I'm a big fan of the Mornington Peninsula region (and see my "Mornington Peninsula" label for proof!) It's just an hour's drive away, and for me, it provides the perfect blend of two of my favourite things: great beaches and delicious food. So when I was invited to a weekend getaway earlier this year, exploring the region's food and wine experiences, I was all over it!
Ready for the weekend |
We were there as guests of Mornington Peninsula Regional Tourism, primarily to attend the "Wine Food Farmgate on the Bay" cruise with a group of food bloggers, but also to explore the region at our leisure. Here are some of my favourite moments from the weekend.
The "Wine Food Farmgate on the Bay" cruise was a one-off event for the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, showcasing Peninsula producers on the Searoad Ferry, with market stalls, food trucks, live entertainment and more.
Mock Red Hill sparkling apple juice & cider |
Pretty lights |
Food trucks |
Samples from the Woodman Estate stand |
Cheeses from Red Hill Cheese |
We were put up at Lindenderry, a boutique hotel in Red Hill that is very popular for weddings and other celebrations.
Lindenderry sparkling wines |
Balcony suite at Lindenderry |
Balcony Suite at Lindenderry |
I consider myself a bit of a breakfast buffet afficionado, and think that to be successful, they either need to offer a huge range, or have a small selection of high quality, unique items. Lindenderry are definitely on the "small and high quality" end of the spectrum, with organic yogurt pots, fresh juices, kaiserfleisch bacon and organic eggs, breads, savoury tarts, and delightful little cakes and pastries.
Breakfast Buffet Menu |
Breakfast at Lindenderry |
The second day of the trip, we hit up one of my favourite places - the Peninsula Hot Springs. I hadn't visited since their last renovation, and it's huge! I love all the different bathing areas, and I totally want to go back and try the hammam! It seems to be really, really busy now, with heaps of tour groups coming through. My advice is to try and visit at non-peak times, like early weekend mornings or weeknights.
Reflexology walk |
In addition to the bathing, we were treated to a body clay ritual. For this, we were given a selection of indigenous clays from different parts of Australia to apply to our faces and bodies, then sat in the sun for a good ten minutes to let it absorb, before washing it off. I felt very soft and rejuvenated afterwards!
Natural clays |
Blue Mini Cafe wasn't on our itinerary, but we had a little time before our scheduled afternoon activities and wanted a caffeine hit! Blue Mini Cafe is a retro cafe and gift shop that is housed in a former bowling alley.
Blue Mini cafe |
Blue Mini Cafe |
We enjoyed looking through the many displays, and can also recommend the iced coffee and chocolate, and the really delicious prawn and chorizo taco.
Iced coffee, Iced chocolate |
Prawn and Chorizo taco |
Final stop on the weekend was Woodman Estate for their Opera and High Tea! Woodman Estate is a luxury country hotel, with a restaurant and spa. They also make a range of very good jams and preserves. (We bought a jar of their excellent peach and cardamom jam to take home).
Woodman Estate |
They offer a wide range of different high tea options, but we were there for the Opera and High Tea, which is available on the first Sunday of each month. In addition to three tiers of sweet and savoury treats, fruit and plain scones, hot drinks and sparkling wine, this included a live performance by opera duo Two Birds & Co. What a civilised way to spend a Sunday afternoon!
Woodman Estate High Tea |
Duck, port and pistachio sausage rolls; Vegetarian quiche; Kataifi prawns; Quinoa salad |
Pistachio tiramisu; lavender crème brûlée; dark chocolate mousse dacquoise; strawberry macaron; short crust strawberry tart; lemon meringue pie; petite chocolate eclair |
All the food was very good, particularly the kataifi prawns, the duck, port and pistachio sausage rolls and the dark chocolate mousse dacquoise. (Check out that sugar work!) Of course, though, my favourite was the scones! There were fruit and plain scones, served with whipped cream and house-made strawberry jam. Delicious!
Scones! |
And that was our weekend away! It was really fun, and great to discover a few new places in one of my favourite regions!
Sunset on Sorrento Pier |
Sarah and Sandra visited the Mornington Peninsula as guests of the operators and Mornington Peninsula Tourism. We visited Blue Mini Cafe anonymously as paying customers.
2 comments
Sigh!! That opera and afternoon tea sounds gorgeous! :D
ReplyDeleteI love the Mornington Peninsula! What a great weekend - the accommodation at Lindenderry looks amazing.
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