Find Your Way around the Mornington Peninsula with our new series of blogs
Each one of our beautiful properties are located in stunning areas of the Mornington Peninsula and within only a few kilometres of the property you will find Mornington Peninsula Attractions to discover and enjoy. We will show you the delights hidden just around the corner from each property. Whether that is an attraction, a stunning piece of scenery or a walk, a gourmet producer or a coffee shop.
This month we begin with the gorgeous Cloud Nine at Arthurs Seat. This little cottage is just a beautiful little hideaway overlooking the bay at the very top of Arthurs Seat. Its perfect for a couples retreat but has two bedrooms so 2 couples could share or perhaps a family. Its pet friendly too with a fully fenced rear garden and front deck. With a log fire for winter stays and air conditioning in every room for summer stays its just perfect.
The lovely Cloud Nine at Arthurs Seat
So what are the best bits..
- The View – sitting on the large front deck looking through the trees to the container ships on their travels from Melbourne Port to The Heads.
- The Deck – see point 1. plus there is an outdoor setting and outdoor lounge and chairs. Perfect.
- Two bedrooms both air conditioned.
- A cute little nursery all set up.
- Log Fire for winter stays
- Pet Friendly
- Location, location, location…at the very heart of the hinterland.
Mornington Peninsula Attractions
So what is close by to Cloud Nine? The following highlights are only a matter of a few kilometres away.
Gardens – Heronswood
The first law professor at Melbourne University, William Hearn employed Edward Latrobe Bateman to design Heronswood house in 1866.
The architectural style of the house has been called Gothic Revival. It is made from coursed, squared granite blocks quarried at Arthurs’s Seat.
Heronswood is the home of The Diggers Club and its garden is a living catalogue of all the evergreen fruits and vegetables described in its catalogues and books. They have over 50 sub-tropical fruits integrated within the flower borders.
At Heronswood there are five separate vegetable gardens and it is within these gardens that they have rescued the best heirloom vegetables. The garden has extensive plantings of flowers, including perennial borders, dry climate and cottage, annual gardens. They have replace subtropical camelias, with avocados as edible hedges. Much of the delicious food they grow in the garden is served in their Fork to Fork restaurant so not only can you see all the wonderful and rarte foods growing but you can taste them too.
Listed in the Oxford Companion to Gardens as one of only four Victorian gardens, alongside the Melbourne Botanical Gardens, Mawallock and Ripponlea.
The Best Beach on the Mornington Peninsula
Just a short drive down the hill (albeit a little winding) you can choose from the popular beaches of Dromana or McCrae.
Dromana is a beautiful beach with quintessential bathing boxes. Check out the resident seal who spends some of his time sunning himself on the beach wall for all to see.
We love both but McCrae has to be one of the best beaches on the Peninsula. Beautiful white sand and clear waters. Bliss!
The Eagle
Recently opened The Eagle Skylift at Arthurs Seat has be completely transformed. The Swiss made Gondolas are a great way to see the the spectacular view of the bay and connects you in 15 mins to The Enchanted Adventure Garden and Seawinds Gardens both located within walking distance of the upper drop off point for The Eagle Skylift. Park your car at the base, take the ride up and spend the day on Arthurs Seat. Then a 15 min trip back down again.
Walking Tracks – Seawinds Gardens
At the top of Arthurs Seat just a short drive down Purves Road you can turn left for the Enchanted Adventure Garden (more on that further down) or right into the Arthurs Seat State Park. The combination of indigenous and exotic formal gardens typifies the area, whilst the addition of William Ricketts sculptures makes this garden a very popular destination.
Seawinds Gardens encompasses a 34 hectare area at the Summit of Arthurs Seat, 305 metres above sea level. The gardens offer spectacular views of Port Phillip Bay and the Mornington and Bellarine Peninsulas from the Bay and Northern Lookouts.
A network of walking tracks guide visitors through a diverse range of exotic and indigenous gardens. The gardens for picnics with tables, elecric BBQ’s and toilets available adjacent ot the car park. Disabled access is available to facilities and walking tracks.
Seasonal Attractions:
Spring brings colour as the trees and shrubs of the gardens begin to flower.
Summer offers an environment which is cooler than the surrounding coast.
Autumn showcases the gardens deciduous trees.
Winter highlights the contrast between the bare birch and willow branches against the pine and cypress . Daffodils also flower in late August.
Kids Fun – Enchanted Adventure Garden
Where do we start? Want a day out for the whole family? or fun for any age? The Enchanted Adventure Garden is the place to visit. From the beautiful gardens and mazes, have fund with puzzles, walk through native bush, watch the wonderful birdlife, wallow in the sculptures, be thrill seeking with the tree surfing high in the canopy or on the latest Big Zip – flying fox experience. Be spooked in the 3D maze or walk in the treetops, even with a pram? What? Yep, that’s right a pram..oh! and don’t forget the tube sliding, the lolly shop, the cafe…
Just allocate the day, take a picnic if you want to (plenty of picnic tables and space to indulge) and have fun!
Food – Red Hill Cheese
The cellar door tasting room promises a high-end flavour experience. Delight in the flavours of real cheese with a tasting plate or cheese platter. The cheesemakers daily selection “at their peak” are available in a relaxed tasting environment to enable visitors to discover the extensive Red Hill Cheese range and make an informed choice of cheeses to take home. Also available are unique Mornington Peninsula delicacies to complement the cheese as well as knives, boards and other accessories. You can see maturing cheeses through a viewing window. Open 11am – 5pm everyday.
Quirky – Charlies Auto Museum
Charlies Auto Museum located at Arthurs Seat, this car museum houses a unique collection of over 80 motor vehicles, memorabilia, model cars and automobile paraphernalia from eras spanning over years – this display will captivate the minds of both the young and young at heart. Quirky in its eccentricity but a hoot for the motor enthusiast.