By Sharon Richardson
Every year, thousands of people flock from the city, interstate and overseas to the Mornington Peninsula. So what are they all doing when they get here, and why don’t you jump on the bandwagon? Here’s how!
First, spoil yourself and book into a traditional bed and breakfast for a few nights. Traditional B&B’s offer you a special escape, friendly, comfy accommodation with a little touch of luxury, delicious full breakfast served to you each morning, and many other little extras depending on the property, such as in room massages, welcome drinks, afternoon teas. Harmony Bed and Breakfast is set in rural acres and is only minutes from everything the peninsula has to offers but makes you feel like you are in the middle of the countryside, a thousand miles from home.
They even help you plan and book activities like these:
• Spend a relaxing day or evening at Peninsula Hot Springs. One of the peninsula’s biggest drawcards, this sprawling expanse of geothermal pools offers over 50 experiences and attracts visitors from all over the world. The venue offers bathing and therapies with cafes and a restaurant where you can enjoy a ‘Dine and Bathe’ package. Spend the afternoon soaking, enjoy a gourmet dinner before heading back to your cosy B&B.
• Take a winery, brewery or farmgate tour. Private and group tours are available catering to all budgets. Tours offer door to door service from your B&B so you can enjoy sampling the local product. Tours can include lunches and visits to the many distilleries and breweries, not to mention farmgates where you can sample locally made cheeses, olives, fresh fruit and veggies, not to mention specialty chocolates.
• Have a hit and giggle at one of the Mini Golf courses or get serious playing one of the many first class golf courses the peninsula boasts, get lost in amazing mazes or get adventurous and try tree surfing or zooming down the Giant Zipline at The Enchanted Adventure Garden.
• Stroll along stunning beaches, hike through National Parks, challenge yourself to complete the 23km coastal walk or the 26km Two Bays Trail, step back in time at Point Nepean. See how the other half lives with a casual stroll along ‘The Millionaires Walk’ or just sit on the beach and watch the waves roll in.
• Hit the water. Hire a paddle board or canoe, learn to dive, snorkel under the Rye and Sorrento piers and discover seahorses and spider crabs in our amazing underwater wonderland,
Go swimming with, or sit back and view the dolphins and seals on a day cruise, or try your luck at catching the ‘Big One’ on a fishing tour in the Bay.
You can ride the waves on a surfboard, or ride beside the waves on a sunset horse ride along Gunnamatta Beach.
• Get up-close and personal with native wildlife at the sprawling 25 acre Moonlit Sanctuary Conversation Park, or grab a picnic basket and take your chance at spotting a few friendly kangaroos at the lovely Seawinds Gardens on Arthurs Seat.
• Sculpture parks, galleries, markets we have them all and of course you can just relax with a good book and maybe a glass of local wine at your B&B.
• And what better way to finish a day than with dinner at one of the many restaurants the peninsula boasts, catering to all budgets and tastes, or indulge yourself with good old fish and chips on the beach.