The Mornington Peninsula is a peninsula located south-east of Melbourne in Central Victoria, Australia. It is surrounded by Port Phillip to the west, Western Port to the east and Bass Strait to the south, and is connected to the mainland in the north. Geographically, the peninsula begins its protrusion from the mainland in the area between Pearcedale and Frankston. The area was originally home to the Mayone-bulluk clan and formed part of the Boonwurrung nation's territory prior to European settlement.

Wine country

Sniff, sip and sample your way around Mornington Peninsula's 50-plus boutique cellar doors for unexpected experiences, new friends and delicious winery meals.

Passion for pinot

Passionate peninsula vintners who grow their own fruit will tell you all about the famed regional pinot noir and the cool-climate chardonnay, and let you in on the secrets of the newer regional varietals, including pinot grigio, pinot gris and shiraz.

Regions within a region

You'll taste different styles as you cruise the compact region. Climate, topography, land and soil structure create distinct micro-climates around the hinterland villages of Red Hill, Main Ridge and Moorooduc, and Merricks, Balnarring and Dromana on the coast. Chat with other wine buffs over your tasting journey, or relax and take advantage of winery restaurants, casual eateries, accommodation and broad sundecks.

Swim alongside playful dolphins or seals, or take a Port Phillip Bay cruise and watch as the frisky mammals frolic by your boat. Watch from the shore for a glimpse of the bottlenose dolphins, or get a closer look on or in the water. Look out for dolphins hitching a ride on the bow wave as you cross between Sorrento and Queenscliff on the Sorrento Car And Passenger Ferry.

Swim with the dolphins

Join local tour operators on a dolphin-watching cruise, donning snorkels and wetsuits to dive in among the friendly mammals. The half-day tours run from October to April, when sightings are more prevalent. Make sure you book a tour with a licensed operator that follows the strict guidelines implemented to protect the dolphins, which are vulnerable to extinction. There are currently approximately 150 bottlenose dolphins living in the bay.

Splash with the seals

You'll also get to spend time with the bay's colony of Australian fur seals, which loll around at Chinaman's Hat and are happy to share their watery world. 

For more information, go to www.visitmorningtonpeninsula.org