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Peninsula Pours
No trip to Melbourne is complete without one thing: wine.
Famous for excellent pinot noir and chardonnay
producers, the Mornington Peninsula, south of
the city, is a great way to explore the region’s
wine circuit. Here are a few of our favorites.
• Start at the rustic, open-air Montalto
Vineyard & Olive Grove (33 Shoreham Rd.,
www.montalto.com.au), where you can sit
outside and contemplate your wine in peace.
• Then head to Port Phillip Estate (263 Red
Hill Rd., www.portphillipestate.com.au), an
architectural marvel with sexy, sleek interiors
and floor-to-ceiling views of the vineyards.
• Don’t miss Ten Minutes by Tractor (1333
Mornington Flinders Rd., tenminutesbytractor.
com.au): expect deep red interiors and
deeper red wines. If you want to splash out
on a dinner, this is the place.
Just for fun: Round off a romantic day with
a dip in the Peninsula Hot Springs (from
$232 per person, www.peninsulahotsprings.
com), where you can join the crowds or opt for
an intimate private grotto.
Where to Stay
Big Blue Backyard is one of the coolest
places I have ever stayed. A warm couple,
Paul and Lisa Dempsey, runs this unique
property, with three “hideaway” cottages
scattered among a huge plot of forested land.
A maze of arched trees and blooming bushes
lead to dramatic cliffs overlooking St. Andrews
Beach. Paul is a trained chef who cooks up a
storm: the rate includes a bountiful in-room
breakfast spread, and you can also arrange
private dinners. I’m still daydreaming about
Paul’s peppercorn steak with its jus.
It’s a must if you’re in Mornington.
From $3,942 per night. 56 Paradise Drive,
St. Andrews Beach, (+61) 3-5988-6011,
www.bigbluebackyard.com.au.
Getting Around: You’ll need to hire a car
to get around. Try Hertz (from $400 per day,
www.hertz.com.au). Alternatively,
check out Top Drops private wine tours
(from $330 per person for full-day tour,
www.luxurywinetoursvictoria.com.au).
Get steamy in the
Peninsula Hot Springs
A Big Blue breakfast
Slurp’s up at Montalto Vineyard
A Big Blue Backyard
worth exploring
Hideaway all day
at Big Blue Backyard
HK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, DECember 5, 2014 29