5 Must Visit Places in Red Hill (and surrounds)

The Mornington Peninsula is home to 40 towns and villages and Red Hill has got to be our favourite. It is home to award winning wineries, restaurants, attractions and also filled with natural beauty.

Given it is just on an hours drive from Melbourne when you coast along Peninsula Link freeway it's the perfect day trip or short stay destination.

You'll be spoiled with choice but sometimes you just need some help narrowing down the options.

Here are some of our top picks:

• On the first Saturday of the month shop for local produce and crafts at Red Hill Community Market. It's open from 8am-1pm, we suggest arriving early.
• Lunch at Foxeys Hangout...begin with a wine tasting (love their pinot gris)
• Dessert from Jonny Ripe a bakery with the most delicious pastries and more.
• A visit to Seawinds Gardens at Arthurs Seat to devour your baked goods, enjoy the amazing views over the Peninsula and wander the gardens.
• Take a 'Flight' and get to know the peninsula a little better:    
• Option 1: A wine tasting flight at Crittenden Estate Wine Centre
• Option 2: A soaring flight on Arthurs Seat Eagle gondola ride

We love these places and they are all within 10 minutes of the Red Hill Market.

Foxeys Hangout in Red Hill offer tasty tapas style share plates and is best enjoyed in pairs or small groups due to the intimate nature of the restaurant, their wines are superb as is the view over the vines!

Some freshly baked goodies from our recent visit to Jonny Ripe, vanilla slice ($6 and they are huge), mini apple pies and chocolate and beetroot brownie. These guys are a real favourite among the locals with plenty of take home options.

Seawinds Garden at the peak of Arthurs Seat is a great place to unwind, wander William Ricketts sculptures, take in the views or encounter kangaroos in the wild around dusk. With plenty of parking, toilets, BBQs and a number of short walks around this makes for a nice free activity stop during the day.

Arthurs Seat Eagle offers a novel mode of transport to enjoy the stunning views across Port Phillip Bay, on a clear day you can see the city skyline in the distance. This world class attraction runs year round and has a cafe at the Summit station for that afternoon pick me up coffee, they also sell our candles in the gift shop.

At Crittenden Wine Centre they do things differently. Experience a seated wine flight tasting choosing from their array of traditional and unique varieties while being guided by an expert, plus there are tasting notes on hand.

Once the day comes to a close the designated driver gets to choose the music for the trip home, while any other boozy passengers can enjoy being chauffeured in a semi-food coma.