture in the museums and galleries

If art and culture is what you seek on a weekend away, the region can deliver – there’s a flourishing arts scene here, and it’s all waiting to be discovered. From eclectic spaces like Manyung Gallery and Marion Rosetzky Gallery, to the incredible masterpieces at the McClelland Gallery & Sculpture Park, there’s plenty to enjoy. Cultural attractions like the Beleura House and Garden and the McCrae Homestead offer an insight into some of the area’s most prominent pioneering families from days gone by.

Head out shopping

If retail therapy is in order, then look no further – there are some great independent shops, markets and large retail stores all around the Mornington Peninsula. Visitors can find luxury shops along the Main Street in Mornington, while interesting markets can be found in Frankston, with charming seaside shopping at Dromana, Rosebud and Rye.

Book a cheap car rental in Melbourne now and get away from it all in the Mornington Peninsula this weekend!