5 Best Sights in Mornington Peninsula, Victoria

The once private estate of one of the wealthiest men in Australia, Point Leo Estate opened to the public in late 2017 with a fine dining restaurant and winery experience set against dramatic coastal views and enhanced by an ambitious collection of more than 50 large-scale contemporary international and local works dotted along winding paths. Download the audio walk app from Point Leo's website before you visit and plan to spend an entire afternoon exploring. If all that sculpture gets you thirsty, take a break for a wine tasting at the cellar door (or take a glass on your walk). If you can plan ahead, make a reservation at Laura, considered one of Victoria's top restaurants, at the bistro next door, Pt. Leo Restaurant, or outside on the Wine Terrace, which often has live music and always has glorious views of the vineyard, sculptures, and the bay.

Home to the peninsula's first Pinot Grigio vines, this popular Italian-theme winery also contains a restaurant. T'Gallant produces excellent Pinot Noir, Prosecco, and Pinot Gris. If you're an art lover as well as a wine fan, you'll also admire the beautiful artwork on its bottle labels. The on-site pizza bar is always buzzing and the food is exceptional, with dishes made from local ingredients, including items from the house herb garden. Tuck into a signature Italian wood-fired pizza or a chocolate ganache brownie paired with its pink Moscato. Open seven days a week, there's live music every weekend at lunchtime. Their annual winter Mushrooms in May festival is very popular and bookings are essential.

One of the region's most picturesque wineries with a lovely lakeside setting, Crittenden Estate produces Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio, and some Spanish and Italian styles. The flagship Crittenden Estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are made from vines that are among the oldest on the peninsula. The cellar door is open for tastings daily, and winery tours can be arranged by appointment. The restaurant, Stillwater at Crittenden ($$$), is lovely year-round, and when the weather is fine, diners sit out on a terrace under shady umbrellas while enjoying views over the lake. It is open weekends for dinner and daily for lunch, except in winter when it closes Monday and Tuesday. Want to linger awhile? The estate has three stylish overwater bungalows, a minute's amble along the lake's edge from the cellar door and restaurant.

This winery, which has won numerous medals for its Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Shiraz, has an equally impressive view. Not only are there sweeping vistas over the 23-acre vineyard, but the magnificent waters of Western Port are spread out in the distance. On clear days you can see as far as Phillip Island as you wander around the gardens. The award-winning cuisine and fabulous floor-to-ceiling windows make Max's Restaurant the perfect place to while away at least half the day. Order from the à la carte menu (two-course à la carte lunch A$70, three-course à la carte lunch A$85), available Wednesday--Saturday. The fixed three-course Sunday roast lunch costs A$85. Dinner is served on Saturday night, including the five-course degustation menu, A$110 or A$155 with matching wines. Otherwise, go casual on the lawn with cheese plates, charcuterie boards, and small plates including Coffin Bay oysters and Yarra Valley caviar (A$4 each). Although it may be a little chilly, winter is a good time to visit, as several events are staged, including art shows and the region's Winter Wine Weekend in June.

This preeminent Mornington Peninsula producer of wines uses grapes from the region's oldest vines. The establishment specializes in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (from vines first planted in 1978 and 1982, respectively) and also makes a sparkling Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Although there's no restaurant, you can order a platter featuring local Red Hill cheeses to enjoy on the lawns. Visitors may be invited on an informal tour of the fermentation and barrel rooms. Several events take place during the year, such as the dedicated Sparkling Day in December.