3 Best Sights in Mornington Peninsula, Victoria

There's been a chairlift climbing up to Arthurs Seat since 1960. Now, the modern Eagle's gondolas take 14 minutes to drift slowly above the eucalyptus forests up to Arthurs Seat, at 1,000 feet above sea level. The gondolas are surprisingly quiet, so you'll hear the birdcall among the trees: keep an eye out for the wedge-tailed eagle, after which the Eagle chairlift is named. You can travel one way or return, starting from either the base station, or down from the summit station at Arthurs Seat. It's not a mountain, but the peak affords magnificent views back to Melbourne and across Port Phillip Bay. Take coffee or lunch at the café at the top before your return journey. There is plenty of parking at the base, as well as a small café, but limited parking at the peak, and the entire facility is wheelchair-friendly. From the summit, take the 1.8-km (1.1-mile) circuit walk, which passes several scenic viewing points.

The once-private estate of one of the wealthiest men in Australia, Pt. 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 fine-dining Laura, considered one of Victoria's top restaurants. Otherwise, take a table at the bistro next door, Pt. Leo Restaurant, or outside on the casual Wine Terrace, which often has live music and always has glorious views of the vineyard, sculptures, and the bay. The estate offers experiences combining sculpture tours, lunch, and wine tastings.

Home to the peninsula's first Pinot Grigio vines, this popular Italian-theme cellar door is newly refurbished to include a busy, family-friendly 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 their signature Roman-style, wood-fired pizzas, a cheese board, or a chocolate ganache brownie paired with its pink Moscato.