A Weekend in Red Hill: The Perfect Mornington Peninsula Escape

There’s a particular pleasure to a weekend in Red Hill. The roads wind through vineyards, orchards and farmland, farm gates appear around the next corner, and some of the Mornington Peninsula’s best food and wine experiences are right on your doorstep.

Just over an hour from Melbourne, Red Hill makes an easy escape without feeling like you’ve travelled far. Spend a little time here and the pace naturally slows, mornings begin with good coffee, afternoons are made for cellar doors and long lunches, and evenings call for a beautiful dinner before returning to somewhere quiet.

For a weekend that combines food, wine, nature and a little time to simply relax, here is our ideal two-day itinerary.

Friday: Arrive, settle in and slow down

Check in at Cassis Red Hill

Make Cassis your base for the weekend and give yourself time to settle in before heading back out. The private villas are designed for a slower kind of stay, with king beds, generous living spaces, kitchenettes and private ensuites. Some villas also feature a heated mineral plunge pool and wood-burning fireplace, making it particularly tempting to stay in for a while.

If you arrive early enough, leave the car behind and take one of the complimentary Cassis bikes for a gentle ride through the surrounding countryside.

Start with a local coffee

Red Hill is made for an unhurried breakfast.

Nordie is just a short walk from Cassis, with Allpress coffee, a garden courtyard and a relaxed setting for breakfast or lunch. Red Hill Cellar & Pantry is another nearby option for local produce, coffee and something to take with you for later.

Settle in for the evening

Rather than filling your first night with plans, keep it simple.

Enjoy a drink, unpack and take in the surroundings. After a busy week, there is something particularly appealing about having nowhere else to be.

For dinner, choose one of the Mornington Peninsula's restaurants and make an evening of it. The region is known for its combination of cool-climate wine, local produce and destination dining.

Saturday: Wine, food and the best of Red Hill

Begin slowly

Start the morning with coffee and breakfast before heading out to explore.

The Red Hill and Main Ridge area is particularly well known for its vineyards, orchards, farm gates, cafés, restaurants and local producers. The region's cool climate is especially suited to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. And this is one weekend where there is no need to rush from one place to another. Choose two or three cellar doors and give yourself time to enjoy them.

Late morning: Visit a cellar door

There are plenty of wineries within easy reach of Red Hill, from small boutique producers to larger estates with restaurants and beautiful grounds.

Cassis guests can also take advantage of the property's Friends of Cassis partnerships, which currently include selected wineries such as Montalto, Polperro Estate, Pt. Leo Estate, Stonier Estate, Ten Minutes By Tractor and Yabby Lake Vineyard. For a first visit, Montalto is an excellent choice if you want to combine wine with food and a wander through the grounds. Pt. Leo Estate is another destination worth allowing plenty of time for, particularly if you enjoy combining wine, art and dining.

Lunch: Make it a long one

This is the Mornington Peninsula. Lunch shouldn't be rushed.

Choose a restaurant where you can sit down, order a bottle of local wine and let the afternoon unfold. The region has built a strong reputation for cool-climate wines and restaurants that put local produce at the centre of the experience.

If you're staying at Cassis, the team can also help you plan your dining and cellar-door stops.

Afternoon: Explore beyond the cellar door

After lunch, take a different look at the Peninsula.

Pick up some local produce from a farm gate, browse a gallery or simply take the scenic route through Red Hill and Main Ridge. This part of the Peninsula is scattered with orchards, olive groves, vineyards, cheese makers, galleries and roadside farm gates. Depending on the season, you may find everything from cherries and strawberries to apples and other locally grown produce. Or, if you've spent enough time eating and drinking, head outdoors.

The Mornington Peninsula offers everything from gentle walks through the hinterland to coastal tracks and beach walks, so it's easy to add some fresh air to your weekend.

Evening: Dinner and a quiet night at Cassis

After a full day, return to Cassis and take your time.

There is no need to squeeze another activity into the evening. Pour yourself a glass of wine, relax in your villa and enjoy the quiet. That's part of the appeal of staying in Red Hill: you're close to plenty to see and do, but you don't have to do everything.

Sunday: Coffee, coast and one last stop

Start with breakfast

Have a slow breakfast before checking out.

If you have time, make one final stop at a local café or produce store. Red Hill Cellar & Pantry is an easy option close to Cassis, while Johnny Ripe is another local favourite for coffee and freshly baked treats.

Head towards the coast

One of the pleasures of staying in Red Hill is how easily you can move between the hinterland and the coast. Spend the late morning exploring one of the Peninsula's beaches or coastal towns before heading home. You could make your way towards Flinders, explore the village and coastline, or continue towards the beaches around Mornington and Sorrento.

The Mornington Peninsula stretches from wine country to beaches, coastal walks and seaside villages, so a weekend doesn't have to be confined to one part of the region.

One last taste of the Peninsula

Before you leave, make time for one final stop.

Perhaps it's a bottle of wine from a cellar door, something from a local farm gate or a pastry for the drive home. Then make your way back to Melbourne feeling refreshed, recharged and as though you’ve truly escaped. Why Red Hill makes the perfect weekend escape

Red Hill has an unusual combination of things that make a short break feel longer.

There's the food and wine, of course. But it's also the landscape, rolling hills, vineyards, orchards and winding country roads, and the ease of moving between the hinterland and the coast. Most importantly, you don't need a packed itinerary.

Stay somewhere beautiful. Eat well. Discover a few local places. Take a walk. Drink some good wine. Sleep in. Then do it all again next time.

Make Cassis your base

Cassis Red Hill is ideally positioned for exploring the Mornington Peninsula, with wineries, restaurants, cafés, local produce, galleries, walks and coastal experiences all within easy reach.

Two nights is a good start. The Peninsula will give you plenty of reasons to stay longer.