How To Spend 24 Hours in Red Hill

Mornington Peninsula’s Red Hill got its name from the rich clay which made it ideal agricultural land – grapes like pinot noir and chardonnay are a prominent feature of the region’s real estate. But it’s also dotted with orchards, topnotch cafes, fine diners and quaint accommodation. And it’s easy on the eyes. Tree-lined streets dip through leafy valleys and open onto vast plains, which reach all the way to the shimmering sea.

If Red Hill’s on your to-visit list, Broadsheet Access has a cosy cottage with your name on it. Right now, one lucky member (and their plus one) will win an all-inclusive getaway to the region. You’ll stay at Elsewhere Cottage, enjoy a private chef dinner and even get a voucher to spend at one of the town’s most-loved stores. Here’s how you could spend those 24 hours.

Eat

First up is Merricks Store, a Ninch icon built in 1922 that was originally a post office and meeting place for the rural community. Over the years, it became a spot for locals to grab a hot pie and milkshake. Now, owned by the Myer and Baillieu families, it operates as a providore, bistro, event space and cellar door to Elgee Park and Baillieu wines. Stop in for locally made homewares and rustic pantry items, or if you're our Access winner, spend your $250 voucher at the restaurant, where you can enjoy a meal and wine in the garden.

For a fine-dining experience, there are a slew of venues to choose from, and a lot of them double as cellar doors. Two winners are Montalto and Tedesca Osteria. Set on a picturesque 50-acre property, Montalto is where you can gaze over the distant hills as chef Matt Wilkinson (Crofter Dining Room, Pope Joan) turns out seasonal dishes with ingredients from the flourishing market garden. Then there’s Hot-Listed Tedesca Osteria, by the brains behind now-closed Gertrude Street Enoteca. The menu changes fortnightly, but expect the likes of sage-and-ricotta-filled cestini pasta, duck-fat potatoes and fresh seafood. The star of the show is the open kitchen, an extension of the dining room.

Drink

You won’t hit all the Red Hill wineries in 24 hours, but these should be at the top of your list. Port Phillip Estate is a brutalist limestone structure granting views of distant Western Port Bay. Taste up to 20 wines at the cellar door, including Kooyong’s Farrago chardonnay and Port Phillip’s own pinot noir. Paringa Estate is another winner; Lindsay McCall produced his first vintage here in ’87, pioneering commercial winemaking in the area. Try the Single Vineyard series including pinot noir, chardonnay and shiraz. Also consider the extensive wine list at Polperro, which doubles as a classy bistro and features wines from its label, taking grapes from the property and producing them at an old apple store up the road.

Play

The Red Hill Community Market had just 28 vendors when it opened in 1975. Today it’s a maze of more than 300 stalls selling handcrafted goods and homegrown produce. There are plenty of food and drink options – from homemade lemonade to paella, tacos and twisty potato sticks.

Otherwise, nature’s your best playground in Red Hill. For a mini trek, head to Endeavour Fern Gully. The two-kilometre return track takes you through the Peninsula’s oldest patch of rainforest, home to towering manna gums and stringybarks, and roos snoozing in the shade.

For the young at heart, head to the Enchanted Adventure Garden for tree surfing. It has more than 50 aerial obstacles and bridges, including a Tarzan swing, plus a maze, canopy walk and tube slide. (Not recommended post-winery.)

Sleep

The Access getaway winner (and their guest) will enjoy two free nights of accommodation at Elsewhere Cottage – it’s one of the most stylish stays on the Ninch. It’s a stone’s throw from all those Mornington Peninsula wineries and just six minutes’ drive from Merricks Beach. The renovated cottage is reminiscent of a French farmhouse, from its weathered timber interiors and farmhouse table, to an open fireplace. Plus, there’s an outdoor dining area and a pool available for use during the summer from 3pm to 5pm.

The cottage belongs to Patrice Repellin, who ran Koots Salle a Manger in Melbourne before becoming a private chef under the banner Maison by Patrice. As part of your prize, he’ll cook a three-course French dinner for two. While the menu changes daily, expect the likes of duck and mushroom terrine, handmade pumpkin gnocchi and a maple syrup tart.

Ready for your Red Hill getaway? Join Broadsheet Access today before entries close. We’re always working to bring you exceptional experiences like this, so we recommend an annual membership to stay in the know. It’s only $12 a month, and our annual members get automatic entry into every competition.