Mornington Peninsula Tours

The Mornington Peninsula is a popular daytrip from Melbourne, less than an hour’s drive or a cruise across Port Phillip Bay away. Picturesque vineyards and olive groves and a coastline dotted with villages on either side attract visitors all year round, with many letting a tour guide take the driver’s seat and doing a Mornington Peninsula winery tour.

It’s not all about the wine though. Aside from exploring the beautiful scenery you can taste locally produced beer, cider and liqueurs, sample local gourmet produce and visit hot springs.

The Mornington Peninsula pretty much caters for everyone with food and wine, health and beauty at the hot springs, culture and nature in the national parks, plus its fair share of coastal activities and shopping.

Popular types of Mornington Peninsula tours

Regular bus tours will pick you up at your hotel, or you can choose to hire a private driver or get there by boat. The possibile tours are many.

Mornington Peninsula day tour comparison

Here is a handful of more specialised tours around the Mornington Peninsula.

What’s included in the price of a tour?

Mornington Peninsula tours will mostly include air-conditioned transport with pick-up from Melbourne, tastings according to the tour and the majority include lunch. You might want extra cash to tip the guide or purchase produce.

Things to do and see in the Mornington Peninsula

• Food. With such fertile soil and beautiful scenery, it’s only natural that visitors are spoilt for choice with cuisine. Taste locally produced cheese, chocolates, olives and olive oil and freshly picked fruit. You can design your own tour or book into one of many organised food tours, which are often combined with winery, brewery or hot springs visits. Alternatively, get yourself to an excellent restaurant for a meal or high tea.
• Liqueurs. Spirits lovers are sure to find something they like in the Mornington Peninsula (and probably go home with a few bottles too). Gin, vodka, limoncello and grappa, among others, are all made here from locally grown fruits.
• Scenery. Visit lookout points, walk around gardens and national parks, go on coastal walks and stop to explore seaside villages. Many guided tours also include these options.
• Hot springs. The Mornington Peninsula is also home to award-winning hot springs. Spend an afternoon soaking in the mineral-rich waters, with different bathing experiences and tour combinations available.
• Markets. Find everything in one place with a wander through Red Hill Community Market or Emu Plains Market. Known for artisanal products and local produce, there are organised day tours here too.
• Activities. Surrounded by land and sea, the Mornington Peninsula caters for fishing, golf, snorkelling, diving, swimming with dolphins, paintballing, diving, sailing and horseriding, to name just a few.
• Daytrips. Visitors to Victoria are pretty spoilt for choice, whether staying in Melbourne or elsewhere. You could spend a day cruising the Great Ocean Road, another exploring the Mornington Peninsula and a third tasting your way around the Yarra Valley. Tour companies offer discounted combinations of these day tours, which you can generally take within a week of each other.

About Mornington Peninsula wine tours

By far the most popular option in the Mornington Peninsula is a winery tour. There are more than 50 wineries with cellar doors where you can sample and purchase the produce. Tour companies run wine tours daily and these vary in which wineries you visit and what’s included in terms of tastings and other activities, but almost all include lunch. Chardonnay and pinot noir are the main varieties grown in the Mornington Peninsula, but you’ll also come across others.

About Mornington Peninsula brewery tours

If wine isn't your thing or you just like a bit of variety then fear not. Well-established craft breweries and cider makers also offer tastings and tours, as well as onsite bars and entertainment. Tours can be combined with a number of outdoor activities too.

Image: Visit Mornington Peninsula

Alex Keshen

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Alex Keshen is the global travel publisher at Finder and has been living, breathing and, of course, writing about all things travel for more than 10 years. She has a Bachelor of Journalism from Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada and has appeared in Travel Weekly and the Huffington Post. A master of maximising her annual leave and finding the best bargains around, she can’t remember the last time her backpack weighed more than 10kg and is happy to share her tips and tricks to help you travel better.